Hello beautiful bandsters!

I will be banded in 10 days and my thoughts have just been so preoccupied with this surgery coming up. One of the things that I cannot imagine is actually ONLY eating 3 times a day at some point. When I went to my preop appointment for my nutritionist on Tuesday, she told me that after a certain point, I should only be eating three times a day. IF that is true then I absolutely cannot wait!! Nothing would please me more than to be comfortable on eating three times a day!

So, for people who are near or at their restriction, do you only eat three meals a day and are comfy and happy with that?

I was banded 3 months ago and since I am losing weight and staying satisfied the only restriction I have is the band itself.

I eat 3 meals a day and maybe 3 nights a week I have a sherbert cup or a piece of chocolate before bed.

I can eat a boneless porkchop and not be hungry for 8 hours. I too seriously never thought there would be a day!

I think the key is to be able to imagine ourselves eating like normal people. Our minds are a big part of why we are where we are, and it's important to re-train our minds to expect normal. Remember, we have to visualize the success we want. If we continue to see ourselves eating every time something pops into our minds, we will continue to do so. I am starting to see that picture in my mind. It comes and goes, but I will continue to concentrate and not let my mind stand in the way of good health!:thumbdown:

Yep! I do! in fact, right now I'm doing a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and protein and some veggies for dinner (with my banding surgeon's blessing and close oversight) and it is WONDERFUL! I actually go for HOURS without even thinking about food and let me tell you, I'm 54 and this is the first time in my long life that I've done that consistently for days on end. It is simply wonderful.

I think the key is to be able to imagine ourselves eating like normal people. Our minds are a big part of why we are where we are, and it's important to re-train our minds to expect normal. Remember, we have to visualize the success we want. If we continue to see ourselves eating every time something pops into our minds, we will continue to do so. I am starting to see that picture in my mind. It comes and goes, but I will continue to concentrate and not let my mind stand in the way of good health!:thumbup:

Wow that is so true! I always thought I was fat and pictured myself that way growing up. I was a big person (5"7") compared to the little women in my family and always thought I was fat. I look back and I wasn't but now I am exaclty how I pictured myself in my mind. A strong mind has got to play in to the overall results of weightloss

I was banded on 06-17-09 and I don't have a fill yet but I have already begun to lose. 10lbs so far. I can't tell you what a great feeling it is just to lose anything at all. I was on oral steriods for a skin condition for two straight years and also developed thyroid disease about five years ago. I was thin my entire life until then. It was heartbreaking to watch myself get fat and not be able to do anything about it. Now, I don't have to take the steriods any longer and my thyroid is under control and with the band I feel like I have a chance to be normal again. I can't wait for each day now. I am so looking forward to a continued effort. I can't say enough about how great my surgeon and her staff have been. It doesn't matter when I call or what I have to say or ask they have been fantastic. I think that is going to be a large part of my success. Good Luck to you.

Right now I usually eat more than 3 times day, but I have only had 1 fill. I definitely can't eat as much as before but the restriction is not what it should be. However, in the beginning I was actually over filled and I was supposed to be eating 6 times a day and could barely eat 3-4 times a day (only a protien shake or a 6 oz yorgurt at a time) and even that I had to force myself to do. I hope never to be that tight again but it will be nice to ahve some restriction where I can comfortably eat 3 times ad ay and be satisfied.

I am at my sweet spot currently...usually I eat three times a day. I don't eat breakfast--usually just an iced coffee. Then for lunch I usually have a greek yogurt and maybe a small snack. Then dinner is my biggest meal, a protein, and a veggie usually. and then I usually have a sweet at like 9 pm or so, myabe an ice cream pop or something. I def. eat under 1000 cals a day.

I am at my sweet spot currently...usually I eat three times a day. I don't eat breakfast--usually just an iced coffee. Then for lunch I usually have a greek yogurt and maybe a small snack. Then dinner is my biggest meal, a Protein, and a veggie usually. and then I usually have a sweet at like 9 pm or so, myabe an ice cream pop or something. I def. eat under 1000 cals a day.

I love stories like this. This is exactly where I want to be. It would be so liberating to only need/want 3 meals a day. I so hope to be there one day soon! :thumbdown:)

Yep! I do! in fact, right now I'm doing a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and Protein and some veggies for dinner (with my banding surgeon's blessing and close oversight) and it is WONDERFUL! I actually go for HOURS without even thinking about food and let me tell you, I'm 54 and this is the first time in my long life that I've done that consistently for days on end. It is simply wonderful.

Restless Monkey,

That is fabulous. Right now I'm dealing with the tummy grumbles and pangs due to the preop diet, but I can't even express how wonderful this will be to be able to go hours without feeling hungry. I just simply cannot wait to get there. :thumbdown:)

My restriction is finally getting to the point where I'm really tight in the mornings and not hungry but up until this point I was eating 3 meals and 1 snack a day. Now that I'm really tight in the mornings I have to retool my meal plan but I'm excited to be entering this phase in my band.

I think the key is to be able to imagine ourselves eating like normal people. Our minds are a big part of why we are where we are, and it's important to re-train our minds to expect normal. Remember, we have to visualize the success we want. If we continue to see ourselves eating every time something pops into our minds, we will continue to do so. I am starting to see that picture in my mind. It comes and goes, but I will continue to concentrate and not let my mind stand in the way of good health!:thumbdown:

Wow! its not often you here somone say something so sensible on here. That is just SO true, its more a head game than anything and I truly believe in the fake it till you make it philosophy.

The trouble is, often when you say something so blindingly obvious, people get really MAD at you, lol. I pissed someone off big time the other day.

But to the OP, just imagine it, tell it to yourself, see yourself doing it, etc etc. Eventually it sticks. Its not easy but it can be done.

Wow! its not often you here somone say something so sensible on here. That is just SO true, its more a head game than anything and I truly believe in the fake it till you make it philosophy.

The trouble is, often when you say something so blindingly obvious, people get really MAD at you, lol. I pissed someone off big time the other day.

But to the OP, just imagine it, tell it to yourself, see yourself doing it, etc etc. Eventually it sticks. Its not easy but it can be done.

Jachut,

I think that is one of the BIG reasons I am doing so well on my preop diet. Yes, I have been getting bad hunger pangs. I have also been experiencing "bumps and rolls" inside my tummy when I am really hungry. But, I told my hubby the other day that this is a good lesson for me in knowing when I really AM hungry and not just craving things. Oddly, I don't have cravings on this liquid diet, just plain old hunger. I am handling it extremely well. But, I do have until July 6 until before midnight on July 7th to get to a breaking point, I guess. I have my eye set on the prize and I want to be one of the ones that have one to two incisions! So, that is one of my motivators there.

Thank you all for posting your thoughts!