im about 5 weeks post op and iv been on solids for about 2 weeks now..but the problem is is that im slipping up here and there, im trying to stay focused and eat very healthy. for example yesterday me and some friends went to the chinese buffet.. and i knew i shouldnt have it but i got the bbq and orange chicken and some plantains and veggie lomain:thumbdown:.. i didnt have alot of everything just a little of everything but i still knew what i was eating was a no no. i also had some veggies with ALOT of dip!! last week.. little things .. i just dont know if this is normally behavor and its just gonna take some tyme getting used to the new me or if im just being really bad.. any input would be great!!!!!

p.s im not snacking in between meals.. its just my meal choice isnt great:sad:

Try planning ahead what you are going to eat in any situation. It's easier when you bring your own lunch, but when you are going out to eat, try to check the menu online first. When it comes to buffets, some people say they are easier and some say the opposite. There are always healthy options to choose, so make up your mind ahead of time that you are going to get only grilled chicken/fish & veggies.

I find that keeping a food journal helps. I can always look back and see what I've eaten out at restaurants before as a guide. it also makes you more accountable. I use www.myfitnesspal.com

Good luck!

First of all...YOU ARE HUMAN, so don't beat yourself up to bad. You are going to make mistakes good and bad. Soon you will get to the point where you can walk right past ice cream, cake, or bbq chinese food. I don't even crave ice cream, pop, or chips anymore and i only have less than 2cc in my band(banded in dec 09). so take a deep breath, look at your choices and remember everyone cheats and the people that say they are 100% commited to healthy choices are lying......pssst...they really are....

It sounds like you are being hard on yourself. Eating small amounts of any kind of food is what NORMAL people do and afterall, isnt that the goal of being banded? It is for me anyway :-)

My band helps me to eat as a normal person (without all the food issues) would eat. So I say, be proud of yourself, you went out to eat with friends and didnt binge or gorge yourself - YAY for you.

On the other hand, the better you eat, the faster you lose weight but even if you eat small amounts of the foods you listed you are still going to lose weight, just a little slower - so you just need to decide what you are happy with - but I say be proud of the advances you are making, fast or slow.

My answer is going to deviate a bit from the others. I don't mean it harshly, because really---you're not "just being really bad." Eating is not a moral issue--and it's clear you're trying to eat properly, even when you're not quite hitting the nail on the head.

But at five weeks postop, you should be focused on making healthy choices that give your body what it needs. And you should remain very mindful of quantity.

You don't yet have restriction, so it's very easy to overdo---without feeling consequences from your band when you do.

But now is the time to build good habits that will serve you well when you do have restriction. Ones that will stand you in good stead, give your body what it needs to stay healthy (because when stomach real estate is at a premium, you don't have lots of room for foods that offer little, nutritionally), and KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF when you reach goal.

Did your doctor give you good guidelines for postop eating? I don't know about yours, but mine has never said, "The goal of the band is to be able to eat like a 'normal' person---only less." He's always emphasized changing eating habits---and that the band only does a small part of the work. Making long-term changes yields long-term results.

I'm not suggesting there's no place in the post-band life for Chinese buffets. Certainly, EVERY life has room for this sort of eating on an occasional basis.

But I'd take care to ensure that you don't slip into this kind of eating routinely. These habits got many of us to the point where we needed bands---and there really are healthier ways to eat that are just as satisfying.

I have avoided buffets since I got banded. I feel like there is no way I can eat enough to justify the cost. Buffets have always been a way to justify bingeing. You will find it easier to make really good choices once you have restriction. In the mean time, focus on the right foods, even if the quantity will be larger than when you have restriction. By the right foods I mean lean protien, 2 servings of calcium, vegitables, beans, whole grains.

NO MORE BUFFETS! jkjk!

Just try and make good food choices. Get that Protein in first always, then do your sides. Take it slow and easy. Once you get some good restriction your body will not allow you to over do it. I know its hard, we tend to want to eat like we used to. Over time, you will get the hang of it.

One of my friends I met on this board gave me some good advice... Go to Walmart and get those 1cup or 1/2 cup ziplock bowls and use them to measure your food. Your protein should be 3 to 4oz, and your side should fit in 1/2 cup bowl. Just try to get in the habit of never eating more than 1cup at each meal.

I still eat what I want in moderation, and I am having great succes with weight loss. I just watch my portions.

Hi BetsyB

I agree with what you are saying, this journey is all about making positive healthy choices but my doctor has specifically said my band is a tool to help me towards eating like a "normal" person - someone who eats a healthy moderate diet and is not obsessed by food. The reality is, if this journey was simply about good food choices then you wouldn't need a band - there is so much more at play here and for most that includes a huge emotional and psychological attachment to food so any small advances are worth celebrating - so, from a psychological perspective it is best not to beat yourself up, use every step forward as a way to build your confidence and pride because that is what helps you to make those good choices as you go along. Just as others have said, during my 10 months I have good months and bad but the good outweigh the bad and the bad days get fewer and fewer - over 100lbs lost and I know for me this has been all about my head and almost nothing about the food. Good luck everyone.