Hi Gang,

Well I am leaving for Mexico this afternoon to get banded tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my God I am so nervous. My only doubt is will I ever enjoy eating again or will I forever feel deprived? Please talk some sense into me. I was talking to my causin (who is 100% supportive & wants to get the same procedure after me) she said I should give the doctor a $2000 tip for performing this and setting me free.

Does anyone feel deprived? The coordinator said the feeling is the one you have after having a full course meal. You don't want to eat anymore so there is no torture of being hungry but not being able to eat.

I guess I have cold feet. Any encouragement would be welcomed.

Mary:straight

No, you won't feel deprived. I still eat many of the things that I ate pre-band, but with slight modification. I have crisp toast, instead of a roll for my hamburgers, I take the stuffing out of all my bagels, toast that very well. I only will eat one bite of steak, because the chewing of the steak so that it can go down well makes my jaw sore, After that I am quite glad to go to something else. I have yet to feel deprived because of the band. I feel more deprived when I(not the band) say no to things that I can eat with the band, but shouldn't. Things like cheesecake, ice cream, and chocolate. But I keep single servings of these things, for when I just have to have it. I am very content in every way with my band.

Tavey, that sounds very encouraging! When were you banded? You say you have yet to feel deprived with the band. Has that been the case from the start?

I enjoy eating MORE than I did pre-band. I've learned to actually slow down and appreciate it. I'm very particular now.

As for deprived it's VERY rare I've felt deprived. Usually it was because I was self-defeating feeling in the moment and wanting to do something self destructive but couldn't. Definitely not an overall sense of deprivation, more of a "wow, this must be how normal people eat and feel about food".

You'll do great!