Oldtimers: How much can you eat?

Thanks, Shell, it's reassuring to know someone else CAN fit the same amounts as me.  I do think it's true that at home one eats less than in a restaurant.  When I get my sandwich and fries I eat it all til it's gone.  Sometimes I throw away that last 1/4 if I feel full.  I DO need to work my sleeve harder and i DO wish I had DS, but it felt a lot more effortless with my band even though everyone says the opposite.  That's what my experience was.  And I was not hungry for 5 years.

I guess I partly resent my sleeve in that it gave me iron deficiency anemia, costs $12,500 and I lost a whopping 25 pounds (now only 20!).

I'm going to grill more chicken breast and filet at home.

 Why did you revise from the band? I imagine with the DS you would have much more than anemia and it would have been much more expensive. Not trying to put down the DS, because I can see why your regret/resent the VSG with only 20# lost. Sounds like you need to work the sleeve in just the basics and that you already know that.

I am 11 months out and can could not even eat half a chick-fil-a without any bun. I wonder about what factors lead to the differences in restriction - technique, bougie, if some have stretched out their stomachs, etc. I think it would be interesting to know the causes.

Best of luck to you, don't give up. Sounds like you just need to get used to smaller portions, no drinking, etc and you will do great! 

My band slipped.  I didn't want to get another as the re-slippage percentage is like 80%.

I hate my sleeve.  To me it was a big waste of money.  I feel like I have nothing

Lost 25 pounds.
Gained anemia.
Gained reactive hypoglycemia.
Feel hunger like a non WLS person.

You are so welcome I know sometimes we feel all alone but the reality is we aren't.  I MAKE choices everyday when I eat.

I will tell you this...drinking and eating with the sleeve you are setting yourself up.  It allows ME to eat MORE.  And it allows my food to be processed easier and leaves me hungry quicker.

Maintenance and WLS is a big old game and you aren't WILLING to play it.  Some of us YES can go against the rules but some of us yes CAN'T.  And yes I know if we "obeyed" the rules we probably wouldn't have gotten obese but we broke the rules ate what we wanted and NOW we are BATTLING everyday. 

You ARE in a battle and it's simple...if you don't bring your gun to a gun fight you WILL end up DEAD.  So with that in mind tell me about YOUR rules for this weight loss and maintenance?

I'll start by telling you mine.

Rule 1.  Weigh EVERYDAY regardless of how I feel or think the number will be on the scale.  WHY because I can't battle an enemy (ie gain) that I don't acknowledge.  I also TRY not to attach an emotion to the number.  If I see a gain I KNOW what I've been eating.  I KNOW that I haven't been exercising etc.  Acknowledge that and CORRECT it BEFORE the 2lbs turns into 20 but it won't because you are IN the battle EVERYDAY.

Rule 2.  I measure or weigh my food and portion it out.  HOW many years have I heard "portion" size this and that...well NOW a "reasonable" portion FILLS me up.  I know you claim that you can eat 2 cups but remember there was a time when you could eat WAYYYYY more.  Again Acknowledge that you will probably NEVER be normal and YES you may have to portion your food out.

Rule 3.  When I eat at a FAST FOOD restaurant.  Even if it's the biggest burger on the menu I WILL order that (usually at Carl's I'll request lettuce wrapped) and I will NOT NOT NOT under any cir****tance order the meal.  Why?  Because I probably COULD eat the meal and I would drink with my food and thereby start to unravel ALL I have worked hard for.

Rule 4.  Not really a rule BUT I take a look at my life almost EVERYDAY.  How I got fat, WHY I got fat and if there ANYTHING I can do today to NOT go back there.  If that means I can only drink a soda ONCE a MONTH then ok.  I ate almost a whole Lemon Meringue pie this weekend in about 1-2 hours.  WHY because I KNOW that I can NOT have sweets in my life on a DAILY - WEEKLY basis...so every now and then I go OFF the wagon BIG time.  KNOWING that I will jump back on after a day or so.  Before I wouldn't jump back on for MONTHS...that's also helps from Rule 1 ALWAYS get on the scale.

I have a bunch of other "rules" of engagement because this is for LIFE.  You have been GIVEN...**** YOU have PAID for a 3rd chance at this.  WHY not STOP doing what you USED to do and START doing what you NEED to do!!  It's time for the spoiled fat girl brat that lives in all of us to GROW up.  You can't win this battle UNTIL you are READY.

Best of luck darlin.

Ms Shell

Haal lay Lou Yer!

I am going to needa go dance in the spirit right this minute.

Did you go DANCE in the spirit because I WAS so in it and AM in it when I posted that!!

Yes m'am I did! 

I got my tambourine out too!

Great post, I like your rules Ms. Shell. 

I can only eat about 3-4 ounces total at a time. I have good and bad eating days where I eat 3 times a day or 1 time. I also love Chick-Fil-A. I get a Chick-Fil-A sandwich with no bun and a cole slaw. I put the chicken in the cole slaw to let it get moist. I then eat the chicken and cole slaw together. I can eat about half but I am full for hours. I have been trying to gain but still not having any luck.

The thing is that a lot of fast food is modified in ways that allow you to eat more of it, and it sounds like a lot of the large amounts of food people are able to eat are partially or completely slider foods or fast foods. Fast food places do crazy things to their foods to make you want to eat more.

One glaring example is Jack in the Box grilled chicken strips.  Chicken on it's own has ZERO carbs.. but for a few ounces of chicken the grilled chicken strips have ELEVEN carbs!  WTF? 

They clearly add sugar or high fructose corn syrup to their chicken to make it more appetizing, thereby making it NOT a low carb food healthy food anymore.  And people buy them thinking they are healthy.. I did a few times until I realized I had to be careful and look up the nutritional counts, because I know better. Sick! I felt totally betrayed by them.

I'm not an old-timer nor have I even tried any of these foods to see how much I can eat, and I cook ALL of my own foods at home (I do not eat in restaurants fast food or otherwise) so I know I probably don't have the info you were looking for; just wanted to share a bit . 

When I was younger I worked at several fast food restaurants (including McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Popeye's Chicken and Round Table's Pizza) so I have a good idea of how fast food places prepare their food, and let me tell you it totally turns you off from eating there.. lol.