Seems the weeks just fly by, huh?  Just think….your weight loss journey will fly by faster than you can imagine and making the right choices will quickly add up.  Don’t forget, though, making the wrong choices will quickly add up as well! J

Actually, I shouldn’t say “making the wrong choices?.  It is really that some choices are better than others and they can be circumstantial as well.  For instance, if you are dining at the home of an acquaintance and have no say in your meal planning (or a business meeting, etc.), there may not really be many “healthy? options available.  What should you do given this circumstance?  Well, portion control is ALWAYS important, no matter what our choices so always exercise this.  Then, choose as wisely as you can.  If you can get salad dressings on the side, this will help you to be in control.  If not, decrease your portion because salad dressing fat and calories can add up extremely quickly.  If your main course has sauce, especially cream based sauce, ask to leave it off or if you cannot, then scrape it off!  Be aware of vegetables that are prepared with butter or sauces as well.  The bread?  Push it far, far away and keep the butter or olive oil dish away as well.  These tricks also apply to eating out, although on those occasions, one usually has some choice over what to order and even in the preparation ( “dry? baked potatoe-meaning no butter or toppings, sauce on the side, dressing on the side, grilled, no butter, etc.).

Whatever you do, don’t fool yourself by rationalizing that you have no control.  If nothing else, you can control how much goes into your body.  Listen to the cues and stop eating when you just begin to experience that “full? feeling.  Believe me, that feeling will become more pronounced within a few minutes of stopping.  If you choose to eat beyond it, be prepared for the consequences: possible nausea, vomiting, dumping, etc.  Then, the long term consequences-stretching that pouch, especially for bypass and sleeve patients who cannot go in for an adjustment.  Folks, once it is stretched, it is stretched.  That will make it harder to maintain your loss for the long haul-a lifetime.