4 year band-aversary (plus 4 days)

[LeighaMason 19]

Well I thought it was my band-adversary but I looked and it was 4 days ago. I forgot to weigh this morning so I can't report exactly but I am sure that I am still in my 133-138 zone that I prefer to stay in, probably 134 based on what I have been eating lately. Since I was banded I have really changed the way I eat, I cook almost everything we eat from scratch, no more processed foods (except corn chips, my one concession to junk food). The funny thing is it really doesn't take longer or cost more once you learn what to do. I absolutely stay away from anything with high fructose corn Syrup or artificial sweeteners, as far as I am concerned they are poisons that confuse your body and make you have fake hunger. I cook a lot of Soups so that I can eat them at work and I don't have to pay attention to chewing or eating too fast like I do on regular foods. I think that is a key to my success is to always have a healthy, easy thing available to grab and make in just a few minutes, so I don't resort to grabbing a handful of chips. I learned that its OK to be hungry, I can sit there and be hungry for a few hours, its not going to kill me, if I am in the car and not going to be home for an hour, there is no reason to stop and get some fast food, just wait it out. Well, in closing, I hope some of what I have shared has helped those of you who are early in your journey and still trying to wrap your mind around the whole thing, it took me a while to stop fighting it and accept the mental changes that were necessary for me to lose the weight. Here is a picture of me from this morning....

[cflick 303]

Great job

[Bandista 7,466]

Happy Bandiversary -- you look great! And we wear the same uniform (jeans and black top). It's so encouraging to read your post. I am waiting to be banded and hope with just that same kind of relationship with food. And I'm with you on the "real" food.

[Monicab 37]

Great job and you look wonderful

[2muchfun 8,927]

You hit on a subject that gave me a "DOH"! I eat Soups often myself and I never realized I was eating them to avoid problems like stuck episodes. I try to find soups that have more Protein and are thicker than creamy soups. Most of the progresso/Campbell soups are around 200-400 calories so they fit the daily calorie consumption.

BTW-You look great.

[dgoertz1 120]

Congrats!