So who's right?

Person A. Counts every calories (daily max 1400) and all carbs. Journals.
Person B. As above but 1200 cals.
Person C. As above but 1000 cals.
Person D. Exercise fanatic. Eats about 1800 cals a day
Person E. Doesn't count or measure, just tries to eat small amounts of healthy food
Person F. Never snacks
Person G. Always snacks
Person H. Never eats breakfast
Person I. Has substantial breakfast.
Person J. Relies on protein shakes for breakfast
Person K. Despises protein shakes
Person L.........

Get the idea?

And the answer? They are ALL right!  Once we have learned to live with our bands, then we can take control and fit our eating into the lifestyle which works for us.

If it works for YOU and you are healthy and losing weight - then that is the right way for YOU.

Kate

Like!!

you are right Kate, as long as you are losing weight it dont make a difference on how you eat or what you eat.

Im losing 1-2 pounds per week and I havent given up any of my favorite foods which Im very happy about . What I eat others might not eat but Im losing weight as long as that continues then nothing changes diet wise.

My doc always tells me the band isnt to stop you from eating your favorite foods or whatever it just helps you control on how much of them favorite foods you eat. (portion control)

Thanks, Kate! It took me quite a while to come to that conclusion, but you are absolutely right. Sue

As long as your healthy & not creating additional health problems.... whatever it is it is!

I agree completely. W have to find what works for US. For instance some ppl do food journaling and weigh food and it works for them. I am just not that regimented, and that would never work for me. I have however apparantly found a "relaxed approach" that seems to be wroking for me.

Doesn't matter how we do it...........as long as we do it!

I totally agree Kate.  When I got my band 3 years ago, I ate Reese's Pieces & Cheetos DAILY (not trying to make anyone have cravings) and I lost 100 lbs in 1 year and 1 month.  That's not too shabby for having had bad foods. I also ate late at night and a small snack before going to bed. My exercise was pretty normal - not obnoxious, but reasonable 3-4 days a week.  I got off the band wagon for about 10 months last year and gained 8 lbs. I thought that wasn't so bad since I hadn't even been exercising consistently like I used to.  Then I thought I should get it in gear and start eating the "right" foods. I started on all these "health" foods and mentally I was unhappy.  I slowly started gaining weight. Turns out, I had a slipped band and no amount of healthy food was going to keep me from gaining weight. My slip actually worked just the opposite - I was able to eat like I did before surgery (my band slipped down, not up). I was simply eating too much of good, healthy foods.  It boils down to - you can eat 1200 calories of junk food or 1200 calories of healthy food (obviously, healthy foods is more quantity).  It doesn't matter - it's the bottom line - calories in v. calories out.  Also, when your body gets accustomed to 800-1000 calories, that's all it needs to survive. The body is very smart and is equiped to survive.  When I was eating 1500-1800 calories a day -dieting, mind you, I gained weight, even though I gave up Cheetos and all my favorite candies. I was basically sugar free and yet I continued to gain - 35 lbs in a matter of 3 months.  Again, the bottom line was the amount of calories. My body only needs 1000 calories give/take to operate and lose weight.  Anything more and my body doesn't know what to do with it, but store it as fat.

I am 4 weeks out from my revision surgery and truely feel like a new person.  I haven't had my 1st fill yet - that will be March 3, but I'm already noticing the restriction. 

Anyway, thanks for the reminder, Kate.

GREAT POST, Kate! I'm close to D (1600 calories) and I love this message! You're SO right!!