Question for everyone : )

I know the board is slow on the weekends but I figured I would post this anyway since I am really getting frustrated with myself- At the beginning I was so anal about everything and doing soooooo well however for the last month-2 months I have been really doing poorly in choosing what I put in my mouth-I have still lost some weight and am down to 139 which is 2 pounds from my surgeons goal and 10-15 away from my personal goal but I feel like it is easier for me to make the wrong choices now since I am so close to goal-I hope someone understands what I am trying to say-Every morning I have every intention to stay on track and I have a great breakfast: eggs-yogurt and some strawberries but by mid afternoon all I can think of eating is junk-in particular carbs-ugh-Is anyone else out there going through something similiar or the same???? I hate the idea of getting back into bad habits after coming so far!

Lori, I feel your frustration because I live it. I was very strict in the beginning and now I am more lax. I want to go back to being strict. I felt better. I am 23 pounds from my goal. I definately eat more things now then when originally out of surgery. I don't think it's wrong but we go back to the bad feelings with food. I personally feel.....after eating like say 1 small bite size of candy that I was BAD! We shouldn't feel that way but we do. We do deserve somethings and now we are learning everyday to limit it to a little. Try not to be so hard on yourself... ~~hugs and well wishes~~ Chris

Thanks Chris-Its always good to know I am not the only one going through something when I am-I am going to have to try really hard starting Mon to get back to eating protein first-good carbs like veggies/fruit over breads/past etc and exercise more-I went from exercising 45-60 min per day until my surgery 6 weeks ago and since they told me to lay low for 6 weeks all I have been doing is 3-15-20 minutes walks with my dog and son-I think having unexpected surgery in Oct due to my RNY really put something in my mind that changed things a bit as well-I wish you luck on your last 23 pounds and I am hoping for a better way to come soon for me as far as my eating-I know I have to do it because I am worth it and I have come too far not too succeed!!! Take care-Lori

I am very surprised with myself that I am still eating like I did when I first started. But I have a suggestion, maybe plan out a day or weeks worth of food, put it in something like containers, label it and only eat that for awhile. Get your body back to being use to the no carbs and such, pretty much clense the carbs out. If you eat carbs, your body craves and wants more. Or maybe get whole grain carbs to have at ha nd. They wont cause the cravings like the bleeched carbs will. If worse comes to worse, try the southbeach program, again it is planning meals, but it helps with it and if truely desperate, try the nutri system diet plan for a couple of weeks. Both southbeach and nutri system are high protein based and good carbs. Maybe try to write everyday why you wanted the surgery, what you can do now you couldn't before, how you feel when you eat right, that sort of thing. Something to motivate you. Do you go to support meetings? If not, maybe try that if there is one. Funny, I thought I would be where you are now. But I am more worried that I wont let myself eat more when I reach goal, which is about 16 lbs or less than 2 months from now. I am going to be way below Docs goal, already am, and am heading to medically correct weight. So I don't see much room for mistakes at that point. Oh and are you still doing strong on getting in your protein? I just got a newsletter from my Doc and he says it uses more calories to burn protein than protein has, basically protein is a negative food. I have started having an extra shake a day, since my shakes are pretty much 100 protein (protein is 4calories to gram) He also said that sugar is a major enemy. If you get a milk shake in the am and drink on it all day, you will not loose weight. We absorb all the sugar we eat. But I think the main thing to look at is that you have made a life change. It is going to be ok to eat carbs, just limited. Stay away from sugar except maybe once a month. You know, when you really need that chocolate. And be careful of fats. Now except for sugar, that doesn't mean to cut it out completely. Jus****ch how much. Take the skin off the fried chicken, but still have the chicken. Get a baked potatoe instead of fries. Choose whole wheat bread. Low fat cheese, if you like it. Salad dressings, careful, only have low fat there, no fat is better. But with these little changes, you can still eat anything you really want for the most part. You are still eating only a small percent of what you use to eat. I hope this gives a different way to look at what you are going thru, something in here you might be able to use to help. You are a great success! We all are. We all also live in the real world. So we just have to find our place in it and we all will, as you will too.

Thanks soooooo much Kristi for taking the time to reply-you have suggested alot of good tips and have made really good points I appreciate it so much-starting on Mon I am going to do a major overhaul and restart using some of your suggestions and Ill see how it goes! Take care-Lori

Hi Lori, well I've never been real anal about what I ate. I know that I get in big trouble when I feel deprived, so I try not to get myself into that trap. If I want something, I have it. But I only have a small amount. When we were out for dinner and everyone was having really gooy deserts, I had a taste or two of the one that looked the best to me. I use the "3 taste rule." I can up to 3 bites of anything I want and even if it's sugar it won't make me dump. The other day I was dying for a taco. So I went to Taco Bell and ordered 1 taco and had it for lunch. Before I could have eated a dozen but now one satisfys me. I know it's not the best selection but I think it keeps me out of trouble knowing that nothing is forbidden. Just in moderation. Maybe I haven't lost as fast as others due to this but I am still working my way downward and happy with the success I am making. Sending hugs, Ronna

Hi Lori. Sorry to hear that you're so frustrated, but be good to yourself. I was very strict in the beginning as well also. Now, I eat more like a healthy person who has never had surgery. I allow myself some of the foods that I had presurgery, but I just limit the amounts. Now...somedays I overdo it, but I try to do my best to do it differently the next day. I actually used to be embarassed to eat for the first few months after surgery. I was eating so little, and picking at this and that. Now I eat like a healthy eater. I treat myself once in a while, and I never deprive myself, so I'm much more comfortable when I eat now. And let me tell ya, I eat! I eat good, too. I think we sometimes set ourselves up for frustration. We are now 10 months post op...we shouldn't be losing 5 lbs. a week anymore! I know we'd love to, but we don't. We aren't gonna be losing weight forever, so we need to start focusing on that too. I used to get really upset when I wasn't losing weight every week. Also, I think Kristi suggested this, but planning meals really does help. I do that every week still and it helps me stick to my eating...keeps me from grazing most of the time. I also put into my menu a piece of pie or cake if I want it. It helps me out a lot I've learned. Hope some of this helps. You've been doing great! 139 lbs.! April

Hi Lori! Sorry i am late on responding on this but I so feel the way you do! I had to kick myself in the butt to get back on track lately and as by the weigh in this morning you can see its helped me. I was thinking well I had reached my goal I could eat what I wanted, but then i didnt lose for the longest time. Dont feel like your alone! Youre not! I also was getting lax on exercise and have changed that now. I think its really helped me to go "back to basics" and not to mention I am able to run 2.5 miles on the treadmill in 30 minutes. My new found motivator. I dont deprive myself tho. Just small portions. Hope this helps and wish you all the best! Suzette