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Watch what you eat? or Just let the band work?



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If you had your band 6 months or longer and you keep losing weight.....are you watching and counting calories??? Or you just letting the band be your guide?

I've heard some people on here say "Just let the band"

I've lost about 30lbs and I haven't gained anything...but I've stopped losing. I haven't been counting calories but I walk and do upper body weights almost everyday....kinda on the fence about getting my band a little tighter. I get stuff stuck now....but I eat to fast and don't chew like I should .....but I slow down or stop when I start to slim :eek:

Your Thoughts???????????????

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I was banded in July and I do a little of both. I eat healthy and unheathly stuff. Mostly I think I am letting the band work. I get on kicks where I eat very little and very healthy but every now and then I need a little piece of chocolate. They way I see it is when on WW I was able to do that same things, except my hunger always got the best of me. Now the hunger is not the same...I say live your life, just in less quantity.

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I have been banded almost 5 1/2 mos...as a matter of fact, two days after you were banded.

In answer to your question, I would say both. You have to watch what you eat then let the band do its part and control how much of it you can eat. I do not count calories, fat grams, carb grams etc. I do not journal my food either. But I do focus on lean meats and high Fiber veggies and fruits and some whole grains. I avoid starchy foods and I look for healthy opitions for when my sweet tooth needs something.

I do have the occasional goody but I don't make a habit of it.

Edited by Jodi_620

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My weightloss was a miracle to me and everyone who knows me.

I've been on maintenance for 10 months now. I'm holding steady at 140lbs. I go down to 137 (and eat alot more) or up to 142 (and just watch it for a day or so).

I went into this knowing I've done every diet, program, pill, etc. Also, I cannot exercise my large muscle groups like most can.

So, this was all band. No dieting or exercise.

But this was my case, many others I've heard have to exercise or diet to lose weight.

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My weightloss was a miracle to me and everyone who knows me.

I've been on maintenance for 10 months now. I'm holding steady at 140lbs. I go down to 137 (and eat alot more) or up to 142 (and just watch it for a day or so).

I went into this knowing I've done every diet, program, pill, etc. Also, I cannot exercise my large muscle groups like most can.

So, this was all band. No dieting or exercise.

But this was my case, many others I've heard have to exercise or diet to lose weight.

Quick question for ya then...with all due respect:

So if it was "all band and no dieting" where is the need for maintaining?

There is nothing wrong with admitting you had/have to watch what you eat. You said yourself that you watch it for a day or so...and why is that? Because you will gain back some weight, that is why. So, just admit that you DO have to work with the band and not that is is just a MIRACLE!

Edited by TracyK

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6 months post op here. I lose about 1-3 pounds a week depending on the efforts I put in. I do log my food at dailyplate.com . I do that so I can see what works and what doesnt.. easier to keep track of my Protein count too. You can also print it out and take it to the doctors when you go in for check ups.

Yes you probably need a fill.. especially if you're eating too fast. That itself is an indication that you are not tight enough. I would follow the bandster rules to the T for a couple weeks to see if you're getting hungry, can eat too much, or if you're losing.

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Quick question for ya then...with all due respect:

So if it was "all band and no dieting" where is the need for maintaining?

There is nothing wrong with admitting you had/have to watch what you eat. You said yourself that you watch it for a day or so...and why is that? Because you will gain back some weight, that is why. So, just admit that you DO have to work with the band and not that is is just a MIRACLE!

When anyone reaches a goal, it must be maintained so that it won't go away. I've found that to be true with many goals in my life, not just weightloss.

I watch what I eat sometimes because I want to ensure I get adequate nutrition. For me, if I have dessert one day, I don't want to the next. Old habits are hard to break and backsliding is easy. I'm sure it will take years for my new lifestyle to become permanent. Took 30 to gain it, it's gonna take more than just 1 to keep it off.

For me, the band is a miracle. Others may not feel that way. But isn't that part of what makes the band so wonderful? It can work for many different types of people.

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I'm 6 months post-op and yes I watch what I eat. I try to eat as healthy as possible and I do log all of my calories. Mostly to keep me accountable, but also because I exercise a lot and I try to see what combinations of things give me the best workout experience. I tried the "let the band do the work" mentality right after surgery and for part of the summer. It didn't work for me. It wasn't until I decided to make some lifestyle changes that the weight loss really kicked in. It's starting to come off slower and slower so I really have to work at it right now. I feel better than I ever have and that's mostly due to my improved nutrition. Weightloss has been a positive side effect to eating better. Now, with all of that said, I do still enjoy food and treats. I just do it in moderation now. And it's a still a journey as I have bad days just like everyone else. I'm not perfect and neither is my weight loss. There are lots of things I could probably do better, but I'm enjoying my life like never before. So, it's all okay with me. Good luck!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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