What do you eat near or at your goal weight?

[neese007 0]

I am about 25pounds from my goal weight (started at 255lbs and now 185lbs at 5'7"). I have been reading many of your posts and can relate to almost everything said. It is great to know I am not alone. You all are a blessing to me!

Anyways - people out there who are near or at your goal weight. How is life with food? For over 2 years, I have been avoiding going out to lunches and dinners with friends and familiy for the fear of the uncomfortable feeling of the golf ball in the chest and needing to know where the restroom is before I even sit down! Total embarrassment, which I learned as just to avoid the situation all together(which is sad). These past 2 years have been dificult, hard and exciting all at the same time. Trial and error is my learning experience most of the time.

My question is - I am really really restricted. Dont get me wrong - I am not starving in any way. Do you ask you Dr. to take a small amount (like 0.2cc to -0.5cc out) for maintainance or are you restricted tightly for the rest of you life? How are meals? Is it really just the 1/2 cup per meal for the rest of your life or can you actually eat maybe 1/2 of your dinner plate before feeling full.

How about that 'golf ball' feeling? After 3 bites, I always have that golf ball feeling until everything drops several hours later - so I am the classical ''grazer' through the day to get my nutrition. I tell my Dr. this, and he doesnt seem concerned. But he tells my Husband (who is also banded) that he should only eat once a day and only once a day when he is hungry. I would never make it. Its not like I am hungry, I just cant handle the food at once. (it literally takes me 3-4 hours to eat what my Husband eats). Are any of you the same way or can you actually eat a meal?

I guess my end point is - will eating always be a 'chore'? Im OK with this lifestyle - I am just wanting to know what to expect in the future - I always dreamed of being smaller and my health is grateful so Im not complaining. I just wondering if things slowly adjust where there is not so much pain and mindpower to eat all the time.

Am I making any sense or am I babbling?