Eat like a normal person VS. diet

I'm curious (as my date draws near...only 9 days). How many folks eat whatever (just less)? How many folks adhere to some type of regimented diet (low carb, low cal, low fat, WW, etc.)? Just wondering...thanks for indulging me.

I don't eat whatever... I eat healthy things and less of them. I do not diet, but will count my calories once in a blue moon if I expect to have a bad day calorie wise. ~Alyssa 352/227/150 -125 pounds, almost 10 months post-op 77 more pounds to lose until goal weight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try." ~Yoda

Hi Bridget! I wouldn't call it "whatever," but it is my own personal choice. I'm trying to eat balanced and from every food group. There really should be a "mo-veggie" diet. I have the protein down pat and I don't have a problem staying low-carb. I'm focusing on fresh vegetables and fiber because I think those areas are highly unrepresented in our nutritional focuses. There's nothing -- dessert, bread, raw veggies, fruit, whole grains, meat, plant protein -- that I haven't had this week. My calorie goal is about 1500 a day. Onward! Frances

Bridget, I know that you have to be getting very excited with your date getting so close... I do basicly try and follow a low/lower carb diet with higher amounts of protein...I am tall and large boned so the Dr. wants me to get around 80 grams of protein...So I try and count proteins....and my water ... other than those I really just try and make good food choices... That said...I do "enjoy" a bite or two of real food... Blessings, Debbi 311.6/243.2/160 Tues. I go into get a tweek to my fill level...

Woo hoo...only 9 days!! I'm so excited for you. I try to stick to healthy foods but occasionally treat myself to a cookie or some chips and dip. I eat protein first, then veggies and, if I have room, a bite of carbs.

To me, "whatever" is what got me in weight trouble in the first place! I now choose only healthy, nutritious foods (with regular small, planned treats). Nutritionists tell us we (all adults) need about 50-55% of our diet from the good carbs (veggies, whole cereal grains, fruit, nonfat dairy) and about 20-25% good protein, and 20-25% good fats and oils. The point of the band is to regain and restore our health, not to simply lose weight. We have to change, imo, a lot of old habits and adopt much better ones to do well with the band and - most importantly KEEP it off this time. This means we need to learn a lot more about good nutrition, the foods that will provide the nutrients we need (50-60 gram of proten, 25 grams of fivber, 1200-1500 mg of calcium) to lose well and support our weight loss, good exercise, and good sleep and stress relief.. We should automatically (with practice) be choosing lower-cal and lowfat things. It's not regimented at all, just what we should be eating for health and sustained loss. And, (please) let me tell you from experience, that you had better learn better choices by the time you get near goal, becuase you will then be eating a bit more to NOT lose and just maintain - and without care and better habits, it is VERY easy to regain. You'll see a good many people at any of the many Band bashes who got to goal, and then started regaining again. Don't fool yourself that Band loss is automatically permanent. It is ONLY permanent as long as your new, improved food choies and health habits are also permanent. Sandy R at goal x 2 + yrs - with work!

Sandy, I have read through a couple of your posts and find them very informative and knowledgeable, I have not seen you on the boards in the past, but I do want to say I admire you very very much. Keep up newbies informed, I like hearing posts from veteran bandsters that are at goal weight and knows how to work their bands. Naomi

Sandy, I'm w/ Naomi in wanting to hear more about your journey. I read your profile page yesterday. Where did you start and what is your exercise routine? I hope you don't mind. I'm 19 months out and planning for the long haul. Thank you for sharing, Frances

I know folk don't like to think of the post op period as a diet....but it is. If you want to be successful you have to watch what you eat, AND eat healthy food. In the long haul it is about changing habits of bad eating practices. In order to do that one diets, which means being totally conscious about what you eat, when you eat and how much you eat. Eating whatever won't lead to a change in behavior. Healthy eating is the goal.