Tighter Isn't Always Better

[♥LovetheNewMe♥ 1,216]

Great article Jean as always! I appreciate your insite and posts.

[leannel90 206]

This made me feel so much better. I was at my doctor the other day and when I said the word restriction he told me not to use it. He gave me the same information as this article but I haven't heard this as much as I've seen the word restriction. I really enjoyed this article...thanks!

[Jim1967 3,569]

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.

Saw my Nut this week and she told me to only count my calories if I feel I need to. She told me I am getting in my own head too much with the numbers. She said as long as I am working out and I am losing weight then do not focus on the calories and just ensure I am eating good foods and getting in the proper Protein.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Saw my Nut this week and she told me to only count my calories if I feel I need to. She told me I am getting in my own head too much with the numbers. She said as long as I am working out and I am losing weight then do not focus on the calories and just ensure I am eating good foods and getting in the proper Protein.

Hmm. Sounds familiar. I got a similar talking-to from my surgeon last fall! It's hard for me to recognize when I'm obsessing and over-thinking things, and I tend to anticipate disaster if I can't control every little detail or calorie.

[Rojasanoll 920]

Since we know our bodies better than some doctor's, WE are the only ones that can judge what we need and how we eat. Opinions and lot's of free advice always is around us to try and use, but WE will make the decision and choices that WE feel are the correct ones. Most of us already know that Protein first, then the rest. WE just have to retrain our brains and DO IT!

PS. Jim1967 you're doing GREAT!

Best wishes

[Kell-Bell 2]

BEST article EVER! This was me for quite a few months! Now that I've had 2 slight unfills I'm happy to say the insanity has stopped! Any new binders on this pay close attention to this! Tighter us not better! I'm 2 years post op and have kept 110 lbs off. Now that I'm eating better (well, can finally eat normal) I have more energy and I'm back working out and trying to get another 40 lbs off this year! The band has been a good tool but weight loss surgery is not magic! Like the article said...the control needs to mainly come from your head. Good luck to everyone! Stay strong, positive, focused, healthy and always believe in yourself!!

[hely88 883]

I was always told to measure by volume and not count calories.

[shaziajan87 4]

Thank you so much for referring me to this site, after reading this article it makes so much sense, because that's exactly what I was doing the"soft diet" thing no more, thank you,

[justfoundthisboard 25]

Thank you so much for this article. It explains so much. I had my surgery 5/28/13 with a 1.5c fill. The first month I was able to work my way up to "real food, " exercised a couple times a week, and lost 16 lbs. Then I plateaued. At my next appointment the surgeon gave me a small fill (2cc). I felt like I could "eat a steak," and didn't lose a thing. I went back and against his better judgment, I insisted on another fill. Since then (last Thursday) all I can get down are shakes and Soups. And, I'm not losing weight. My surgeon is now out of town. Should I contact his on-call partner and get an un-fill? I feel like if I don't I will be eating soft foods until my next appointment mid August and won't be losing weight. And I miss all my summer fruits and veggies!! I feel like a failure...

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Thank you so much for this article. It explains so much. I had my surgery 5/28/13 with a 1.5c fill. The first month I was able to work my way up to "real food," exercised a couple times a week, and lost 16 lbs. Then I plateaued. At my next appointment the surgeon gave me a small fill (2cc). I felt like I could "eat a steak," and didn't lose a thing. I went back and against his better judgment, I insisted on another fill. Since then (last Thursday) all I can get down are shakes and Soups. And, I'm not losing weight. My surgeon is now out of town. Should I contact his on-call partner and get an un-fill? I feel like if I don't I will be eating soft foods until my next appointment mid August and won't be losing weight. And I miss all my summer fruits and veggies!! I feel like a failure...

You're not a failure. This whole thing is brand new to you, and you still have a lot to learn.

If I were you, I'd contact your surgeon's on-call partner and schedule a small unfill. liquid and soft calories just do not provide the early and prolonged satiety that you need, and keeping your band too tight can cause complications like band slips.

Also, try to be patient about the weight loss. I know that's hard, but losing 16 lbs the first month is very fast, and the plateau you've experienced then is quite likely due to your body's effort to readjust your metabolism. It may be thinking, "Oh, no! We're going to starve to death! Better slow this engine way down!" Because the body perceives calorie restriction as potential starvation, tt's possible to cause a plateau by eating too few calories. I've heard so many people say they started to lose again after they started adding more (healthy) foods to their daily intake.

I love my summer fruits and veggies too, and complex carbs like that can also help weight loss because the Fiber content helps keep you satisfied while its doing all kinds of good stuff for your health.

Hang in there!

[justfoundthisboard 25]

Jean, thank you so much for your sage advice. I finally saw my surgeon's partner today and I was surprised when he told me to not get an unfill and stick to Clear Liquids another 48 hours and then smooth liquids a couple of days, and then finely ground foods - like my post-op diet. He said there's nothing wrong with giving my body time enough to get used to the fill (3cc) and that I needed to stop vomiting to heal. He also felt there was nothing wrong with liquids for another week provided I was getting my fluids, Protein, and Vitamins (which I am). He said if I'm not comfortable with real food by next week I could come back for the unfill but he would take a whole cc out. I am meeting with the dietician tomorrow. I have a lot to learn about eating/exercising with my band, and I will take a look at some of the links to your books and blog. Thanks!

[solson8201 98]

Jean, I've been reading your fabulous articles for a few months now and just realized you are the author of the awesome cookbook I have next to my reading chair! Not sure why I haven't made the connection sooner, but thank you for the great articles AND the delicious recipes :-)

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Saw my Nut this week and she told me to only count my calories if I feel I need to. She told me I am getting in my own head too much with the numbers. She said as long as I am working out and I am losing weight then do not focus on the calories and just ensure I am eating good foods and getting in the proper Protein.

Yeah, calorie counting can become a "can't see the forest for the trees" thing!

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Jean, thank you so much for your sage advice. I finally saw my surgeon's partner today and I was surprised when he told me to not get an unfill and stick to clear liquids another 48 hours and then smooth liquids a couple of days, and then finely ground foods - like my post-op diet. He said there's nothing wrong with giving my body time enough to get used to the fill (3cc) and that I needed to stop vomiting to heal. He also felt there was nothing wrong with liquids for another week provided I was getting my fluids, Protein, and Vitamins (which I am). He said if I'm not comfortable with real food by next week I could come back for the unfill but he would take a whole cc out. I am meeting with the dietician tomorrow. I have a lot to learn about eating/exercising with my band, and I will take a look at some of the links to your books and blog. Thanks!

I'm sure your surgeon would be relieved to hear that I approve of his advice!

Following a liquid diet when you've been having eating problems and difficulty adjusting to a new fill is a good idea that I advocate often. It gives your upper GI tract a chance to calm down so that the next time you try solid food, you should be able to eat and enjoy it more easily. But I think we have to be cautious about that approach because it can delay facing up to the fact that we might need an unfill.

[ribearty 544]

I think that having my band too tight is going to result in me having to have it removed. I am 6 years and have been on prescription heartburn medications for 3 years with no relief. Last year my esophagus was dialated and they removed some Fluid. It went back down. I go see a new doctor on 7/31 and I know he will do some diagnostic tests.