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I was banded 3 1/2 years ago and at goal for more than two years. My younger son, who I am very close with, mistakenly believed that I can't overeat. I found out yesterday because we were talking about my possibly getting fat again and he said, well, you can't overeat so why would you get fat again? I had to let him know that it's easy to gain it back. Yes...even with surgery we can all get fat again.

What I have found in my experience, is that the band helps me to keep on track but that doesn't mean I haven't gone off track on occasion. Because I have. I'm not perfect...no one is.

So the message here is not so much how non surgical folks don't get our experience...I'm realizing there will always likely be a basic misunderstanding of WLS. And that's coming from family all the way to strangers. It still bothers me when they say that someone lost weight the natural way, or old fashioned way. People still and likely always will misunderstand this.

More importantly though...is my understanding that I will always till the day I die, have to make choices about what I put in my mouth. I think those of us with food issues don't always realize that most of the normal sized world makes these choices daily. For us though, it's not a normal way of looking at food...because we never saw or see food in a normal way. Especially if we are emotional eaters and the weight is a symptom of deeper issues.

Sorry that I'm sorta all over the place on this post but I really think that when I experience something and think about how I react to it, or how it impacts me, I figure I'm not alone and I post it. There's always someone out there who says, 'oh...me too'.

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Thanks for the great reminder. I'm not sure which view is more destructive: that you can't overeat or that its inevitable that you will. I am pretty sure that my parents are just waiting for the latter to happen to me. Mostly because everyone they know who has had surgery has gained all the weight back and then some. (i.e. my uncle and a family friend). This is a great reminder that this isn't a quick fix. Its just a tool.

thanks,

pam

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Thanks for the reminder!!

At times I feel like my normal eating falls into place.... Then, a weekend of treats or a tempting favorite meal or two makes me realize that vigilance is a must!

It happens to me so slowly and adds up a tiny bit at a time.

So today is Monday and I find I need to look forward to an on-track week to balance out this last couple of hedonistic days.

The positive part is I have a great tool to help me. I can do my part... Just gotta get in the right frame of mind, and I will substitute a Protein Drink here and there .

Just like quoted above...normal choices most people just don't have to think about...I know I do have to give thought to my individual food choices.

Have a wonderful week

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... vigilance is a must!

Boy, you said a mouthful!

;)

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Huh? You can't drink calories? ;-) OK, I know I'm being a sleeve elitist, but the reality is the same.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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