Background: Before I was banded, I always ate Breakfast. I always ate everything. Since banding and getting good restriction, I have been unable to eat until give-or-take three or so hours after I get up. So, after forty years of drinking black coffee/nothing added, I'm now drinking half nonfat milk-half coffee with some no sugar added vanilla flavoring.

Concern: I'm working on my eating behaviors and my counselor told me that breakfast is important and that drinking coffee eventually sets us up for being really hungry later. (If I've got that right.) She told me to try to eat breakfast and it might be a matter of learning a new habit...start with little portions, etc. I'm wondering if I am being my usual resistant-to-change self and just don't want to try to eat when it might be difficult, or if I should just re-explain to my counselor that banded folks have real physiological eating-in-the-morning issues.

Questions: (finally ) Since banding, how do you deal with the first meal of the day? SPEAK UP, PEOPLE!

Hi Sue!

I certainly understand your quandry, as I am also one of the many who is very restricted in the am's, and don't really "eat" until I've finished 1 quart of Water, and am at work, usually about 2-3 hours after I've gotten up.

However, I don't think we need to take the word "eat" quite so literally. If you had a Protein shake first thing in the am instead of your coffee, you would get the needed benefits of a first "meal." Your blood sugar and metabolism would get the needed boost to end your fast.

Chances are you would still be hungry at your current "regular" breakfast time. There is no harm in having something to eat to tide you over til lunch, particularly if it was 1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese and a couple slices of watermelon (my current fad - lol). Still have not gotten stuck on watermelon, but the cottage cheese is occasionally challenging.

I would present this compromise to your counselor, and explain why. I'll bet she'll agree that it's workable - certainly better than your current "coffee" breakfast.

Let us know what happens!

THAT'S WHAT I FORGOT...this senility thing is such a pain.

Yes! My counselor advised me to try a Protein type shake or smoothie or yogurt some such thing. AND, the band surgeons tell us (or me, at least) to refrain from Protein shakes or smoothies or yogurt, because they are liquids! In fact, I recall one (rather arrogant, young) Mexican physician (you know of whom I speak) actually YELLING, "Yogurt is a liquid! You can't have liquids!"

Alrighty then, now I think I've got it. So, I guess I'm wondering who is "right." (I know, they probably are both right.) I probably need the protein and I probably should stick to solids. And I am definitely resistant to change.

KEEP ON TALKING, FOLKS! I'M SEEKING WISDOM HERE!

Sue

*getting older by the minute*

lol

A diabetic friend told me Sunday that it only takes 15 calories to raise your blood sugar. I don't know if that is true or not. lol

My argument to your excitable Mexican dr (actually, I wouldn't bother telling him, personally - it's not worth arguing about, in my opinion) - is that high QUALITY liquids that are not high in calories, once a day, is NOT going to sabotage my weight loss. And since metabolism is the #1 element in aiding weight loss, anything I do to enhance its effectiveness is a GOOD thing, not a bad thing.

If you add 120 calories a day to your eating regimen in the form of a lowfat/sugar-free yoghurt, or a high Protein low-carb shake to be taken first thing in the morning to boost your metabolilsm, there is no way you are going to sabotage your success.

I am constantly disappointed to hear the lap-band drs repeat the "rules" of three meals a day, no snacking inbetween. I just tune that stuff out. It didn't help me when I was "dieting", and it's not going to help me now. I usually do have 3 meals a day with no snacking in between, but that just happens, it is not a rule to me. I personally have been convinced that the same number of calories divided into 6 meals a day is a better way to go - I just can't get my act together to do it that way.

Someday!!

Aha!

Sue

(And the arrogant little prince isn't MY doctor...although he messed with my fills to the point I had to go back to my doctor.)

Pre-band breakfast for me use to consist of "Oreo" Cookies dunked in coffee. Now I have a can of "High Protein Boost, Chocolate" every morning.

I still have coffee after, and then a few hours later at work I'll have yogurt, or maybe some trail mix.

I have not had a fill yet, and my Dr. doesn't see a need. I tend to agree as a slow weight loss I've heard is best.

Snacking to me is entirely necessary. I don't eat enough at one time to consume all the needed protein. I have three Snacks, and three meals a day. I'm 44 years old, and have been eating whatever I want for at least 30 of those years and truely do not want to "control" how often I eat. The band is really helping me with portions, and content which is what I wanted it for. No more 4-5 slices of pizza (I do still eat pizza, but mostly just the toppings, and one or two "crusts" out of 3-4 slices).

Sue,

I've never really been a breakfast person. I'd rather just have my coffee. I do sometimes eat a litttle something though. It might be a yogurt, it might be a small slice of cheese, or it might be a Protein shake. Even when I do eat, it's not usually when I first get up. It's usually about 2 hours later.

Everything I've read says breakfast is very important, I just haven't developed a habit of eating it every day.

In answer to your question, I have no answer. LOL

Tonia

I do eat breakfast shortly after waking. I'm almost always very hungry when I wake up. It's the meal that I have to be the most careful with though. Usually I have something small, my latest kick has been a mini bagel toasted *really* well with a slice of 2% cheddar cheese on it. I have to take really small bites and chew very well, but it satisfies me and qualifies as breakfast. If I don't have that, I have a crunchy type Protein bar (Zone bar usually) or yogurt with The Baker brand pecan granola.

As far as the liquids thing goes, I know that for me, a Protein shake or yogurt fill me up when I have good restriction, and tend to keep me full almost as long as solid food. And calorie-wise, I don't have to consume any more of these than I do of solid food to satisfy me. So to the Mexican-Doctor-Who-Shall-Remain-Nameless-And-Likes-To-Mess-With-Fat-Peoples'-Minds, I say...well, I can't really say what I want to say here. If a full liquid in the morning will satisify you and doesn't take more than solid food, there's no reason why you shouldn't go that route. I think it's when we start using less than solids to get around a tighter fill all the time that we can run into problems. A yogurt or Protein Drink for breakfast ain't gonna kill anyone.