gowalking

That statement sounds to me like a big old rationalization for bad behavior. Now, having said that, no one is perfect and we'll all have our moments when we do make those not so good choices. Of course less of bad food is still better than more of it but you will have better success eating healthy instead of eating poorly. And so you are aware, I am not a restrictive food person...I eat sweets once in a while, I eat carbs regularly...albeit in small portions, I don't eat food that has no taste. But..I don't eat fast food anymore..I don't eat fried foods anymore, I watch my sodium carefully...so easy on the sauces and other foods sodium laden. No ice cream, no chips, etc. I think what's the point of eating that stuff after having made such a drastic step as WLS. Just do your best to make healthy and reasonable choices and you will do well. Good luck!

fish is always a good option when eating out. make it simple...grilled and avoid sauces...they can be loaded with calories. steamed veggies...even a 1/4 of a baked potato is good. the only type of items to avoid are carb heavy. meaning...stay away from Pasta dishes...cream sauces, fried foods, etc. I live in NYC so I don't do chain restaurants but you can usually find calorie counts for the chains. since I can't do that, I eat what I know is relatively healthy and stay away from what I know can be a problem. soup is high in sodium, salad dressings are high in calories. again...presume you will bring home at least 2/3rds of your meal and you should be good. I eat out once or twice a week usually and I am still losing steadily as I pay very close attention to what I'm eating in a restaurant. I'm sure you know what are better choices than others. if you follow that thinking, eating out will not sabotage you.

Wow...what an interesting thread. And I realized that I have a prejudice against those who are obese based on BMI, but not obese as in 'I have to lose at least 100 or more pounds.' I didn't even recognize this until reading these posts. Part of me thinks if you need to lose 50 lbs. or less, there's no need for WLS but I think it's just because I'm one of those people needing to lose so much weight. I was 267 lbs. and my BMI was over 50. I'm down to 199 and in order to move to 'overweight' from 'obese', I need to be 150 lbs. Now I'm thinking who am I to judge someone else's journey? Why should my needing to lose over 100 lbs. be more critical than someone who has to lose a lot less. Fat is fat...doesn't matter how fat. Or...maybe not. Fred has a point about surgery being a drastic step. It is. Should someone consider surgery if they don't have a ton of weight to lose? I certainly don't have the answer...I don't know if there is an answer. The insurance companies often determine the criteria...which is so convoluted yet as the payer, I guess they have the right to do so. Anyway, debate is good as long as it doesn't get personal and I enjoy reading differing opinions on topics surrounding weight loss.

So sorry for your troubles JoJo. Wishing you an easy procedure and a quick recovery.

One seminar, one visit with the surgeon, one visit with the nutritionist, one psych eval, 3 months documented weight recording by the PCP, bloodwork, cardiac stress test, documented history of weight loss attempts, surgery postponed due to hospital closing from Hurricane Sandy. Start to finish...6 months from seminar to surgery. Totally worth the hassle and wait. Am 5 months banded and have lost nearly 68 lbs. including two week pre-surg. diet.

I know it's just a number, and I know I still have a ways to go...but I got on the scale this morning and it said 199.2. I am under 200 lbs. Wow...I never though I'd see it. Thank you lapband, and thank you to all the great folks on this forum who have supported me on this journey. I know we're only connected virtually but the first thing I wanted to do after seeing that number was to let you all know that I reached a significant milestone. Have a great day everyone!

Yup. food is an addiction like any other addiction. That's why I hate the attitude of those not addicted who say, oh just shut your pie hole and you'll lose the weight. OK then, just stop drinking and you'll be OK, or just stop shooting up and you'll be OK. Our addiction is the hardest one to overcome. You can stop drinking, you can stop drugs, you can stop gambling. You can't stop eating. Every day, every moment, we are faced with our addiction and forced to make a choice as to whether or not to give in to that addiction. I'm so proud of everyone on this forum and even those who are not. Kudos to all the people who struggle daily to get healthier and overcome this addiction.

Oh Arlene...four small cookies? You were not bad. You had a salad and a few cookies. Don't be so hard on yourself. Sounds like this could have been a disaster had you eaten much of that fatty food. You did good girl. Congrats.

I'm reading responses and just as an FYI, I wore paper panties they gave me before surgery. They barely fit..which was even more of a reason for the lapband. Just wanted you to know as not all hospitals have the same protocol.

Welcome to the forum. good luck with your weight loss journey. I have never for a moment, regretted this decision..and it was not like I wanted to do this....I had no choice as I was out of options and could not seem to keep my eating under control. With the band, I can control my portions and the fact that I don't feel ravenous all the time, lets me make good food choices. Just the other day, I overdid it just a little bit at a work lunch and while I was not sick, I was uncomfortably full. When I thought about how much I ate, it was still a fraction of what I would have eaten pre-band but even so, the amount of food one eats now is so much less than before that you have to remember sometimes not to 'overeat' in the banded sense of the word..and not the rest of the world's idea of overeating.

What a great NSV. Congrats!!

Hi Chloe. At this point of your journey, all you will be thinking about is food. In fact, you will be thinking about food for a long time. As you get more comfortable living with the band, you will stop stressing so much but for now, you will be thinking about food and how to eat with the band and you can't do much about it...it's just part of the process. Check this site alot and ask questions...read threads...but stay away from the complications ones...they will make you crazy...and know that the band will one day be just a part of your life and not the focus. Good luck.

Welcome and good luck. This site has been a godsend to me.

you should ask your doctor about it...see what he/she says.

Missy...sounds like you and Catfish have orthostatic hypotension. Early in my career, I managed hypertensive meds clinical trials for a major pharma company. Orthostatic hypotension was a very common adverse event alot of our subjects experienced. I'm no doctor so I've no idea how it's treated..I just know your symptoms sound very familiar..

David...I can eat rice. I even eat sushi every now and then. Just be aware that I have no fills and that probably has something to do with it. There are a few of us on this site who haven't needed them...I'm one of those lucky few. FYI, I'm down 65 lbs. since the beginning of the year.

I had to have a chemical stress test. I couldn't walk the treadmill because of my arthritis...and because I was so sedentary, they wanted me to have the stress test..

oatmeal and cream of wheat packs, dry cereal, packets of tuna (for lunch) 100 calorie cookie packets for the occasional sweet tooth. Hard peppermint candies when I need to wake up my mouth.

Hey David. Don't have a food funeral so fast. You may be able to eat all the foods you love...just in much smaller portions. Some things you will find not worth eating because they are empty calories and you won't miss them much. Others, you may not have any issue with and will continue to eat and enjoy. Good luck!

I won't sugarcoat it...it's not easy and you will likely be miserable to be around. But as long as you are motivated, you will get through it and before you know it, your surgery date will be upon you. Plus...you will see a nice weight loss before surgery. I lost 17 lbs. during by two week pre-surgical diet.

Me neither. I'd say skip it if it's not that important to you to attend. There will be lots more BBQs over the summer that you'll be better able to deal with. If it is important to you, make some excuse why you can't eat. Tummy ache, toothache, just some kind of excuse to get you through it.

Don't be concerned about people noticing your eating habits. I'm 5 1/2 months out and I can tell you by my own experience, no one pays attention to what you are eating...they are busy thinking about what they are eating. I've gone out to dinner several times with people who are unaware I am banded...and no one says squat about what I'm eating...or not. Besides...you can always say you are not that hungry...you have an upset stomach, you are counting calories..which is not a lie..you will be counting calories....blah blah blah. I promise you, no one will notice if you don't bring attention to it. I'd do what your husband suggests. Sounds like your mom has her own issues and you don't need her crap on top of the stress you will have until you are used to this new banded life. Good luck on your lapband journey.

Don't be sorry you posted the question. You got the answers I suspect you expected. I'm sure it's difficult to come to terms with the fact that your life partner may not be supportive. If this is the case, know that you are not alone. There are plenty of people on this site with little or no family or friends supporting their decision. It was suggested you seek professional help if you will not have the support you need. I think it's a good suggestion. Love yourself...take care of yourself. It's your life and you must come first. Value yourself. We find that such a difficult thing to do...especially if we are not happy with our physical selves but you are worth being healthy regardless of the cost...or difficult reactions from those we expect love us most. Good luck.

I'm a couple of pounds away from being under 200 for the first time in years. I should reach that goal next week or the following. I still have a long way to go..I'd like to lose another 50 lbs. but the thought of getting on the scale at my primary doctor's office and not setting the weight at 200 or even 250 (which I had to do before being banded) truly makes me smile.

It's very possible. I'm one of those people with no fills and am down 65 lbs. in 5 1/2 months. I don't know why this is when most people have to get fills but if this bump in the road you just suffered means that you may not need fills.. then all the better. Good luck!