Should I feel guilty?

This morning I ate a packet of oatmeal (added too much water so it was kind of runny, didn't do intentionally) and a small banana. Why do I feel like a hog? I read so much about people and their "ate 2 bites and I'm stuffed" that I, personally feel like a pig if I eat what, I feel, a normal person would eat for breakfast! I was on lapbandtalk yesterday browsing around and I cannot believe the number of people who have their bands so freaking tight! I read a post where the woman said, "after my initital PB, I went on to eat the rest of my food." WTF? Why would you be so tight that you have to PB your food, then just being able to continue to eat is what baffled me. I couldn't! Sorry, I know I sound like I'm ranting....but I am still teetering on if I need a fill, but for months I haven't been able to eat a piece of fruit or veggies well and wonder if that's part of why I have been having a hard time eating healthy. Trying to figure out if since I'm still in the losing phase if I need to get tightened down some more to the point where I am "eating 2 bites and I'm stuffed"...essentially, in my opinion, starving the weight off. I guess I am ranting a bit! On the flip side....I've been exercising every day....hoping it'll help! Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

The reason some people have trouble getting food down when they first start eating, and maybe PB, but then can then eat and get the food down is because of what is called "First Bite Syndrom". It is not that the band is too tight. It's because the stoma tightens up, and then loosens slowly after you start eating.

No, Karen, you shouldn't feel guilty. You should be proud of yourself for making healthy choices and exercising! Those are the two main keys to losing weight and keeping it off long-term (even if it's slower than you'd like). To me, keeping a super tight band is self-defeating. The person with a tight band may, indeed, lose weight. But, has he/she learned a better way of eating? Probably not, and at some point they may have to get an unfill. After being deprived of food for so long, they are likely to go the same route that many of us have gone throughout our lives of yo-yo dieting, that is to start the slow climb of weight gain. I agree with Ron about the "first bite syndrome". Personally, I never PB, but I do get stuck sometimes, and usually on the first bite or two, because of eating too quickly or taking too large a bite. I just wait it out, and continue eating, usually with no problem whatsoever. Tami

Karen, You should not feel guilty. I eat about 4 - 6 oz of food at every meal. We are not here to starve ourselves. In fact self deprivation and starvation are probably part of why we have chose to be bandsters to end those cycles in our lives. I also agree with Tami and Ron. On the other hand, I do know of someone who was so tight al they could do was drink Medifast; she like this, because she was losing like crazy. The question then becomes what happens when she starts to eat normal food again? IMHO, you are doing all the right things.

I don't feel guilty. Some times I eat much more than I would even think I could and others considerably less. I figure this is part of the "averaging" that goes on. My surgeon also told me to not let myself get hungry -- to allow the band to do the work for me. And I do. Lori

Honey, you have NOTHING to feel guilty about! First bite syndrome, does happen, to some. I've never been real tight, and you can tell, by what I eat. I have said my doctor told me I have to eat to lose. It worked for me! That 1200-1500 calories, is not a myth. Look, at Marcia, as an example. She is still losing, and just hit her "Sweet Spot," see what she eats. A balanced diet. Now that her fill is broken in, she is doing fine, and lost 7 pounds in a week. We are all different, but she is eating well. NOT, going into starvation, mode. you have to find your own niche, hon, all we can do, is give you examples.

You shouldn't be guilty! I'm really tight right now and I could eat a serving of oatmeal. I don't think that is too much food anyway.

Thank you everyone! I never want issues with my band and why I choose to be careful. I know I don't eat balanced and yesterday I really had to put forth the effort and feel like I did a good job! I always appreciate your thoughts and very much appreciate not getting criticized because of saying how I feel! Thanks!