It has been a year and a half since I had my lap band, but in many ways I am still a newbie. Never mind the why of it, but I didn't get my fills as early as I should have, and am now approaching # 4. I have finally begun to have the experiences that I am reading about. OK, so here is the question/or questions:

I hear people say that they sometimes only eat 1/2 cup of food and are satisfied. I'm trying to find that satisfied sensation, but it dosn't happen as often as I thought it should. Could this be because I am eating the wrong types of foods?

My main motivation for stopping eating early is the discomfort of PB type of stuff.

So now, I'm confused. If I eat the soft stuff I get no pain (or nutrition). ok, I'm starting to ramble.. Why do some seem to feel satisfied so quickly, and not others?

If we count calories, could have macaroni and cheese ... I'm afraid to get my next fill, because I have had a few paintful PBs, and think I probably need time to adjust my habits.. and also it's the holiday season, and after PBing my 3 mouthfuls of Thanksgiving dinner back.. I don't feel like doing that in public again.

Any thoughts..

If you're eating to the point of discomfort you are overeating. There shouldnt be PBing or discomfort at the end of your meal, unless you're also not chewing well enough, taking too large bites, eating too quickly. I find myself having to relearn that after every single fill and also periodically now that I'm maintaining.

I find that probably all bandsters do eat around their bands in that we naturally choose foods we know are easier for us to eat, even though those choices may be healthy ones. If I try to stick to harder foods then I always always lose weight because I eat less, it stays with me.

This morning for example. My usual Breakfast is Cereal of some description. Today I had Eliza's left over dinner from last night - a tiny piece of steak, half a potato and some broccoli and carrots (it was going to go to waste otherwise and for some weird reason looked appealing to me this morning!). Took me ages to eat, made me really full and is still with me now. Same with eating a sandwich for lunch - yes, bread is difficult and I tend not to really fancy it, but I can guarantee if I do eat a tuna and salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber for example) sandwich I wont eat again till dinner, if I eat a salad with some tuna, I'll be looking for food in two hours - the simple addition of the bread saves me from raiding the cookie jar at 4pm. So what you choose to eat - even if you're not a carb eater, like most American bandsters arent - what you choose is important. Its worth tackling the more difficult foods because they're the most filling.

Most of all though, I think you need to learn to recognise satisfied. Its a physical sensation that is not always backed up by our heads, i can KNOW I'm satisfied but still want to eat more. But its a bad habit to keep eating until your stomach actually physically stops you.

My answers are in red below yours !

It has been a year and a half since I had my lap band, but in many ways I am still a newbie. Never mind the why of it, but I didn't get my fills as early as I should have, and am now approaching # 4. I have finally begun to have the experiences that I am reading about. OK, so here is the question/or questions:

I hear people say that they sometimes only eat 1/2 cup of food and are satisfied. I'm trying to find that satisfied sensation, but it dosn't happen as often as I thought it should. Could this be because I am eating the wrong types of foods?

Could be the wrong kind of foods , Could be your just not stopping soon enough . It takes a long time to realize " OH WAIT Im just Satisfied" rather than , " lets stuff my face until im so FULL you will have to roll my ass out of here full" which the latter is what most of us were use to .

What kind of things are you eating ?

My main motivation for stopping eating early is the discomfort of PB type of stuff.

Do you eat until you get discomfort ?

If so you should stop a little sooner. For me its usually when i start Thinking " Should I stop " THAT Is when I need to stop !

So now, I'm confused. If I eat the soft stuff I get no pain (or nutrition). ok, I'm starting to ramble.. Why do some seem to feel satisfied so quickly, and not others?

If you eat the soft stuff, that is the WRONG FOOD your eating around your band. Soft stuff goes through the band easier and will allow you to be able to eat more of it.

Typically "Softer" Foods contain more calories and you will eventually not lose or gain from doing that.

Others are satisfied ( myself as well ) because we eat SOLID Protein first , Then veggies then if there is room carbs.

If we count calories, could have macaroni and cheese ( mac and cheeese not a good choice ) ... I'm afraid to get my next fill, because I have had a few paintful PBs, and think I probably need time to adjust my habits.. and also it's the holiday season, and after PBing my 3 mouthfuls of Thanksgiving dinner back.. I don't feel like doing that in public again.

If you eat the proper things the chance of PBing is slim. If you follow the rules the chance of PBing is slim . It really sounds like in all honestly you need to COMMIT yourself to the band and the tool it is and using itthe way it was intended.

I think your afraid to get a fill because your afrid your not going to be able to eat junk. That's a "Chance" I took w/ the band, I dont need that.

Here is a tip w/ food . Stay away from the INNER ISLES of the grocery store. The FRESH , HEALTHY Foods you need ( Although require more work ) Are on the OUTSIDE of the store. Fresh Fruit, veggies, meats, dairy .

Dont go in the inner isles !!!

HTH

MINDY

Any thoughts..

Both Jachut and ColtonWade had excellent points.

Adjusting your habits is indeed important. However, if you decide to hold off on a fill for the holidays you need to be careful. It sounds like it is just making it too easy to overingdulge.

It might be helpful for you to start charting what you are eating either on paper or online using fitday or the dailyplate. It is really important to know what you are consuming over a time to really understand where there is room for improvement and adjustments.

I would also suggest going back to basics as well. Limit your calories to a specific range, and don't go above the range. Eat Proteins or dense foods first because they are slow going through your pouch. Highly processed foods, slider foods, Pasta, etc are not typically good choices for bandsters. If you do have them, it should be few and far between and should fit in your calorie range while still eating proteins or dense foods first.

Have you ever felt good restriction or close to your sweet spot? Are you avoiding drinking with eating? Are you getting exercise? The answers to these questions also make a big impact on your weight loss as well and are important to keep in mind.

after PBing my 3 mouthfuls of Thanksgiving dinner back.. I don't feel like doing that in public again.

Any thoughts..

If you are PBing after only 3 bites of dinner, then you don't need another fill, you might even be too tight the way I read it.

The way some feel satisfied is they are only eating 1/2 cup of Protein food or 3 oz of meat (3 oz doesnt do it for me either, Im eating more). If you dont drink and wash it on down, the protein will sit there and that's where you get the full feeling.

Thank you all. Each and every one of you gave me something to work with. I guess over time I was getting a little lax. OK.. so back to high protein first.. not so much of the soft food (I will miss them at night).. Yes the band may be tight enough.. I will remind myself to chew chew (till tasteless?) (sorry, I just couldn't resist the joke) In fact, now that I think about it, that is probably my problem (no, not the joking,) I may not be chewing enough.. since I don't like the tastelessness of the last few chews.. hmm.. something to consider. Also, I'll be checking out those websites, fitday and the dailyplate. Never heard of them, but they sound interesting. So, again.. Thank you all. And I take it back.. you can jump on me anytime. :smile2:

Thank you all. Each and every one of you gave me something to work with. I guess over time I was getting a little lax. OK.. so back to high Protein first.. not so much of the soft food (I will miss them at night).. Yes the band may be tight enough.. I will remind myself to chew chew (till tasteless?) (sorry, I just couldn't resist the joke) In fact, now that I think about it, that is probably my problem (no, not the joking,) I may not be chewing enough.. since I don't like the tastelessness of the last few chews.. hmm.. something to consider. Also, I'll be checking out those websites, fitday and the dailyplate. Never heard of them, but they sound interesting. So, again.. Thank you all. And I take it back.. you can jump on me anytime. :smile2:

Also something that i have found now w/ food is QUALITY is better than quantity , I want better quality of food instead of quantity . I will admit , food requires more effort to prepare. ( or it can) , well GOOD food requires more effort to prepare now than before. But im ok w/ that. Another good food website is sparkpeople.com .

I Honestly dont track my intake, I think if you do things "right" as in protein first, then veggies ect you wont and dont have to .

The band kind of tracks it for you .

But initially to get back on track you might have to .

You kind of sound like me and the less "restriction" in food you have the better.

Just remember why you got the band to begin w/ and remember the band does not do all the work either !!

good luck you can do it and get back on track !

Mindy

About the feeling like a newby, I can totally relate...I am 2 1/2yrs out and sometimes feel like I haven't learned a damned thing when it comes to eatting with the band. I did want to say that when I have the problem you're describing, it's usually because I took too big a bite, didn't chew it enough and took the next bite too soon. Some habits are hard to break. Good luck to all of us!

Joanie :smile2:)

If you're eating to the point of discomfort you are overeating. There shouldnt be PBing or discomfort at the end of your meal, unless you're also not chewing well enough, taking too large bites, eating too quickly. I find myself having to relearn that after every single fill and also periodically now that I'm maintaining.

I find that probably all bandsters do eat around their bands in that we naturally choose foods we know are easier for us to eat, even though those choices may be healthy ones. If I try to stick to harder foods then I always always lose weight because I eat less, it stays with me.

This morning for example. My usual breakfast is cereal of some description. Today I had Eliza's left over dinner from last night - a tiny piece of steak, half a potato and some broccoli and carrots (it was going to go to waste otherwise and for some weird reason looked appealing to me this morning!). Took me ages to eat, made me really full and is still with me now. Same with eating a sandwich for lunch - yes, bread is difficult and I tend not to really fancy it, but I can guarantee if I do eat a tuna and salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber for example) sandwich I wont eat again till dinner, if I eat a salad with some tuna, I'll be looking for food in two hours - the simple addition of the bread saves me from raiding the cookie jar at 4pm. So what you choose to eat - even if you're not a carb eater, like most American bandsters arent - what you choose is important. Its worth tackling the more difficult foods because they're the most filling.

Most of all though, I think you need to learn to recognise satisfied. Its a physical sensation that is not always backed up by our heads, i can KNOW I'm satisfied but still want to eat more. But its a bad habit to keep eating until your stomach actually physically stops you.

I have a silly question . What is pbing ?

I have a silly question . What is pbing ?

You can find it in the glossary section . Basically its throwing up.

When food gets stuck and "comes back up "

Mindy

You can also log your food intake on myfitnesspal.com, which is a free site. I use it everyday, it gives me calorie count, carb count, fat count and most of all protien count. I use it religiously to keep myself on track. When I get to maintenance I probably won't but for now it is working.

I'm so glad you asked that! I just had my band surgery yesterday and haven't heard that term before. sounds like something I want to avoid!

Yes, thank you for asking that, I have been racking my brain on what it would mean!!

Thanks,

You are all so fantastic, you have answered just about every question I have had this week, THANK YOU! I am so grateful you are all out there.

If you're eating to the point of discomfort you are overeating. There shouldnt be PBing or discomfort at the end of your meal, unless you're also not chewing well enough, taking too large bites, eating too quickly. I find myself having to relearn that after every single fill and also periodically now that I'm maintaining.

I find that probably all bandsters do eat around their bands in that we naturally choose foods we know are easier for us to eat, even though those choices may be healthy ones. If I try to stick to harder foods then I always always lose weight because I eat less, it stays with me.

This morning for example. My usual Breakfast is Cereal of some description. Today I had Eliza's left over dinner from last night - a tiny piece of steak, half a potato and some broccoli and carrots (it was going to go to waste otherwise and for some weird reason looked appealing to me this morning!). Took me ages to eat, made me really full and is still with me now. Same with eating a sandwich for lunch - yes, bread is difficult and I tend not to really fancy it, but I can guarantee if I do eat a tuna and salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber for example) sandwich I wont eat again till dinner, if I eat a salad with some tuna, I'll be looking for food in two hours - the simple addition of the bread saves me from raiding the cookie jar at 4pm. So what you choose to eat - even if you're not a carb eater, like most American bandsters arent - what you choose is important. Its worth tackling the more difficult foods because they're the most filling.

Most of all though, I think you need to learn to recognise satisfied. Its a physical sensation that is not always backed up by our heads, i can KNOW I'm satisfied but still want to eat more. But its a bad habit to keep eating until your stomach actually physically stops you.

I'm just curious - can you give us a short list of what you consider "harder foods" that will help with the band and what are the easy foods"?

I'm just curious - can you give us a short list of what you consider "harder foods" that will help with the band and what are the easy foods"?

Solid Proteins are just that, meats, veggies, fish, ect.

"Soft" foods are ice creams, cakes, Mashed potatoes, anything soft. IN general i find "Soft" foods are not things you need, want or should be eating anyway .

Things that will go through your band easily , Soups, mashed potatoes, cereals, things that like most likely do not contain protien ( I include Protein shakes , more than one or so a day in this too ) or enough protein to keep you full so they are a "waste " your eating them just to eat them . The goal when you eat is to keep you full until your next meal .

So if your eating Mashed potatoes or a softer meat is that going to keep you full ? Probably not , if it requries less work , and will slide through you band its Not going to tide you over for 3-4 hours. Therefore your going to eat again !

Think of it this way , If you make a circle out of your thumb and middle finger ( when you hold them together ) If you can poor something through that or if something would not take some time to go through a hole similar to that ( or smaller ) your eating things that makes you eat around your band .

make sense ?

Mindy