I was lurking over on the LapBandTalk forums this weekend. I was surprised to read that some of the recent post-ops had this unfortunately false misconception about the lap band.
Here's a direct quote:
"I thought that I wouldn't be able to eat the bad stuff and I'm learning that I can."
Oh...WOW.
That makes me kinda sad that they didn't know what they were getting into with the band.
I wonder if this bandster went to any support groups before they were banded to hear from other bandsters on what life was like with the band.
Going to support group for me is a lot like exercising. I never want to do it, but once I do, I am so glad that I did.
The most important information that I receive at support groups is usually the smallest piece of information that makes the biggest impact on me.
Example: I remember when I went to my band support group one night about six weeks prior to my surgery (September 2009). A banded woman there talked about how she had "run out of calories" for the day and that she was focusing on drinking her water for the rest of the evening. No more food for her that night.
Right then. I knew it.
I knew that to successfully reach my goal weight, this journey with the band was going to be a lot like Weight Watchers...but with some extra help on hunger control from the band. I would still have to track my food and make exercise a priority. Sigh.
So, anyways, just to make it crystal clear for any newbies reading this:
I can eat pretty much EVERYTHING that I ate before I was banded.
The band does not stop me from making poor food choices.
It's up to me.
That's amazing that someone got that far without realizing that. Wow. That was made crystal clear to me at the very first MANDATORY seminar and reinforced over and over.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I think this goes hand in hand with proper restriction. When I was at my tightest, bad food was the ONLY thing that would go down. So I started eating tons of processed junk food, stuff designed to practically disintegrate the moment it enters your mouth (to make it easier for you to reach for handful after handful). The key is to be tight enough to be able to eat solid, wholesome food, and to be disciplined enough to avoid the sliders at least 90% of the time. A tricky equation to be sure, but it does indeed work!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your in site. For me the biggest part about weight loss attempts in the past was the hunger control. I did fine with deleting some major bad foods, but it was trying to limit intake and control that gnawing hunger pain and painful growling... I am hoping that is the aide that the lapband will provide and will be the reason why I am finally successful! You are an inspiration. Thanks for all you do!
ReplyDeleteYep, I can eat whatever I choose to eat. The band doesn't stop me....I stop me. I truly believe in counting calories until you are VERY familiar with correct servings. Great post.
ReplyDeleteActually, I am not shocked one bit that folks get all the way to post-op with so many misconceptions and misinformation about the Band or any other WLS, for that matter. I was amazed in my pre-op seminars at the number of people in my classes that done almost no research about the various WLS procedures. It seemed to me that many of them were singularly pre-occupied with "getting thin" with no consideration whatsoever for the process involved in living and succeeding with WLS.
ReplyDeleteOne of the surgeons in my practice actually said to me at 2 years out: The band helps you for a while, but then it is on you to lose the weight and stay down continuously. And: in response to YOUR comment on my blog about NEVER forgetting you have a band-- I think you are doing it 'right'-- I am the one who needs to rethink the priorities a bit, so you are always a source of info and inspiration.
ReplyDeleteRobyn and I go to our group and one of the first things we always tell the soon to be banded is it really is all about your choices and what you decide to do!
ReplyDeleteSo true...sometimes the band slows me down, but I can still eat ANYTHING for the most part. I try to focus on protein first and that helps. The band is really just a tool...not an easy fix. Thanks for putting this out there for those who might not be in the "know." :)
ReplyDeletethank you for posting this, because as someone who is newly banded I was wondering how some ppl on that site could be saying some of the things they are... I'm still at the mushy stage and things out of a can are things that i can mushy easy, but I always look at the calories and try and get the lowest calorie total I can. Stews, veggie beef soups that are low fat,canned tuna, canned salmon, and veggies.. I count my calories per day and try not to go over a certain amount.. I go 100cal below my calorie count so I'm able to count those crystal light packets.. I try to stick with protein and veggies, nothing else!.. I don't even eat fruit, because it increases my blood sugar and I'm trying to get off my meds, I've gotten off two so far and have one more to go. It is all about choices and the band was to designed to help with hungry, not designed to stop you from eating certain foods, not like the other sugeries do..
ReplyDeleteI really wish more people took the time to research things before they make such an important decision about their bodies. It is a shame really.
ReplyDeleteI hope whoever wrote that learns how to adjust and is willing to put in the work.
The band doesn't solve your problems with food; it is only a tool.
Thanks for putting this out there. I hope you can help many people understand what it really takes to be successful (like you).
This post came at the perfect time. I am having an exceptional "hungry" day. Out of control, like I never had the band, hunger. The beast still lives. When you said "the band doesn't stop me, I stop me..." that is gospel! Thanks for helping us all through this. Onward!
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog. You always seem to give such great advice with no fluff. I must admit that this post is what scares me the most about WLS/being banded. I know I can trust myself when things are new. Probably for the first year even. It is when I view life as "normal" that I am worried I will fall in this trap. I worry about that evil beast that drives me to eat when I'm only half hungry. Any tips for how you got mentally prepared that this change was for - freakin' ever, lemme know. I think I'm ready. I am doing the work pre-band and I've got the support of my family. But will I love myself enough to do it right? I guess only I can answer that, huh?
ReplyDeleteWow! Shame on their surgeon for not providing that information. The lap band is a tool, it doesn't do it for you!!!
ReplyDeleteAmen!!! I did so much research (alot by reading everyones blogs) and my surgeons office rocks in making sure we know. They are awesome and encouraging. They educated me on slider foods (I have friends that have been banded for years that didn't know what a slider food was....or why you don't drink soda's....or from a straw). Like you said, I went to several support groups before being banded and they opened the floor for us newbies to ask questions of those that have been banded for awhile and boy, did we ever ask. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe someone could think you couldn't eat the bad stuff? Ummm... what about cookies, ice cream, cereal, oh the list goes on and on! I think even the people restricted in their food choices can eat PLENTY of stuff that is low in nutritional value. It makes me sad to think that people really don't know better. I wonder if this is why some people claim the band didn't work for them?
ReplyDeleteToo true! But as someone whose main problem was overeating a little bit every single day (and at more meals than not), the band sure does help me keep that in check. I don't understand how people could go into the surgery without doing even the most basic diligence -- it's all laid out for them on the blogs.
ReplyDeleteIt is eery to me that I came to your blog today to find some wisdom and got exactly that. I was going to ask you if you thought the weight watchers system was a good plan to do along with the band. My reason for thinking I might do this, is that I still don't have much restriction and I want to build the best habits I can for now and for when I do have restriction. I think this was the universe's way of telling me that I should go to a meeting. If only to have the extra push of tracking and having someone actually weigh me in. I need that extra discipline and I really want to be at my goal by my birthday at the end of September!
ReplyDeleteOh damn, you mean that's not true?
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw my surgeon last week he said that he knows of patients that have pureed Mars Bars! You have to laugh at the effort it would take to puree that.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE my support group and I hate when I have to miss. I think next month will only be the third time I have missed in over 2 years.
ReplyDelete