joyb1only

I go out, and typically order from the menu. I choose grilled or broiled meats when I can, and always order and eat some form of Protein. If it is higher than fat than it should be or breaded, then it is. I do not stress over it, partly because I know that I am going to eat the protein, and likely very little else. I also do not feel that I must give up doing something that I enjoy because I can't eat some huge portion. I usually wind up taking 1/2 to 3/4 of the meal home, if I've ordered a regular dinner. Sometimes I order from the kid's menu, something like a dinner-size Greek salad, or even just an appetizer to cut down on the portion size.

I only plan in a very loose way, mostly by making sure I have plenty of Protein bars and Protein shakes on hand to cover when I am on the run, which is most of the time. The other staple for me is Greek yogurt. This is not the best of plans, because I tend to make a lot of choices otherwise. What's out there is usually pretty high in fat, even when I look for the most protein, I can get for the serving (10 - 23 gr.) on nutrition labels, along with the least fat and carbs/sugar, but a lot of Fiber. I try to get at least one small meal when I can, with some meat and a few vegetables,more emphasis on meat, and likely 2 oz. by weight or less. I find that I can eat very little else after I've eaten my protein. So, vegetables, or any type of potato would be 1/8 to 1/4 cup at most. Fruits are occasional.

Something my doc told me since I have this same prob. In short, it all has to do with metabolism, blood sugar, insulin, and signals to the liver to make or use fat. If you are eating constantly, the brain gets the wrong signals about what to do to give you energy, which can trigger a fat storing process when you want the opposite. Eating about 200 cal 5 to six times a day sends the right signals, so a schedule is better. Think of it as stoking a fire. Obviously, you want your 200 cals to be mostly Protein, so you can build muscle,etc. This makes sense to me, but if you've been a grazer, it's harder to do than it looks.

I think joining WW will provide some great support. First is meeting support. If you find a good, supportive leader, the info provided from the weekly meetings is excellent in providing motivation, and behavior modification info, provided you stay for the meetings. If you don't or can't, you might do better with just the support forum like this one, or a web site such as Sparkpeople. The emphasis on getting a balance of healthy eating exercise is what makes the program. Second is the benefit of accountability from the weekly weigh-in, and tracking your weight. Getting rewards by meeting certain targets for weight loss also helps. Your rewards give you tangible evidence of your accomplishment, and can serve as an anchor to get you over the rough spots. I use the monthly pass, and the convenience of WW e-tools that comes with it. That said, there are some things that you will need to think about as you begin the program. Most of your points are going to have to be used for Protein - lean meat, low fat cheese, yogurt, etc., and you may not be able to get in your targeted number of points. You will also likely not be able to eat the quantities of food a non-banded person can, and you may not be able to get the servings of fruits and veggies you are supposed to eat under the good health guidelines, especially in the post-op period. Those will need to be added gradually as you can tolerate them, and likely never in quantities that are considered "normal" portions, such as an entire cup of strawberries, etc. You will likely also need to steer away from Pasta dishes, rice, etc. and foods that are more likely to get "stuck", at least for a while. At the same time, making those adjustments is worth the trade-off of behavior changes. Hope this helps.

This is really something to get excited about. I've already found a lot in the forums, and feel more motivated than I have been. There are times the iPad and my iPhone are a lot more convenient than even a laptop. It's great.

I don't know about bobbing up and down, but occasionally, when this starts, I've noticed that if I get up and walk around a few minutes or do something else (like make coffee, close a drape, start the dishes) that the sensation seems to ease, and I can then come back to the table, and work on my meal. That doesn't always work; it depends on how soon I realize I've got a problem, and how bad it is.

Nikita, Congratulations on your decision to have the band. I had it done in Dec 2010. It's had it's ups and downs, and the reason is those darn bad habits! I would encourage you to not wait for your surgery to at least be mindful of what you are eating. Keep a diary or tracker if you can. There are a couple of reasons. Your surgery will go better if you can shrink your liver. I'm sure your doc will tell you this. A second is that your band restricts how much at a time but doesn't do anything for the quality or how often you are eating. Unfortunately, all the good stuff still goes right on down, once you are through post op, and the temptations to eat those things, like chocolate, or too many shakes, or just plain high calorie food in general are still there. A little at a time all the time is not a good thing if it's not the right food, and half or quarter cups still add up to a lot of food if you do it too often. You have to change habits. Getting that up front may help you when the bad ones try to bite you later.

Congratulations and good luck!

Am considering lapband or gastric bypass, hopefully with a surgery date of 12/17. Am almost into senior status. Have some serious health issues including diabetes, hoping to avoid others, and have an acceptable quality of life as I move into retirement. While I accept that there will be some pretty drastic changes once the surgery is done, and am doing my best to prepare, am still very curious about post op diet etc., and how to deal with everyday things, such as preparing meals for family, dealing with social gatherings, etc., in the post op phase.

Thanks.