Is this for me?????

katieo · January 17, 2007

Hi Everyone

I am still considering wether I feel the band would work for me.:scared:

The problem is I have a habit of working against things that are good for me, particularily with weight loss. It seems as though it is my way of rebelling against a world that has shunned me for being over weight but unfortunately it's only myself I am hurting in the process.

I am concerned that I will find ways of cheating the band but at the same time I am wondering if this will give me the kick up the backside I need.

Hmmmmmmm

Did anyone else feel this way before having the band?

X Katie

BabyGotBack · January 17, 2007

Hi Everyone
I am still considering wether I feel the band would work for me.:scared:

The problem is I have a habit of working against things that are good for me, particularily with weight loss. It seems as though it is my way of rebelling against a world that has shunned me for being over weight but unfortunately it's only myself I am hurting in the process.

I am concerned that I will find ways of cheating the band but at the same time I am wondering if this will give me the kick up the backside I need.

Hmmmmmmm

Did anyone else feel this way before having the band?

X Katie

I think we all have done that, sabotaged ourselves at one time or another. It sure is sabotage to have gotten to your goal weigh or near it only to start gorging yourself and put the weight back on right away! I have done that so many times, over and over...

The band will keep you from overeating. I almost threw up the other day(PB) but felt like that nauseous feeling like when you have to throw up, salivating at the mouth just because I had to much Soup. And it was completely liquid. I was shocked! I didn't think that could happen.

YOu need to know that there are people who do sabotage their weight loss with the band by eating around the band, eating things that may go past the band. That is not the bands fault. The band is really only supposed to restrict solids, not liquids. I am still healing from surgery, post op day 12 so for now, my liquids are being restricted also. Some, with a tight fill may have their liquids restricted also, but again, the band was created to restrict solids.

I have a friend as well as seen people on this board that work against the band, eat ice cream, milk shakes, high calorie liquids, chips, etc. Calories are calories and if you are still eating too many calories, you won't lose.

We need to work our mental issues out before getting banded. I for one used these boards as my therapy. And, it worked!!! I am working with my band, not against it. I hate that feeling of nausousness and wanting to throw up. A PB (productive burp: the food comes up intact, sometimes dry or covered in slime) is a very painful thing I hear. I am not going to do ANYTHING that would bring me such discomfort. For me,I have a phobia of vomitting, have been that way all of my life, and I dread the PB even more. You can also slip your band and have to get it removed.

Only you know yourself and know if you'd give in and work with the band or eat till your sick and PB all the time. That is almost like being a banded bulemic and then if that is the case, that person should get therapy first or not get the band at all.

Some people have also had there lives in dangered by the band slipping in a dangerous way by pbing too much and vomitting,so the band is not something to mess with. It is to be respected and obeyed.

sophrosyne · January 17, 2007

I have the same question. The only thing is, after I had my c-section, because they had to remove my organs and replace them, my stomach/esophagus was swollen, so that I was experiencing the same symptoms as people who get banded.

During that time, I managed to go from 270 lb to 240 lb without thinking about it. Now my stomach's back to normal, and I'm maintaining that weight loss, but I haven't been able to lose anything additional.

So, I'm wondering if the band works the same way. I know I sabotage myself with diets, but it didn't feel like a diet. I just didn't want to eat. And there were foods I couldn't eat, because they got stuck.

Is that how it works with you banders?

BabyGotBack · January 17, 2007

Yeah, that is how it feels somewhat only with the band if you overeat you will PB. I had 2 c-sections and was swollen like that too.

And i for one have lost a lot of my appetite and eat because i know i need to or i get too weak

threebeauties · January 17, 2007

I was banded three months ago this coming Friday.

In my opinion, I think if you have doubts about your dedication at this point, don't do it. I am finding that the band requires a lot more work on my part than I thought it would. As much as I was told that the band is "just a tool", I still thought it would feel different than it does. It is harder than I thought.

Don't get me wrong, I still think I made the right decision to go with the band. It is absolutely necessary for you to make the right choices.

Good luck with whatever you decide. This is certainly not easy though.

conniesueb · January 18, 2007

Katie-I think it comes down to how bad you really want this. I had tried every diet imaginable, and always lost some, but always gained it back, and then some. For me, because of severe arthritis I ahd become very sedentary, and miserable. The more sedentary I became, the more weight I gained, even though I was not eating any more than I ever did. The band was suggested to me by my PCP afer being diagnosed with diabetes--to go along with my HPB, high cholestrerol, and sleep apnea. My dad also died from a heart attack at the very young age of 47. It truly was a life-and death decision for me. I knew that if I did not do something serious about my weight, I would probably not get to see my kids grow up, or my grandkids. I thought long and hard about the band, and finally decided it was the right thing for me. But it is not magic--you can sabbotage yourself, and if you are worried about doing that, then you really need to re-consider. Just think how you would feel if you went through all this, spent all that money, and then it didn't work. As for me, it has been 7 weeks since my surgery, and I have lost 29 pounds in that time, along with 10 before the surgery. But one thing I had to come to terms with is that I had to ABSOLUTELY change the way I thought about food. I used to think about food all day, always wanted to eat out, etc., but now, I really could care less. Food is simply a way of providing the nutrition your body needs. That's all. I also started exercising regularly--whether it hurts or not-and it does, but each day it hurts a little less, and each day I feel better, and have more energy. So you need to know if this is the right thing for you 100% before you do it--it was for me, and I would do it over in a heartbeat--it is the best, smartest decision I have ever made. Good luck.

cinward2001 · January 18, 2007

The problem is I have a habit of working against things that are good for me, particularily with weight loss. It seems as though it is my way of rebelling against a world that has shunned me for being over weight but unfortunately it's only myself I am hurting in the process.
I am concerned that I will find ways of cheating the band but at the same time I am wondering if this will give me the kick up the backside I need.

Katie, how ready are you to lose weight? For me, I was practically feeling suicidal because of my weight. I was miserable. Are you thinking of banding as something you'll "try?" As another diet "attempt?" Because if you are, it probably won't work. But if you go into banding with the attitude that *I WILL MAKE THIS WORK,* then the band will help and it will work.

Lots of people have issues with food. Lots of people sabotage themselves. But many of those same people are successful with the band. The band will help manage your hunger and will restrict some of what you can eat...so if you're ready to do your part (including working on the self-sabotage), then go for it.

There's no reason (I think) that you have to work on mental/emotional issues *before* getting the band. The band makes it easier, so as long as you recognize that you'll need to work on these things with the band, too, then you're taking steps in the right direction. In fact, many people, as they lose weight, find that seeing a therapist is helpful. We sometimes use fat to cover up pain, stress, unhappiness, etc...so as the weight comes off, you have to DEAL with those emotions...and therapy can help.

Ultimately, you're the only one who can say whether or not you'll be successful with the band. If you tell yourself you WILL, don't give yourself an excuse or an out to not be successful, then the liklihood that you'll succeed is greater.

Cindy

juliegeraci · January 18, 2007

Katie, it is a good thing that you are looking at yourself this way. You can definitely eat around the band. I would highly consider your thoughts before you move forward with the surgery. The band is a tool and a tool only. You can still make poor food choices and eat around it. Best of luck to you with your decision.