I've been banded about 2 months now, I have 3cc's in my band, and I've been working at listening to the signals my band is sending. I think it's hard for us newly banded people to always tell what level of restriction we're at. I honestly don't know if I'm in the green zone or not, but I had an epiphany the other day about being full. It went like this:

Last night, after a home cooked meal with friends, everyone was sitting around talking about how full they were and rubbing their stomachs. I sat there thinking am I full too?

I wanted to ask them all how they knew they were full. Did they feel it in their stomachs, physically? Because that’s what my definition of full was before I was banded. I was full when I physically felt as though I couldn’t eat another bite. If I felt like I could still eat more, I wasn’t full.

Epiphany: I was still expecting that feeling after being banded, just that it would happen with less food, and that is all sorts of wrong!

That’s not how full is supposed to feel for anyone, banded or not. That’s what overeating feels like. Maybe full is the wrong word to use in general because, to me, it means “no more room.” My doctor often uses the term ‘satisfied’ in place of full but that doesn’t work for me either because I’m a food addict, I’m never quite “satisfied” with any amount of food. That’s how I got up to 235 pounds, ya know what I mean?

I prefer the word done, as in “I am done eating.” I don’t have to be full or satisfied to be done eating. It just means I have to stop, whatever the reason. Plus, it sounds very final and that helps me stop my head hunger.

So, was I done eating at that dinner with friends? Absolutely. I could tell that I had eaten in the sense that I felt the food in my stomach, but I wasn’t hurting or feeling uncomfortable like so many of my companions. I was just done.

It’s wonderful to realize that I don’t have to strive for full or even satisfied. I just have to eat enough of the right things to fuel my body and then be done. (This is an excerpt from my original blog post. Click here if you want to read the whole thing)

I wanted to share this on the forum because I hope it can inspire others who are struggling.

So who's with me on making "done" the new term for full?

Here's to not overdoing it, and not wanting to! Feels good, doesn't it, to be out of that feeding cycle, the more, more, more......

Congratulations -- you are doing so well! We will hit Onederland soon -- when is your birthday (you referred to in your blog)? Enjoyed reading your pieces!

Love it! I'm "done" with you! (In the nicest way, of course!)

This was BEAUTIFUL....

You should have written "DROPS MIC" at the end of that cuz reading that was like a "moment"

Here's to not overdoing it, and not wanting to! Feels good, doesn't it, to be out of that feeding cycle, the more, more, more......

Congratulations -- you are doing so well! We will hit Onederland soon -- when is your birthday (you referred to in your blog)? Enjoyed reading your pieces!

My birthday is May 5th

This was BEAUTIFUL....

You should have written "DROPS MIC" at the end of that cuz reading that was like a "moment"

Thank you!!! I'm glad it's resonating with so many people

i hate feeling full.i can't wait to find out what done feels like. surgery on may20th.

BlissfullyBanded this was a really great message...and I'm "DONE" with it too!!! Last night for the first time (was banded in Jan) did I feel that I was just DONE with eating anymore...left food on my plate...most of the time I merely just put a little food on my plate...I actually just decided nope I DON'T want anymore!!! That was even before I read this message...so that confirmed it for me-when I did read your message!!! Let us ALL BE DONE WITH IT!!! Happy Band Day's to Us All!!!

I love the word "done" I use it for so many things including when I am done with eating a certain amount of food. When I am done I am done, and there is no room for wiggle.

It's not a packed full feeling or even sometimes like you said that satisfied feeling, though in a way I suppose it's both of those things.

When it's done, you just have had enough of it in a healthy way and you can move forward. Love it!

Done!

BlissfullyBanded, I, too, have been learning what is 'done' and what is 'too much'. I definitely can eat a much smaller portion of food than I did before, and seconds are usually not an option. But, what you said, done, it's a great way of looking at things!

i'm done with weighing in every day...i have been vacillating betwee 273 and 279 am now 277.the darn nurse who prescibes for me still hasnt followed thru to change my meds,3 of which have made me gain over thirty pounds s ince the fall.i wish i could say i am done with eating period but i ahve to eat. looking forward t o losing on preop diet. read of someone who's port has flipped twice...sounds awful. God not me plz.am praying for asuccessful adn survivable surgery,know what i mean?

I started low carbing... Now I can't find an appetite. I are practically nothing the past two days which really isn't good so I need to work on that but seriously I don't even want food. Even up until a week ago with the band I was wondering the same question you just posted. I just wanted that satisfaction of "full"

I'm glad so many of you enjoyed my message!! It's quite the process trying to retrain ourselves to eat after being banded, but it helps to have the support of others who are going through it as well