OK, I am getting advice from a lot of people that are not on the board and know little about the surgery. They are saying that I might not lose weight.

I typically would eat in a day now (no band) and it always varies but usually comes from a restaurant...

Breakfast

2 fast food breakfast sandwiches (or 1 plus something else to fill me up)

lunch

Fast food sandwich and fries or salad with full fat dressing, or 2 tacos and chips and salsa from Tijuana flats (lots of the chips and salsa and probably some queso too, or a small hamburger and a fillet o fish, or a barbque sandwich with fries and an order of onion rings, fried mushrooms or other appetizer

Snack

Crackers and cheese,or popcorn, or a small hamburger, or some Cookies with a little icecream, or sometimes nothing

dinner

Either a footlong tuna sub (no mayo and with less tuna than they normally use)and bag of light chips, or Carrabas chicken Marsala with fettucini alfredo, bread, side salad and some of the fried calamari (I don't finish all of the chicken and pasta), or Outback Alice Springs Chicken with fries and some of the appetizer,salad and bread, or I stir fry beef with some onions and mushrooms and serve it over rice...

Then maybe a snack before bed - typically some popcorn, or a few light chips or some(15-20) crackers, or maybe a Peanut Butter sandwich and a few chips if I had a lighter dinner.

OK, that being 'confessed', lets say I have the band and it is filled to perfection and I get full easier, Even if I didn't change my eating habits (this is worse case scenario, I know that is not healthy, but please play along :huggie: ). If I had the same food options as above, and I was feeling full much faster, wouldn't a typical day again using the same foods be something like...

Breakfast - 1 fast food breakfast sandwich and wulaa - I'm full!

Lunch - A Happy meal, or 2 small tacos BAM! Full again!

Snack - about 40 pretzels, or about a cup of some baked cheetos

Dinner - A few pieces of the fried calamari, a bite of the salad, and the chicken Marsala (no pasta)

Snack - 5 crackers and some cheese

I don't drink caloric beverages and I am willing to give up the diet soda and do crystal light, skim milk, unsweet tea and Water.

Theoretically I should still lose weight right? I have heard people say that the best way to lose weight is to eat what you like but reduce portion size. I realize that this is not a good healthy day of eating, but I would think that it is better than what I eat right now and I should lose weight.

What are your thoughts on this theory?

~Kim

I guess calamari is on my list with oysters-on-the-half-shell. Maybe I could? Not worth trying though.

I could eat a 6 inch sub if I peeled off chunks of bread along the way.

I could eat an Egg McMuffin if I took 45 min., peeled some muffin along the way, and added mayo.

I wouldn't order a Happy meal anything. Not worth it, french fries are gross, I'd rather have a salad or a small chili with a few chicken nuggets.

I have pretty well written off cheddar cheese now. It's gross greasy fat that messes up my numbers when I log it into sparkpeople. I'll sprinkle 1/2 ounce on a salad if it helps the taste of the salad (as in a spinich salad with nuts and apples and vinaigrette dressing?) otherwise it's off my list.

Last night I PB'd for the first time in a loooong time (months, I say!) on Chex Mix. Ouch. Aloe Vera juice and soft foods today, and a liquid Breakfast.

Banded eating is a whole new world. Be prepared for anything, because you won't know what it's like for you till you get there. It's good though! Good luck. You can do this.

I guess calamari is on my list with oysters-on-the-half-shell. Maybe I could? Not worth trying though.

I could eat a 6 inch sub if I peeled off chunks of bread along the way.

I could eat an Egg McMuffin if I took 45 min., peeled some muffin along the way, and added mayo.

I wouldn't order a Happy meal anything. Not worth it, french fries are gross, I'd rather have a salad or a small chili with a few chicken nuggets.

I have pretty well written off cheddar cheese now. It's gross greasy fat that messes up my numbers when I log it into sparkpeople. I'll sprinkle 1/2 ounce on a salad if it helps the taste of the salad (as in a spinich salad with nuts and apples and vinaigrette dressing?) otherwise it's off my list.

Last night I PB'd for the first time in a loooong time (months, I say!) on Chex Mix. Ouch. Aloe Vera juice and soft foods today, and a liquid breakfast.

Banded eating is a whole new world. Be prepared for anything, because you won't know what it's like for you till you get there. It's good though! Good luck. You can do this.

Too chicken to try it myself, but I hear the benefits are awesome........how does Aloe Vera Juice taste???? Really and honestly now....lol.

Too chicken to try it myself, but I hear the benefits are awesome........how does Aloe Vera juice taste???? Really and honestly now....lol.

honestly, it ain't great. I have no trouble drinking it, it has a sharp taste, but it's not bitter, certainly not sweet. It really helps though. If I'm having any trouble, being tight (TOM) or just getting stuck or having a hard time eating for whatever reason, I'll drink a small glass (4 ounces or so) at bedtime and it really soothes. I don't drink it every day. But I keep a gallon in the fridge in the garage. I won't be without it.

Good news though, at Wal Mart they have a smaller quart sized container of berry flavored Aloe Vera juice. I haven't tried it, but I'm betting it's better. Come on, take the plunge. Try it! It's good for anything digestive from the top to the bottom!

Okay Kathy,

You have convinced me....I will go to Walmart tomorrow night. Thanks for the info!

I just ate a 6" sub from a sandwich place. :think

:rofl: wow, I'm jelous! I'm not even losing weight, and very little bread for me. I've been jonesin' for a Cinnabon lately, but that won't be in the cards for me. At least not for a while!

I'm impressed Argon! Congrats on your sandwich. Next time, think about me while you are eating it!

My oppinion (from only reading the firtst post) is that YOU WILL LOSE..!!

You will NOT be able to eat two breakfast sands with a nice fill..

I cant even eat those anymore.. and I usually only had one..

You seem to like solid foods and lots of it.. and are not addicted to liquids and lots and lots of junk..

IMO.. your food intake will be cut alot.... If you dont force it..

I also ate fast food almost every single day..... so I have lost some weight,.

But I also drank slurpee's, blended coffee drinks, smoothies.... almost daily..

and I drank a gallon of milk and grape, apple or orange juice EVERYDAY without fail and THATS why I am stalled now..

Thats my oppinion anyway

GOOD LUCK

I can eat calamari no problem and I could eat a 6 inch sub if I liked them no worries. I can eat almost anything, but not a lot of it.

I have wondered about oysters though. I'd be scared to eat an oyster the regular way, just swallow it, but I dont know that I'd like to chew an oyster thoroughly!

If you plan to exercise.....actual real exercise....then it will open up a lot of eating options for you.

So true. I am still getting through 1800 calories a day or so and losing - slowly - but losing. Usually 3 - 5lb per month.

I need to cut down a bit as I want to lose a touch faster than that, but I'm happy enough.

I think you will also find that what you *want* to eat changes after you're banded. I don't know why, but it doesn't feel so much like "giving up" my favorite foods as just plain not wanting them anymore. I find myself eating cottage cheese for breakfast every morning and LIKING it! I never thought I'd see the day. I always thought cottage cheese looked like milk that had been sitting out on the counter for a month.

I eat oyster on the 1/2 shell with 2 or 3 chews of the cracker and swallow, I can eat about 6 of them.

I cant eat bread, but I crave it still after 2 years esp pizza nights

and when I walk by and smell subway...However I ordered their sub club salad last time the family went there and it was fantastic! took me two days to finish it.