marfar7

I eat when I get hungry...every 3 hours or so. I don't really distinguish between a meal or a snack. Hungry is hungry and eating is eating. I usually only eat enough to not feel hungry anymore, not necessarily until I'm full. And I drink Water or a Protein smoothie or juice in between. Honestly, if I only ate three times/day I would be seriously undernourished because I can't eat that much in a single sitting.
What difference does it make how many times you eat as long as it is good choices and you aren't exceeding your body's caloric needs? The huge difference in rules and guidelines dished out by all the nuts just confirms none of them really has the "right" answer. I've managed to pass my surgeon's goal and my personal goal weight without a single postop consult from a so called "expert". Like squeaker said, you have to find what works for you in order to have long term success.

Fortunately I haven't suffered too much from cravings. I've been in my favorite ice cream place with friends and haven't had a single scoop. I drive by my favorite restaurants and go home to eat some healthy food I have there. But I've also been to parties and picnics where there is yummy "no no food". I guess in these situations it isn't so much of a craving as an "impulse buy". In either case, I eat a couple bites and then I'm over it....strawberry shortcake, Mexican crazy corn, potato salad, blackened chicken Alfredo, potato chips, Doritos with taco dip, tiramisu, cheesecake, birthday cake..... And I do this all without guilt. I chose to have a normal happy life after surgery, not to be on a restrictive diet the rest of my life.

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

1 yr (4 yrs post op lapband and 1 yr with sleeve revision). I'm about 10 lbs from goal but been easily maintaining for about 6 mths. I eat whatever I want. Literally. I don't count anything - I go by what my tummy tells me (if I'm hungry, I eat. If I'm full, I stop). It's been reliable so far. That might change, I know, but it's working for now.
Thinking about counting calories just to get to goal. I can smell 140 around the corner. I feel like I'm failing at this wls thing cuz I'm not to goal.
Todays menu was:
8 am: 1 smcrabled egg, 1 pc of bacon, 1/2 pc of toast with real butter
12 noon: chicken salad (canned chicken, mayo and diced celery) with 6 wheat thins, about 4-6 pineapple chunks (which I couldn't eat when banded, so tickled I can now have my fav fruit)
3pm: 1/2 carton of Greek honey yogurt, about 12 almonds
6pm: Going out to a Japanese restuarant for my step daughters bday. Plan on getting my usual: Grilled chicken with veggies, grilled shrimp appetizer, steamed rice, and Soup. I usually have enuf left for 4 more meals
9pm: Usually have 1/2 n apple with almond butter before bed.
Since I can only eat a small amt, I usually eat 5-6 x a day. I do eat burgers, tacos, pizza, wine, and coffee. I don't eat these very often and I don't eat very much. Cept coffee. I drink 2-3 cups a day with sf Creamer or sf coffee Syrup with 1/2 and 1/2.
Good luck to u. I know I'm in the minority here with eating whatever I want. I'm not saying thats the way to go. I've been fairly successful and plan on continuing with what works for me. When it stops working (or when I plan on taking off the final 10) I will reevaluate.

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

In 2007, my 46 yr old husband of 19 yr passed away suddenly (a perforated colon). I was devastated. Thought I'd never again be happy.
It's now 7 yrs later, I've been remarried for almost 3 yrs. It took a good 3 yrs before I was even ready to start dating again. Losing 70 lbs definitely helped with my self esteem.
I can't believe how happy I am right now. I was so depressed that I spent 2 weeks in the psych hospital while they worked out my meds, fearing that I would harm myself...
Everyone has a sad story I guess. I can't believe all the stories I've read here today. Sad
((HUGS))

In 2007, my 46 yr old husband of 19 yr passed away suddenly (a perforated colon). I was devastated. Thought I'd never again be happy.
It's now 7 yrs later, I've been remarried for almost 3 yrs. It took a good 3 yrs before I was even ready to start dating again. Losing 70 lbs definitely helped with my self esteem.
I can't believe how happy I am right now. I was so depressed that I spent 2 weeks in the psych hospital while they worked out my meds, fearing that I would harm myself...
Everyone has a sad story I guess. I can't believe all the stories I've read here today. Sad
((HUGS))

OMG. ((HUGS)). I'm so, so sorry...

So, I'm the last likely person to use anything not prescribed to me.. When in WA last week, my stepson took us to a medical marijuana store that his friend owns. After much discussion, it was determined that weed would help my chronic back pain. So he gave me 2 chocloate bars. I'm extremely lightweight when it comes to stuff like this so I ate 1 small square last nite. After an hour, I felt nothing. So I ate another 1/2. Bam, hit me. All of a sudden I was brought back to age 20 and realized why I don't like pot. I ate 1 1/2 pkgs of Lean Cuisine pizzas and 2 Trader Joes taquitos till I thought I might bust.



So, hint: make sure if u get the munchies u have cut up veggies on hand. NOT pizza and taquitos. There's ur words of wisdom for the day.



Now that everyone thinks I'm a drug addict, I guess Ill call it a day...

I had my lapband placed in 2009. Lost almost all of my weight (111 lbs) and then it slipped. They defilled me to see if it would fix itself. It didn't. I was told it wasn't surgical and that "it was all up to me" now - the lapband was done with it's job. After a year, and 30 extra lbs, I decided to revise to the sleeve. My insurance paid for it cuz it was a lapband complication.
Had my sleeve revision in July. It took my dr an extra 30 minutes to dig my band outa my stomach. Not sure what would've happened if it had stayed in there any longer.
So happy with my sleeve. It's going pretty slow (lost 22 lbs in 3 mths). I knew it would come off slower cuz I started lower (174), and I'm only 23 lbs from my goal of 130. I've only vomited once since being sleeved (vs almost everyday- even while totally unfilled with the band)
No more pain while eating either. My dr doesn't recommend the band to anyone anymore. He fixes more complication than sees those with none. While I'm thankful that my band allowed me to lose over 100 lbs, I'm also thankful that its out and I'm on my way back down.
Good luck with ur decision!
Marci

Had my band in 2009. Loved it the first 3 yrs. Till it slipped. I was about 14 lbs from goal when it slipped (frequent vomiting will eventually do detriment to ur band). Spent almost a yr trying to fix it conservatively (unfills/fills/tweaking) until it finally herniated and had to come out. I went thru the same thought: Taking 85% of my stomach out forever? Why yes, please. I want to be thin, FOREVER don't I? I don't want weightloss to be temporary. And sometimes it takes doing something drastic for drastic changes in ur life. It's what it took me. No diet ever worked. It took altering my anatomy to do that. I gained 30 lbs during that yr of it being slipped.
I'm now 9 mths out from my sleeve revision and now have 10 lbs to goal. It's coming off pretty slowly now, in fact for 5 mths I easily maintained. Had to review my intake and decide I wanted to eventually get to goal, not just dream about it. My bmi is now normal so if I never lost another lb, I'd still be happy.
Good luck to u! U can do this!

My dr also is under the school of thought that there's no such thing as dumping with the sleeve. Every single time I eat ice cream my stomach cramps. I would'nt think that was dumping until a few nite ago. I ate ice cream before bed (yes, I know I'm a slow learner!) and 2 hrs after falling asleep I woke up with severe stomach cramping. For 2 hrs I suffered with cramping and explosive diarrhea (sorry tmi). I promised myself I wouldn't eat ice cream again (not unlike begging God for mercy and promising never to drink again upon vomiting with too much alcohol!) if God got me thru it.
I will probly eat ice cream again (when I forget about how it feels) but not anytime soon.

I didn't go to my 20th in 2005. I lived 3,000 miles away, my husband was unemployed, and I weighed 250. No way.
My 30th is coming up next year (2015), I live 4 hrs away, my 1st husband died and I'm remarried and my current husband has a job, and I weigh 150.
Can't wait!

I go there every week for their dark roast Joes coffee Beans (whole beans). They're the best for the $ ($4.99 for 12 oz). We go thru about 3 cans a week. I also like their spicy guacamole, yogurt cheese (jalapeno flavor), almond butter and natural Peanut Butter. They have some yummy frozen stuffed mushrooms too
I also luv their dark chocolate anything (caramels, pretzels, espresso Beans, almonds).
One thing I dont like there is the "$2 buck Chuck" which has increased to $2.49. It's their cheap wine and even the sweet versions (like white zin) are puckering. Haven't found a flavor I like. Not sure about the rest of their wines, just their cheap versions. I also like their non fat honey yogurt (make sure u get the non fat otherwise ull be consuming 8oz and 290 calories for the full fat version. Live and learn. The nf one has 140 cals and is just as good). I don't usually buy nf items (or even low fat) but yogurt and milk are exceptions.
Have fun shopping...

I go there every week for their dark roast Joes coffee Beans (whole beans). They're the best for the $ ($4.99 for 12 oz). We go thru about 3 cans a week. I also like their spicy guacamole, yogurt cheese (jalapeno flavor), almond butter and natural Peanut Butter. They have some yummy frozen stuffed mushrooms too
I also luv their dark chocolate anything (caramels, pretzels, espresso Beans, almonds).
One thing I dont like there is the "$2 buck Chuck" which has increased to $2.49. It's their cheap wine and even the sweet versions (like white zin) are puckering. Haven't found a flavor I like. Not sure about the rest of their wines, just their cheap versions. I also like their non fat honey yogurt (make sure u get the non fat otherwise ull be consuming 8oz and 290 calories for the full fat version. Live and learn. The nf one has 140 cals and is just as good). I don't usually buy nf items (or even low fat) but yogurt and milk are exceptions.
Have fun shopping...

From a former band patient who had complications (a slip) and went thru sleeve revision last year, I personallly would steer clear of the band. My dr only does them for those who insist on them now, he doesn't recommend them anymore.
I understand ur hesitancy over the RNY. If those were the only 2 I could choose from, however, I would probly choose the RNY. WHile the immediate complications outweigh the immediate complications from the band, the long term complications from the band far outweigh the RNY. My dr offered either the sleeve or the RNY following the removal of my band (in one surgery), said both were good choices. However, at the time my bmi was 28 (174 lbs) and I couldn't get past going thru RNY to lose 40 lbs.
It was lucky that my insurance company covered the sleeve. It wasn't offered to me in 2009 when I got my band and they started covering it 6 mths before my revision. SO thankfully I had a choice.
I would do ur research on the complications and long term results of both the band and the RNY. For the first 2 yrs, I loved my band. Gave me my life back and I lost 104 lbs. Until it slipped, most likely caused by the excessive vomiting (almost everyday). U'll be able to eat more of a variety of foods with the RNY (like healthy Proteins and fresh veggies) that u might be unable to eat with the band (some can eat whatever they want, some can only get "slider" foods down). But if ur a big fat/sugar fan, u might get dumping with the RNY. It all depends on ur lifestyle.
Research, research, research. Don't let anyone talk u into having something u feel uncomfortable with.
Good luck! If u have any other ?'s, plz pm me!

My dr said the same thing. The only weightloss component that the sleeve has is restrictive only, not malabsorbtion - which is what dumping is caused by. I believed him.
At about 4 mths post op, I ate ice cream. I was in the bathroom cramping with disarrhea and I was sweaty for a couple hrs. I thought maybe it was a coincidence. So a month later, I tried ice cream again. I can eat, cheese, milk, yogurts - but not ice cream. I think it's the fat mixed with the sugar. It happened again.
I'm now 12 mths post op and able to eat maybe 2 bites of my hubbys ice cream. I would never even think about getting my own.
Good luck with ur decision and ur surgery! It's a whole new world out there!

From a former band patient who had complications (a slip) and went thru sleeve revision last year, I personallly would steer clear of the band. My dr only does them for those who insist on them now, he doesn't recommend them anymore.
I understand ur hesitancy over the RNY. If those were the only 2 I could choose from, however, I would probly choose the RNY. WHile the immediate complications outweigh the immediate complications from the band, the long term complications from the band far outweigh the RNY. My dr offered either the sleeve or the RNY following the removal of my band (in one surgery), said both were good choices. However, at the time my bmi was 28 (174 lbs) and I couldn't get past going thru RNY to lose 40 lbs.
It was lucky that my insurance company covered the sleeve. It wasn't offered to me in 2009 when I got my band and they started covering it 6 mths before my revision. SO thankfully I had a choice.
I would do ur research on the complications and long term results of both the band and the RNY. For the first 2 yrs, I loved my band. Gave me my life back and I lost 104 lbs. Until it slipped, most likely caused by the excessive vomiting (almost everyday). U'll be able to eat more of a variety of foods with the RNY (like healthy Proteins and fresh veggies) that u might be unable to eat with the band (some can eat whatever they want, some can only get "slider" foods down). But if ur a big fat/sugar fan, u might get dumping with the RNY. It all depends on ur lifestyle.
Research, research, research. Don't let anyone talk u into having something u feel uncomfortable with.
Good luck! If u have any other ?'s, plz pm me!