I have heard alot of people on this forum talk about "eating around the band". What does that mean, exactly? I ask not to get ideas of how to do it, I just wonder if I may be doing it sometimes without realizing it. Can you please give me examples of "eating around the band"????

i believe it's eating too much and/or eating the wrong things (i.e. ice cream). band is a tool, but we have to make smart choices.

Drinking while eating flushes it through faster so u can keep eating.

I have heard alot of people on this forum talk about "eating around the band". What does that mean, exactly? I ask not to get ideas of how to do it, I just wonder if I may be doing it sometimes without realizing it. Can you please give me examples of "eating around the band"????

You will find things like chocolate and icecream go down pretty darn easy - that would be considered eating around the band. As would drinking useless calories whether it be in the form of a fancy frozen coffee, high calorie juices, alcohol, all of those things go down fine but can affect your weight loss progress because they are empty calories that you consume but don't feel full from.

I am admittedly guilty to having empty calories in the form of Starbucks coffees however, most of the time I account for them in my daily calorie allotment.

Yep. I may be guilty of all of those things. Especially drinking while eating. Does anyone know the reason why we aren't supposed to drink BEFORE we eat?

The idea behind not drinking before you eat is so that you avoid, by drinking, reaching the point that you feel full before you have the chance to actually eat anything. Many bandsters, when they get good restriction, find they get the sense of satisfaction off basic liquids. Recommending that someone doesn't drink, say, 30 minutes before eating ensures that the liquid has a chance to drain fully and any sensations of being full have a chance to reside before the actual meal. I didn't say that very clearly, hope it makes sense.

Likewise, even with "good" restricion (not too tight), it's possible that there are times when you will get the full sensation from a liquid and the liquid may remain in your pouch for an extended time. The waiting period also gives the liquid a chance to drain, so that you don't reach discomfort on your first bite of food.

Eating around the band - you've gotten good answers. Basically it's finding a way, through your eating habits, to keep from losing weight even though you're banded.

Edited May 1, 200818 yr by Wheetsin

grazing in general--more than 1 cup of food 3 times a day and calorie free liquid in between...and when you do eat take 1/2 hour--if there is food left, don't save it for a snack later...either thow it out or incorporate in the next meal to equal your one cup of food...took me a REAL long time to understand this...the band is only a tool, lots of ways to eat around it especially when the junk goes down easier than solid protien!! DARN IT

My lap band literature doesn't say not to drink before eating, but I suspect that most dr's tell you not to drink before eating 1. so you actually do stop drinking before eating and 2. if there is any residual liquid in your pouch when you do eat, the food you eat may wash through from your pouch quickly, making you hungry faster.

To me, eating around the band is choosing to eat "easy" soft foods that may not contain lots of nutrition, but are easy to get through the band. Because they are easy to eat, there is the temptation to eat more and more over time, defeating the purpose fo the band to keep you full longer by keeping your pouch full with smaller nutritious portions. Hard Protein can be very difficult for lots of bandsters (chicken, beef, pork, etc), so some choose to drink Protein shakes instead. Many protein shakes are pretty high in calories and fat, plus they go thru the band almost immediately, so you aren't going to have the physical sensation of being full. Again you have defeated the main purpose of the band with your behaviour (eating around the band). The band is designed to train you to eat regular foods in smaller portions, not just to eat easy foods.

IMHO if you can't eat many foods (not counting the rules of small bites,eating slowly and chew, chew, chew) because they hurt you all the time, you are too restricted and that can also be a disaster. Many bandsters have posted on this forum about not being able to eat, spending months in misery and not losing any weight either, but not wanting to be unfilled even a little because they are so afraid of gaining weight.

You can certainly do it without realising it, and you dont have to do it with "bad" foods either.

Everytime I think about lunch and think, nah, wont eat that its too hard, I'm eating around the band.

the thought of eating tuna and salad on a sandwich may be like thinking of eating a house brick, but I know that if I eat that until I'm pleasantly satisfied then I will not be hungry again for hours. But instead I think I'll just have a yogurt, its easier. That's eating around the band - because I'll be back looking for food in an hour's time and that's when I'l think its not mealtime so I'll just have a couple of Cookies.

I was tempted to look at this thread, partially because it sounds so provocative, I've been trying to live in the closet, then I thought.. maybe I do it and don't realize it!!

After reading, I'm relieved to know it's not as easy as "If you stand on one leg, it'll go down better, and you can eat bread!".

I was tempted to look at this thread, partially because it sounds so provocative, I've been trying to live in the closet, then I thought.. maybe I do it and don't realize it!!

After reading, I'm relieved to know it's not as easy as "If you stand on one leg, it'll go down better, and you can eat bread!".

Haha, those would be quite the pointers...

Be very careful with EATING AROUND THE BAND. My friend gained 30 lbs back through her fixation on ICE CREAM. goes down smooth! She also drank liquid WITH her meals. She is NOW on the way back to losing weight, BUT it has been tough.

Be careful!

coltorismom

OH crap! I too have been eating around the band and didn't even realize it. I do choose the soft easy food because the hard protein is tough to get down. I will stop that. I've not lost any weight in a few weeks now, and perhaps it's because of choosing the softer easier foods to get down. Then I am looking for something to munch on in between meals. I'm glad I did read this thread, it was an eye opener for me!

OH crap! I too have been eating around the band and didn't even realize it. I do choose the soft easy food because the hard Protein is tough to get down. I will stop that. I've not lost any weight in a few weeks now, and perhaps it's because of choosing the softer easier foods to get down. Then I am looking for something to munch on in between meals. I'm glad I did read this thread, it was an eye opener for me!

Good luck getting back on track - you have done great so far!:thumbup:

You can certainly do it without realising it, and you dont have to do it with "bad" foods either.

Everytime I think about lunch and think, nah, wont eat that its too hard, I'm eating around the band.

I never realized this, but this is so true. I do this all the time....

My Dad gained back 100lbs after gastric bypass surgery by "eating around it". It is possible to do with any wls or diet. The band is just a tool...we have to work at it too!

That's why they tell you to eat your protein first, then the rest of your meal if still hungry- I have been, unknowingly, overdosing on protein drinks! I' ve been drinking 3 a day, with 50g in each! The calorie count, which I never even thought of with the protein drinks, added up to a whopping 600 calories a day!! plus, too much protein can do a number on your kidneys!! Man, the things we find out after the fact!