Let's talk Moderation

Ok-  I am NOT trying to start a fuss -  but I genuinely want to talk about moderation.  For example.
In general -  I don't follow the RULES to the letter.  I eat things that I KNOW I am not supposed to but I do it moderation.  Obviously there are things that I cannot eat and would never attempt to eat, but I may eat a dessert or a small handful of chips even though I have been banded.

Last week I went to Outback with my hubs since we had a night out without our 2 yo.  We split the small appetizer and then split the entree ( he is also banded) we haven't been to outback in forever and marveled that once upon a time we would split the large appetizer, order our own entrees, and then maybe even throw in dessert for good measure. -  No wonder we were fat!

We don't always split entrees when we go out because we don't always want the same thing, but we both rarely finish our plates. 

So my question/discussion is how many of us still eat things that are not healthy but we do so in moderation?  I see posts form people in the preop/postop diets who slip and bemoan that their band life is ruined.  Obviously this is not the case and ideally we would never slip, but I am human.  Am I genuinely expected never to indulge? 
 

I believe moderation is the key to a happy fulfilled life! None of us can be perfect and when we slip up the best thing we can do is get back on track right away. Bemoaning our slips just makes us a victim of food and how can we be the victim of an inanimate object? We have never been able to control food or we wouldn't be here. Control and will power are great theories but not very practical. I think it is fine to do like you and hubby, plan an occasional fun outing knowing you will splurge a bit but no where near what it was in the past. Life isn't about punishment it's about living moderately and enjoying a bit of life's pleasures.

For me, being banded and eating the bandster lifestyle is not about total deprivation.  It's more about making healthy choices the majority of the time and learning where to stop when I do choose to indulge.

Personally, I have a list of 'not my food' --- things that I decided to abstain from prior to my surgery (cake, cookies, candy, baked goods really all kinds, ice cream).

Other than that, I eat pretty much what I want in moderation.
I out several times a week and get what sounds good -- and eat  a small amount.
Because I eat a small/moderate amount of most foods, I don't miss the foods that I have chosen to give up.

I know (from years and years of trial and error) that those foods lead me to a bad place where I want to eat them -- constantly and to the exclusion of 'real' food -- so it is best that I abstain.

As I've mentioned on here numerous times, I believe the key is to find what works best for YOU! I think we each have our own dieting style that works depening on our perception. For instance some on here weigh their food. So journal. I could NOT be that regimented! It works for them, but it wouldn't for me. Neither of us is right or wrong, we just have different approaches to achieving our goals.

Many on here are fanatical about low carb. I just can't be that extreme. I love my carbs! I just do less of them and much less frequently that before. For instance potatoes I could have ate 3x a day. Love those! Now it's limited to once or twice a wk. Some of you have probably seem me post that I do "lower carb, lower sugar, lower fat". It may not be what some would consider "low", but it is "lower" and it works for me.

I still eat foods I "shouldn't have". I just do it in moderation. Either a smaller amount, or less often. If I want cheesecake I have cheesecake. If I want peanutbutter pie I have peanutbutter pie. If I tried to eliminate the things I love completely I would feel much more deprived and would not have been able to stay on this diet as long as I have.

Now that being said............the last few months I have had a very difficult time! I just kind of yo yo back and forth by about 5 pounds. Stil I'm ok with that. I am not at the weight that I would like to be at, but I am happy with my weight now. I also think some of us have a weigh that our bodies want us to be at. Not necessarily where we want it to be, but sometimes that's just the way it is. So I try to focus on all the weight that I have lost rather than the amount I have not been able to lose. :-)

I have to do things in moderation. If I have to give up the things I love then I will want them things more and I would feel like I am on a diet.

When you feel like you are on a diet then that is when you start to fail or that is my case.  I dont like to be told I cant have this or I cant eat that , that makes me want it even more.

I'm like Maria . If I want it , I eat it.

Like I have told alot of newbies on here , eating pizza and chips isn't what got me fat, what got me fat was sitting down and eating a half of pizza or a whole pizza by myself or sitting down and eating a whole bag of chips and killing off a two littler of Pepsi  that is what got me fat.

I want to be able to know I can control all the foods I want to eat. I want to be able to sit down and eat some chips without guilt and know I can eat just a serving of chips and be happy with that. 

I dont do it all the time now but I still enjoy my foods.  I didn't get the band to say no to my favorite foods, I got the band to learn how to enjoy my favorite foods in moderation :o)   I might not have my band with me my whole life so I want to be able to learn how to eat these foods in moderation because you never know what tomorrow will bring me :o)

Moderation is key to losing weight. While I did deprive myself of most things for 7-8 months, I stopped that a few months back. I realized that seeing food as being "taboo" or good and bad isn't a way to live life. Food is freaking food. It's all nothing but calories and nutrients, some being more calorie dense and nutritious than others.

I eat what I want..but now I watch my portion sizes, I know when to stop. If I want ice cream, I'll eat a serving of it. Cake..I'll eat a piece not go back for 3rds and 4ths. I count my calories religiously still therefore I can fit in "treats" pretty much everyday.

I didn't have any "bad" foods the whole time I was loosing weight- about 10 months. I now struggle with moderation. I am working on staying within a 2-3 pound range. Some days I eat great, some days I eat terrible, binging would describe it. It's like once I go "off the wagon" I say, well I blew it for the day I might as well eat x,y,z that I've been craving. Well, that's my story. If anyone has advice I would be glad to hear it. Thanks

I have never at any stage, losing or maintaining, deprived myself of any foods or drinks. I have no list of forbidden foods.

While losing, I made healthy choices about 80% of the time, now it s probably about 60-70% of the time.

I got my band so I could stop worrying about food all the time. If I crave something and totally deny myself, i can't stop thinking of whatever it is. Miserable state of affairs!

My approach does not work for everyone.

Kate

OK  this makes be feel better.  I have two small ones and I can literally not imagine never eating birthday cake at their parties or simlar things.  It's good to know that others practice moderation and are happy in their decision.