Problems, problems, problems

This is sort of a "whoa is me" kind of post so run now while you have the chance. I am having keeping out the carbs. I have gotten to the point that I can't stand looking at meat. I try hard to reach for the cottage cheese, cheese slices, yogurt, protien shake etc but it is not working. I don't need a "talking down" just a swift hit in the head, please. I own my own bakery/cafe so being away from the stuff is not an option. I have tried chewing gum during work or sucking mints but it doesn't work. It is getting me depressed. I drink water all day and I know I am getting plenty of liquids but the protien is short, I just know it. I can't seem to get my mind back to a year ago. My clothes are actually getting tight again and I don't want to go there. How do I get out of this horrible, horrible cycle. It just makes me cry each time I try to battle this. I live alone so there is no support person for me. My co-worker is good but I don't feel comfortable unloading this on her as she is my employee. I feel like I need advise and there is no one to talk to that won't bash me.

Jane, Do you have a protein shake that you like? Did your surgeon have a protocol that included them? If you don't or he didn't I strongly suggest you try that route. I drink 4 protein shakes 25 mg each EVERY day. I do my best to "snack" on protein...nuts, cheese, jerky. Keeping those things handy helps keep me away from carbs that don't like me. I still have cravings for carbs but my body does not like them and if I don't want a dumping episode I have to steer clear. Are your meals still centered on protein? I know you probably must "taste" what you bake and a bite here and there is not going to sabotage your loss. What do you eat on a daily basis? What's your menu? Maybe if you list it here we can help you analyze it and help get you back on track. You are among friends here...let us try to help you. Va

My only suggestions is to talk to someone at your doctors office or a nutrionist who might can help.

A long shot, and probably not a very healthy option, but I found that Cafe Mocha works for me. Since it is made from milk and I can tolerate sugar...plus I like it. I found if I drink this I don't go looking for carbs. good luck. Donna

no talking down- a question about what you are drinking? coffee???decaf? i find that i am drinking more regular coffee now and that does trigger the appetite-and it makes me want animal crackers and mini pretzels which-in my mind-are safe-well maybe they are but in very limited quantities! iused to be the donut maker at a mr donut years ago-and whoa that was heck for me-my french crullers were great! i agree with va that the protein shakes may be the way for you to go for a bit. hang in and keep talking to us!

Thanks for the input. I realy avoid all caffienne because I also battle anxiety and my co-workers rip the cup from my hand if I drink anything other than decaf!! Sometimes I drink 1/2 reg and 1/2 decaf if there is a flavor I want, but never more than 1 cup a week. My problem lies in mindless eating. I need to engage mind and disengage mouth. Thanks for encouraging me. Protien shakes are being upped. Jane

i think that much of my grazing - animal crackers and pretzels --is also mindless eating- sitting here at computer or watching tv--- we are human,jane!!! stay positive and it will be good for you!!!!!!

Hi Jane, I feel for you, I really do. I can't imagine being able to do the work you do every day and still be successful at losing the weight and maintaining the loss. I wish there was some reasonable advice I could offer you but I'm afraid all I can think to suggest is find another line of work! Of course, I know that this is not a reasonable suggestion...I just know that I could never survive working around great food like that all the time. What I can offer you, however, is support. I wish you all the best in the world as you struggle through this. Remember, it all starts in the mind. Whatever you think or decide about yourself is your truth, your reality. Change is only a different decision away. Very hard stuff, what you're dealing with. Take care and stay in touch, we're here for you. Reenie

Thanks for the support and lack of bashing. I am trying to deal with one day at a time but even that tends to bunch up on me. Believe me, I have considered changing carrers but I started in baking in 1977 and have a degree in Culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America and this is all I know. I have so much $$ invested in my cafe that it scares me. I know that I need to keep a food diary but it is dang miserable to do at work. I try to have at least one Nectar Shake a day (23gr) and I was eating one Luna Bar a day for breakfast at 5:30am (10gr). Throughout the day I eat cheese (not lowfat, tastes like wax), cottage cheese (nonfat) and sliced turkey breast or ham. I rarely eat any beef, it usually makes me gag. Occassionally I will make an egg & cheese or eat a sausage patty. For lunch I may eat a 1/2 a sandwich on grain bread (we make our own) but lately I have tried to cut out the bread and just eat the meat. I have been trying to make my own protien bar with granola and soy and protein powder. It has peanut butter and nuts and raisins. I am in the process of trimming the fat and upping the protien. I ran it through fitday.com for analysis. Not bad but high in carbs by that is whole grain oats as I use splenda to sweeten it. I am having a kitchen installed in the house I just bought because it did not have one (long story). This means that I have next to no access to food at home. I end up eating cheese again or yogurt. I was microwaving a Lean Cuisine but my contractor buried my microwave in debris!! Besides they were really terrible and I never could fini**** anyway. I know that my stress level is beyond belief. My dr has me on new meds and she has even reinstated blood pressure meds which were gone since surgery. I do know that this may be hindering me. But reality is that I need to stop putting things in my mouth. I plan on working on this issue with my psychologist, but I have not seen him for a few weeks and I tend to get buggy when that happens. Thanks for the input. Jane

Jane, Your menu sounds good actually...with what you have listed you may actually not be getting enough calories. I shot for around 1000 to 1200 per day. Upping your number of protein shakes per day I feel will help jump start your loss. Do you like the nectar proteins? My protein of choice is UNJURY (www.unjury.com) I mix my up the night before and pour from that container throughout the day. There's a myth that the protein breaks down after 30 minutes which is totally untrue...for sanitation reasons I just don't want it sitting around in the frig for more than 24 hours...too many food handlers classes under my belt!!! Mixing it up a head of time does make me much more protein compliant. If you get bored with your shakes I have all kinds of recipes for different flavors of shakes...although most of them require vanilla, unflavored or chocolate protein powder. I use a lot of Crystal lite to flavor my shakes. Oh yeah and I don't count any of the protein I eat towards my daily protein requirements. I only count my shakes. Since we are malabsorptive and will be for the rest of our lives, we just can't count on getting a whole lot of nutrition from our food. When I eat TV dinners I eat the full 'leaded' ones not the 'diet' ones. Too many carbs in the 'diet' and no flavor...I just eat the protein source and the complex carb veggies out of it and toss the rest. Bars - I love the Power Crunch Bars (14 grams protein) (see the ad at the bottom of this page)...my favorites are the Triple Chocolate and the French Vanilla. I also like the Carbwell bars and the Q-Smart bars both have 10 grams of protein. Have you tried adding a powdered protein to your granola bars? Optimum Nutrition's AnyWhey is pretty versatile. I've added AnyWhey to cream cheese to spread on a bagel, to cappuccino and to peanut butter to eat with apples. Also I add AnyWhey to my baked goods, breads, biscuits, pancakes/waffles...etc. Hope this hasn't bored you to tears!! Va