Mourning food is very common. I did it starting the day that I scheduled my surgery. I gained 5 pounds in that month with the 'last meal' syndrome. I threw it all to the wind....and I really wish that I had not. That was just 5 more pounds that I had to get off and I would be that much closer to my goal now. You cannot eat everything right away...but you slowly build up to it. There are really only a few true no-no's and that is because of the density and fibrous nature of the food.
The true discovery I have gained since surgery is calories in vs. calories out - and maintaining a baseline caloric intake to ensure not moving in to starvation mode. I wish someone had explained the logic to me all those many years ago. I could have avoided my pre-20s anorexic tendencies and had a more healthy approach towards weight loss, had I known.
Being almost a year through this process, I've been pleasantly surprised as to the foods that I have been able to incorporate back in my diet. As was said above - it is entirely on a person-by-person basis and a big experiment as to what foods will work with your body. Since the goal is to not PB, once you have done that or had something stuck that caused severe pain, you are most likely to not eat it again!
Spicy/flavorful food is extremely important to me - and I have not had any issues with that type of food since banding....with the exception that I cannot eat pickled jalapenos any more. :o( Mexican: refried beans/queso will get me through my required caloric intake when I am tight from being filled and nothing else is going down. Sometimes it is just a battle to get the food down - so you will do just about anything to get in your baseline calories.
I do not drink sodas any longer - but once in a while when I get a huge craving, I will get a frozen coke at the movies. Smoothie King & Starbucks have become my best friends for breakfast. What I have found that eating my solid meal at lunch time and then having a liquid based dinner - unless it is a special dinner...helps with consistently losing. Some people do not believe in this method because we are supposed to be on solid protein...but when I want to jumpstart my losing streak again, it is what works best for me.
You said that you were concerned about being satisfied from so little volume of food....I feared that too. But it is amazing how quickly you adapt to what feels satisfying and that high protein really does make you feel better. In the beginning, hunger will not be a huge issue after you get your first fill. Some people say they 'forget' to eat....never had that problem but certainly wished for it!!!
Identifying head hunger vs. stomach hunger becomes a challenge. I deal with hunger every day....but it is nothing that a nice dose of phentermine cannot cure. You learn to control it, feel empowered...and watching the numbers on the scale come down also has its own euphoric high that you will start to crave.
I'll admit - the food cravings sometimes get the best of me. I have learned that if I will eat a little of whatever I am craving - then the compulsion goes away quickly and I'm at peace again. I have not consumed any fast foods since banding - and I do not miss it all that much. I rarely eat ice cream because I get that same satisfaction from the Smoothie King protein shakes. Chocolate is a big thing for me....I have switched over to eating dark chocolate and that satisfies me with less volume intake.
I hope that maybe a little of my ramblings might help....there is no doubt that this is a very difficult process but you are very courageous to consider making such a huge change in your life. At some point, you will feel free of a bunch of the food demons - they will not go completely away....but the band helps to subside them.
Here are some helpful websites:
www.calorieking.com ;
www.freedieting.com ;
www.dietfacts.com
Best of luck!!!
