Bad Eating Habits/How To Change? - ThinnerTimes

dfromic0112 · 04-01-2008, 05:38 PM

I have a few concerns. I am planning on having surgery after the first of next year (can't get on my husband's insurance until then). I've always been able to lose wait but can't keep my good eating habits and always fall back into the old bad ones. Once you get the band, how do you keep disciplined to eat the right foods, make yourself exercise, and do all the right things to get the weight off and keep it off? If I can't do it now, how do I know that I will be able to do it after I get the band? Also, now I don't know when to stop eating. I get full and keep eating and eating just because I love food. How do you stop when you get full with the band and not keep eating because the food tastes so good? I am in love with food, it comforts me and I so look foward to my next meal. I'm sure there are others out there that had the same problems with food before lap band, right? Does the lap band make you feel like not eating as much? Thanks for your insights.

Val 3 · 04-02-2008, 10:47 PM

"I have a few concerns. I am planning on having surgery after the first of next year (can't get on my husband's insurance until then). I've always been able to lose wait but can't keep my good eating habits and always fall back into the old bad ones. Once you get the band, how do you keep disciplined to eat the right foods, make yourself exercise, and do all the right things to get the weight off and keep it off? If I can't do it now, how do I know that I will be able to do it after I get the band? Also, now I don't know when to stop eating. I get full and keep eating and eating just because I love food. How do you stop when you get full with the band and not keep eating because the food tastes so good? I am in love with food, it comforts me and I so look foward to my next meal. I'm sure there are others out there that had the same problems with food before lap band, right? Does the lap band make you feel like not eating as much? Thanks for your insights. "

I will try to answer your questions for ya...First welcome to the board!

I am good with my food choices about 80% of the time. I haven't had a problem (yet) with re-gain. The weight is coming off a lot slower now, but I also have a lot less to lose. So I guess that is to expected. Once you get either surgery their has to be changes to your eating plan. You cant eat the same things now, and then expect to eat them after a WL surgery. It is a little mind boggling to think this can/has worked. I never really believed it 100%, as everything else has failed me why should this work. But once you start loosing its such a high, at least for me it was...

I ate food, I loved food, I thought about what we were going to cook days ahead of time. I loved chocolate, and cake, and well anything really. I think there were very few meals I met I didn't enjoy. Funny how I can think back and think about times, when I would eat something that wasn't that good, but I still shoveled it down...Now though with the band, I don't shovel anything! I eat proteins first, and then fruits and veggie, then if I have room carbs. I hardly ever have the room, for carbs. With the band you cant eat in the amounts you can now, there is no way. I eat about a cup of food on average per sitting. You get full fast. If you try and eat more after you get the full/stop feeling you will be in pain. There is nothing like the golf ball sitting in your chest to teach you not to do that again!
I hope I helped a little and keep posting!

coptergirl · 04-03-2008, 04:34 AM

Well, I had GBS, not the band, but both are restrictive surgeries. This means that you will no longer be able to eat the quantities you used to. I don't believe that the banding causes "dumping" as GBS does, so you have a choice to make. This is a lifestyle change for the rest of your life. Is every day a perfect eating day? Nope. But most are. What will your choice be after having spent the time and money to have the surgery? Every day you will need to consider healthy eating over unhealthy eating. Start preparing for it now. This is a choice that will change the rest of your life.

waterbottle · 04-05-2008, 05:11 AM

hello

I read this post with interest as it so hard ot answer all those worries, in the end it is still up to us and what we eat I feel and some days it is harder than ohters.

I think you soon learn what does suit the band and what does not.... I have never been able to eat bread since I had mine done yet other people can so it is different for us all I think.

You will only achieve the goal you set your self with hard work and determination and I think anyone that decided to have any weight loss procedure must have reached a point in their life that makes it the final thing they do for themselves.

I am not sure if that answers anything you asked but thought I would offer you my advice.

karen4656 · 04-13-2008, 09:52 AM

I am still preop. Actually in my third month of documentation. I am going to cognitive therapy to help me to have a better relationship with food. Since I haven't had a good, healthy relationship with food my entire life, I thought it would be best for me to learn to "eat to live not live to eat." So far it has been going well. I'm not as much of a slave to food. It's rather nice to go into the grocery store and not have to have everything I see. I thought if I couldn't handle food now; how am I going to handle it after surgery???

Good luck!!!
Karen

Zenomia · 04-13-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfromic0112

I get full and keep eating and eating just because I love food. How do you stop when you get full with the band and not keep eating because the food tastes so good? I am in love with food, it comforts me and I so look foward to my next meal. I'm sure there are others out there that had the same problems with food before lap band, right? Does the lap band make you feel like not eating as much? Thanks for your insights.

This right here is an excellent INSIGHT! You realize that you are Eating when your body NO longer NEEDS the food. So your next step is to analyze WHY you continue to eat when your Body is obviously FULL! This is something that you might do with a therapist, shrink, whatever... Keep a journal daily. Log everything that goes into your mouth and HOW YOU ARE FEELING, every single emotion that you have right at that moment of eating. You may find a pattern after a week or so. You may SEE something that you are able to change in order to modify your behaviors towards eating. FOOD IS FUEL. Food is NOT COMFORT! This is a VERY, VERY hard lesson for us to learn. Most MO people are comforted by eating/foods. It is an extremely hard behavior to modify. Start now though, and your success later will be that much greater!

Best wishes!!

shereeks · 04-13-2008, 10:15 AM

First off just wanted to say welcome to the forum.

I had the RNY so my experience with the band is pretty much non existent but I do know quite a few people that have had it.

From my understanding the procedure greatly restricts the quantities of foods you can eat rather than the quality. You won't be able to sit down and eat a whole pie or a plate full of cheesy potatoes but you will be able to eat sugary sweets, milkshakes and biscuits. This will be your CHOICE. You will have to have the self control and willpower to work your tool. It won't be a bed of roses but if you really really want to succeed you can.

Although not as drastic as the RNY the band will still take some getting used to but it'll be well worth it in the end if you want it to be.

Good luck on the road ahead!

Vim&Vigour · 04-13-2008, 11:27 AM

Hello D and welcome!
All the above makes total sense!
I like your insight and your own self-understanding!
At 4 months out, I would add that your body tells you what suits and doesn't. Your body will guide you. As with pain: if you sprain your ankle, it will hurt you to put your full weight on it and therefore you don't. You'll learn to hop and will test how far you can go before it hurts to use any pressure from your foot. The same applies to your weight loss surgery.
Best wishes for a fantastic journey! You have already the right "attitude" and insight! Keep going!
Cheers,
Vim in London

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