Hey everyone! I was just banded 2 days ago in TJ Mexico with Dr. Ortiz and I'm starting to realize this is going to be a lot harder than I thought. I never realized before how much my life revolved around food. It was a comfort, protection, and medicine for me. I am at my parent's place recovering and being around the food but knowing I can't eat it is so hard. I am walking around the house depressed, not knowing what else to do. I feel hungry but they told me I wasn't going to be hungry so I figure this is mental hunger. The thing is, food was such a huge part of my life...I am not sure how to replace it. Any ideas? What has helped you?

Replaced food with walking and sugar free ice pops lol. Just hang in there because it will get easier.

EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE!! And slushy cold Crystal Light between meals.

Trust me if you eat too soon, it will hurt. Also, for me the hospital gave me Italian ice. So it was a good crunchy thing for me to chew on, but did not go outside the boundries of foods for that period in recovery.

Lyndsey,

You say that you are WALKING around the house wondering what to do?

I replaced food with exercise.

When I did my 30 minutes a day, the scales went down.

I did 45 min and the scales became my friend.

I never weighed before. I would get weighed at the doctor but I never looked and told the nurse not to tell me. Talk about denial.

I had to look at my doctors records to see what my highest weight was.

I always like to suggest walk away from your house for 7 minutes and come back.

Give it a try. All you have is weight to lose.

edie

Lyndsey,

I forgot.

I was embarrassed with people seeing me walk. But I told myself I need to be walking no matter what people think.

Now these neighbors and people at my gym come up to me and compliment me. I tell them (of course) I have a band but that I walked off HALF of it.

exercise ... and shopping for smaller clothes