DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

I suppose the 90/10 would be a good description of what I do. Once a month I allow myself a freebie meal of whatever I want, regardless of calories or fat grams. Today was my birthday so I went to lunch and had crab alfredo. I think of it as allowing myself to be human, and flawed, and simply wanting a meal of my choice regardless of how bad it may be for me. But 90% of the time (probably more like 98% of the time for me) I do eat healthy and track my calories, Protein, carbs, and fat daily.

-Follow up with your surgeon monthly, getting fills monthly until you have good restriction. -Log your food eaten so you can hold yourself accountable. I use an app called Lose It -Be sure to get at least 60g-80g of Protein a day -Go see a nutrionist. Bring your food log with you so they can see what you're eating and help you find a plan that works for you. You may even want to go to a seminar that is for people considering Lap-Band, because they will tell you a lot of information you missed there.

I don't usually snack, if I do I have a 1/2 cup of low fat cottage cheese, some pistachios, or even a sugar free pudding. Breakfast- Protein shake. I have one every day. Lunch- open faced tuna sandwich, with non fat mayo and low fat cheese. banana Dinner- 1/2 a chicken breast or pork chop, 1/4 cup green Beans, 1/4 cup mashed potatoes

I know this will sound like a weird question, but does anyone struggle to get enough calories in? I am very much in the Green Zone. I don't PB, no reflux or night cough, and I can eat pretty much whatever I want so long as I take small enough bites and chew it well. But, ever since my last fill, I really struggle to get in enough calories. I was eating 1100-1200 a day but now I have to really push it to get in even 1000. Usually I'm more around 900. Sometimes I feel like I'm over-eating because I'm trying so hard to hit at least 1000 calories. I'm just full from very little food and am rarely hungry. Today I will have only had 914, and that's only if I get in the pistachios I have planned for a snack tonight. If I don't, I'll be under 800. Does anyone else struggle to get in enough calories? If so, how do you get what you need without adding junk/filler calories?

I've only had one PB episode and it was totally my own fault- it was shortly after my last fill and I didn't chew nearly well enough. So in answer to your question, no, not everyone PB's regularly or even at all. For most it's avoidable simply by eating slow, taking tiny bites, and chewing the food until it's practically liquid. When I did have my PB, I had plenty of time to go to the bathroom. It's not like vomiting because your stomach doesn't spasm and it's not violent like vomiting. It's exactly what PB stands for, a productive burp. The food just kinda pops back up.

I was sleeping on my tummy again the night after surgery.

I avoid it except under special circumstances. For instance, I love Cadbury eggs so over Easter I had a couple. Tomorrow is my birthday so I'll be having a piece of Tiramisu rather than birthday cake. Truth is, I honestly don't like the sluggish "blah" way sugary foods make me feel. I'm quite content without them now. But kicking that addiction wasn't easy. I'm so glad you've started counseling! I think it's going to really help you a lot!

Sugar addiction isn't easy- I was one BIG time. Sometimes I would eat entire bags of Reese's miniatures in one sitting. I drank 6-8 regular sodas a day. Heck sometimes I'd even get up in the middle of the night to have a sweet treat. But just like any other addiction, you have to suffer to kick it. If you can go a week without sugary treats and restrict your carbs (because they process like sugar in your body), you would be over the worst of it. Drink LOTS of Water during that time too to flush your system. Also, I would strongly advise seeking counseling. The Lap-Band can restrict how much we can physically eat and make us feel full sooner but it can't change our brains. Addiction is very real, including to food, and if you want to be successful with your band it's necessary to get your head in the game and seek help for the addiction. Good luck.

It doesn't matter what surgery you have- Lap-Band, Gastric Bypass, or Sleeve. If you don't change your eating habits for a lifetime you will fail. If you're eating the wrong foods, drinking too much wine, and not taking the advice given then of course you didn't lose weight. The band is a tool, not a magic fix, and you still have to do the work in order to be successful with it. Surgery can't fix our brains only we can do that for ourselves.

mashed sweet potatoes are yummy and very good for you!

Oh yummmm!! I'm totally looking for that!!!

Oh lordy I laughed when I saw the title of this thread!! LOL! I agree, the whole duck face thing is ridiculous. I always think they look like they're trying to smile despite smelling a really nasty fart.

That's awesome!! I agree, it sounds like you're differently very close. I'd stick to small fills from here out because I have feeling you could jump the Green Zone into too tight very easily because you are so close.

It's different than Facebook and adding friends is encouraged. It just makes it so you can be notified of their status updates and such.

Oh yeah, I've had that too. I've only PB'd once but it was not fun. Even now if I eat too fast or eat too much, I do that awful sliming thing. And, as you said, it's very physically uncomfortable if not painful. The class you took sounds awesome, they should offer it to all bandsters! I'd take it in a heart beat! It's funny you mention trigger foods because I've found them as well. My daughter had some BBQ chips in the house and I thought "oh I'll just take a couple". Then a couple more. And a couple more. And even more. I finally went "holy hell!" and stepped away from the chips. I won't buy big bags of chips anymore since that. If the kids want chips, I'll get them a little bag at the gas station. Same thing with Little Debbie snack cakes. I still buy them for my kids, but I won't buy ones I really like. Otherwise, it's too big of a constant mental battle not to break down and eat them. You're doing AMAZING btw!! You've lost a lot of weight really fast!!

Here's a great diagram of what the Green Zone is: I think a big misconception people have is that the band will fix all their food issues. Believe me, it won't. It can make you full faster and longer, and it can control how much you're physically able to eat, but it won't stop head hunger and it won't stop you from eating around it. I have lost over 100 pounds since being banded in January 2012, and I'm very much in the Green Zone, but I still have ask myself at least a half dozen times a day "Am I physically hungry or head hungry?". Something else to keep in mind, just because you can eat a lot of food doesn't mean you should. Very often if you stop eating after only a cup of food, you will find that while you still can eat more you're satisfied and no longer hungry. Too many of us bandsters are also binge eaters and we try to eat until we have that bloated full feeling we used to. That band won't make you feel that way, so stop expecting it. I'm discovering a lot of people say "I have no restriction" but really they do. They just assume because they physically can eat more that should and do, rather than stopping when their stomach feels satisfied at 1/2cup to 1cup food. This is also why my surgeon recommends not eating more than a cup of food at a time (total, for the whole meal) and stopping when it's gone because it teaches you what satisfied feels like and keeps you from eating more than you should. I have measured out a cup of food to eat since I got back on soft foods after surgery. At the beginning, it was rough, I was still physically hungry after my food was gone. But, I stuck to it. Now, because I have good restriction, a lot of the time I realize I'm satisfied way before the cup of food is gone and stop eating. Just my experience.

hahaha that's pretty awesome! Congratulations!

I was told no Boost or Ensure, either. Too high of carbs and sugar and not enough Protein. I also like the unjury. strawberry and vanilla are both yummy but I have the chocolate Splendor for Breakfast every morning. Sometimes just mixed with skim milk, sometimes coffee and skim milk for a delicious DIY protein mocha.

Congratulations!!!

You haven't hit the Green Zone yet and need another fill(s) Once you have adequate restriction, it gets much easier. I'm curious why you've only had 3 fills in 6 months? Most have 5 or 6 in that time period.

Nope can't feel it at all. I'm very aware of it when I eat, and I can definitely feel the port, but I can't actually feel the band at all.

If you are getting gas pains 2 months post-op, it's not from the surgery itself. All the air they pumped into your abdominal cavity has long since been reabsorbed. I would try a product that stops gas before it starts, like maybe Beano. I am guessing the change in your diet has upset your bowels, and if you're like me and are now eating a lot more Protein than you used to, that will do it too.

Just give up the pop now because carbonation is one of the very few major no-no's for people with the band. It can cause slips and stretch the pouch. Otherwise, drinking usually isn't a problem for most, it just take some getting used to.

I would listen to your doctor not the people at MFP. You're a bariatric patient so your needs are going to be different than those who are just dieting. Always listen to your doctor before anyone else, especially random advice given online