Question:
why do I need to weigh my food?

So I was wondering....my biggest problem isn't so much WHAT I eat't how MUCH of it I eat! I see alot of people on here (I'm kinda a lurker right now) talk about weighing and measuring their food. If I can eat 2 plates of pasta now, and after banding am only able to eat 1/2 cup without being sick, why do I need to weigh or measure it? I understand the protein, to be sure you're getting enough. Is it after you've lost some and/or between fills that you need to be so careful? I am in the process of doing all I need to do for lapband. It sure is a process, but I'm doing it one step at a time! I can't begin to tell you how much info and encouragemnet I get from this site!! Sorry this is so long!    — need2dothis (posted on October 23, 2009)

October 23, 2009
From doing WW for years I learned that when you weigh or measure your food you know exactly what you are eating. Say you eat a 1/2 cup of pasta all the time and now you are use to what that amount should look like, but each time you don't weigh it you end up with a little less or a little more. Also just because you can stick something in a cup measure does not mean it weighs 8 ounces (cereal is a prime example of this). If you don't want to weigh it each time then get the spoons out that are measuring spoons in cup sizes, weigh your initial serving and then see which spoon that fits into then use that spoon.
   — bldeck

October 23, 2009
Although I'm not a band patient, I think the successful WLS patients share similar post op rules. You need to weigh and measure your food so you know more closely how many calories, carbs, fat, etc you have consumed. Food journaling is also important as it makes you more conscious of what you're eating and it creates a record for you and your nutritionist to have so together you can tweak your eating plan to meet your nutritional needs and optimize weight loss. Don't rely on your eyesight or band to judge the volume of your food. It just doesn't work. Your surgery tool will be the physical reminder if you eat too much. How much easier it is to not overeat in the first place, right? Start now with the measuring and weighing of your foods and food journaling, you don't have to wait till you have surgery to begin this lifestyle change. It can be annoying at first to do all this but in time it becomes a new, healthy habit; second nature. Think of it as training wheels for your weight loss surgery. :o)
   — Arkin10

October 24, 2009
You want to make sure that you are eating enough but not eating more than you should and causing stretching. It's easy for band patients to do this and defeat the surgery. You have the band as a tool, you have to keep you caloric intake at not more than 1000 calories a day until you've lost about 90% of you excess weight.
   — rkurquhart

October 25, 2009
I am 5.5 years out I never weighed or measured my food. I eat whatever I want and stayed away from protien shakes (everyone I know that had surgery gained there weight back doing protein shakes) Just listen to your body and eat small all day long.
   — Kimberly Ten Kate