Not losing weight? Time for a behavior adjustment?
Posted by Adam Yarbrough on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 @ 10:55 AM
If you have a LAP-BAND or REALIZE Band, and you aren't losing weight, there are a lot of things you should check before saying it didn't work for you. This is the second in a series of five "adjustment" topics.
Do you need a behavior adjustment?
If you're struggling to lose weight with your gastric band, ask a few questions and spot-check your behavior before declaring failure.
Are you eating only when you're hungry? Are you eating three meals a day? One or two small snacks are acceptable for some people, too.
Are you sitting down to eat? Are you eating consciously?If not, get rid of distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions. I recently heard from a support group participant that once she slowed her meals down and ate consciously, she began to realize that a lot of the foods she thought she loved actually were not that interesting.
Are you eating slowly? Put the fork down between bites. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying.
Are you taking small bites? If this is difficult, try to use smaller utensils like a toddler fork and spoon, chopsticks or a cocktail fork
Are you chewing well? Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? Practice water loading between meals. You won't be thirsty, if you are well hydrated before the meal.
Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? Sometimes hunger satieity can be difficult to recognize if you're not used to it. Sometime's it's like a whisper from your body: "That's enough." Don't be so engaged in your food that you miss the signs of satiety.
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