My doctor hates the word full. For those of us with lap bands “full” means too many things to use as a descriptive word. For example, for some it often means I have eaten that one bite too much and I think I may be stuck and I’m not sure this meal is going to stay down, or even worse. For others it means I have had enough and I am done, whether or not there is any food left on my plate. This is a point that is frequently discussed on the message boards, at support groups, and in the doctor’s office with no resolution as to the meaning of the word “full”. What I have learned in my 6 years of banded living, including my experience as well as the experiences of the many people I have mentored, is that I have had to throw out the word full, it is no longer a part of my vocabulary. I have replaced it with the word satisfied. Just what does satisfied mean?
My dinner - 3 ounces of Ahi tuna for protein, and sugar snap peas for some resistance.
Per Webster’s dictionary the verb satisfy means to make happy, to gratify to the full, to be adequate to. Per this woman with a lap band satisfied means enough…..just enough to feel a little resistance from my band and to have tasted the food I have been eating. Both of these examples rely on my food choices. To get that little bit of resistance feeling that signals satisfied my meal will have a food choice that is dense, high protein as well as fibrous. To “taste” the food I make sure that my meal is planned around something I will enjoy eating. For example, I have found that Fage Greek yogurt makes a great breakfast with about 18 grams of protein for about 100 calories. To it I add ½ cup blueberries for taste and fiber, a ½ tsp of vanilla and some Splenda. Voila! I have my morning protein that tastes great to me, with the berries providing some resistance. When I am done, I am done- I am satisfied both with taste and resistance and this holds me very nicely until lunch. Dinner might be some salmon with chopped garlic, chopped ginger, soy sauce and lime with a small baked yam with some cinnamon and nutmeg on it. Lots of protein, lots of flavors, enough fiber and volume to provide resistance. End result, satisfied. The foods I gave as examples may not be any that you like so this is where each one of us needs to get creative in planning meals that have nutrition, fiber and flavor so we can push away from the table satisfied.
My band also gives me some additional signals when I am done eating, and that is sometimes before I have finished the portion on my plate. It is critical that I listen to these signals or I can wind up in trouble. Early on, even in the soft food stage shortly after surgery I would get the hiccups. This was my band telling me enough, time to stop. I ignored this signal on a number of occasions and found that after my next bite I had taken one too many bites. You can believe I play close attention to this now! I may also feel like burping, although many of us who have lap bands know that burping is something different than it used to be. The air is just not expelled the same with that band on our upper stomachs. Again, listen to the cue. In my experience that poor excuse for a burp means I’m done. Yet another signal I try not to ignore no matter how good my meal is tasting to me.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my Goodness, Thank you for making this site!! I found your site from Lapbandtalk.com. I also ignored the band signal on a number of occasions, because I want to be a rebel. Right now I am still trying to understand why I want to eat the more than I should.
Need help. Are lapbanders supposed to eat 6 small meals a day? I am so pig headed. I don’t agree with this. Lost 85 lbs in 14 months so far, never did what I am hearing now. Also now they are saying that I need 1200 calories a day. Sounds all wrong to me. Help, please set me straight. If I am wrong I need to know. I am not afraid to admit error or my part. Thanks.
Great post! I am 2 months into banded living, and am finding that it’s sometimes a challenge to push that plate away with food still on it! After so many years of finishing everything on my plate plus some I almost feel guilty leaving food there. Just last night I had to convince myself it was ok to leave half a chicken breast and some of my veggies because I was satisfied. Just as I was proud as a child to finish all of my food (never had a problem there!) I’m super proud to be able to know that I am full and walk away without stuffing my face at the speed of light only to wake up and see that everything’s gone. The mental aspect of this banded thing is very interesting in that I’m noticing just what a poor relationship with food I had. Oh, and the burping…my God! Nobody told me about that before my surgery. I wish they had. It sure does catch you by surprise sometimes and it is definitely very different than before. It’s impossible to hold it in or do it quietly anymore!