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I find it strange and again somewhat frustrating to see so many of us speaking about the deprivation we're suffering with. I admit I felt a bit of buyers remorse in the first month following banding. I wasn't sure if I was "fat" enough. Did I really need a surgical intervention?

Now I couldn't be happier! Forget about how you ate pre surgery. You're never going to eat garbage like you did before. Not if you're smart. This surgical procedure was designed to aide your brain into a feeling of being full. It's not the "magic" bullet.

I sincerely hope and pray each and every one of you will do as I did: make a conscious decision to eat for nutrition not pleasure. Eating for pleasure is what got us to ill health. This is our chance to treat our bodies with respect.

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Actually, @@Jugido64, I've finally learned how to eat for nutrition AND pleasure. There are foods that I'd never tried as an adult because of childhood prejudices. But since I have to be more AWARE of what I'm eating, and more SELECTIVE about what I put in my mouth, I'm trying the things that I always thought I hated. Things like Brussels Sprouts, different kinds of fish, tofu, and so many other things. I'm learning that I LIKE these things, and they have the added bonus of being good for me. So, yeah .. I eat for nutrition and pleasure, and I'm taking my family on this journey with me.

There's no need to sacrifice the pleasure of eating just because we've made a huge change in our lifestyles and eating habits.

Anyone who thinks that you do have to give up the pleasure associated with eating ... I feel sorry for you. You are missing out on the wonderful world of yummy, healthy food.

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I don't feel sorry for me not wanting a "feel good" experience out of food. I'm getting my feel good from exercise and freedom of movement without pain due to the lowered weight on joints. I'm a different kind of WLS patient because I want to change everything about how I previously used food. Before banding, food was poisoning me with fat, preservatives, sodium and god only knows what else. For me it has to be a new way to get to a new happiness.

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Sweetheart, that's why you have to be selective about what you are eating. It doesn't have to be less pleasurable of an experience. Not eating in excess, not eating the WRONG things, and not blindly going about life they way we did before is the key to success. Depriving ourselves of the pleasure that can be associated with eating HEALTHY and very very YUMMY foods is not the key to success. The feeling of being deprived of something is the quickest way to fall back on old habits.
So, replacing the feeling of deprivation with feelings of fulfillment in new, healthy ways is much better. I've found that when I'm craving sweets, going for a cup of berries or yogurt is just as satisfying. In the monthly occurrence of CRAVING chocolate, I find that if I take my husband for a spin in the bedroom or indulge in time with my belly dancing DVDs, I'm just as sated. I've learned that Brussels sprouts cooked the right way are just as sweet and yummy as carrots can be. I've learned that sea scallops, sashimi, lobster, shrimp, and tillapia are yummier to me than steaks and other fat laden meats. I find pleasure in all of these things. Also, since I weigh and measure my food before I put it on my plate, I am positive that I'm not over eating like I used to, but I still have a pleasurable experience while eating.

Does this make more sense to you? You see, you are no different than any of the rest of us. You are simply mistaking pleasure for something bad or wrong. Pleasure doesn't have to be taboo. :D

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I don't feel deprived at all. That's the point I was making. I just don't see the psychological advantage of keeping the mindset of food being pleasure. It's necessary nothing more nothing less. At nearly 51 years of age I'm beyond fooling myself about my food addiction. It's been a long time coming for me....I'm happy eating for sustainability not pleasure. I'll get my pleasure elsewhere. I severed my love affair with food the day I admitted I have a food addiction. You may not suffer from this.....I do so I'm dealing with it head long and swiftly. It's not a bad thing for me. It's a life saving measure.

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The band will limit the QUANTITY of food I can eat, It's up to me to make the best of what I do eat....

I learned not to make the mistake of starting a meal with an appetizer, maybe a cup of Soup, then realize the band will not allow me to eat anymore....I blew it, never got to my Protein entree....

I'm not on any diet, don't count calories, etc. I just know what foods are good and what foods are bad.

Over the holidays, I ate whatever I wanted. It was my choice. And I thoroughly enjoyed !!

Difference is, the no matter what I chose to eat, the band will not allow me to over eat...and I really don't mind because I do not experience hunger the way I used to...it's all eye candy.< /p>

In my case, the band IS a Magic Bullet...it took months of struggling to get there, but once I did.....

The band prevents me from over eating...portions set

My hunger (and cravings) are non existent..

There are certain food types I will never be able to eat again, majority not good for me in the first place.

For a guy who used to eat en entire x-large pizza,along with 2-3 beers all by himself every friday night, and nocannot get through a single slice (if I wanted to)....

THAT'S MAGICAL

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The band never took my hunger away and I am five years post op. No matter how much or how little Fluid I have in it I have always been hungry. It doesn't work like that for everyone just like it does not stop me from eating what I want. No food is garbage unless you eat a ton of it. I don't eat my trigger food which is sugar because I know where it will take me. Every thing in moderation. If you all think losing was a pain in the butt maintaining is a bigger pain. You have to work harder then ever to maintain. Just my two cents. I don't come here often anymore because I don't need the support like I did when I was first banded.

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I thank you all for the input. I am very much enjoying the simplicity of Protein and hydration. For a food addict like myself the challenge on a daily basis is to find enough variation of Protein without ending up eating something I don't need. I love albacore tuna, sushi wrapped in sea kelp, calamari, fresh Dungeness crab, scallops wrapped in bacon and simple chicken breast with fresh herbs. I love the simplicity of protein 3-4 ozs at a time in a measured cup. I love the idea that I can truly eat nutritious food that tastes good. I am over the carbohydrate binges and the insanity of hurting myself through food abuse. I feel free of the insanity and it's so good.

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    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

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      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
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      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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