I don't clean my plate!

[DebbieD]

As I am approaching my 9 mo. surgiversary I find I am able to eat a bit more than I could in the early months. Portion control has always been my biggest problem. When fixing my plate for a meal I put a small amount on a small plate but most times I still put too much on. I know that feeling when 1 more bite will be too much. I grew up with " don't waste food- clean your plate". It's still hard sometimes to leave food on my plate. At times I know I could eat those last few bites but I always leave a little just to remind me I DON'T HAVE TO CLEAN MY PLATE! When I toss that last little bit I remind myself it's a lot better off in the trash than in my FULL body. I worry when I hear about people who have had this surgery only to regain. When I reach goal the scale will be my best friend. I know weight fluctuates but I feel if I keep to a 5 pound range I will never again need to lose over 100 lbs! After all for someone who has lost that much ( less than 20 lbs away from losing 100) 5 lbs. should be a breeze! Loving my new body, new clothes, and incredible energy!

[jennie from the block]

I am afraid that I can eat more now, and I am afraid that the amount will keep increasing. I was brought up the same way, you must eat it all, do not waste, there are starving kids, yada yada yada. I still use a dessert plate as a reminder I do not need to eat a lot, I cannot eat a lot. Keep up the good work, those 20 lbs will be something to celebrate!

[Marvinator]

Jennie, hopefully you have topped out by now. My wife's surgery was 4/14/13 and she topped out at about six or seven months. I know my capacity has gone up significantly but I am hoping its topped out now as well but I am afraid it may still increase. I adjusted what I eat as capacity has gone up and I have significantly increased exercise accordingly as well.

[Marvinator]

Debbie, its definitely different not cleaning a plate. In the past, I could put two or three pounds of food on a plate and I wouldnt stop till the plate was empty. Now, I have become much better at knowing when its time to stop, though primarily out of necessity, because it will become uncomfortable otherwise. I think its good at the point where you are, myself as well, to now weigh daily and make adjustments to exercise or nutrition to keep weight in desired range. I log all my food and exercise and try to monitor how it affects my weight. This isnt as easy as I thought it would be before I started. It definitely requires diligence and discipline. But those who havent had the surgery will probably never understand that.

[MysticalMaybe]

I have dogs that help me very much with cleanning my plate and they really like that I got the sleeve too LOL! I can't eat that much still. (less then half a sandwich) but you know I think I have learned most with this sleeve is that food is not my life. I don't need to eat that much and that often so by learning that I really don't think I will regain. I couldn't beleive how much I ate thinking that was normal and if I didn't eat or skipped a meal I thought OMG I'm going to die of starvation or something... American Portions are WAAAAAAY to big and I never knew that till now. Congrats to your weight loss I can't wait till i hit the 100 pound lost (and never return) mark!!! We are almost There!!!