I am not getting banded till the 9th of Aug and I am trying to eat better so I could lose a little weight before the op. My Doc wants me to start my pre op diet 6 weeks out (high protein low carb). I have been trying to eat better but I still have a hard time with the amount of food I am intaking. I have only been eating fruit and vegetables with some kind of high protein meat (Tuna, salmon, little chicken) and a slice of wheat bread from time to time. But I have been eating tons of the stuff. Like 10 times more than I know I should:hungry: . Do you think I should go back to my old diet and just try to eat a little less or keep on doing what I have been and just try my best to eat less? I can't wait to get the band! I am hopeing the urge to eat gigantic amounts of food will go away once I get the band. I am not having a hard time with what I am eating just the size of the portions:frusty: . Any tips would be a great help and appreciated.

The way I approached it and it worked really well for me, was to just try to start my new life the minute I booked in my surgery.

Before that, I'd gotten all my information from here and I thought I'd be denied, having a BMI of 35 and only one comorbidity that wasnt even serious - a bad ankle. I didnt know that its totally different in Australia so I ate like an absolute pig in the month or two before I saw my surgeon, I was actually trying to gain. Isnt it ironic that I gained nothing, lol!

Once I saw him, he put my mind at ease that a) he would do the surgery and since he said he would, there'd be no insurance company stuffing around, it doesnt work that way in australia. If the surgeon says its necessary then the insurance company coughs up, end of story - apart from cosmetic surgery.

I just cut out the crap, I stopped eating McDonalds three times a week, I stopped trying to gain weight and I just ate sensibly - I didnt go hungry or anything, I wasnt trying to lose weight, I just tried to improve my diet.

And I began exercising - consistently and quite intensely, about 3 months before hand. I believe this was absolutely a stroke of genius on my part, lol, the best thing I could possibly have done. I had to use the elliptical and swimming because of my ankle, but I've always been pretty athletic so I built up considerable fitness despite being obese, and I recovered from the surgery in literally one day, and three weeks later I went out for a walk, decided to throw in a few jogging intervals and astounded myself by jogging a full 3kms. I never looked back from there, I worked on my running with enthusiasm and within 6 months could run 8kms or so, and I really truly believe that most of my success and the ease with which I have lost weight is becuase I run between 6 and 10 kms five or six times a week.

I really think that starting BEFORE surgery was a great way to go. I was soooo ready for the change, I didnt want to abuse myself further by eating poorly and just gaining more beforehand and I knew if I gave into that last supper syndrome mentality I would hate myself.

Hi, Cap,

Sounds like you are eating healthier and when you do that, you tend to eat more meals during the day, which is not so bad as long as the in between meals are healthy. One thing you might try is making a Protein shake, customized to your taste buds. The shakes I make really curb my hunger and satisfy my sweet tooth. I buy the Designer whey Protein, using my blender I mix one serving with milk, ice, Peanut Butter, sometimes add frozen strawberries and cocoa. I think they are great and you don't have that powdery protein taste. Other things I snack on are hard cheese, humus/crackers, beef Jerky, pb/cracker, sf pudding. One other suggestion when you eat, is to eat your protein first, then veggies and starch/carbs last. If it were my plate, I would only take 1 giant tablespoon of the starch/carb, and then if I didn't eat it all, boy I would feel great!

Good luck on your journey,

Rebecca

Maybe just focus on one positive change at a time. You are doing that, you are changing your food types. Is it better to eat more foods that are healthy or less food that is very harmful?

Just take it in steps, this is a life changing event coming up, you aren't going to be perfect every step of the way.

Thank you for all your help. I will try eating my protein first like you say. I have found a good protein shake that I like and I try to have one a day for now. when I start my real pre op diet I have to drink two a day. Anyway I would like to thank you guys once more. Thank you.

I started mine 7 days ago, its a 10 day diet and its only cottage cheese and yogurt...i would MUCH rather have a longer diet with REAL food tho. Seriously just set yourself the goal of following your diet, it is the hardest thing i've ever done, and i KNOW i would never be able to do it normally, but i am pushing through it all because i see the light at the end of the tunnel for once in my life. Like, if i wasnt getting banded i would think the struggle is all in vain, but since i know it will help the surgery, and kick start the weight loss...i dig deep for the extra strenght to push through.

I am also not getting banded for a few months. My doctor wants me to lose a lot of weight before surgery. I drink whey Protein shakes 3-4 times a day. It really helps with controlling hunger. The hardest part for me is the mental part.

Stay strong! You are on the right track.

...The hardest part for me is the mental part.

Amen to that!!! I just posted something similar...looking for some advice and support. This journey is really showing me how my mind REALLY works!!! In regards to food...my mind is NOT a pretty place! I think I am a food dyslexic!! I see healthy food and think, "I'd rather have a bowl of ice cream or a bag of chex mix!" I'm all mixed up with my views of food. Well, I wouldn't be here, getting banded if I didn't have food issues!!! I just need to work through them and this forum is a BIG help!