Tighter Isn't Always Better

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

You know, there's a couple of generations of bandsters who were told they could eat anything on the band as long as the band would allow it. They're not going to like what you just said?

I see it often where people claim that the reason they got the band was that it would keep them from eating too much or eating the wrong things. We all try to re-educate of course. But, did they hear that from a professional or was it some off the cuff remark made by someone on a forum somewhere? Probably both?

Anyway, I couldn't agree more. I find myself opting for soft calories when we go out so that I don't get stuck. Not a lot of fun sitting at a table with 8 people while everyone is gobbling and I can't even sip my Water.

tmf

No, the old-school bandsters probably wouldn't like this article, but presumably they're focused on something quite different from WLS by now.

I think a lot of misunderstandings arise when advice from medical professionals and patients and who knows who else gets jumbled up so much that no one can remember the source of a particular myth, belief, opinion or "fact". Today I had to take one of our dogs to the vet for his annual exam. While we were waiting, I overheard half of a phone conversation between one of the front desk ladies and a pet owner who wanted to know how much it would cost to declaw and spay her cat. She was obviously dismayed by the price and insisted that "someone" had told her it would cost less if it was done in a single procedure, with the cat anesthetized only once. The office lady said, "Who told you that? Someone here? Because that's not correct, and that's the price we've charged for those procedures for years now." Of course, the cat lady couldn't remember who told her that, but felt that the vet's office was lying about it. She just didn't want to hear what they were trying to tell her.

The same is true with human medicine. A few months ago when I told a distant family member that I'd lost 90 lbs thanks to my band, this otherwise extremely intelligent and well-informed man said, "Wow! So, how does that work? I mean, you eat as much as you want and you lose weight?" For a minute or two, I thought he was joking.

I devote a lot of pages in Bandwagon to explaining how to recognize satiety, and because I would really like people to buy the book to learn about that, I haven't been giving away that advice for free. Also, as you know, satiety is a very individual thing. I think I'd better reconsider satiety as a future LBT article.

[2muchfun 8,927]

I've got the book and I'll take a look.

[Sai 785]

What a wonderful article. Something I can certainly relate to because I was in "Soft Calorie Syndrome" land for perhaps more than a year. After they removed some liquid, it took a long time to get out of that mentality, and I still have to force myself to eat real food. When I do eat, I can easily stay full for up to 6 hrs. or longer.

"She said, “I was able to eat again. Solids went down easily. bread was on my menu. Meals lasted me several hours. I didn’t snack because I was able to eat enough to keep me satisfied.” is what I'm experiencing again but it has been difficult because my mind still wavers towards the Soft calorie syndrome mentality.

Since I've been making myself eat real food, I've been taking in about 500 calories less per day because I can eat anything I want without pain. However, mentally, I still battle with it every meal . When everything gets stuck & eating becomes painful day after day for over a year, I suppose one's mind won't easily forget that. For example, when I'm at a restaurant, I still have the urge to find something soft that will slide down easier for fear of being stuck at a public place but that defeats the band's purpose. I'm hoping that it will pass soon but in the mean time, I continue taking each meal one at a time. Thanks again for a great article!

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

What a wonderful article. Something I can certainly relate to because I was in "Soft Calorie Syndrome" land for perhaps more than a year. After they removed some liquid, it took a long time to get out of that mentality, and I still have to force myself to eat real food. When I do eat, I can easily stay full for up to 6 hrs. or longer.

"She said, “I was able to eat again. Solids went down easily. bread was on my menu. Meals lasted me several hours. I didn’t snack because I was able to eat enough to keep me satisfied.” is what I'm experiencing again but it has been difficult because my mind still wavers towards the Soft calorie syndrome mentality.

Since I've been making myself eat real food, I've been taking in about 500 calories less per day because I can eat anything I want without pain. However, mentally, I still battle with it every meal . When everything gets stuck & eating becomes painful day after day for over a year, I suppose one's mind won't easily forget that. For example, when I'm at a restaurant, I still have the urge to find something soft that will slide down easier for fear of being stuck at a public place but that defeats the band's purpose. I'm hoping that it will pass soon but in the mean time, I continue taking each meal one at a time. Thanks again for a great article!

It does take a while for our minds to catch up with our bodies, doesn't it? I think you're doing all you need to do to adjust - take it one meal at a time. And promise yourself that the next time you find your band so tight that soft calories are your only option, call your surgeon ASAP!

[hely88 883]

I eat mostly all solids but when I go out to eat with family I usually have Soup or something soft. My reasoning is they all eat so fast if I try to keep up I get sick. Also I don't always have a say where we go so I tell them to make sure restaurants have soup options in case they don't have anything else for me. I don't see anything wrong with this and it is not often. I see more and more people advocating solids and it makes me really happy.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I eat mostly all solids but when I go out to eat with family I usually have Soup or something soft. My reasoning is they all eat so fast if I try to keep up I get sick. Also I don't always have a say where we go so I tell them to make sure restaurants have soup options in case they don't have anything else for me. I don't see anything wrong with this and it is not often. I see more and more people advocating solids and it makes me really happy.

No, nothing wrong with ordering soup when you're in a situation like you've described. I learned to order soup whenever I took my elderly mother out to eat. Much as I loved her, she was so needy and demanding that I couldn't possibly pay enough attention to my own meal to avoid eating problems. It's when soup becomes a daily routine that I begin to worry.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

I agree totally. I don't want my band to be so tight I can't eat anything worth eating. I still love food and want to enjoy at least what I can eat.

[Jim1967 3,569]

Sometimes I scratch my head and wonder if I am doing this right....

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Sometimes I scratch my head and wonder if I am doing this right....

Right in what sense?

You've lost 159 pounds!

[Jim1967 3,569]

Satiety throws me for a loop sometimes. For someone who has been a binge eater all their life it is a difficult concept at times. What I can say is I don’t crave food anymore and I can typically stop when I am satisfied but at times I wonder if I am eating too much or too little. I like to think I am eating just enough to be satisfied but then I have my days where I will actually skip a meal either because I am just not hungry or I get so involved with work that I just forget. Then I get into my own head whether or not I am sabotaging myself somehow. I also have had my moments where I think ‘crap, I should not have taken that last bite’.

Twice last week and again today I had Breakfast at 6:30 and then ended up working through lunch to then realize it is now 4:30 and too late for lunch as dinner time is right around the corner…

I guess I am just over-thinking it all…

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Satiety throws me for a loop sometimes. For someone who has been a binge eater all their life it is a difficult concept at times. What I can say is I don’t crave food anymore and I can typically stop when I am satisfied but at times I wonder if I am eating too much or too little. I like to think I am eating just enough to be satisfied but then I have my days where I will actually skip a meal either because I am just not hungry or I get so involved with work that I just forget. Then I get into my own head whether or not I am sabotaging myself somehow. I also have had my moments where I think ‘crap, I should not have taken that last bite’.

Twice last week and again today I had Breakfast at 6:30 and then ended up working through lunch to then realize it is now 4:30 and too late for lunch as dinner time is right around the corner…

I guess I am just over-thinking it all…

Sounds to me like you're doing fine. I also tend to overthink and overanalyze, but I think it's good that you're aware of the adjustment process. and I think that people who expect to change their eating behavior overnight are facing a much tougher journey.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

jim can i add something....i eat when i am hungry..

if i am not hungry (at lunch) i dont eat....if i am not hungry at dinner, i dont eat

i think of a baby....they eat when hungry and then turn their head when full.....

you have done well....but i can read myself in your words.

[hely88 883]

jim can i add something....i eat when i am hungry..

if i am not hungry (at lunch) i dont eat....if i am not hungry at dinner' date=' i dont eat

i think of a baby....they eat when hungry and then turn their head when full.....

you have one well....but i can read myself in your words.[/quote']

I wish I could be like that but I find there are many times I am not really hungry but I can tell my body needs me to eat. I am pretty sure it as to do with my meds and how they metabolize. It is very easy to over think. Learning what my body needs is a whole new chapter for me.

[Jim1967 3,569]

jim can i add something....i eat when i am hungry..

if i am not hungry (at lunch) i dont eat....if i am not hungry at dinner, i dont eat

i think of a baby....they eat when hungry and then turn their head when full.....

you have done well....but i can read myself in your words.

I do that often times as well but then I worry about whether or not I am getting a good amount of calories in to keep weight loss going. At some point if you don't eat and start skipping meals it can also put you in a stall and eventually you start to lose muscle instead of fat..at least that's how I understand it.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

I do that often times as well but then I worry about whether or not I am getting a good amount of calories in to keep weight loss going. At some point if you don't eat and start skipping meals it can also put you in a stall and eventually you start to lose muscle instead of fat..at least that's how I understand it.

that is 100% correct.

so when i do eat (i make sure i am getting the Protein, veggie stuff in me) and i do drink my shake (like you in the a.m.) i like knowing i have that jump on the Protein and I LOVE my shake so i dont mind

the way i see it, my bod has some extra (fat) on me and if it needs to borrow some from my a ss area or thighs, be my guest