paranoia?

[FrogStar24 0]

I'm nearly 3 months out, and 6 weeks since my last fill. I'm going for another one in a week and a half. Now, I know my band isn't as tight as it could be, or as it will be. This is because I nearly passed out during my first fill. The doc told me he kept the band a lot looser than it could have been because he didn't want me having any more problems like that. (I think the real problem is I still get uncomfortable in hospitals!)

My paranoia stems from the idea that I have stretched out my stomach. I know it takes a while to do that, and it's not like I'm eating whole pizzas or anything, just some extra veggies here and there. While I (hope!!) don't think this is likely, because my band can't be that restrictive, I am having a problem eating smaller portions.

I eat really slowly, and chew everything super well, but I keep finishing everything on my plate. The doc said I should take an hour to eat meals, but something else I read said you shouldn't eat TOO slowly, and your meals should take half an hour. Maybe since I'm eating too slowly, my food is digesting by the time I reach the second half of my meal and that's why I can keep eating? I don't get full, is the problem.

I should probably make less, because I won't make more food once I'm done eating, but I'm having a hard time measuring things.

Also - maybe a silly question, but since I'm on the subject - if you're supposed to have 3 oz Protein and 3 oz veggies or whatever, is that all by weight? That's my biggest problem. Protein is easier to measure by weight, but what about broccoli? one stem could take up half a measuring cup, but it doesn't weigh a lot. Maybe I'm making up my own rules as an excuse to eat more.

Anyways, is anyone else going through this?

Sorry for all the rambling, but I feel like I'm back to the stupid habits I had in the beginning of this. I also weighed myself this week and have only lost 7lbs since my last fill 6 weeks ago, and that's discouraging. I just hope that it's because I've been building muscle from working out. I know everyone loses at different paces, but I was secretly hoping to be one of the people who lost 50lbs in the first few months, and I'm only down about 35 at the mo.

Maybe it's a question for a shrink, but I hate being aware I might be eating too much, and I hate even more that I continue to do it. It's like I'm sabotaging myself, and I've worked too hard to do that. Oy.

I guess I'm just looking for some kind words of encouragement from anyone who's felt like me.

Thanks, and happy almost Friday!

[plain 12]

Hey Frogstar, I just wanted to let you know that losing a pound / week is not too shabby at all!! It sounds cliche', but losing this weight is not a sprint, it's a marathon. Slow and steady wins the race. Hang in there!! Good luck!