Do you eat the same stuff??

[candtwalker 46]

Just less of it? I have found myself eating the same types of meals as I used to "preband", just much less of it. I am maintaining my weight where I am happy, so I am not worried about that.

I was just wondering if there are any other banders out there that eat the same things as before the band, just a lot less.

[bnrguy34 2]

I am newly banded but right now I can only eat puree stuff and soft foods .

[dawalsh 919]

Just less of it? I have found myself eating the same types of meals as I used to "preband"' date=' just much less of it. I am maintaining my weight where I am happy, so I am not worried about that.

I was just wondering if there are any other banders out there that eat the same things as before the band, just a lot less.[/quote']

As long as you diligently count your calories you can eat moderate amounts of what you used to eat. The band does not give you a free pass to eat anything you want. You can occasionally go off your regimen and eat an occasional treat.

However, you've got to change your lifestyle and not fall back into old eating habits.

I'm sure you've read some of the threads and if you're not careful with what you eat you can gain your weight back. The band is a tool and it is there to guide you with hopefully smaller Portion Control but healthy portion control as well.

In other words, you are not forbidden anything but make note of your trigger foods. By trigger foods I mean foods that make you feel like you want more.

In closing, I eat everything as well through counting and measuring my calories.

Much continued success in your weight loss journey!

[parisshel 1,892]

No, I don't eat the same things that I ate prior to being banded. I cannot eat any red meat, for example, and that used to be something I'd cook a couple of times a week for dinner. Now, only my kids get hamburgers, but not me.

One of the biggest changes is that I don't include a traditional starch at every meal, which was always my way of eating before. Before, my Breakfast would include bread, either in the form of toast or a croissant. Every single day! lunch would also include a starch: bread or chips or potatoes...I really needed this to feel full. dinner was the same: it included Pasta or rice or bread.

I thought I was eating "balanced" because I hit all the food groups!

Now, I don't eat any bread or bread products, rice, Pasta, or couscous. I haven't had a sandwich in three months. I can't imagine even being able to eat bread without it getting stuck, and I don't want to see if I can, because then it is a slippery slope back to eating as I did before.

I eat much more protein--that is the ticket to staying full for me. Much more fish than ever before...I eat fish most everyday. (Before the band, I would have fish maybe once every two weeks.) As for staches, I eat bits of potato or sweet potato, or I have another starchy veg like peas or Beans. But not until I've eaten my Protein.

I used to drink a lot of carbonated Water and one diet coke a day. I stopped all carbonated beverages the day of my surgery and have never had one since. Now I only drink milk or Water or iced tea. I do miss my fizzy water, but not enough to go against my post-op rules.

I used to eat dessert...a lot of dessert. I couldn't imagine not having Cookies or cake after my meals...and snacking on them in the afternoon. Now if I have a sweet, I have one cookie (the size of an oreo...not a "big" mall-sized cookie) and I don't eat cake at all.

Most importantly, I am not forcing myself to eat this new way. I am able to eat this new way and not feel that old feeling of "dieting" because my band has turned down my hunger/cravings. Also, without the traditional carbs my cravings are dimmed as well.

Hope this helps!

[Bandakat412 26]

What you eat matters to weight loss. It's not just calories in/calories out. Sugar and even high glycemic fruits and white starchy food, spikes blood sugar which can cause weight gain and metabolic syndrome, and then the blood sugar drop leads to hunger. Some foods cause cellular inflammation that leads to weight gain. These vary with individuals but can be wheat and corn.

Anyway, as long as you get your nutritious foods, maintain your weight if you're happy where you are- I wouldn't compare to others. Everyone has something different that doesn't agree with their band.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,722]

i do not eat like i did before as in total agreement with parrisshell (the junk/processed foods or fast foods) and certainly cannot with the amounts i use to eat....now that i have this tool inside me to help me lose weight, it seems only natural to eat better foods that are good for me since i am trying to get healthy. absolutely nothing wrong with eating any foods (as food is not the problem) but there are better choices....baked vs fried etc....so no i dont eat like i did before surgery. i no longer crave chips and dip but like i told my friend AJ yesterday, i crave that cold watermelon in my fridge right now..i do eat one splurge meal of whatever i want once a week..(in my allotted amount and then right back to what i know is best for me)...like with all things, it will vary with people.

[KAATNS 1,473]

Nope, no more Taco Bell, McDonalds and Dominos for me. No desire whatsoever.

[Kime-lou 648]

Yes and No. I think the answer totally depends on how you ate before. If you ate a lot of fast food and junk, then the answer would be no, you need to change. If you ate healthy foods before, but way to much, then yes, you could eat the same things.

For me, I still eat many of the same things, but with modifications. Like if I want a hamburger or hot dog at a cook out, I eat it, but without the bun. I tend to get stuck on the bun. I don't eat french fries anymore, one because they aren't to healthy and two because they get stuck.

I still eat baked and bbq chicken. We do eat a lot more fish now, it's yummy. I don't eat steak anymore due to getting stuck. I've never been a big sandwich eater, so I don't eat those. While I use to make a lot of Desserts, I don't now, so that is a change. If I do make something I eat one small piece and bring the remainder to my work for co-workers or send it to the hubby's office.

In the place of Pasta I often use spagetti squash or if in a pinch I will use whole grain angel hair Pasta. I still eat my veggie pizza- but one slice instead of a whole or half of a pizza.

Breakfast use to be a biscuit or two from McDonalds- now it's a cup of light and fit 2x Protein yogurt with fresh berries.

My weight has been a slow steady decline, which my doc is happy with. Of course I would like it to be better. I will be meeting with my nutritionist next month with lots of questions and my food diary.

So, basically I think the answer to your question is totally subjective.

[Spaness2012 609]

I agree with the above. I have made conscious changes as well as natural changes due to my band. I too no longer run to McDonalds for breakfast. I was doing that at least 3-4 times a week before. The thought of doing this is no longer appealing to me and the choice becomes so much easier. I plan my meals much more consciously now. I no longer eat dessert every day after dinner (this is what I did all the time). Dessert now is an every now and then occasion and even then I am super picky with what it is (are the calories worth it? is it that good?, etc.). I still cook for my family and eat, for the most part, what they eat. Just in much smaller quantities.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Sometimes, it depends. I've changed old family favorite recipes to be healthier and still eat them and other foods I still eat just as a I did only less. However, the truly bad food like fast food and junk, I don't eat anymore.

[mrsto 2,925]

I've never been a fast food junky, but the rare time that I do drive through, I'll choose one of their healthier options. Carl's Jr. has a great turkey burger. I'll eat maybe half of it. I do not have any issues with bread, but even so, I eat very little of it. I've found that I'm satiated for longer when I omit carbs. If I don't omit them, I eat a tiny portion.

Like parisshel, my pre-band diet was the old pyramid; Protein, starch, fruit & veggies. I think there was also milk on that pyramid, but I really only drink it when there is Cookies or cake to wash it down - LOL!

[Creekwood 702]

I'm only 6 weeks post-op but I do eat SOME of the same foods that aren't great for me (hot dogs, cheeseburgers that i make on the grill) but I eliminated A LOT of foods! I don't go through drive-thru's anymore, no pizza, stay away from Desserts (except for very rare small snack), pastas, and the list goes on. I eat a lot of Protein filled foods/snacks now. Ham, chicken, turkey bacon, turkey pepperoni, nuts, Protein Shakes (for breakfast almost every day). But, even when I do eat some of the same things as before its in much smaller amounts.

[Frederic 500]

I eat pretty much the same but in smaller quantities but I arguably ate relatively healthy before (at least much more nutritiously minded than anyone around me).

In fact I specifically chose to get WLS because I was working so hard to watch what I ate and still couldn't lose weight and I chose lapband because it was the procedure least likely to impact the variety of foods I could enjoy in moderation.

[dylanmiles23 2,198]

Just less of it? I have found myself eating the same types of meals as I used to "preband"' date=' just much less of it. I am maintaining my weight where I am happy, so I am not worried about that.

I was just wondering if there are any other banders out there that eat the same things as before the band, just a lot less.[/quote']

I eat a lot of the same foods but smaller portions. I do eat meat, ground beef and filet mignon. The filet is the most tender and I have no problem chewing it. Pork is hard but I do fine with long smoked ribs because they are tender. I have bread if good in restaurants and eat the crusty parts not the doughy part. I do eat a lot of salmon and chicken.

I was not a soda drinker but miss my straws with iced tea. I have fruit and sf Popsicles all the time.

I will not give up good cheese pizza. I have found in the past when I gave up foods I quit all sensible eating and I won't let that happen again.

[mrsto 2,925]

I eat a lot of the same foods but smaller portions. I do eat meat, ground beef and filet mignon. The filet is the most tender and I have no problem chewing it. Pork is hard but I do fine with long smoked ribs because they are tender. I have bread if good in restaurants and eat the crusty parts not the doughy part. I do eat a lot of salmon and chicken.

I was not a soda drinker but miss my straws with iced tea. I have fruit and sf Popsicles all the time.

I will not give up good cheese pizza. I have found in the past when I gave up foods I quit all sensible eating and I won't let that happen again.

I'm totally with you on this. If I give up all things that I love, it's a setup for failure. And I won't let that happen again, either. I've learned SO much over the gazillion years dealing with this curse