Hi everyone, I am to be banded 17th Nov. My problem is that I am eatting like its my last day on earth (lots) and I am putting on a great deal of weight. I feel like I have to enjoy my freedom (my drug!) while I can because after the band I will loose it all anyway! I am crazy & my logic is so demented. My dh is predicting that due to my bad attitude to loosing weight, the band will not work.

Can anyone help me to put food into perspective as a pre bander waiting for the big day?

Thanks Sharon

Dear Sharon,

YOur surgery is still six weeks away, so you need to get a grip on quantity control. Even with a band, you will still have to watch what you eat and exercise if you want to be successful with this. THe band is only a tool. IT sounds like mentally you think that you will not be able to eat foods you like when you are banded . This is not true. You will be eating less of the foods you like. I was banded after my summer vacation and during the three weeks I was away I was in Vegas. As you know, the food is plentiful there and I started practising self control while I was on vacation. I ate til I was full then stopped. The higher the weight you start, the longer it will take you to lose it. Every pound you add, just makes your journey harder and longer and makes you more unhealthy. There is no magic wand here and I will not sugar coat this for you. Get a salad plate and take 20 minutes to eat what is on it. Protein first, then veggies and if you have any room left then some more protein. DOn't drink while you eat. Start practicing good bandster habits. CHew chew chew!

Babs in TX

6/23/03

334/285/180

hey pinkgirl!

i know how you feel about the last meal sydrome. i dieted 3 months pre band and as soon as i got a date i was in the last meal mode.

i will say that since my surgery and swelling is down i am still in a sense doing the last meal syndrome. the diet i did was no-carb so since being banded i have been eating carbs (puddings, potatoe, Soups, bread) anyhow i feel like my body has stalled a bit. i am holding off on starting the adtkins diet until i am properly restricted but use that as an excuse to eat whatever strikes me.

i guess i am trying to let you know until you get proper restriction you have to use will power or expect a slower loss. since surgery i have lost 11 lbs- part of that i am pretty sure is my bodies reaction to eating carbs again...but i KNOW alot of it is my addiction for food. i am pretty darn sure if i had stuck to trying to watch my carb intake along with not eating *things i wont be able to get down later* than i would have a much more remarkable loss.

i will say i have not beat myself up over it. i new going in the rule *dont expect to lose prefill* but of course i did expect it. i quickly got over it because i knew i could choose to start dieting again...i just needed a quick break.

i am a wee bit envious (AND A WHOLE LOT PROUD) of the deadication it must have took for some of our big losers pre-fill because that was some hard work on their part!!

it is awsome that you realize that there is a issue.

I am eatting like its my last day on earth (lots) and I am putting on a great deal of weight.

and want to change it since starting this thread- i suggest...

drinking an an obscene amount of Water at least 80 oz

exercise since it is fall you could walk. you can strech and do lite weights at home to tone...

and watch what your eating...

WHATEVER you do- pick a strategy and stick with it dont beat yourself up- you are on the road to permanent weight loss. i am sure you wouldnt be going through surgery if you just wanted to eat cheesecake all day post band!

GOOD LUCK!!! you can do whatever you put your mind to!

i think this thread needs some more replies since i am pretty sure alot of us go through this!!! lend your experience!

Well, I think it's important to remember you DO NOT have to give up food after banding. All the band does is help you to moderate your intake so you can savor the smaller amounts you'll eat. I wish I had realized that pre-op, because I too gained weight due to "last supper syndrome".

As for your husband's belief the band won't work because you can't diet right now, well, if any of us were good at dieting we wouldn't need surgery! You'll probably be successful with the band as long as you go back for fills and get the right level of restriction.