I'M IN TROUBLE...

Hi Maureen, I know EXACTLY how you feel. You are not alone!!! Its soooo hard to curb the cravings once the carbs/sugar is in our systems and with it being the holidays it is SUPER hard. I am envious of people who can completely stay away from sugar and carbs even when the holidays are around. I am the type of person that, if I completely restrict myself from ANY sort of little food enjoyment I get depressed that I am COMPLETELY restricted. Something I probably will never get over. BUT I need to create some super good sugar free indulgent items that I can indulge in without feeling "left out" or deprived. Its definitely a mind thing for me. For all of us I'm sure. I decided to "let go" for the holiday season and NOT stress about it all because I was worrying myself to death over it all. I knew I would "taste" things I shouldn't and such and just let it go. I was careful not to over do things but unfortunately I did a couple of times. But mostly I ate high protein foods. I had LOTS of shrimp and seafood over the holidays. When I would get real hungry I would grab shrimp first. THEN if I still wanted that little treat I would have a LITTLE treat you know. I am hoping that one day I can drop those little treats and just do completely and utterly NO SUGAR. Its completely true that is the key to success. Well today is a new day for me and so far I have had no sugar So I hope to keep it that way! Its hard but I have to find new ways to compensate for my missing treats so I dont feel deprived. Hang in there Maureen the holidays are a bear! Elizabeth M

How much protein are you getting? Go back to eating it first and making sure that you get enough to help this die down. Up your water to get the stuff out of your system because, as somebody else pointed out, it starts to perpetuate itself by creating more cravings. Pick 2 other "right" things to do and do them, such as going on a walk or to the gym or going to a store and trying on clothes at your new size. If you have a hospital support group plan to go the next time so that you come into contact with people who have just had surgery so you can remember more viscerally how far you have come. We're all having this stuff happen, so remember to use your pouch to help you out, i.e., keep drinking tha****er and eating protein to get full and so on. Sometimes it helps me to trick myself, so, instead of focusing on not eating (which seems to make us eat more), try reversing it and putting in some positive moves to see if that helps quiet things down. If you fill up the space with your new life, there will be less room for the food. Gano