Proud sucessful Bandsters out there....

Give the newbies some motivation...What is the number one most important thing a bandster should or should not do to be sucessful? What is your best words of advice?

Protein first!  If you have protein in, most time u won't have room for things you don't need.  Take care,
Z

Chew,chew ,chew and take your time eatting no more rushing it down count to 30 before your next bite or find something to keep you attention..

Exercise!!!  I don't care how many people say they lost weight without exercise....all they did was lose muscle and fat.  Skinny people can be unhealthy.  Just losing the weight doesn't make you healthy.  You might feel healthier but the truth is you could be healthier.  If you exercise on a regular basis you will lose weight faster, maintain weight easier and your heart, lungs, brain, skin, bones and gastric system will be healthier than someone that doesn't exercise...even if they weigh less than you. 

When I say exercise I mean cardio and weight lifting.  That's right ladies you need to weight lift.  Weight lifting builds leaner, stronger muscles.  Leaner, stronger muscles burn calories faster and more efficiently than someone that doesn't weight lift.  Not to mention that someone with toned muscle will look better than someone that doesn't. 

Once you are used to your band, develop your own style. Always follow your doc's medical instructions and start by following the nutritional ones.

But when you are settled down, work out the lifestyle which suits you. The way one person can live for the rest of his/ her life is not same as for another.

Example, this is my way, others would find this impossible.

I counted nothing, not carbs, not calories, not fat. I did occasionally check protein intake.

I ate whenever I was hungry. For me being hungry lead to obsession. So I had as many meals or snacks as I needed.

I ate all foods. There was nothing I excluded totally from my diet. Deprivation doesn't work for me.

I never felt guilt if I totally blew it! I just called myself a silly cow and moved on.

Kate

Addition to previous!

It may have read as if I never took care of food choices! I didn't mean that! I made healthy choices about 80% of the time while losing. I meant that I chose healthy food, just didn't measure or record it.

Kate

Kate,

I just wanted to say I love reading your posts.  You so knowledgeable and very informative. 

Thank you for posting!!! 

Jamie

 I agree it really helps all of the newbees out here. Thank you

Don't drink anything while you eat.  Don't drink anything for at least 30 minutes AFTER you eat.
~ Barbara 

Thank you for your advice.  I am "older" and I have listened to my Doctor's instructions very carefully.  But I can't imagine that being me life forever. So far I have followed everything - to the letter.  My pre-op diet began 6-25-11, surgery 7-7-11 (lapband w/plication) and had my post-op visit today - down 25 pounds.  While I am happy with my loss, I can't imagine life never eating another carb !  I also don't want to be consumed with counting...  I feel great and glad I started this but any very glad I now know about this website.  Thanks Kate...