I wonder if any of you feel the same way I do and if so, how you handle it?

For a long while I was sticking to a high-protein and veggie diet. Pretty much what we are supposed to do anyway, but I also was doing it to help control my blood sugar and cholesterol. I was losing weight quickly that way and I wasn't miserable, but food lost all of it's appeal for me. Or most of it.

Then I went off the diets for emotional eating reasons (bad me!) and found that once again, I really enjoyed eating. I couldn't eat much because of the band, but what I did eat, I liked. I didn't lose weight, but didn't gain either.

Now I have committed to going back to the healthy eating and once again, I get no pleasure from eating. Is this the way it's supposed to be? Is this the way it is for normal people? Should I just try to accept it and look on eating as a chore (which it is, when I'm eating right)? What do you think?

Nancy

Well Nancy... I guess I can't relate to eating as a chore... mostly because I eat foods I enjoy within reason. As much as I would love to see the scales move quickly... I would rather go slow and enjoy what I am able to eat. Of course... there are foods I don't keep around the house because they seem to spur on binging... but for the most part... I eat "normal" foods that I love in smaller quantities. I have learned what FF foods I like... such as FF tortillas and FF pudding... but things such as FF cream cheese and FF sour cream are just not worth my time IMHO. If those were the only foods I could eat... then it would definitely become a chore... don't think I wanna go there.

I can so relate...

I have told my family & friends for months that now I eat to live instead of live to eat. Eating has become a chore...so time consuming

Nancy - I was doing the same diet that you were on previous to my banding. I lost 20 pounds with it, but then never lost another pound. I went back to my old way of eating once I got the band. I decided to just watch the portion sizes of the foods and eat like a normal person would. I usually don't eat rice or bread. I do eat potatoes occasionally, just not every day. I try to eat more veggies than starches, but like I said, I don't eliminate them from my diet. I think once you tell yourself you can't have something, you want it even more. I allow myself anything, but most of the time I don't want it.

I know if I didn't have to cook for my husband, I probably wouldn't go through cooking much at all. Maybe that is part of your problem, eating alone. Make your food look appetizing, and real pretty. Go to the trouble of putting out pretty napkins or a nice placemat, or put a fresh flower in a vase in front of you.

Nancy,

I have had a few moments during my banding journey where food was a chore and I really didnt care if I ate or not. This was usually after a fill. Now, I eat whatever I want and although I am losing slower, I still enjoy food immensely. Maybe too much....

Babs in TX

334/184/170

-150

Michelle and I had the same thoughts on this... "eat to live, dont live to eat!"

When I went for my pre-banding consultation, Spiegel told me that the band was designed for the person to eat normal foods - just in much smaller portions. He and I talked about this in detail because I didnt want to have to follow a 'diet'.

Maybe this is why Im NOT losing... I dunno!

But to answer your question, I still eat what I want (better choice of food though) just not as much.

found that once again, I really enjoyed eating. I couldn't eat much because of the band, but what I did eat, I liked. I didn't lose weight, but didn't gain either.

Nancy

Hmm, don't lose sight of the fact that you will one day NOT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT. You will be able to ease waht you like, because you won't need to think about losing weight, OR gaining.

Now I have committed to going back to the healthy eating and once again, I get no pleasure from eating. Is this the way it's supposed to be? Is this the way it is for normal people? Should I just try to accept it and look on eating as a chore (which it is, when I'm eating right)? What do you think?

Nancy

Nancy, I think you're going through a very familiar dieter's phase. But it's not the way it's supposed to be, no, and it isn't the way it is for normal people. Normal people maintain their weight by indulging their desires just enough and not too much.

Until banding I could never consider indulging in something just a little. One Hershey's Kiss would inevitably turn into 30. Sometimes I have to really struggle against that even now, but it's a WHOLE lot easier than it used to be. I alternate between actively trying to limit my intake, letting the band do it for me, and over-indulging in spite of myself. Living all the time trying to not "cheat" would make me absolutely miserable, so I don't even consider going there.

If you were in a place where you enjoyed eating and maintained your weight, THAT'S what normal feels like. Actually trying to lose weight is not "normal." It's dieting. And it's up to you if you want to continue, or if you'd rather be normal.

This is one reason to be sure you are ready for banding and know how it will effect your lifestyle of eating for all the wrong reasons (lonliness, Celebrate,sad, happy, sick, well, and any other excuse to satisfie the monster within) none of which have anything to do with to nourishing the body and fueling it to function properly and efficiently.

Of course no matter how ready you think you are, some days it hits you and you feel like you have lost your best friend in the whole world and why bother with the unexciting and unfullfilling substitutes called healthy choices.

Sorry I got carried away there.

hopeful