Moderation

It is near impossible to moderate alot of slider foods & most are full of empty calories, a friend that has had this surgery is gaining back and it is because her slider foods are carb loaded & don't give her a full feeling. I have seen her eat junk all day and the have her WLS approved "dinner". She couldn't rely on restriction to back up her "moderation"

I am not judging, just pointing out another persons journey. we all had most of our stomachs removed, we should all work on our brains so we can be successful. If we do not abuse our sleeves, they will not fail us........but our brains can.

"If we do not abuse our sleeves, they will not fail us........but our brains can."

Amen!

Moderation works for those of us that were never food addicts.
The shrink ruled that out in my case.

However, since the majority go through this I think it's best to hit goal first.

I will be honest here, I was a lightweight, and still I am absolutely sure that I was a "food addict".  I think it just depends on your definition of food addict.  No one gets to be 100 or more pounds overweight without major food issues.  It is never just overeating.  Never.  It is psychological in a huge way.   We have all used food for things other than nourishment or we would not need the VSG. 

Moderation has led many astray during the losing phase and even in maintenance, it is a dangerous word.  I do eat in moderation now, but I have worked really hard to reteach myself and it took me years, even in maintenance, to get this right. (for now).  If I ever need to make changes, I know I would do it.

Elina, trust that I know what the medical definition of a "food addict" is.

Like no 2 snowflakes are the same no 2 humans are the same. Without laying out my personal business 3 things contributed to me getting up to 243. 1. Skipping meals/yo yo dieting. 2. Hormonal BC I gained a bunch on depo provera after I had my first child and did not get it off before child number 2. 3. Anti Depression meds. I went on a prescription 5-6yrs ago and gained 30 pounds in a 3/4 month span.

I did overindulge on Pepsi but food has never been something I obsessed over.

You are right, we are not the same, we are all unique.  However, most people I know who have become MO or SMO, do so because of extensive issues with food.  But you are right, medication can play a huge role in weight gain.  In the end, we are all responsible for our own journeys and no one can tell us what we must do.  I wish you luck and success on yours.

 I too practiced moderation pre surgery. I was great at for 2,3 maybe 4 days and of course I started moderation every Monday.
That word totally scares me now especially when others around me seem to demand it of my food plan.....can't you eat pasta, rice , cake etc just in moderation, now?? Are you going to be this "strict" forever? 
I am learning to tell people nicely to please not focus on what I eat. 

Nicely said Suzanne.  I also started my moderation every Monday...Didn't that just suck to fail every darned week?  To the people asking about "can't you eat this or that?"  I just tell them "yes, I can eat anything I want, I just choose not to".  Are you gonna be this strict forever?  "yes, if I want to look and feel this way forever".  People will continue to eyeball what you are eating - yep, I see you looking - but they eventually stop questioning you about it...keep on doing what your doing!!!

Deb

If moderation worked for me, I would have never had to have 3/4 of my stomach cut out of my body, stapled with 1,000 microscopic staples and eat the portion size of a child for the rest of my life. I tried moderation my whole life and never learned it didn't work for me until I had VSG.

That being said, I have definitely allowed myself off plan on a FEW occassions and have been back on track immediately. I'm close enough to goal, I can do that. IMO....

But I agree moderation and living a life in moderation is definitely maintenance.

We have to fix our heads in this process - that's the hardest part!

 Moderation in weight loss, to me, is a lie.  It's just a tool to justify eating hat you know you shouldn't have, but not be accountable for it.


I can have it, just in moderation.  = I deserve to have this fatty food because I haven't had any in a month.

The weight loss phase is not just about weight loss.  It's about reeducation, retraining yourself, rebuilding a healthy lifestyle.  It's a golden period where we have been cleansed of our bad food choices and can either just go back the way we were or start new.  Moderation in that phase is setting yourself up or failure.  It may not guarantee failure, but I don't believe it encourages success.