Hi all!

For the past 6+ months, my wieght loss has been okay. Not amazing. Just okay. But, I've been happy with that. Yes, I've had moments of dissappointment. But, hey, after years of gaining weight as long as the scale is going down and NOT up....I've been okay with it. But, I had a light bulb moment this past weekend...:cursing:...I think I get it now! Here's what my light bulb moment said--- I'm NOT supposed to be a SAFE eater. I'm supposed to be a HEALTHY eater. Right? Up until the past few weeks, I have been proud of myself that I never PB'd, never had that horrible painful feeling that I ate too much. And, you know why? No, not because I had little to no restriction or because I've been eating oh so healthy. It was BECAUSE I ONLY ATE SAFE FOODS!!!! What I mean by that is that I never really went too far beyond a "relaxed mushy" diet. I cut my salads and other foods up into the most minute pieces. No bread. No Pasta. I ate alot of Soups, tuna, eggs, thin sliced cheeses, crab cakes, salmon cakes, etc. And, I pulverized everything!!!! So, what happened? In the past month, I had 2 bad PBing episodes....both at events where I did not have control over the menu that was served. Once on a steak salad and once on a Caprese Salad. Both of them "normal" foods. After that....of course.....I went back to my usual relaxed mushy diet at home and at restaurants. But, this past weekend, out of desperation and needing something to eat while on a car trip through horrible snow and ice, I decided to take one of the BP&J sandwichs I packed for my daughter and my niece....it was made on a very grainy Panera wheat bread (not something I would have "planned" to eat). I took 2 reasonable size bites. And, guess what? I was full. I did not want to eat any more. That's it. That's what I was waiting for.....all this time.....the moment that I felt completely, utterly satisfied. And, it happened! I was eating and I stopped. BECAUSE I WAS FULL!!!!!

:thumbup::thumbup::hurray::party::Dancing_shocked::thumbup:

You are welcome Pizzicato66! Yes, it is sooo wonderful that we REALLY can eat anything.....just LESS OF IT. Whoever invented this Lapband was a genius!!! You know, I feel sooo silly that I am so ga-ga over this revelation when it shouldn't be a revelation at all! I should have just KNOWN this! And, it's so wild how I have conditioned everyone.....and I mean everyone....into thinking that I can't eat "regular" food. Yesterday, our Admin in the office was planning a luncheon for this coming Friday. She came into my office and said that our boss asked her to check with me to see what I can eat these days! When I told her that I was fine with anything, she figured I was just being my agreeble self so she said "okay, I'll be sure there's soup there!" When I told her that she didn't need to do that , she laughed "what, did you get rid of that band of yours?"

Too funny!!!

Judi

I am hoping I will be able to eat anything but less of it when I get banded. I can't wait to start my new life. I hope my expectations aren't to high.

You'll get there! The trick is to remember it's a tool, not a magic bullet. I know you hear that constantly, but it really is true.

If you make poor choices and graze, restriction won't help that much. But, if you make reasonable choices and follow the rules, you WILL lose.

Set your expectations high and follow the rules of the game and you'll get there!

Speaking of this "it's not a magic bullet, it's a tool" line......I just wanted to note that sometimes I don't think we GET that right away. I mean, we HEAR it, we think we know what that means but I don't think we really GET it. My cousin's husband (who lives in another part of the state) is considering getting the surgery. So, she called me the other night to get some info on it. She mentioned that same line to me.....she said the doctor told her husband that. It must be the standard LapBand one-liner....lol!!! Afterwards, it occurred to me that I am just NOW getting it. It goes along with eating normal food---just less of it. Even after reading this forum religiously for months and hearing it all and listening to people's stories and having everyone say it to me--this part of it really did not sink in to the point that I practiced it. I thought I understood it. I would repeat it to other people. But, I wasn't living it. I guess I thought I was living it. Anyway.....now I am like WOWWWWEEEEE.....I need to spread the word and save every Lapbander by telling my story. I'm filled with the message.....!!! But, then I think about my experience....I didn't get it!!!! Perhaps I'm just thick headed!!! The truth of the matter is.....it's a tool, not a magic bullet. There, I said it and now I know what I'm talking about!!!

Like I said....I am a slow learner!!!

But you learned and that is the only thing that mattered. I tell my students all the time..."It doesn't really matter when you learn it, just THAT you learn it!" The nice part for you learning now is that the newness is back and you are more focused than ever!

Exactly! It's interesting. It was really easy for me initially and thought it was just happening, but in hindsight, I was eating VERY strictly, so the weight came off. No big secret - I was following the rules. Now that I'm farther out, it's tougher sticking on the strict plan, so I'm easing into a way of eating that's liveable. The weight loss is slower, but I'm getting closer day by day, and I know there are ramifications if I make bad choices. Slow and steady still gets there!