Are there other Bandsters out there who can eat ANYTHING?? I'm approaching my 1 year bandiversary (Aug), and I've had 5 fills. I feel a little tight, but I can still eat absolutely ANYTHING..... thick crust pizza, burger with bun, sandwich with bread, rolls, shrimp....... you name it. Am I the only one? I've lost around 60 pounds, but it is very frustrating!

Surby, you sound just like me. I have been banded a year and have only lost 50 lbs. I can eat everything, just less of it. I am going back in for a fill this Thursday. You are not alone.

Okay, got a question for you both:

Why is it BAD that you can eat anything? Okay, okay, I know it would be nice to not be able to eat junk foods, but for example the OP mentioned shrimp which is not a bad food at all.

I got banded specifically BECAUSE I wanted to be able to eat ANYTHING and not be limited in my food choices. But I do know that I will have to make good food choices and not eat the thick crust pizza, burger with bun, sweet rolls, etc... If I want a nice small cut of filet mignon I want to be able to have it, if I want a shrimp cocktail, I want to be able to eat it, if I want a few pieces of sushi, I hope I can eat that, too. Fresh fruit, I had better be able to get it down. I will be devastated if in order to achieve restriction I am limited in my food choices. And I want to be able to eat 2/3-1 cup of food. 1/4 cup of food wouldn't safely sustain a toddler.

Will I probably lose slower for this? Maybe. But I REFUSE to hope for so much restriction that I start living on Protein shakes. I could have done that without surgery.

So far I haven't had problems with anything but do you find it to be as nice to eat when you have to chew 5 billion times? :confused:

I totally agree. In fact I really have mixed feelings about getting my first fill on Friday. I am a fruit lover and would like to be able to eat a substantial salad (if I tolerate raw vegetables well). It's hardly worth all the effort to chop up only enough vegetables for a half-cup salad.

...It's hardly worth all the effort to chop up only enough vegetables for a half-cup salad.

One of the hardest "head" parts of being banded is getting used to not eating huge quantities of food. We've done it for years and that is what got us fat. And let's face it, if all we ever ate was salad, we wouldn't be fat. We eat huge quantities of everything. So it really does come down to a choice, small portions/thin or large portions/fat.

Granted, but I guess I'd still like to be able to eat at least 2/3-1 cup of salad (with Protein on it, of course :confused: )

I don't have the need to eat 3 cups of it like I did before, though.

Granted, but I guess I'd still like to be able to eat at least 2/3-1 cup of salad (with Protein on it, of course )

I don't have the need to eat 3 cups of it like I did before, though.

As a meal or with a meal? :confused:

Yes. Me, I can! Not in anything like the quantities or at anything like the speed I used to but I have yet to come across a food I categorically cannot eat, and I've got 2.9ml in my band.

I dont see why its a problem. I get to live a completely normal and unrestricted life. Only without the 85lb that was getting me down. I make healthy choices most of the time, I dont eat a ton of crap like I used to, I try to stay away from unhealthy foods as much as possible and only have them for treats - nights out, holidays etc. My day to day choices are fine - if you believe wholegrain carbs are healthy that is.

I've lost all my weight, past my goal being able to eat anything. I eat a lot less is the main reason, but also, just because I can eat something, doesnt mean I often do! I've learned a lot of self control, its ironic that it took me a band to work that one out but I've really realised, I have no one to answer to but myself and if I dont make those choices, then I have to live with the consequences.

Jacqui, YES I totally agree that whole grain carbs are very good food, and important to me.

I want very much to be able to eat EVERYTHING healthy and good for me (and every once in a while, something kind of bad), but in smaller quantities than before. I don't want to be scared to eat fresh fruits, or shrimp or whole grains. Like I said before, if I have to live on Protein shakes, or eating less than a toddler eats, I don't want any part of it. But that may work for some people, and that's okay. It just won't work for me.

Jacqui, I read your posts and think to myself, that's the attitude I want and the way I want to eat.<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig --><!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

faithmd, I have thought that about Jachut from the very first time coming on this site. She has it all together, in my opinion. She eats what she wants, doesn't leave out any food groups and exercises a LOT!!!! I do the same now that I am banded!!! The only thing that I don't eat is bread. I have had pizza once. It was fine. The bread thing is my issue that I have with bread. Pre band we used to eat 5-6 slices of bread with dinner with butter every single night!!!! I just don't want to get into that habit again. So, I guess, if I decide to eat bread I will, but I do it for my own reasons. I do eat rice, pasta, couscous, tortillas, crackers. I am not low carbing it in any way, shape or form.

the only thing i seem to have a problem with is bread, soda, & greasy food.. I avoid it at all costs.... And sometimes if i have a few to many bites of boiled potatoes it hurts like hell and i completely regret it... lol but i dont even miss those things anymore... its like your taste changes.. I mean my new thing is cottage cheese with fruit and i used to hate cottage cheese (those cottage cheese doubles are also good- 11g of protein)

I suppose that my restriction is really the question....... I feel that maybe if I had the right restriction that I would NOT be able to eat certain things. After 5 fills, I would think that I would've reached my "sweet spot." My surgeon won't say how much fluid I have in my band, so I'm clueless there! They have all been performed under fluoro, so I am assuming the band is OK. I have learned A LOT of self-control as well. I NEVER EVER eat anything sweet anymore, and my taste for them is almost completely gone. It's awesome!

I've wondered about what I can and can not eat after surgery too. I do want to still go out to eat and enjoy that socialization. I am mentally prepared to adjust what I order and know I will take home left overs. I just don't want to feel "too" different or make eating out such a hassle. :hungry:

I suppose that my restriction is really the question....... I feel that maybe if I had the right restriction that I would NOT be able to eat certain things. After 5 fills, I would think that I would've reached my "sweet spot." My surgeon won't say how much fluid I have in my band, so I'm clueless there! They have all been performed under fluoro, so I am assuming the band is OK. I have learned A LOT of self-control as well. I NEVER EVER eat anything sweet anymore, and my taste for them is almost completely gone. It's awesome!

If my surgeon wouldn't say how much fluid is in my band I'd have a REAL BIG problem with that. It is your band, your body and he works for YOU.

If my surgeon wouldn't say how much Fluid is in my band I'd have a REAL BIG problem with that. It is your band, your body and he works for YOU.

I agree. It's important to know that "X" cc's feels like this yet "Y" cc's feels like this...

I disagree with the doc.