ASHAMED AND REACHING OUT

Maureen, I have both hands just waving !!! I've been out control most of the time since Dec. 1 st. I try so hard , but I'm just like I used to be. I eat one bite and I think, tomorrow I'll get back on it and I eat the rest of the day.. I don't have any children, so my little dog 11 years old is like my baby. I carried her to the doctor yesterday and they think she has a tumor in her stomach and her kidneys are trying to fail. She is in the hospital and they told me today she is not any better. I just can't bear of the thought of me having to tell them to put her to sleep. Anyway, when I got home from the vet's yesterday I didn't have anything in the house "bad" to eat, so I just ate handsful of low carb cereal !! If I'd had a cake or ice cream I would have eat it !! We have all got to try to work this out together , because we know we can't do it by ourselves. Judy

We will all slip up now and then, but is the changes that we make now in our behavior that will make our weight easier to maintain when we are farther out. The strangest things will cause me to dump (for example certain brands of sugar-free ice cream). Sometimes it just makes me extremely tired and others have me running to the bathroom. Even though my first inclination is to reach for food when I am upset, as a reward, etc., I am trying other alternatives. I love shopping, so I use that for a reward or as a mood elavator. I also like visiting with my family. It would be better for me to not have bad things around since it is just me and my big fat cat, but that would be too easy. I let myself have sweets and things within limits (ie. every once in a while, a few bites at a time). You don't want to go into total denial. I learned from experience before surgery that usually only made it worse when I finally gave in (a whole cake vs. one piece). It is like my surgeon told me: "I don't expect you to be good and follow all of the rules all of the time, and when you are "breaking" the rules, the pouch will keep you from doing too much damage". This is something that I firmly believe. I also don't drive myself crazy with the scale, especially lately. I had the flu 2 1/2 weeks ago and I still barely make it home from work before I fall asleep. I just know that as soon as I am able that I will get my butt back in the gym and get back on the wagon. Till then, I try to be as healthy with my intakes as possible. Just try to take it one bite at the time and you will make it. If nothing else, write down everything you eat or drink and keep a log along with the reasons why you ate. It will help you see patterns and give you the opportunity to change them. Rachel

I feel guilty about everything that goes into my mouth!! Good stuff and bad stuff. Although, I rarely have something bad. Rhonda

Hey Reenie! I'm sorry to see you're struggling. I know I've posted this before, but I'm going to post it again for you. I keep it next to my computer and work and I read it -- A LOT! I hope you helps you like it's helped me. Hugs, -Marcie Close your eyes... Form a picture in your mind. In a year, how do you want to feel? What do you want to look like? How will you get there? And even more important, how will you STAY there? YOU ARE NOT ON A DIET! You are changing the way you THINK!!! It's a LIFESTYLE CHANGE... Don't use food as a reward... Go out and take a walk or something else to ease you mind! Food is fuel... It only gets you going and keeps you going. Food is NOT your FRIEND... If you repeat this enough to yourself and others -- you WILL start to believe it... And Remember.... "NOTHING tastes as good as I feel!!!"

All hands raised here and then some. Funny you should mention this. I agree with Mike. Make more good days than bad days. I do o****il I go to the store and crave for something. On some days my will power is compeltely gone. I use the saying, out of site, out of mind. That usually has worked for me. So I try not to keep "junk" food at my house. Of course being single and living alone helps with this issue. But last 2 days it has been those caramel candies with the sugar in the middle. Now I read the label, 3 peices have 23 carbs. Not so bad. But I cannot stop at 3. And then my thought process goes to "at least I am not eating the whole bag." This is the struggle I have today. I am sure it will be a different one tomorrow. Thanks for posting so we could all confess.

You're not alone Maureen. My downfall is soda. I had a big problem with it before surgery. Started drinking it again about 6 months out when I read that a little cola could help "unstick" trapped food. It didn't cause me to dump and so I started with that bad habit again. Oddly enough I just kept losing weight even though I was drinking soda. Now the weight loss has stopped. But I haven't stopped with the soda. Know I can do it though. ANything is possible....keep the faith! thanks for being brave enough to share your feelings...i imagine it has helped a lot of us. Know it helped me!!

ME TOO, ME TOO!! I know that I am not alone out there dealing with this but I am still so dissapointed in myself for falling back into old habits. In fact October I asked my husband to hide the rest of the haloween candy and he did. Well today I found the stash and ate about 3 pieces knowing full well that I would make me sick. How stupid is that. Feeling your pain, Leslie

Well I think we have all been here so nothing to be ashamed of. But first and formost just think of how far we have all come and do we want to go back?????? I dont and think all of you feel the same, ok to give to into a craving but in a reasonable way and thats where we all have to train and re program our minds. I know alot easier said then done but I went through the munchie mania and then took a step back and was like wait a second here this is why I was overweight and I love myself to much to do all this just to go back to the begining

Reenie, I was out of town for 4 days and just returned. Sorry to be so late in responding to your problem. The reason is the HONEYMOON PERIOD with us is over now. You have to fight those bad feelings you are having. You have done fantastic without much effort. Now comes the hard part for all of us is to keep the weight off that you & all of us have lost. You Must go back to 3 meals a day no snacking. get the ugly stuff out of your cupboards so you can't eat it. If its not there you can't give in to the cravings. You are better than this DEMON don't let it get you down. Hang in There! Marilyn, The Bearlady

OMG I understand I thought I was the only one!! I got my purse jacked from me at the mall this weekend and I have been eating non stop ever since and gained 4 lbs and I am stopping this NOW if I can. I feel like I cant though. I am so glad you posted this!! THANK YOU! -Sherrie