It seems there are 2 trains of thought about life with VSG- Deep Thoughts?

I have lost 100 lbs and have no intention of gaining any of it back. In order to do this, there are certain foods that I will not bring into the house, because I will graze on them, and that is what led me to morbid obesity and the need for WLS. I eat bites of certain foods, but I never buy entire packages of bread, pasta, rice, sweets, etc. This is my choice.

I look at this as a choice, not deprivation. I choose not to have a bite of cake or a cookie or rice or pasta or bread or chips. Does this mean that I will never have a bite of any of these things, probably not, but for today and tomorrow, it is my choice and how I choose to live.

WLS is a tool, to help us to get to a healthier weight and along the way, to develop a healthier lifestyle. To maintain our weight loss, we must always use the strategies and behavioral changes that helped us to lose the weight. It never ends.

I am not a carb "Nazi" but get my carbs from yogurt, fat-free milk, cheese, veggies, and small amounts of fruit. I use a small amount of high fiber cereal in my morning yogurt and fruit, and occasionally, will have 1/4-1/2 cup of a sweet potato or yam. These are complex carbs and I have been staying away from sweets and other white carbs. I don't eat fast food at all.

It isn't the small portions that made us morbidly obese, but eating the entire bag, cake, pie, etc., is what led to the morbid obesity. Everyone has to find out what works for them. As long as one maintains, then whatever they are doing, is working for them.

Gail

"I followed my doctor's directions as fully and completely as possible and I surrendered my judgment for his experience. My good judgment had not gotten me the results I wanted, hopefully his experience would get me there."  Elina

This is the mindset that I am going into surgery with.  What I've been doing hasn't worked.  In fact, it's resulted in my morbid obesity.  I don't know what I'm going to do a long way down the road, but I'm going to toe the mar****il I hit my goal. 

Thanks, vets!

I hated camp.

Almost as much as I hated diets.  I am so new though and quite frankly really never thought about all of this because I was focused first on just getting to Mexico in one piece and coming home safely.  Then it was a matter or pain and recovery (which fortunately was VERY short lived, thanks to Dr. A).  Now, I am focused on just being able to chew slow and pulverize the food enough just to slide down my gullet without choking or .

I am exhausted and there is still alot of work to be done. 

One thing, however, that I do have is a prescription from my Doctor who I love and respect:

600-800 Calories
60-80 g protein
64+oz of water
Vitamins
Exercise

I can manage that and with this very simple strategy nothing will pass my lips that doesn't fit the prescription until I see 125lbs because that is what he promised if I do.  After that, who knows?

Ann

I am definately in the 2nd group however I DO NOT eat like I did pre-op just smaller portions.

Pre-op I was a MAJOR fast food junkie!! I NEVER cooked, I ate out 3 meals a day (sometimes 4) every single day. Now, I very rarily eat out anywhere. I'm not low carb but I am consious (most of the time) of what I eat. Almost all my carbs come from dairy, veggies, fruits and whole grains and so far I do not have any issues eating a healthy well balance diet.

Now that said I am still a binge eater, always will be. Anything that I know I will binge on is not allowed in my house (unless snuck in and hidden-ask my son about my binges on his pringles!!). I do allow myself to have some "crap" food occasionally just because I want it. It seems my binges are triggered by depravation. So occasionally I will purposely "binge" but I really try to not have much available to binge on. It seems to work so far.

I've been maintaining for 8 months now so I am hopeful I have found the "what works" for me. I do still weigh daily and so far I have not had to go "back to the basics". If I see a couple lb gain, I know it's water weight (usually due to high sodium intake) and I do not panick. I up my fluid intake and I'm usually back to my normal 131 lbs within a couple of days.

Great discussion topic!!

Debby

After reading all the responses...I am trying to figure out which camp I am in.  Like my politics I think I tend to be somewhere between the two.  Am I switzerland?....lol...jk

I guess, I stay away from my trigger foods which is the carbs but I do tend to have some sweets like chocolate or a little ice cream once in a while.

I was a huge bread, baked chips eater and I have realized that to stay on the right path I am better to stay clear. My concern is not for the short term but the long term. I have lost and regained too many times in my life. I am determined to do this the correct way for the first time.  This not only pertains to foods but other unhealthy habits.

This is the first time that I have lived such a healthy and clean lifestyle.  It is the best i have felt in years.

This was a good question that has no wrong answer. But one that is good to ask ourselves.

I just adore Elina and Frisco! I truly mean that; I will probably never meet them in life yet their posts have been so helpful on my journey thus far. I completely agree: I'd like to think that I could lead a life akin to my naturally thin friends, but at the end of the day, they didn't require surgical intervention to counteract their super morbid obesity. I made a very permanent, drastic change, and I'm going to follow my program to the letter. When I get to goal I'll think about little rewards and such (but even then, my anticipated future self discipline sounds great in theory but is questionable in practicality; after all, if I could only eat 2 cookies and not the entire sleeve, I wouldn't be here in the first place.)

Well I'm kinda in both camps....one more than the other!   camp "wannaeatstrict"...is where I stay mostly....90% of the time....but I'm not at "goal" yet...still losing.  I sometimes sneak across the lake  over to camp..."wannaeatlessstrict" and have "me time"....they "put out" at camp..."wannaeatlessstrict!" LOL!  So i like to hang with them ...on occasion!   i do NOT  live at camp #2....just visit here and there....they're more fun ha ha ha!  But camp #1 is where i feel best....comfortable...and in control!  AND....when i visit camp #2...i sure as hell don't feel guilty...or beat myself up!  Enjoying life is a good thing....deprivation...does not work for me.  Finding what DOES work....for us....is the true secret to success....and knowing ones self....being honest....and accountable....are good places to start! 

So your saying we put out huh??

Nah, I just joshin ya- I totally do.. Good thing for my hubby to! Ha ha

ummm yeah....and that's why camp # 2 is great to visit! ha ha ha!  Totally worth the risk of getting caught....I'd swim across the lake if i had to ha ha!

I was gonna say something cheesy like I'll leave the light on for ya.. But then I realized we are totally ruining the deep thoughts this thread's title is asking for.. Quick have a deep thought! Ha ha