Not all Vets were created equal

I just have to add, you said I didn't follow anyone's advice, well some of the advice was to have some of what I craving and then get back on track, that is the advice I chose to follow at that time, it is also what I wanted to try for myself, and for me, it worked out fine.

 I guess I am  "different", too!  I stay on track most of the time, but I do allow myself to have things that others would definitely consider a no no!  Don't get me wrong, I don't eat what I shouldn't on a regular basis, but I do allow myself some strays.  

At one of the information seminars I went to, someone asked if they could ever eat fruit again and the doctor said probably not!  I didn't use that doctor!!   I think many were discouraged from even getting the surgery.  If I thought I could "never" eat something, I know I would fail!  Because I eat so little, sometimes I will splurge to settle a craving, but then get right back on track!

It works for me.
Beverly

 I know what you mean!  When I wentto my pre-op class I remember thinking "Man it will be 9 months to a year before I can have a baked potato and steak again!, I gotta work hard to make that 9 months".

The change was that when I got to the point in my diet where I could have it again (In 6 months instead of 9), it wasn't as important to me.  I had started on the path of doing the real change that needed to happen and just not the diet.

What seperates the real successes, imo,  is not that they adhered 100% to a diet or exercise plan, but that they adhered 100% to a lifestyle change plan where emotional or other issues led to food issues.  The successful people made a commitment to a life change not a diet change.

This.  Exactly.

If our lifestyle changes effectively, then the splurges that do happen are a result of a constant physical craving, or a special occasion... and not in response to emotions or boredom.  Most of us, I would venture to say, got to our highest weights by eating out of boredom and/or to take the edge off of emotional issues. 

If I am craving something for several days, and the "healthier" version does not cut it, then by golly I will probably allow myself a few bites of whatever it is that I want that badly, and make sure I work it into my plan for the day.  But then I'll be sure to track it, exercise more that day if I overdid it, and move on. 

It's not about perfection, it's about living life to the fullest, IMO.  If I have to make myself miserable over a food I can't have, then none of this was worth it because then I'm not happy.  It's about making it work, and doing so in a way that you can live with long term.

 I try to take every opportunity when I feel I "must" have something to try and understand the "why" behind it.  I let my inner 2year old all over it.  In truth there's no reason why I must have that slice of buttered bread, or a couple of mini-pretzels.  

Sometimes I just give in because I'm too tired to question more.  Sometimes the answer is I just want the taste and flavor and nothing deeper.  In those cases I eat a small bite, journal it and move on.  In most cases, I stop myself by letting myself feel my emotions and deal with those.  The craving passes once I understand it.  Other times, I rechannel that craving ino physical activity.

By understanding what drives my impulses, I can become the master of my food instead of being mastered by my impulses.

Thank you NanaDebby!  My experience has been very similar to yours.  I did exactly what I was supposed to for the first 3 months to make sure I was completely healed.

However, I have never been super strict on carbs and did not count calories.  When I was in my loss phase, I made sure I watched my protein but as long as I got that in I was pretty flexible.  I continue to eat that way now.  I reached goal at 10 months (95 pounds lost - 100% EWL) and have been maintaining for about 7-8 months now.  I also have been drinking diet coke since I have been 3-4 months out *gasp* - its a wonder I'm still alive! 

I have pretty much stopped posting because the rapid no carb, low fat people seem to think their way is the only way and that has not been my experience.  Everyone has to do what works for them and sometimes it takes some experimentation to determine what that is.

Kelli

You crack me up with the diet coke comment! :)

BTW, I love your avatar!

I wish people with your type of experience would speak more about their experiences and not get drowned out. :( Of course others would probably say "statistically" you're just going to gain your weight back. All of these fake statistics to discredit any way but theirs.

I agree that I wich more people would post on their different experiences.

 I love this too! Thank you for posting. I am also a binge eater with a strong history of restrictive -> binge -> restrictive -> binge eating, so I am trying to navigate carefully into my post-op. I am most concerned about the first 30 days, as the stomach healing process requires stricter adherence than any other phase, imho. How did you handle the feelings that came with the restrictive nature of the liquid/mushy diet phases?

Thanks again for posting!