I'm new here.

I am 42, Pretty much half way through a year long period

of adjusting habits prior to banding.

Prior to banding, what did you fellows do to prepare for

the changing relationship with food?

Thanks,

Paulo

Well I can tell you what I have been doing. I stopped drinking carbonnated beverages, I was a diet pepsi addict so that was no small thing for me, stopped drinking liquid with meals, started tracking everything I put in my mouth on an online calorie counter, started making sure I drink lots of water. Started reducing meal size to get used to the new way I will have to do things. Focus on eating a steady 60-70 grams of protien a day. Mandatory, started having breakfast, never did that before. I have my surgery on the 28th and beginning next thursday I go to liquids only. So it has been a lot of prep but I feel I am ready for the surgery and know I can be successful with it. Hope this helps.

Well I can tell you what I have been doing. I stopped drinking carbonnated beverages, I was a diet pepsi addict so that was no small thing for me, stopped drinking liquid ...

With respect to the carbonated beverages, I went to diet

drinks to avoid the corn syrup and then to Perrier to avoid

the sodium.

After banding it be OK to continue to drink Water before

meals, I wonder. I understand why not drink water with

meals or shortly thereafter. But prior to meals, would not

water just slide through and leave you small stomach

empty, unaffected?

I had so very little time to make adjustments in advance! I saw the doctor for the very first time on 1/2 and had surgery on 2/10. I was able to give up Diet Coke prior to surgery!

My drinking/not drinking instructions are to stop drinking 30 minutes before a meal. Do not drink during the meal, and then do not drink anything for 30 minutes after the meal. I've had to work at not wanting to drink when I eat but I will say that not being able to drink with meals has enforced the chewing well and taking small bites!

I prepared by skipping Desserts (no easy task-I work in a doctor's office and we have luncheons all the time), and by increasing my committment to exercise (nothing fancy, mostly walking). I am a reformed pizza-holic. I would work out at Curves, then stop at my favorite pizza place (right near where I live) then consume an entire 12-15 inch pizza. I don't recognize being satisfied; I had to be stuffed.

When I added walking to the exercise I found a nice place to walk, a park near home with a nature trail that is a little less than 2 miles around. I noticed a difference in how my slacks were fitting, even before surgery, just from the walking. In the winter when it is dark after work, I do Curves, sometimes Water aerobice, and I recently joined the local rec center fitness room (treadmills, bike, elliptical, Universal, free weights--a nice place) that only costs $2 a month or $24 for the year. I joined May 1 so it was $16 for the rest of the year. Not a bad deal at all.

Prior to surgery I started the liquid diet (every place is a little different in how they do this--this is just mine) which was supposed to be 2 weeks (lasted for 3 because I caught a slight cold and my surgery was bumped back a week) and up until 4 days before surgery I could have a small amount of lean Protein (I grilled unbreaded chicken tenders or ate 2 hardboiled eggs with salt and pepper). I saved the protein for the evening when I tended to overeat the most. I knew I would be hungry during the day; I accepted that and just tried to stay busy so I wouldn't think about it, then I would enjoy my protein in the evening. I lost 25 lbs during the 3 weeks, plus 10 on the 6 month diet my insurance required. The rest has come off since surgery.

I cleared out my kitchen, purging it of anything I thought I wouldn't be using after surgery. The only Snacks I keep around are ones I can eat (like Kay's Naturals--protein cereals and snacks--kaysnaturals.com). I keep snack bars in my purse in case I get hungry and can't eat a meal right away. I used Kashi TLC bars. They have protein (not as much as the so-called protein bars), Fiber, and are much lower in sugar than most bars. I read labels like a maniac; I work to minimize sugar, salt, fat, and then carbs. I eat some Cereal (like Cheerios) with fruit and light soymilk. My favorite meal many nights (you may get the idea that I don't cook much--you'd be right) is chicken caesar salad (chicken breast grilled in olive oil or olive oil flavored Pam, cut that up and cut up a hard boiled egg, put on a bed of Romaine with Parmesan cheese, light caesar dressing, and fat free croutons. Get those green bags you see advertised. I can actually keep 3 heads of Romaine fresh enough until I can eat it all.

After surgery you might find you have problems with some foods like bread. I don't eat much bread at all anymore. Since I love pizza, this posed a problem. So I designed a crustless pizza that you can do in the microwave. To avoid making this post that much longer, send me a PM if you would like the recipe.

Good luck on your journey.

I am a reformed pizza-holic. I would work out at Curves, then stop at my favorite pizza place (right near where I live) then consume an entire 12-15 inch pizza. I don't recognize being satisfied; I had to be stuffed ....

Well, you sound quite successful!

Sad thing is, in my case it is not the favorite food or the

feeling of being food that I am missing. Rather I want to

eat for emotional reasons ... like stress, or boredom.

I have a requirement to lose 30 lbs and have been down

to 5 left a couple of times in the past six months. But I

tend to slide back on a binge once a week. Other than

that I'd say I am 90% compliant with the program.

I am concerned that the lap band may not be effective

for me if I do not overcome that relationship with food.

After all, there are plenty of things one can slide past a

lap band if you have a mind to it.

I think that is the main thing for me to over come .. so

any advice on how to tackle that one?

Thanks,

Paulo