I've just finished reading this entire post and I have found it enjoyable, for some reason.
First, the "rules" stated by the OP are good, sound, advice. Just add daily exercise, and watch your daily calorie intake and the world will be a perfect place. But I'm not perfect. I needed surgical intervention. I've had this mantra on my fridge for 35 years. That's what made me smile. "How do you become a millionaire? First, go out and get a million dollars, then you take that and............" (Steve Martin)
What I have learned with my band is this: There are certain foods I will never be able to eat again. No more breads or McD's burgers, etc. I've tried! So long to the belly Buster Subs and Philly cheese Stake sandwiches, may you RIP.
I have also found that the quantity of what I can eat is now very limited. I still get Chinese take-out, just that I no longer eat enough to feed 4! I usually throw out most of it. (Hint: I don't save left overs...will come back to them later if available)
So, if what I eat, and how much I can eat has been limited, that will now bring me back to what the OP listed. And that is "Make the most of what you CAN eat!"
I still go to fine restaurants with my family and friends. There are items on the menu I know will not go down easily, if at all. I focus on the entree that looks good, and has a high Protein value, fish..chicken..steak..etc. Skip the appetizers, that will only fill me up. I will steal a taste of my wifes if need be, but only a taste. When my food arrives, I will eat the Protein first. Then the scalloped potatoes, etc., but I don't have room for those so again it's only a taste.
Dessert: I'll have coffee and ice cream. Compare this to what I would have eaten 6 months ago...I am Way out ahead!! I would have had 4 courses, cleaned my plate, and ate what my Wife didn't.
I went to a all day auto racing event yesterday. They had all the usual carnival type foods there. chicken fingers, fries, hot dogs, burgers, pizza, etc, etc. I wasted a lot of money buying different things, only to throw them away after one swallow. So, in 8 hrs in the hot sun, know what I ate? Ice cream, and 1 or 2 lite beers. Not very nutritional. But that's ALL i ate, plus a few bottled waters and I must have walked 20 miles. Six months ago, I could not begin to tell you what I would have eaten at a event like this!!
I'm not saying this is the logic people should follow. I'm saying this is how it is currently working for me. I have dropped 45lbs in the last 6 months, and I have 35lbs to reach my goal.
