Hello bansters,

I haven't been banded yet...I have lots of research to do....I would love to know what happens if you just feel the urge to PIG OUT? Or maybe that urge is gone being banded...I know If I had WILLPOWER I could diet and get rid of my weight......but I don't have any willpower AT ALL!!!!!!!! So I guess what I'm asking is does it feel like being on a diet or is it just natural after being banded.

(hope that makes sense:ermm )

Oh, the band does not take away the mental/emotional urge to "pig out" at all! I still face this and try to deal with it.

The band will make it so that you don't "feel" hungry (once you are properly restricted).....so if you only like to pig out when you are hungry....no worries. But...lets face it...how many of us only liked to pig out when we were hungry....I had the urge and still have that urge; although it is getting a bit easier.

The thing is you physically won't be ABLE to pig out. If you do....not only will you risk damaging your band...you will be in a whole world of pain.

Does it feel like being on a diet? You'll get different answers from different people. I try to make it feel like I'm NOT on a diet ....so I don't restrict myself from any foods....just don't have the "bad" ones as often (& not as much when I do). For me, the toughest part of the band is the head game of "wanting" to eat more but knowing I can't. Don't get me wrong...I'm very happy that I can't and I wouldn't change a thing but I still sometimes get rather angry about it...but that passes and I move forward. I know it has been almost a year already, but I expect it (the head game part) to get easier as time goes on.

I know....ramble, ramble, ramble!!!

Hope that helps a wee bit. Researching is a good first step!

The concept of "PIG OUT" has become completely different since banding.

Prior to the band, "Pig Out" meant half a gallon of ice cream and maybe a half dozen Cookies + assorted other food in a day. (or a whole pizza, or whatever)

Now "Pig Out" means I eat a pint of ice cream... You still get all the same emotional release - it just isn't 4000 calories anymore...

Good Luck!

Thanks....wow thanks for the advice

You can still pig out but its a different thing.

Eating a piece of pizza is a pig out for me now. Its every bit as satisfying as 5 slices of pizza, an ice cream and a couple of glasses of wine used to be. It has the same deliciously naughty feeling, its fun for a friday night or a relaxing break from cooking, I feel stuffed afterwards and I feel that I've had a "treat" so dont have the desire to do it again for a while. But I've eaten ONE piece of pizza - often not even that.

food is there to be enjoyed, we all use food for reasons other than nutrition - its celebratory, relaxing, whatever. Normal weight people do this too. A lapband controls it, its not a life sentence never to enjoy your food again.

I am very much the same in the way that I did not have very much will power to not eat all the time... not to mention I very seldom felt full. For me, one of the largest advantages of the band is the fact that I physically cannot "pig out" anymore unless I want to be in a lot of pain and throw up. Also the feeling of being full after a little amount of food is wonderful. It does not feel like a diet for me at all. You can do it if you put your mind and band to it!