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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.