I am only 24 days post-op. I've lost 26 lbs. in a little over a month. Sept. 3 was when I started my pre-op diet! That is a lot of weight in such a short time, right!? I mean I know it is.

I'm not always perfect. Sometimes I probably should measure, especially when I eat real foods. But I rely heavily on my tiny little yogurts, my tiny cottage cheese cups, etc. It's only when I'm confronted with real food that I slip up. Last Sunday was my teenage daughters birthday, so we all went to eat at Fazoli's! I ordered the absolute only thing on the menu I thought was healthy, Whole Wheat Penne Marinara with Basil Pesto, Broccoli and Roasted chicken. I sectioned off about a fourth of it, then auctioned off the rest. But I also picked at the breadsticks! All of my subsequent attempts to eat with my family have gone about like that. I make a valiant effort & it starts off well. But I end up eating some of the stuff I know I shouldn't! Not a lot, just a taste here and there. But it's frustrating and I feel I'm in for trouble once I get my first full October 17th.

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Most restaurants have chicken, fish , veggies and baked potatoes. Even if it's not on the menus ask your server. I do it all the time. When the meal comes I ask for a second plate and cut 3oz of my meat, half of a baked potato and remove it from my plate.... Then I enjoy my meal. I ate out once or twice a week during the past 2 years... It can be done but you need to stay away from the bread.good luck

I think your doing great. I don't think we are supposed to cut good food out for life. The band offers us help with portion control. I wouldn't worry about having a taste. Sounds like your making the necessary changes that your supposed to.

I think you are being too hard on yourself. You are still allowed to enjoy food, and every moment of your life can't be constrained. Just beware that getting an obstruction in a restaurant is stressful! You end up running to the loo 5 times to deal with it and it is seriously unpleasant!!! You are doing great. Remember, slim people don't analyse the food they ate and don't beat themselves up if they ate a bit of bread. Let it go, relax, and carry on.

Eating with the lapband now is about healthy choices and portion control. No foods are off limits but in saying that unhealthy foods we need not eat them like we used too. Bread is not off limits, if you can eat it it's fine. There are healthier bread choices rather than the white breads. If you have a little taste it's not wrong. We have to learn that it's no longer a diet as before but a healthier lifestyle. Sure if you eat a big piece of chocolate cake everyday that isn't going to help you loose weight but a small piece every now and then is fine.

When my kids have hot chips from time to time I eat a couple, enjoy them and I'm satisfied. In the past I would devour a box on my own, that's not fine.

My slim friends don't count calories but they eat healthy foods combined with activity. They also eat unhealthy foods from time to time. We need to stop this unhealthy approach that all foods are bad and off limits and personally I believe if we can do that then we will have a better relationship with food.

So please don't beat yourself up, you're doing great, you have the weight loss as proof.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the positive feedback. I guess I'm just scared to lapse into old habits. I literally avoided eating pizza for fear that I would want to eat it like I used to. I have noticed that some of the foods I used to "pig out" on don't taste as good to me! Maybe it's subconscious or maybe it's because I'm eating less fatty, less greasy foods and I'm acquiring a taste for them. Either way, I'm proud of my accomplishments. And I really appreciate the moral boost from everyone. Thanks.

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