Everyone says how easy junk food goes down. I've got a reaaaallly stupid question. If I eat "good" food I can only eat the amount I'm technically supposed to eat - like 1/4 to 1/2 cup or so. BUT if I eat junk food, I can eat waaaay more volume. Anyone experience this? Is this what is meant by junk food goes down easy?

Yes Linda that is a problem. After losing half we feel better, we fit in better and we become complacent. When my husband complimented me, it made me feel good "enough" and I reminded him to be careful with the compliments ( even though I appreciate them and glad he's noticing the changes).

But having another goal is helping me. Because I am short, I need mostly petite clothes, a few short sleeves shirts in regular sizes are ok) but the selection of petites is limited in size 16, where I am now. And the choices are better at size 14 and under and petites are generally sized about 1/2 inch smaller than regular sizes, not just shorter, for many manufacturers, but not all.

One of the things I hated about being fat was buying clothes, so I know I have to stay on task to get to a goal of having a much wider choice of clothing to choose from. It's bad enough that many items, like sleeveless, will be off my list due to the saggy arms, so getting to size 12 or 14 petite is my next goal and I'll evaluate from there.

Hope you find your personal motivation to stay on track.

I was a terrible biscuit (cookie) eater, but really, I've found that my focus on running, and having goals like a half marathon to aim for REALLY helps with motivation to eat well. I want to fuel myself well, I need to have the right foods for energy and the lighter I am, the easier it is on my body to run.

You cant just "create" those goals if you dont truly want them, I know, so I'm very lucky to have something I'm passionate about that makes me want to curb behaviours that dont help me achieve it.

Jachut, I really appreciate your input on this as you're one of the "oldies" on this board. You've been there, done that, and you're alive to tell about it to everyone else. :redface: I know how people on this board who have been here for a while get tired of hearing the same old, same old, but you're one of the rare ones who care enough to share your thoughts (in a nice way!) to us newbies. It is greatly appreciated!

I am going into my upcoming surgery with the mind set that until I lose my desired weight I have to eat well and stay away from junk..

Cathy

Cathy, take it from me, don't start eating the junk once you've been off it for a while. A little bit really will hurt you like it has hurt me!

But having another goal is helping me. Because I am short, I need mostly petite clothes, a few short sleeves shirts in regular sizes are ok) but the selection of petites is limited in size 16, where I am now. And the choices are better at size 14 and under and petites are generally sized about 1/2 inch smaller than regular sizes, not just shorter, for many manufacturers, but not all.

Hope you find your personal motivation to stay on track.

Shortgal and Jachut - you are very right about having an actual driving force behind your motivation, a real goal, other than just losing weight. Something to strive toward.

I was on the phone with my s-i-l tonight who looks pretty damn hot after getting banded and she was helping me get back into gear as well.

I've been exercising, but not as intense as I should or could. I know with more intense exercise, I will crave way less junk food, and it will all naturally fall back into place again. I'm going to start going to an actual gym (instead of working out at home), scheduling workout times with dh to look after my son, and get the ball back in the game.

Thank you all SO MUCH for all your insight, wisdom and motivation. I feel like I've purged myself of all my bad vibes and I can start over again.

Linda, a.k.a. reformed bandster

Go Linda! :thumbup:Go Linda! :thumbup:Go Linda!

:bananajump:

I know many people are looking at this and thinking I'm crazy for just getting the band not too long ago and eating crappy food. I just hope everyone has compassion when reading this and can be understanding. I thought a lot of my junk food problems would go away with the band but obviously they haven't, and obviously the band lets me eat a LOT more junk than I should.

Quite frankly I'm not sure what to do anymore. I've tried so many things to help me stop eating junk - acupuncture, hypnosis, different diets, but it is literally an addiction for me. I hope to stay accountable to people on here. Now you all know, I hope I can get support. I'll probably start that challenge tomorrow (and I HATE doing challenges! haha)

Linda I think that all of us here understand completely where you are at. The surgery was just on your stomach, not on your head. Every time I have a PB, I just consider it part of my learning curve. I'm getting there one baby step at a time.

Linda,

I totally understand. I still love my junk food too. I've cut back a lot but I still eat it. I now make myself count calories including the junk food and work around it. Of course, if I eat too much of it even when I stay in my calorie range I don't lose. I don't gain either. I think the fat content does me in.

I was getting complacent about it too because I was starting to feel "normal" again. That is when I decided I must kick up the exercise to move on. I also bought a Body Bugg and I am amazed how much that thing motivated me. I love knowing how many calories I burn a day. It makes me want to know how many calories I eat so I can have a big deficit. I made the investment of the Body Bugg and a trainer and it really helped to motivate me.

I think that what you are going through is very normal. It sounds like you have a good plan with the gym and I believe that will really help with the motivation.

YOU CAN DO IT! :redface:

The surgery was just on your stomach, not on your head. Every time I have a PB, I just consider it part of my learning curve. I'm getting there one baby step at a time.

Yes, this is very true. I thought hmm, I'm going to pay thousands of dollars, I'm NOT going to screw it up. Well, it doesn't work that way. I still screwed up, but hopefully caught it in time.

Linda,

I totally understand. I still love my junk food too. I've cut back a lot but I still eat it. I now make myself count calories including the junk food and work around it. Of course, if I eat too much of it even when I stay in my calorie range I don't lose. I don't gain either. I think the fat content does me in.

I was getting complacent about it too because I was starting to feel "normal" again.

YOU CAN DO IT! :biggrin:

It's interesting that even being within the calorie range, you can't lose with junk food. I found this too on previous weight loss attempts. For sure on WW it never worked. I always counted points, but if it was points with junk food I wouldn't lose. I know FOR SURE anything with aspartame stops me from losing weight. I gleaned that from my own "experiments." Interestingly enough, I've read a lot of articles recently on aspartame linked with NOT being able to lose weight. Which really kinda sucks since aspartame is in so many low-cal things.

The "normal" feeling ... I keep saying this, but I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've reached the point of weight complacency, the weight I've been at for most of my adult life, and the weight I know and am comfortable at.

I read all the posts (not on the November Nymphs site, of course!) about how people eat junk, can't seem to stop, and are humiliated and berated about it by other LBTers. I'm glad I can talk here (with the Nymphs!) and not feel that way. If you guys have those opinions, at least you keep them to yourselves! :tongue: Thank you THANK YOU for letting me rant, vent, rage about this and all the while being supportive and encouraging.

Linda

Funny how I can have a PB with almost anything except my one big vice - chocolate. Easter did me in. I actually gained 5 lbs from a week's worth of chocolate. I had Easter dinner at my house and everyone brought baskets of candy for my kids. Never a stuck moment from chocolate. I think it melts before it even hits the stoma. I got a fill a week later and am happy to report that I lost those 5 lbs plus an additional 2! I think I'm finally on my way to Onederland! Lots of you are already halfway to goal. Even with the occassional junk food slip, we'll all get there. It's really hard to give up an addiction like junk food. The band helps but we need to fight those demons every day.

Yes, this is very true. I thought hmm, I'm going to pay thousands of dollars, I'm NOT going to screw it up. Well, it doesn't work that way. I still screwed up, but hopefully caught it in time.

It's interesting that even being within the calorie range, you can't lose with junk food. I found this too on previous weight loss attempts. For sure on WW it never worked. I always counted points, but if it was points with junk food I wouldn't lose. I know FOR SURE anything with aspartame stops me from losing weight. I gleaned that from my own "experiments." Interestingly enough, I've read a lot of articles recently on aspartame linked with NOT being able to lose weight. Which really kinda sucks since aspartame is in so many low-cal things.

The "normal" feeling ... I keep saying this, but I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've reached the point of weight complacency, the weight I've been at for most of my adult life, and the weight I know and am comfortable at.

I read all the posts (not on the November Nymphs site, of course!) about how people eat junk, can't seem to stop, and are humiliated and berated about it by other LBTers. I'm glad I can talk here (with the Nymphs!) and not feel that way. If you guys have those opinions, at least you keep them to yourselves! :thumbs_down: Thank you THANK YOU for letting me rant, vent, rage about this and all the while being supportive and encouraging.

Linda

I found a way to get over that "normal feeling." Sit around in a bathing suit all weekend. :cursing:

My friends and I had our annual girls weekend this past weekend and we live in our bathing suits by my friend's pool. I look much better this weekend but bathing suits don't hide much and it made me realize I still have a long way to go to really be "normal." I've lost over 3 pounds this week. I guess it worked! LOL