How are you handling this whole new lifestyle? Are you staying to a strict diet, allowing the lap band to be a tool to help you not feel deprived or are you eating whatever you wish and again-allowing the lap band to be a tool to eat less?
I have been on a diet my entire life. Basically if I didn't watch what I ate, I gained. I would try to hard to plan out my day and stick to it, but I felt deprived and usually ended up gorging towards the end of the day. Needless to say anytime I lost weight it was great but I ended up gaining it back, plus much more. You all know the routine.
Up to this week I had been kind of just doing whatever. During the whole mushy food phase I was eating foods that I would not have even dreamed about eating pre-band. Small portions of anything were working for me. I have managed to take off 25 pounds.
Now that I am eating whole foods again things have been different. I am still losing (pounds and inches) but slower. I am OK with this. My doctor told me to plan on two years to meet goal. Nice and easy will win the race. It seems that I lose my weight in one big chunk during the month. I flutter back and forth for a majority of the month and then all at once 5 pounds will come off, putting me at a whole new low.
After reading a few logs I am wondering if I should have a different approach. Many bandsters are counting calories, sticking to around 1200. I try not to eat "crap" food but I have never counted calories. I watch portion control and make wise choices. I don't want to fill the space with something less than wholesome. I want to eat for nutritional reasons, not just because I want to eat. I logged my food on Monday and Tuesday. I went over the 1200 calories each day. I logged 1700 calories. Last night I planned my Wednesday food and logged it. Today I packed what was logged last night. I think I will be able to come in around 1200 calories. Now I have managed to take off 3 pounds this week going over the 1200 calorie allotment so it must be OK. I think it's working for me....but for how long? Right now I have had one fill, I believe only 1cc. I had a nice feeling of restriction for about 2-3 days. I am getting back to the point of being able to eat what I want, but I let my mind be in control. Next fill isn't until March 11th. Will the fills eventually build up and allow you to feel restriction longer?
Basically the way I look at it is being banded was a lifestyle change. I want to be able to set my mind free. I don't want weight and food to be constantly wearing on me. I don't want to feel guilt and remorse any longer. I want eating to become survival, not a hobby.
Your thoughts?????
Back when I was a newly banded bandster, I did count calories and pay attention to weighing my food so that I could get used to what things would look like. I was able to determine things like the "weekly bank" mattered more than the day to day, on calorie consumption and burning. So long as my average hit 1200 calories a day (it's really a range of 1000-1300 for me) then I would be ok. But if my calorie average was closer to 1400 or higher, I was not going to lose and even maintenance could get tricky. I had a lot of things to get used to as I adapted to the new lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteNow, at 10 months out, a lot of it is second nature and I have lost my OCD attitude toward things. It is a lot to get used to and when you are learning the mechanics of the band with your body, it's a lot to also be trying to figure out what's what with serving size, calories, fat, etc.
Yes, the fills will eventually build up and give you longer restriction - both between fills and between meals. This era you are in sucks big donkey balls. But take advantage of it all to slowly learn the new mechanics of eating/drinking. Before you know it, it will all take off and you'll forget this era even existed.
Hi Tracey, I just realized I wasn't following you. I answered your question in my latest blog (or I am writing it now) so stop by for my two cents:
ReplyDeletehttp://amandakiska.blogspot.com