Alright kids, I've asked your opinion on this before, but need to get more information to bring to my nutritionist.

I get 2 opinions from LBT Bandsters on:

Do I eat my 3 squares and two Snacks as prescribed vehemently? It is supposed to keep up my metabolism. My NUT insists on this. I know all NUTS and Surgeons have different ideas as to this. I've heard good arguments for this type of eating.

OR

Do I only eat when I'm hungry? Possibly compromising my rate of metabolism. For most of the month (except when TOM makes it known and I find I gain weight during that time) I'm not very hungry. I haven't eaten all day and could not eat my dinner. So, I wonder, why force myself to eat something every two hours when I'm just fine without eating (not doing it on purpose).And I'm concerned about the Starvation mode kicking in.

Tell me how you feel about this. Give me a great argument to bring to my NUT.

I always eat when I'm hungry. Some days it's 3 meals & 1 snack, some days 3 meals & 2 Snacks some days it's eating every 2 hours... but I always try to stick to 1200 cal per day. I have done this throughout my 10 month journey & lost almost 75 pounds. Is this the "right way"? It is for me. I say find what works for you and stick to it. Make it a lifestyle that you can live with because if you have a hard time with a standard meal plan you have a higher chance of failure. Just because the "average" is 3 meals a day & 1 snack doesn't mean that will work for you.

That is my 2 cents!

Now I was told, don't eat if you're not hungry

other days

3 meals a day ,most days don't have snacks

I always eat when I'm hungry. Some days it's 3 meals & 1 snack, some days 3 meals & 2 Snacks some days it's eating every 2 hours... but I always try to stick to 1200 cal per day. I have done this throughout my 10 month journey & lost almost 75 pounds. Is this the "right way"? It is for me. I say find what works for you and stick to it. Make it a lifestyle that you can live with because if you have a hard time with a standard meal plan you have a higher chance of failure. Just because the "average" is 3 meals a day & 1 snack doesn't mean that will work for you.

That is my 2 cents!

What do you mean by..."a hard time with a standard meal plan you have a higher risk of failure"...

What do you mean by that? Thanks, BTW!

Now I was told, don't eat if you're not hungry

other days

3 meals a day ,most days don't have Snacks

Thaks Mgram! What was the discussed reason why you eat only when hungry? Did NUT tell you that?

What do you mean by..."a hard time with a standard meal plan you have a higher risk of failure"...

What do you mean by that? Thanks, BTW!

I mean the standard 3 meals a day may not work for you and if you try to stick to it and don't you feel like you failed.... It becomes a diet that you can't follow. I failed at every diet I tried before getting my band. Once I was banded I changed my way of eating (my lifestyle). I eat Protein first when I'm hungry. That is what works for me. It may not work for everyone, but it does for me.

When I say you I mean you in a general term, not you specifically. Just want to clarify.

Thaks Mgram! What was the discussed reason why you eat only when hungry? Did NUT tell you that?

My Dr told me not to eat if I wasn't hungry, said when my body needed it ,it would let me know.

I can not force myself to swallow anything if I'm not hungry.

He told me I could drink up to eating, but I think I need to stop at least 30mins before b/c I think that's what fills me.

Haven't seen Nut in 3 mths.

Like aj says, I think we have to do what works for us.Right now this is working for me, but if it stops I'll have to talk with the Nut.

My NUT told me I COULD eat between meals; however, to eat if hungry. She also told me that if I feel hungry to drink something and then in 15-20 minutes if I am still hungry to eat something. She said often we confuse thirst w/ hunger. I think either way is fine and it is what works best for you! As we see so many VARIED opinions from people's doctors and NUTS, it seems clear to me that it isn't an exact science and more a set of guidelines for us to follow what works best for us. Either way you handle it, if you are still losing and not hungry, seems like a success to me.

Polly you're back, sort of!

only till I find the appropriate picture!

My NUT told me I COULD eat between meals; however, to eat if hungry. She also told me that if I feel hungry to drink something and then in 15-20 minutes if I am still hungry to eat something. She said often we confuse thirst w/ hunger. I think either way is fine and it is what works best for you! As we see so many VARIED opinions from people's doctors and NUTS, it seems clear to me that it isn't an exact science and more a set of guidelines for us to follow what works best for us. Either way you handle it, if you are still losing and not hungry, seems like a success to me.

My NUT says, IF I am hungry it's good to have Snacks like 10+/-almonds, etc. I am skipping Meals, she doesn't like that. But it feels natural to me.

Thanks for the info!

My NUT says, IF I am hungry it's good to have Snacks like 10+/-almonds, etc. I am skipping Meals, she doesn't like that. But it feels natural to me.

Thanks for the info!

It's like them saying you need to eat Breakfast 30 mins after getting up. I don't want to eat for about 2hrs after getting up.

Alright kids' date=' I've asked your opinion on this before, but need to get more information to bring to my nutritionist.

I get 2 opinions from LBT Bandsters on:

Do I eat my 3 squares and two Snacks as prescribed vehemently? It is supposed to keep up my metabolism. My NUT insists on this. I know all NUTS and Surgeons have different ideas as to this. I've heard good arguments for this type of eating.

OR

Do I only eat when I'm hungry? Possibly compromising my rate of metabolism. For most of the month (except when TOM makes it known and I find I gain weight during that time) I'm not very hungry. I haven't eaten all day and could not eat my dinner. So, I wonder, why force myself to eat something every two hours when I'm just fine without eating (not doing it on purpose).And I'm concerned about the Starvation mode kicking in.

Tell me how you feel about this. Give me a great argument to bring to my NUT.[/quote']

My instructions from my nutritionist and surgeon

There is no more breakfast lunch and dinner as a bandsters, it's meals 1, 2 and 3.

Only eat when hungry. When you eat make good quality choices and take your Vitamins everyday.

If you can only eat two meals one day that's fine.

Do not eat to try speed up your metabolism was another rule. They don't believe in starvation mode, there are adjustments your body makes but we won't starve, plenty of fuel on us.

My instructions from my nutritionist and surgeon

There is no more breakfast lunch and dinner as a bandsters, it's meals 1, 2 and 3.

Only eat when hungry. When you eat make good quality choices and take your Vitamins everyday.

If you can only eat two meals one day that's fine.

Do not eat to try speed up your metabolism was another rule. They don't believe in starvation mode, there are adjustments your body makes but we won't starve, plenty of fuel on us.

Pretty much what I do...eat when I'm hungry...and then make wise food choices....

Sometimes that means Snacks all day and no meals....sometimes one meal and a few snacks....all depends....sometimes no meals at all, and very few snacks..but I DO get my Protein in EVERY DAY....

As far as metabolism, choosing the right foods helps me there......and I run 5 miles per day, 5 days a week.....then work 10 hours a day seeing patients.

And starvation mode....asked my surgeon early on...he looked at me and laughed and said I had no fear of that, meaning I had enough stored away as fat to survive....

as long as I get my Water, protein, and vitamins......

Loosing weight is, and always has, been about consuming less calories than we can burn.....eating more to loose weight has never worked for me....but the opposite has.

i eat when i am hungry.

and i make sure its (filling/protein filled)

and i find drinking alot helps my hunger.

bee well

Every day I eat 3 meals of 3 oz pf Protein, 1/2 c veggie and 1/4c starch. When you are in the green zone that should hold you but sometimes I need a snack in the afternoon and evening and sometimes I do not. It depends on the day and what I ate for my meal. However I most always get in my 1000 calories and always try to get in my Water.

I do not feel hungry very much and would skip eating if I didnt make myself eat so eating when hungrey doesnt work for me.