wozzicat

B52 - I can totally related to your initial posting. It sounds like you were describing me to Tee. Portion Control says it all for me. I still have those things that I enjoy from time to time because deprivation does not work period. Deprivation is just another form of dieting in my opinion. I tried that path for a time and sure I lost a lot of weight but that is not a long term or realistic approach. Thanks to the band I have learned portion control and I no longer suffer from head hunger. I still see so many banders who suffer from head hunger and I do not understand it. What I don't understand is, is it the band that took away my head hunger or am I mentally in a better place now?? It really confuses me. I totally wished that all who deal with head hunger could walk in my shoes for a day. It is so liberating that food and the desire food no longer has a grip on me.
I don't journal food intake 100% of the time either. Being realistic journaling food for the rest of my life is just not going to happen. Maybe if I was taught to do it in grade school it would be a different story. If you think I am breaking a band rule for not doing it then whatever....but to me documenting food intake daily downright pain. I do it time to time so my Nut can keep tabs and make suggestions but she knows I only journal a week or so just for visits with her so she can have an idea what I am doing. Making lifestyle changes is a very individual based concept and people need to find the balance that works for them. No journey is ever the same and in my opinion there is no final end to this journey until I take my last breath.
One of the other things I have found difficult is that some people in my life still do not understand my lifestyle change. I do not give one once of **** about food anymore. I will come to your cookout but you don't need to make wings, steak and burgers to impress me. Give me a cup of food and I am good to go. My Father actually said to my mother with me in the room that I am starving myself because I eat so little. I try so hard to educate people around me but most do not take that much interest. I eat like a bird and a few believe it is a cause for concern because it is so unlike the old me.

There are certain things that I find flexible and one would be Snacks. I do stick to a certain amount of protien and calories per day. So if one day i dont finish my lunch, if I get hungry before dinner I may finish what I didn't eat at lunch. Same for dinner. I don't think it matters when I eat it as long as I'm not overeating during the day. I leave 150-200 calories extra every day just in case I eat all my meals and still need a snack. You will have to find what works for you, I don't think there is a right or wrong because we are all so different! Good luck!

I have always snacked when on a weight loss program. I just get too hungry inbetween meals. I snack on berries, low fat cheese, some nuts, beef/turkey Jerky, turkey pepperoni. I include them in my calorie count for the day. Right now my program is about 1200 calories a day. I am sure to get at least 60 gms protien, if not more. I drink lots of Water.< /p>
Times in my life when I was not focused on loosing weight (probably gaining) I didn't really snack. Of course I was eating much more at mealtimes than I do now.
I think each person needs to find what works for them, no hard and fast rule.

I use fit pal to track my calories. If I didn't snack I would only be eating 600 calories. If I wanted to do that I could have done Bernstein. I want my life. I want the band to help me with my satisfication

If anyone wants to be on fit pal with me I'm wozzicat

My NUT recommends 1-2 Snacks ONLY if necessary. For me, it's necessary. I incorporate it into my diet though. I usually eat Breakfast around 8:30, then I have my snack (Weight Watchers string cheese, yogurt, fruit, or something like that) around 10:30, I eat lunch around 12:30, and I usually have dinner around 5:30-6. For me, that works. If I didn't have my snack, I would probably binge after my lunch (as I have in the past).
If you feel you are very hungry, have a snack. It may help take that edge off, it may help prevent you from binging or making poor choices later on, and in the end, it may help you with your success. Just make sure you count everything you eat and stay within your doctor's requirements. Talk to your NUT about your situation, maybe he/she can help re-evaluate your eating habits and help you make changes that will help you.
Best of luck!

I didn't lose for the longest time after surgery then all of a sudden I lost 10 pounds in one week. I don't expect it to keep going that way. It was probably Water

Im definately becoming discouraged... Im 12wks post op and about to have a 2nd fill tomorrow. I measure my meals, avoid snacking and even sometime have to remind myself to eat 3 xs per day. But I also have Pcos which made weightloss initially a battle. Just hoping I dont disappoint my surgeon tomorrow! #HateToFail#

I'm like Mommycat, I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. I didn't start losing till my 4th fill. Most of the people who lose 30-40 lbs the first 6 weeks are overweight by 150-200 lbs and may only be 5' 4" tall. And most of the weight they lose is stored fluids.
I too was starving so I ate a lot of healthy food so I didn't feel deprived. You will have to have a few fills before you get out of bandster hell. It's a difficult time but try to maintain as much as you can. Stay away from sugars, fat and processed flours.
What you are going through is normal for someone your height and weight.
tmf

I'm sure a big part of it is your body trying to both recover from surgery and adjust to the drastically changed daily diet.
Perhaps a visit with your nutritionist can ease your mind?
If you're counting calories and eating healthy, the weight WILL come off. I know that probably doesn't make you feel much better right now, but it will. Sometimes the body can be really stubborn about letting it go though.
Keep doing what you're doing and the scale will start moving- and I'm guessing sooner than later.

I haven't told anyone. I don't want to hear the comments

I am having issues with all the Easter candy but I have resisted

I am so glad I found someone exactly like me. Now I'm hungry. I guess the swelling is going down. My appointment is march 7th for a fill. I will be so hungry til then. I can drink Water like normal now which makes me feel good

I was told straws create air. My doctor doesn't want me using them

I always worry in restaurants about breaking chairs or breaking a lawn chair

I need all the words of encouragement I can get now. Thank you

I need all the words of encouragement I can get now. Thank you

I need all the words of encouragement I can get now. Thank you

I need all the words of encouragement I can get now. Thank you

Hi There
I guess they filled my band with 4cc during surgery. That is what they took out. I could swallow but it felt like a big lump in my throat. They said I was too swollen from the surgery to have fill in too.

That is amazing

That is amazing

That is amazing

Now if we don't get fills do we still have restriction? I wonder why I went through the surgery if I don't have that restriction. Do you feel satisfied?

Thank you it had to be done. I just couldn't swallow right at all. I have to wonder why I swelled more during the surgery for this to happen. No fills until I know I'm not swollen. I can handle the head hunger as I did in preop but I can't stand the feeling of not being able to swallow right.