Is it normal to be able to eat anything?

I have a question? Without going into too much detail, is it normal to be able to eat anything? I read and hear about others who have had the band and they say they usually have trouble eating eggs, rice, bread etc. I have never been stuck (thank God) and I can eat anything. I have a 11 cc band and have had 2 fills so far, I have 7cc's in my band, I am wondering if I need another small fill? Also, does anyone out there have trouble with night eating? I do great all day then at night when i get home from work at 11:30 pm is when I want to eat. I get up several times in the night as well and want to eat too. Im going to see my doctor and see what she says about it?

I can eat pretty much anything I want but I choose not to...and here's why.  I have said in the past I can't eat breads, pasta, rice, white meat chicken.  The reason I say this is not because I get stuck but the uncomfortable full feeling I get after just a 2-3 bites.  Which if I'm eating chicken with rice...I would fill up on the rice quickly and not be able to eat my protein.  Or if I eat the protein first I would be a bit too full to try eating the rice.  So I have decided that I just won't eat those things anymore and I haven't for about a year.  I consider it a blessing that I can't fill up with all of those carbs and it's helped with my weight loss.  Oh there is one exception I absolutely can't eat dry meat.  I have had a stuck episode with dry leftover meat and it wasn't pleasant and I don't want to repeat it. 

As far as the fill goes...my doctor always asks me-
Am I satisfied with 4-6 oz of protein and 1/2 cup of veggies/fruit?
Am I satisfied for the next 3-4 hours without getting hungry again?
If you answer no to those questions then you may need a fill. 

The night eating I didn't have a problem with what you're describing.  I did have a problem with wanting to snack right before bedtime...usually on high calorie crap (like cookies).  With that one I just had to use my willpower.  Sometimes I lose that battle.  Lately though I have noticed it is easier and easier to curb my high calorie snacking at night. 

 

I can eat anything I want and I do eat anything I want.

I did not get the band to restrict me from foods  ,  The band is NOT designed to restrict  you from foods the band is to help you stay fuller longer and eat smaller meals that is it nothing else .

The band dont keep you from getting head hunger or make you not eat when you get head hunger.   Getting a fill wont stop that either the only thing that will stop that is YOU and you alone not the band, not the fills, and not the doctor only you .

If getting up several times a night just because you want food a fill is not going to help that, that seems like head hunger getting the best of you and wanting to eat after 11 pm at night.

I eat bread, rice, pizza and all that stuff but I do limit my intake on them items but if I want them I eat them.

You do need self control also the band dont do it all for you the majority of the work has to come from you . 

If you are not physically hunger then you dont need a fill dont confuse head hunger and physical hunger because then you will be getting fills that are not necessary and in the long run that could do more damage then good .

Good Luck

I'm I understanding correctly that you had your surgery in 99?  It's hard to comment because I don't known when you had surgery but 2 fills isn't much.  It's also surprising that you have 7cc's after only 2 fills.  Are you sure about that?

Bottom line, if you can eat anything and never get stuck, then you probably need a fill.  But just becuase you CAN eat anything doesn't mean you should.  My advice?  Start now and put yourself on a healthy restricted diet.  Decide what you are willing to eat and what you're not going to eat because it's not  healthy.  The band will HELP with hunger and portion control but you have to make the right choices for optimal WL.

Night time eating plaques most of us.  If you work till 11 pm you should plan your dinner meal for when you get home, assuming you don't go right to bed afterwards.  You have to adjust your 3 meals a day to your work schedule.  Otherwise, plan your snack and stick to it.

Best~
Lisa O.

I definately understand your night eating issues.  And IF it isn't an issue for people, they don't really understand it.  One thing I agree with is that it is head hunger.  But if you don't find a way around it, it can still get the best of you and make you feel like a failure.  After surgery I did not have night munchies and was soooo happy...for 5 days.  Then it reared it's ugly head again.  So, for a while, a protein shake did the trick for me.  Calories, yes, but not the mass amount night eating can cause.  After a while that didn't really work.  So I've found 1/2 of a protein bar, plus decaf coffee is working for me well.  Night eating is an issue I've always had and something I just have to keep working on.  Good Luck!!! 

Ah yes, nighttime eating.

Nighttime eating is often associated with emotional eating.. bored, tired, angry, stressed, lonely.  It's taken me almost 2 years to acknowledge that my desire to snack at night is due to being lonely and/or bored... and maybe a little angry.

I try to save a little bit of calories to allow myself an evening treat of some sort..  that may or may not be a good strategy for you.

I'm pasting part of a recent post by Jessie Ahroni from the SmartBandster's list:

Here's a list to determine if you are physically hungry or emotionally
hungry.
http://health.usf.edu/NR/rdonlyres/435CB8AC-84C4-491B-920E-785F4E1A34F0/26063/8T\
raitsofEmotionalHunger.pdf

If you're physically hungry: eat something (but pick something that won't
damage your weight loss).

If you're emotionally hungry you can eat everything in your house and it
won't solve the problem. Find a better way to deal with it. Think about
how other people cope with loss, anger, grief, anxiety, loneliness, etc.
What other way could you cope? Where can you get help with what you're
feeling? How can you CHANGE how you feel? How can you react differently?

Lisa. I have to respectfully disagree with you one
Thing.
I can eat anything and do not get stuck that does
Not mean you need or probably need a fill.

You get fills when you are physically hungry before
Three hrs or you can eat more then a cup or cup and
Half of food.

I can eat all the same foods as I did before the band but
I stay full for a good 3 to 6 hrs at a time

Why would I go and get a fill ?

Like I said you get fills when you get hungry
Before three hrs or ear more then a cup of food
Per Meal not cause you don't get stuck or you can
Eat anything you want

Thanks everyone!!! Again, you guys are awesome!!! Your responses really helped. To answer some of your questions, I got my band on 1-10-11. I dont know why my profile says 1999? I think that it is fixed now...