So guys. I am loving being banded and I am awaiting my first full on 4th July but the restriction is pretty good already. Down around 35 lbs in like a month. I'm using myfitnesspal app and tracking my food and exercise. I'm consuming around 1200 per day but burning 400 with cardio exercise. My net calories are like 800/900 per day. The debate is this, I am eating healthy to a degree but also eating some fried foods and pizza but tiny quantities in comparison to what I used to hence the calorie intake and losing weight!

Does it matter what kind of foods the calories are coming from as long as you are burning more than you eat???

Your body will always function better, including weight loss, when you're feeding it healthy food.

I firmly believe in moderation not deprivation. Like you, sometimes I have a little bit of pizza or some other fried "bad" food. I don't believe there's anything wrong with it, either. I always count it in my daily calories too.

I would say 90% of the time I eat healthy and 10% of the time I eat what I want- be it pizza or ice cream- but I still count the calories even when I'm in the 10%.

I've lost 215 pounds in 17 months eating like this, so for me, it works.

Wow. Well done. You must be looking great!!!

Pics before and after??

Wow. Well done. You must be looking great!!!

Pics before and after??

You can see them on my profile.

Missy is right. Just keep the empty calories at a minimum and you'll succeed. My weakness is cheese. I don't eat nearly as much as before but I sometimes put a double dose on my omelette.

I think it does really boil down to moderation... I eat fried foods ( fish ) at least once a week now. BUT, I don't have fried french fries, hushpuppies, and all the other fried things WITH it. And not 3 or 4 plates full, like in the past. If I had the mindset that I could NEVER have something, I'd probably want it even more. I've heard several people over the past few years on here talk about they "can NEVER have this or that"....and they keep repeating it.....makes me think if they just had a small amount (a normal/healty portion), they wouldn't crave it. It works that way for me. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a local carnival/fair and they had some of the best looking and smelling DEEP FRIED OREO's....I really wanted some. I know they are not healty....but I wanted some. So, I did get an order of them....and the following day I rode a hundred miles on my bike! And as Missy said...it's working that way for me too. Enjoy your life. If you're losing 35 lbs in a month, I wouldn't change a thing! Congrats!

I agree, moderation is key. If I start craving, I have to satiate that craving even it's only by having a bite or two. I do count those cals and try to compensate throughout the day for that splurge. Also, I restrict myself to no more than 2 'cheat' meals a week. The less pressure you put on yourself the more apt you are to follow your rules and the less likely you are going to want those no no foods in general.

i eat what i want and i want now to eat good/healthy food choices once a week i eat one meal of whatever i want...i am not on a diet, i just eat different now..

So guys. I am loving being banded and I am awaiting my first full on 4th July but the restriction is pretty good already. Down around 35 lbs in like a month. I'm using myfitnesspal app and tracking my food and exercise. I'm consuming around 1200 per day but burning 400 with cardio exercise. My net calories are like 800/900 per day. The debate is this' date=' I am eating healthy to a degree but also eating some fried foods and pizza but tiny quantities in comparison to what I used to hence the calorie intake and losing weight!

Does it matter what kind of foods the calories are coming from as long as you are burning more than you eat???[/quote']

If you are feeling good and doing well, why the fill? Don't ruin a good thing. Some people never get a fill.

I only had one.

Fat loss comes down to the energy balance, but as previously stated, quality of the calories matters in keeping optimal performance and results.

Brad