What do you do to help you be successful?

LOL....Cheryl, once again we are of like minds - that was a great post you just put on for lap banders who are struggling. Just so you know - my rny program is low carb - similar to atkins.

We are in the middle of the most challenging eating season of the year. What do you do to work your tool and ensure your success?

For me - there are several things:

1) Planning my meals in advance
2) Never let myself get overly hungry - a little is ok - but not the ravanously starting eat everything in sight hunger.
3) Make sure I eat adequate protein - stays by me better than carbs
4) drink my water

How 'bout you?

Being kinda new I am still trial and erroring,But I always try and plan ahead, not just for the family but for what I am gonna have, I am learning NOT to let me self get hungry cause then I cram the food in and then well we all know what that feels like right?

LOL, Desserts I don't have hardly anymore, except mabye once and that was protein pudding, and guess what, It was a trigger food, sucks !

Great Thread !!!

WEll, again, and I know lots of you are tired of hearing this, but:  SUccessful, i'm not, unless you consider not gainning a success.  And at this point, I guess yes, I'm a success.  BUt, on that note.
1. Journaling (most of the time) has been my biggest help.  It keeps me within my calorie goal and even when I dont journal I pretty much have the same daily.

2. being organized and having something in refrid. to grab when hungry and craving food.  When I need groceries and don't have as many good choices I find myself grabbing bad stuff.

3. FOR ME: learning more about the band, what works, problems, solutions.  I need to educate myself.

Thanks Candace.

I relatively new at this game. At this point food is not a temptation (knock on wood). I have little urge to do my normal routine of Christmas baking. Dh and I don't need it, and the others can deal with it. The grocery store has bakes goods if they need something.

1) I log all my food and exercise on TheDailyPlate.com
2) I try to plan meals and have good for me quick standby food just in case.
3) I make sure to get my fluids in.

This is a great idea.........thanks for sharing all these ideas!   I think anyone who undertakes this journey is a success.........whether they lose, maintain OR gain.  It's the journey of a lifetime and it IS difficult at times. 

For me:
1.  Journaling......EVERYTHING!  every bite, nibble, sip......I use thedailyplate.com also ...just started a few weeks ago.
2.  I'm not a planner when it comes to meals, but I AM a creature of habit.  Once I find something that I like and my pouch likes, I tend to stick with it........I think that makes things easier for me.
3. Exercise or some other form of diversion.  I've found that I eat when I'm bored!  So.......I find something to do......read, exercise, clean, whatever!  Seems to work for me!
4.  I also keep plenty of "MY" snacks around the house: protein bars, cheese sticks, yogurt, sf jello..........AND......the kids KNOW they'd better not touch it!  haha
5.  Fluids.........if I'm feeling a "craving" coming on, I'll drink some water first and see if it was just my body telling me I was thirsty.  It works.......SOMETIMES!

Thanks for sharing!