I've been offline for quite awhile...moved...moved again...kept losing pounds slowly but surely...still working on it all...but...I just recently moved to an African country and pretty much all we eat is fresh foods...I'm having to completely change my diet based on what I can get and can't get due to my location...thus back online I go to make sure that I keep with my original weight loss goals and continue that slow loss down to my goal weight...

I'm not complaining about eating fresh...most of it comes straight out of my garden, but since being banded I've struggled with getting salads/raw veggies down and keeping them down...so honestly, other than an occasional bite...I haven't really eaten raw vegetables for a really long time...

Suggestions? Fills/unfills aren't going to happen...there are no docs where I'm at. Yes, I can cook them, but I'd like to figure out a way to get some raw veggies down my gullet. I've tried leaving out the lettuce...which really seems to cause me issues..but it doesn't seem to matter...

I'm currently trying the chew to mush method, which allows me to eat *maybe* 1/4 cup...but that is all...and maybe that is enough...

I'm just wondering what others experiences/tips/suggestions might be.

If you want raw and are chewing to mush, you probably have your answer: On a good day, up to 1/4 cup at a sitting or stick to cooking what is cookable.

You don't name any of the vegetables apart from salad items that you've tried. If any of them have fibrous outer layers or simply peels that are commonly eaten, have you trimmed those layers away?

Because the band can behave differently at different times for no apparent reason, wait and try at a later date. You may have better results then. Maybe not, but there's only one way to find out.

A life of fresh foods sounds lovely, but, now that you have me thinking about it, I'd probably miss conveniences like canned, peeled tomatoes for making sauce. Plenty of other things, too, I suppose.

Edited October 18, 20169 yr by WLSResources/ClothingExch

I figured I was probably doing what I could with what I have. I do peel whatever I can like tomato skins squash skins, etc... ...I have a 1/4 cup on my dinner plate right now and I'm having to really take it slow, but its going down.

I dropped an additional 20 pounds since moving here just because of the diet change. I've learned to really love it. The great thing is we truly have everything here...lettuce/carrots/beans/corn/peas/squash/tomato//beets/onion/etc for veggies and so many great fruits...pineapple, mango, papaya, bananas, apples, etc... And the avocados...so cheap and twice the size of your fist.

Yes...I do love the options...and we are definitely lacking in convenience...but fresh tomatoes for sauce is pretty delicious when you take the time to make it!

I also know my malaria medication causes some band restriction so I'm trying to take that at a time not related to a meal as well.

Thanks, wlsresources/clothingexch!

Omg I just ate salad - and it feels HORRIBLE. I only took maybe 6 bites, alternating chicken and lettuce. WTF. It's not like veggies can expand?!

I have the same reaction to certain veggies. I hate that I can down a bag of M&Ms but can't keep lettuce from coming back up.

I'm selective and seriously have to chew to mush when I eat it. *sigh*...I'm considering it one of the cons to an overall positive decision...