This is a follow up article to my first regarding weight loss and surgical alternatives. As I stated in my first article, I had Lapland surgery and it has worked for me. I started out at a whopping 224lbs. That is a lot of weight for someone that is only 5′3. As of today, I am down to 150lbs.
I don’t want everyone to believe that this is a cure to any problem but it is a tool to use to assist you with loosing weight. Even though I have a band around my stomach, I can gain weight by not eating the right kinds of food or by not exercising. (Everyone knows that winter time is when we tend to pack those extra pounds back on by eating comfort foods.) Your stomach is a muscle and if you eat too much, you can stretch it by filling it with food. I’m not saying that it’s easy because it’s not. You will cause yourself discomfort and may possibly end up with the dumping syndrome.
Here are some of my tricks to help curb grazing:
1. Only eat when you are hungry but don’t wait until you are starved. (Some people eat several small meals a day. If you do this, only do it when you experience signals that you are hungry.)
2. Make sure you eat your proteins first, then add those vegetables and lastly fruit.
3. Chew your food and sit your fork down after each bite. (My luncheon buddies tell me I tend to play with my food.) Since my stomach is smaller, I need the time between bites for the food to make it way through my body to the stomach. And…this helps the "I’m full" signal to be sent to my brain before I am overly full.
4. If you don’t finish what is on your plate, that is okay.
5. Choose your groceries carefully. If you don’t like fat free products, try the low fat. I find there are certain products that I buy and don’t eat because they don’t please my palate. Just because it’s a great deal, does not mean you will eat it.
6. Sometimes I only want vegetables and other times I just want proteins. I don’t keep to traditional meals but listen to what I want. (Yes, I do still eat some things that I shouldn’t. Who doesn’t like Peanut M&M’s?)
7. If you must have something bad, eat it in moderation. A handful of Peanut M&M’s is acceptable as a treat but not on a daily basis.
Make sure you know how much protein, vegetables and fruits are necessary for your body size and metabolism. You may need to consult with a physician to determine your specific needs.
