What's the best diet for a bandster?

 I aim for under 1000 cals/day, over 80 gms of protein and no bread, rice or pasta.  I eat mostly dense protein and veggies.  Usually a protein shake or bar everyday -fills my choc craving.  I've been noticing I can eat a little more than I used to, but try to keep it under 1 cup/meal.  I have a fill appointment scheduled for next wed and am thinking about a small fill..like 0.2cc

I don't limit things really b/c for me that makes me go overboard b/c I feel deprived. I follow the band rules and eat about 1200-1300 cals a day (had to up it b/c of my exercise, I didn't lose until I up'd my cals). As long as I follow band rules I allow myself within reason anything.

Few things I have avoided due to being triggers: reese pb cups (killer there) and ice cream.

I am mainly about portion control and eating the foods that will fill me up the most first.

I also find that labeling some foods as "forbidden" makes me feel deprived, and eventually I pig out on the forbidden food anyway.  If you told me I could never eat a Reese's PB cup again, I would probably eat 20 of them!

Jean

I eat everything! While losing I made healthy choices about 80% of the time. While maintaining, it is probably 60% of the time.

I am not deliberately low anything. I eat from all the food groups. I don't eat much processed food but if i want it I have it. I eat very little sugar, but if I want it I have it.

It has been my (personal, we all differ) experience over 30 years of yo-yo dieting that deprivation leads to eventual losing control. In the past I lost very large amounts and kept them off for a few years. But I never kept them off for ever! My band has given me the ability to eat like a normal person and to enjoy my food. And that is all I ever wanted, to have a " normal " relationship with food.

Kate

I eat from all over the spectrum. We're talking high carb, high sugar, low carb, low sugar, all carb, fresh fruit smoothies, vegan, vegetarian, FULL-ON CARNIVORE and beyond!   I told you I'm all over the place.

you can't really put a label on eating when it's just eating. It doesn't matter to me as long as what I'm eating is somewhat nutritious, It's got to have protein as the focus the majority of the time and be followed up by reasonably low fat sides. I don't deprive myself of anything and I still have 1-2 mochas a day. Only now they are non-fat and 12 oz instead of 20.

I am in no way dieting and hopefully because of that fact, I won't yo-yo or rebound my way back to miserabletown.  I'm usually satisfied after a meal. I don't snack too much these days which is nice. I don't freak out if i have to walk the mile to the garden or the 3 miles to my second job. It's no big deal anymore.
 
I'm just a girl with a band, living life and losing my 0.8 lbs average per week.

Lets here it for all things in MODERATION

full-on carnivore and beyond?! 

Don't tell me you've been eating deep-fried Himalayan grasshoppers again!

Jean

I'm much more like Tiff here.... I eat it all...just in moderation.  I follow the band rules of no drinking with meals and focus on getting 60-75g of protein, if I am doing that, there's not a lot of extra room for carbs, but they're there, even if it's just 2 bites worth of rice.  It helps to keep me sane.  I know I can live this way in moderation for the rest of my life with the help of the band and I know for me, depriving myself of anything just makes me want it more.  I probably taste something chocolate every day, even if it's a spoonful of chocolate chips.    I randomly will track food just to see what I'm up to (and even more so if I feel I did "bad" that day) and calories are usually between 1000 and 1500.  It varies.

I'm 33 weeks out, that's 2 pounds/week.  So I guess it's working out OK for me.

My energy level is up... I NEVER seem to just sit around anymore, whether it's formal exersize or not, I just move more.  Big plans this weekend are to weed, mulch and pack up the GIANT pile of HUGE clothes to donate. 

When I finally got over the "I might need them again some day" thing and packed up my fat clothes (bags & bags of them) to donate, I felt like I had lost another 1000 lbs!

For the first 9 months post op I was very strict and followed my surgeon's nutritionists recommendations to a T!  I lost 104 in nine months eating 800 calories a day, 60-80 grams of protein, complex carbs only, (about 60g per day), and limited my portion size to 1/2- 1 cup.
I was faithful with my non-calorie beverage intake, (64 oz a day min.), and I exercised moderately.  I avoided bread, pasta, and sweets, (with only the occassional splurge for ice-cream or a Skinny Cow Ice cream sandwich.

Today I eat a greater variety and am not nearly as strict.  As a result my WL has slowed way down.  But, I'm o.k. with that because I've reached a point in my journey where hitting a number on the scale is not nearly as important as reaching the understanding that true success for me means having no more co-morbidities.  I'm healthy and happy and while my weight fluctuates 5 lbs up and down, up and down, I'm o.k. with it as long as I stay on top of it when it's up!

Sugar and night-time eating are still my biggest struggles.  I don't eat a low carb diet per se, but I try to limit my sugar intake to below 5 g per serving.  Once I start with sugar it triggers a whole other set of issues with carb cravings, and I can't stop until I go totally cold turkey!

I'm working on the nignt-time eating with a compulsive overeating therapist and am trying to apply some of the cognitive behavior therapy tools she's recommended.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  But it's a heck of a lot better than it was pre band!

Lisa O.