You hear and see a lot on this site " just because you can eat more doesn't mean you should".

Frankly this is the case if you have the band or not. We all got here because we could and did and we "just this onced" more than once.

Most of us have doctors who gave us very specific orders as to how much we are to eat at a time. My doctor said a cup. Have I ever eaten more than that at a meal- yes, alot more- no, should I have - no. I got use to eating a lot at one sitting pre-band. I was never much of a snacker / crap eater, but I was a big eater at meal time. I could eat with the big boys, which was why I became a big girl. In my obese mind food was good and more was better.

Now that I have the band food still taste good, really good, but I know that I MUST stop at a cup. Why must I stop,

1- My band has made my stomach about the size of a golf ball (that ain't big)

2- I DO NOT want to stretch it or damage my band

3- I really do want to loose weight.

So while I could likely eat a lot even now post-banded I do not "want" to. (There is that word again- WANT)

There are times, especially at family events, that I find myself helping my plate like I use to eat and I have to go whoa- not gonna happen. It's hard to lose the mantality of being a big eater at times.

There are some banders on here who say there band reminds them or prevents them from eating "bad" foods or to much. Well, my band doesn't.

What does my band do? It helps me eat slower and stay satisfied longer with less. I do get stuck on occassion, but that is normally because I tried to eat to fast or didn't chew well enough. My job as the band user is to listen to my body and if I am not hungry DON'T EAT. When I do eat, eat things that are good for me (protein, veggies, fruits) and keep my portion sizes down. I do not need to eat a gallons worth of food, my body only needs a cup.

It isn't always easy to do our part, the band is there willing and able to help, but we (I) must do my part. Each time I eat when I'm not hungry, eat more than I should, or eat "crap" foods I imagine my band sitting there hanging in shame.

The band will not, can not help me if I choose to go against it. So next time I think well just a little more or just this once I will remind myself that those thoughts is what got me to the place where I needed the band.