Some things I need to work on. I am making a promise to myself not to do these things.

1. - No eating while drinking. This is so hard for me. It makes such a difference when I don't, but I keep telling myself. Just this meal, next one I won't drink. From now on all my meals will be dry.

2. - No more eating out. I will eat my own prepared meals, or lean cruisine meals. No more eating out even if I think I'm making healthier choices it is still to much fat and calories that wouldn't be there if I made it at home....It just might not taste as good. But I will teach myself how to cook.

Does anyone have any recipe suggestions because I am hopeless in the kitchen.

I really like the Clean Eating magazine. So far most of the recipes have been really easy and tasty. You also get the bonus of knowing that all the foods are good for you and usually pretty low-cal. Also, most of the Rachel Ray stuff is easy, lots of 30 minute meals. I picked up her magazine and have made one thing so far - Coconut and Mango chicken served over black Beans. It was really easy and quite good. I can't bring myself to eat out very often - waste of money and calories to me. Yep, it's delicious and easy but just not worth it. Give a yell if you want some recipes and I'll see what I can find for you.

Oh, and I still drink with my meals too most of the time. It is so hard to stop. I am trying though and I'm sure one day I'll get there.

Edited July 1, 200818 yr by Ezma

I can't drink with my meals. If I do, it is coming back up. I have the newer AP band. My doc said that she has noticed that patients seem to be unable to eat and drink at the same time with this band. In her opinion that is the best aspect of the newer band. I would love to have a drink with a meal, but just can't. I guess I should be thankful, because that is one of the hardest parts.

I have a 14cc AP band too. Wish I had that problem of not being able to drink. I might when they finally get me to my sweet spot though. I can hope. :smile2:

Hmmm. So maybe it's not the band itself, but the inndividual and amount of restriction. I have the 10cc band. DOn't know if that would make a difference, but I definately can't drink with meals, or straight to the bathroom I go. :smile2:

i have some things i need to get back to being committed to as well. maybe posting with you will help me with accountibility.

1) stop drinking my calories. no more pink lemonade unless it is of the crystal light variety. i got into a bad habit of stopping for a big lemonade every morning before work. this will also help the pocket book! that $1.35 will add up!

2) be more faithful in working out. stop making pathetic excuses to not do it. i know i feel better when i do it, so just do it. plus, its good for the kids, and the 4-h lambs!

3) measure my food. eyeballing it is not working. until i get into the losing mode again, i must measure. yes, this means bringing my measuring cup with me again, and getting weird looks, but it will be worth it!

well, those are the few i can think of that have been really buggin me lately. they seem like a good place to start.

I need to start working out again too. I've gotten really lazy in that dept.

Ready, Richard Simmons has some awesome recipes. Of course, they are healthy, low fat and low calorie. They are also tasty and very easy to prepare. If you are interested, I think I have some of the recipes on my computer (due to sharing them with friends) and I'd be happy to email them to you. Just let me know.

Ready, I love your new avatar photo! and I don't see anything wrong with drinking with the food. I've been doing it since the beginning. I can't drink the 3 glasses of Water with my meal like i use to, but I drink a few sips during my meal and about half a glass before my meal. When I eat hot food I simply have to drink with it or it burns my mouth too bad.

renewedhope - I also have my sweetspot and I have the newer 10cc ap band. Perhaps yours is a lot tighter than mine. we all have our own levels of what we think a sweetspot is. but technically it is having the ability to eat a small healthy meal and not PB.

Ready, I love your new avatar photo! and I don't see anything wrong with drinking with the food. I've been doing it since the beginning. I can't drink the 3 glasses of Water with my meal like i use to, but I drink a few sips during my meal and about half a glass before my meal. When I eat hot food I simply have to drink with it or it burns my mouth too bad.

renewedhope - I also have my sweetspot and I have the newer 10cc ap band. Perhaps yours is a lot tighter than mine. we all have our own levels of what we think a sweetspot is. but technically it is having the ability to eat a small healthy meal and not PB.

Awww. Thanks Crystal.

Maybe with better restriction it wouldn't be a big deal. But it makes a big difference on how much I eat. I think it washes the food down. At first it started as little sips when my mouth was dry or hot while eating, but I catch myself taking larger bites and washing them down with the drink...BUT I will just retrain myself with dry eating and when I learn to behave again I will take TINY sips when I need it.

Ready, I love your new avatar photo! and I don't see anything wrong with drinking with the food. I've been doing it since the beginning. I can't drink the 3 glasses of Water with my meal like i use to, but I drink a few sips during my meal and about half a glass before my meal. When I eat hot food I simply have to drink with it or it burns my mouth too bad.

renewedhope - I also have my sweetspot and I have the newer 10cc ap band. Perhaps yours is a lot tighter than mine. we all have our own levels of what we think a sweetspot is. but technically it is having the ability to eat a small healthy meal and not PB.

That is my understanding of sweetspot as well. I finally think I am there.

The reasoning behind not drinking with your meals is because the food you eat is designed to sit in the pouch, takng longer to digest. If you drink with your meal then theoretically the liquid mixes with the food, thus helping it pass through more quickly leaving you less full. For me I think the liquid sits on top of the food and comes back up. Anyway, read up on the Inamed website...one of the big rules of banding.

That is my understanding of sweetspot as well. I finally think I am there.

The reasoning behind not drinking with your meals is because the food you eat is designed to sit in the pouch, takng longer to digest. If you drink with your meal then theoretically the liquid mixes with the food, thus helping it pass through more quickly leaving you less full. For me I think the liquid sits on top of the food and comes back up. Anyway, read up on the Inamed website...one of the big rules of banding.

That is how my doctor explained the no drinking thing to me also. It was hard to get used to at first, but now I don't really feel the need to drink while I eat. My doctor is pretty strict about it, 30 minutes before and 2 hours after eating before drinking.

Rewewed

I suck in the kitchen too. I have learned to get really good with chicken. I buy the pre cooked things at the store and make lots of stuff with them. I got a recipe book on it!

You can do this!

Thanks bbk. I tend to BURN everything. I am easily distracted. :-)

My doctor says 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after before drinking. The few times I have slipped up and tried drinking too soon I have BP'd so I don't have much choice.

My new committment is to walk more. I am going to start riding the bus to work instead of driving and that involves walking about 3500 steps so it will force me to do it. My goal each day is 10,000 steps.

Good luck to everyone in their "back to the basics" committments.:tt2: