How to tell when you have enough

lapband4meNOW · February 17, 2007

I am newly banded. Once I start on the food, I wanted to know how you tell you have had enough. I don't want to find myself in a position where I ate too much and then I am in pain. How do you make sure? Do you always measure out your food? Do you use a 1/2 a cup or what?

THANKS!

JulieNYC · February 17, 2007

You will find different opinions on food measuring. I personally was a fan in my earlier banded days just for the reason you say -- 1/2 cup of Protein is probably enough and I know I won't be too full. Try it and see if you like it. You won't need to do it forever. Now I know exactly what 1/2 cup looks like.

My best advice for you though is to force yourself to eat slowly. After about the 5th bite, really examine whether you need another bite. It's about finding that place where you're no longer hungry, but aren't necessarily full. If you stop at that place, a few minutes later you'll be full and you will feel perfect. If you eat past that place until you're full, a few minutes later you'll be too full.

That's my experience, anyway! It took several months to master. You'll get there. No worries.

Congrats on getting banded.

MCOBandita · February 17, 2007

Wow, Julie. You are almost at goal!

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!!!:whoo:

susannah · February 17, 2007

Hi, I have been wondering about this too. I am on the mushies stage now. I have been slowly eating 1 cup of food at a time and feeling content with that amount, not full, not hungry. Is 1 cup too much food. I am 2 weeks out and have not had a fill. Is 1 cup of mushies at a time too much for me? Should I be having only a half a cup? :help:

Susannah

marjon9 · February 17, 2007

As the original poster recognizes, figuring out when you are full is a) different when you have the band, and important if you want to avoid some serious pain/ PBing/ potential health problems.

This issue has been quite interesting for me because I have struggled with it so far. You know the saying, "the definition of insanity is when you continue to do the same thing but expect a different result." By this standard, apparently I am insane, because I have eaten past the point when I knew I was full on quite a number of occassions, each time somehow expecting that I would not suffer the usual result. :loco:

Before banding I always used to wolf my food. It's hard to get out of the habit. When I come home from work now I am often quite hungry. I just dont feel like using a baby spoon to eat a small piece of something in 22 bites over a 30 minute period. I still sometimes just start eating like I did before: big bites, minimal chewing. The first bite or two usually goes down OK, and then by the fourth or fifth bite I feel the golf ball in my chest and there is no turning back: pain is in my immediate future. :doh:

Well, I am happy to report that, much like the worm in the "T" maze, I am finally beginning to alter my behavior in response to pain.

Maybe there is hope for me after all. :flypig:

You know how that song goes: :music: :note2: "I fought the band and the ... band won! I fought the band and the ... band won!" :note2:

belle75067 · February 18, 2007

I have been banded since August 23, 2006. I used to wonder the same thing now with time and experience I have been able to distinguish when I have had enough to eat. I agree with what some others have said, that you don't actually feel full, but you feel not hungry anymore. I believe everyones body is different and you will get to know yours.

Dieta