I am about 25pounds from my goal weight (started at 255lbs and now 185lbs at 5'7"). I have been reading many of your posts and can relate to almost everything said. It is great to know I am not alone. You all are a blessing to me!

Anyways - people out there who are near or at your goal weight. How is life with food? For over 2 years, I have been avoiding going out to lunches and dinners with friends and familiy for the fear of the uncomfortable feeling of the golf ball in the chest and needing to know where the restroom is before I even sit down! Total embarrassment, which I learned as just to avoid the situation all together(which is sad). These past 2 years have been dificult, hard and exciting all at the same time. Trial and error is my learning experience most of the time.

My question is - I am really really restricted. Dont get me wrong - I am not starving in any way. Do you ask you Dr. to take a small amount (like 0.2cc to -0.5cc out) for maintainance or are you restricted tightly for the rest of you life? How are meals? Is it really just the 1/2 cup per meal for the rest of your life or can you actually eat maybe 1/2 of your dinner plate before feeling full.

How about that 'golf ball' feeling? After 3 bites, I always have that golf ball feeling until everything drops several hours later - so I am the classical ''grazer' through the day to get my nutrition. I tell my Dr. this, and he doesnt seem concerned. But he tells my Husband (who is also banded) that he should only eat once a day and only once a day when he is hungry. I would never make it. Its not like I am hungry, I just cant handle the food at once. (it literally takes me 3-4 hours to eat what my Husband eats). Are any of you the same way or can you actually eat a meal?

I guess my end point is - will eating always be a 'chore'? Im OK with this lifestyle - I am just wanting to know what to expect in the future - I always dreamed of being smaller and my health is grateful so Im not complaining. I just wondering if things slowly adjust where there is not so much pain and mindpower to eat all the time.

Am I making any sense or am I babbling?

I eat much the same as I did while I was losing. But, eating has never been a "chore" for me.

I did find that in order to stop losing, I had to have a total unfill, so I can consume enough calories to maintain my weight.

You sound like you are too tight to me. Why are you getting stuck after 3 bites. Is it because you are taking too big of bites or not chewing enough? If you are taking tiny bites, and chewing until it's liquid, and you still feel stuck after 3 bites, you are too tight.

I eat normally. I have never avoided going out, I've never been so restricted that I couldnt eat pretty much anything, and now I'm at goal weight, I dont find I need to eat "more" to stop losing, my energy needs and my eating and exercise habits have just found a happy medium. I could lose more by eating more strictly - I mean I dont really worry about what I eat these days, its healthy 90% of the time but we'll probably have pizza for dinner tonight coz its Friday and I've worked all day and I'll probably have a glass of wine with it.

In the past I'd have thought I may as well eat a block of chocolate in the arvo too because I was going to have take away for dinner, I dont do that anymore.

I have more problem remembering to eat these days, never hungry in the morning and it can be 2pm before I eat something, which isnt really good for me and I try not to do

You sound too tight if you'll forgive me for saying so. That isnt normal, what you're describing. I live a perfectly normal life with my band and yes, I can eat a meal. I'm slower than I was and its much smaller than it was but I eat a meal 3 times a day most days.

As for a doctor who says you should eat once a day, well I'd be looking for a new doctor. That's not someone who knows a lot about nutrition and its not someone who has much empathy for obese people. I'd give him the boot.

I may as well eat a block of chocolate in the arvo

If anyone else is struggling with Aussie slang, here's a bonzer site with big mobs of slang to help prevent bodgy translations. Aren't I just bottling my blood's worth? (arvo = afternoon)

AUSTRALIAN SLANG, AUSSIE LINGO, AUSTRALIAN PHRASES, SLANG IN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY, AUSTRALIAN WORDS, SPEAKING IN AUSTRALIA, AUSSIE TALK Give it a burl!

Tami

I've kept a moderate fill level since the beginning, and rarely have trouble eating. When I got to goal, I talked to my doc about it, and he said that if I was on the tight side, he'd remove some fill for maintenance, but that it's best to keep some saline in the band.

*For me* your level of restriction would be a bit too much.

Tami

If anyone else is struggling with Aussie slang, here's a bonzer site with big mobs of slang to help prevent bodgy translations. Aren't I just bottling my blood's worth? (arvo = afternoon)

AUSTRALIAN SLANG, AUSSIE LINGO, AUSTRALIAN PHRASES, SLANG IN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY, AUSTRALIAN WORDS, SPEAKING IN AUSTRALIA, AUSSIE TALK Give it a burl!

Tami

LMAO, is there an equivalent for American slang??

LMAO, is there an equivalent for American slang??

Oh, there's plenty. But I'm not just an American. I'm a *Southern* American. Bad as I hate to share it with ya'll, I reckon I gotta:

Southern Hillbilly Dictionary.....Originals For You

(Pay no mind to me. I promise to stay on track here on out!)

Tami

Oh, there's plenty. But I'm not just an American. I'm a *Southern* American. Bad as I hate to share it with ya'll, I reckon I gotta:

Southern Hillbilly Dictionary.....Originals For You

(Pay no mind to me. I promise to stay on track here on out!)

Tami

:clap2: Best thread derailment ever! :clap2:

That link had me cracking up!!

I'm near goal, and I find that I eat pretty much what I lik, just smaller portions. I've really added exercise and am using that as well as protein supplements (I'm very tight in the morning) to adjust my calorie intake, as opposed to being on a dpecific "diet".

war eagle baby im from mobile al i live in west palm beach fl now no auburn fans here

war eagle baby im from mobile al i live in west palm beach fl now no auburn fans here

WAR EAGLE, my friend!

[ame=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TAAQfmSoSQk]YouTube - War Eagle Rap[/ame]

Tami