My highest weight was in April of last year. I hadn't even heard of the band then, but I got diagnosed with diabetes and that really scared me. I was one point over the edge from pre-diabetes to diabetes. I started doing Somersizing, which involves food combining and choosing good carbs when you have them. That took off about 28 pounds, but then I stalled, and gained 17 pounds back.
I started really trying again in January. learned from the smartbandsters list about eating protein and produce and a few high fiber carbs. This was close to what I was doing, but it gave me a better direction. I cut back on fats and oils (which I hadn't been restricting) at the advice of the dietician I saw as part of the hoop jumping I had to do to qualify. That was this past March, and I was down to 364 when I saw her.
Another thing she said that really got me thinking in the right direction was, "Look for easy ways to save 100 calories." I also joined Calorieking.com a few days later and started logging everything I ate. Wow! I was in for a shock. Some of the things I was eating were far worse than I realized. My favorite Panera sandwich had over 1000 calories, and that didn't include the chips or the lemonade! So, this gave me the info I needed to tweak some more.
I keep Yoplait light on hand, Triscuits (a serving is six and I count them out each time) and Kashi chewy granola bars. They work well for me as snacks or part of a meal. I make pots of ground turkey chili chock full of veggies and beans. A cup is very satisfying and has somewhere between 200 and 250 calories depending what I put into that batch. I switched to fat free mayo and high fiber whole grain low cal bread, when I have bread. I make big chef salads with lean proteins and maybe a little cheese. I measure the oil I dress it with, most of the time.
I have made this my top priority. I still run across foods I can't handle. Wheat thins and Domino's pizza come to mind. (Don't ask!) LOL If I can't handle them, they are out of my life. That's what I mean by top priority.
I couldn't get my surgery as nearly as quickly as I would have liked, but then I realized I could still lose 1-2 pounds a week while I waited, just as if I had a band, and my goal weight would be that much closer.
Admittedly I was also hoping my surgeon would be so impressed that he would let me skip the preop diet, but no such luck.
So, bottom line, I gave up most sugars and white carbs last year. I had nasty cravings for about a month, but I let myself eat things like cheese instead of caving. I try to eat lean protein, lots of veggies, fruits with protein so I don't get a blood sugar spike and plummet. I Like the Kashi high fiber high protein cereals. I enjoy popcorn, and if Calorieking says I am low on fat for the day, I put some butter on it! I occasionally have a potato now, but it isn't often. Steamfresh veggies are a great convenience food. We eat a lot of them every week as easy side dishes. We usually use Molly McButter now instead of real butter. (sigh) Oh yes, and I an trying to find more ways to add beans and lentils and the like to my diet. Fiber is my friend! And I don't drink liquids with calories except for my low fat milk.
I have to say that eating this way, I am feeling better than I have in many years. I don't lose steadily every week, but if I hang on through the stalls, there is a good loss week coming my way eventually.
I still eat out sometimes, but I am learning to order more wisely and to do things like ask for vegetables in place of the french fries.
It really is a mind game. Here are some of the mottos I learned at Smartbandsters that serve me well:
It's not how much you can eat, it's how little you can get by on.
Am I trading what I really want, for what I want right now?
Do I like that food enough to wear it?
If hunger isn't the problem, food isn't the answer.
Hope this helps. (I'm pretty amazed at how well I am doing, myself!)
Orea
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