WOW, did we realize how much we eat????

Hey everyone, I was having a pitty party today cause I was lonesome. I watched a couple of episodes of Mig Medicine, hope you have all seen it, anyway Allen the guy that was close to 1000lbs, was going through panic attacks and having a hard time dealing with not eating and it dawned on me; thats what is wrong with me. :clap2::clap2: I am supposed to be eating my way through everything! Being only 4 days out from being banded, it is starting to sink in, just how many times I would normally be eating in a day! I think the liquid stage gives not only a time to heal our tummy, but most important our minds!!! It is amazing that we stuff so much food into our bodies and not even realize we are eating:hungry:

I sat down with DH for the first meal we actually sat at a table at together for since I've been banded. I made him fat free hot dogs on the grill and tater tots. He had some potato salad and some greek pasta salad we got at the grocery store, I also had some minced onion, cheese and chili for the dogs. I had take a small can of baked beans, some tomato juice a little catsup and peeled a fat free dog and dropped it all in the blender, then added some onion and made soup with it. I also took some seeded cucumber sliced thin and soaked in a little cider vinegar and drained, I added some lowfat sour cream and milk and blended it and made a soup. I had about a half cup of the beans and hot dog soup and a half cup of the cucumber soup and I was done. DH was surrounded with food and I was thinking that three weeks ago, that was me, too. WOW!

The best is when you go to a resturant and watch how much food people SHOVE into their bodies. And to know, that you once were doing the exact same thing. It blows my mind now to watch people eat.

I have been having real issues with this lately, too. DH and I used to eat out a lot. I just hate to cook! Anyway, DH misses that social time we had so we still go out to eat every few days or so and I always am so amazed at how much food is on my plate!!! Yesterday I ordered a taco salad and that thing looked like a MOUNTAIN! I had maybe 1/10 of the thing. Simply amazing.

But the thing that is really getting to me is watching my DH shove food into his mouth....it almost grosses me out. He takes huge bites, chews a few times, takes a big swig of drink WHILE he's still chewing, then swallows.....followed VERY closely by another big bite..... OMG!!! He hasn't changed. I HAVE. I have tried to gently suggest he TRY smaller bites, slower eating and cutting back on his drinks during meals. HA!! I might as well be talking to a brick.

It just took me 30 minutes to finish 1/2 c. of cottage cheese. I'm very happy I've been banded.

OMG Terri I am having the same thing with my hubby. I can't believe how much I notice how and what people are eating. I sat across from my DH the other night and watched him SHOVEL in his food and wash it down with rivers of liquid! I was thinking "yuck!" I know I did the same thing 6 weeks ago and it was really eye opening.

You know what else was eye opening? I have 2 children, 1 thin and 1 average weight. My think one eats like I currently do. Really small bites, takes a little at a time, etc. My average weight one eats more in one sitting but only when he's hungry. If not, he won't even have a bite. I'm so thankful that I somehow raised kids without the eating issues I had (and clearly their father has! Yuck! LOL!).

Aren't we just paragons of virtue all of a sudden?? ;)

I know, its hard to believe I use to eat a 6 or 8 oz steak. I love being able to eat 1-2 oz now. What a difference. I love the fact that I fill up on a protein shake for breakfast and I'm not hungry 4-6 hours after I eat. Its wonderful. Julie

This is such a good thread. I hope everyone reads it. It has so much good "mind" thoughts about our band and our thinking about others eating.
The first time I went to a buffet after reaching goal. I was invited . I would not have chose this on my own. I was just laughing inside. I was watching and almost giggling. I have told everyone that I have a lap band. It is no secret.
I still felt just giddy like I had a secret special toy . I felt so good about not pigging out.

edie

I hope that I can feel good like that at a buffet. I cannot imagine going to one yet, I have only been banded about 11 days and certainly it is a bit too early to consider, but buffets are one thing my DH and I used to LOVE to go to. We didn't just go to Ponderosa (though that is a good restaurant), but we would go to a casino not too far from a house we have in Northern Michigan on Monday nights for the casino's seafood buffet. There is also a wonderful chinese/japanese place not too far from home that has an amazing sushi bar included in the buffet price. We always went for the variety available at a good price. BUT, of course we would still eat more than we should!

Now, I am truly mourning not being able to go to a buffet. I cannot imagine spending $20 for a seafood buffet and eating maybe 1 cup of food. I hope I soon get to the point where I am like you and can just secretly smile because others are gorging and I am satisfied on a small amount. I think part of my sadness is because I am in "Bandster Hell," and part is because I won't be able to eat 16 different pieces of sushi anymore...I LOVE VARIETY... :(

Faith -- trust me.... you won't care anymore. You'll just be glad you can be satisfied on a cup of food and want to do a happy dance after every meal! Yes, paying $20 for your dinner would be a huge waste of money!! Maybe you could make some kind of deal with the manager since you are good customers.

You are so right...I have noticed that everything we did for entertainment was with food....we would go out to eat, if we had nothing to do, go out to eat, to be with family and friends, go out to eat...That was the center of everything....even in our church....bring food .....

and if you think about it, what do we do at every major holiday....EAT TIL WE PUKE!!! Its the American way!!! I know when it was Easter time everyone on the boards was talking about how it makes them mad that people put the Easter bunny into Easter because that is NOT what Easter is about and then in the same paragraph tell of the big BBQ they were going to for Easter dinner. I was laughing out loud thinking, "so when did eating become part of Easter?"...anyways....everything we as humans do seems to revolve around shoving stuff in our mouths, hungry or not.
Speaking of DH's....aren't they sweet. Mine, last night, says, I think I will get some ice cream...I tell him to ask DD if she might like some.....NOW in MY mind, I have taught him the bandster rules of portions....so I don't think another thing of it UNTIL he walks back into living room with two bowls of ice cream so heaped up that it is falling out of the bowls!!!! THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS!!!
It made me so mad, because not only does the ice cream have 130 calories per 1/2 cup serving, but there are probably 20 servings in each bowl..... OH BROTHER!! I don't know if you can teach someone you does NOT have to limit portions to do so!!! Damn men!! LOL....

Hi! I just joined the site yesterday. Thinking seriously about the band. It's great to see you all feel it's been a positive thing. I told hubby today I feel really guilty about getting banded because I ought to be able to push away from the table and STOP eating so much. Is that normal?

I felt the same way as you do before I was banded. I kept thinking all I have to do is eat like I am banded and save myself all of the pain , risk and money. Truth is it just is not that easy. I had to be honest with myself and admit that I needed this tool and that it was ok, thats why they make it and it is FDA aproved to help people like us. We are blessed to have such wonderful technology. I am now 4 weeks banded and I feel great . I wouldnt even know I have a band unless I eat and even with no fill I feel enough restriction to eat less. I know I do need the fill because I am eating more that I probably should but its a whole lot less than before and I am still losing weight. I am so glad that I did this for myself. For the first time ever I believe I can do this, and its a wonderful feeling. Good luck on you decision Keep reading this board you will get lots of info.
Kim:)

Well, it IS something you could try....following a few of the bandster rules. Before I was banded i did wean myself off of drinking with meals and made a serious effort at eating smaller portions, more slowly and chewing well. It DID help me to lose 3 pounds ....but I was hungry much of the time. I'm sure that over time I would have resorted to my old habits, however. The band prevents that from happening....and that is the beauty of the system!