Full feeling (longish post)...

Hi, guys. Got a question for you all. As did a lot of you, no doubt, I watched the Super Bowl yesterday (go Eli! He might have been born and raised in Louisiana, but he's a Mississippi boy, and we are proud of him) and I ate until my pouch (and common sense) stopped me. I got to thinking today, however, that I really don't know when to stop eating, other than when I'm almost overly full. It occurred to me - and I suppose this should be obvious - that one of the reasons I got into this fat fix in the first place is because I've NEVER known when to stop eating. The signal to me is not full, but TOO full - almost to the point of pain. I do NOT want to blow this. I figure right now my pouch is still small enough to stop me, but I have to come to terms with the probable fact that if I keep this up my pouch will stretch and I'll start gaining it all back. I'm not exactly sure where to go or what to do with this information, except to stop eating before I get full, if I can figure that out. I also have to figure out why I'm inclined to do this - am I afraid of starving or something? That doesn't sound right. Is it because my mother is a nutritionist and I'm afraid I won't get in all my vitamins? (Yeah, yeah...blame Mom. Not going there.) She was always trying to get me to eat less, not more... Note that we're not necessarily talking junk food either. This works whether it's meat and veggies or chips and dip (fat free of course). I also don't know why I'm posting this, except to maybe hear if any of my A-team friends have the same kinds of issues and how they deal with them. Note that I haven't gained any weight, and am keeping up with my exercise, water, etc. But I'm worried that it's only a matter of time before my eating disorder kicks in again and I blow it. Any advice? Any sympathy? Anybody dealing with this same sort of thing? I love y'all. You are great. Thanks. Marcia

Hey Marcia, Congrats on realizing you have this as a food issue. That's the first step in taking control of it! I gained all my weight eating too much of everything, and when I started down this road, I learned to eat by the clock, 3 meals, one snack a day. I eat at certain times (or close to it), still weigh and measure my food and what I serve on my plate is what I eat. It's the only thing that keeps me in check to avoid that overly-full feeling, oh, and I try very hard not to eat after about 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. (we were notoriously late eaters growing up and all through my life). there are days when 800 calories makes me full, and others when I can "pig out" on 1200, some meals are easy, some are the ones that make me feel full faster if they are dense meats or eggs for some reason do it too. I think the pouch can be so touchy sometimes!! Keep up with the water/exercise/etc and now that you realize you have this issue, you can kick it, just keep aware. Maybe try serving yourself a little less than what you serve now (you may need an additional snack some other time in the day to keep the calories on track) so you don't get that overly full feeling. I'm just proud of you for realizing it, those steps are a HUGE part of the journey to self-improvement!! Inky

Thanks, Inky. Good advice - I will try eating on a schedule, and limit myself. I admit I haven't been measuring, even though that's probably the best way to do it, so I'll start. In other words, I'll stop trying to wing it; I'll regiment it instead. I'm bad about eating at night myself - the old sitting in front of the TV and wanting something to crunch on. Not hungry - more like bored, I guess. I need to take up crocheting or painting again, keep myself busy. Marcia

I have to eat more frequently-like every 3 hrs at the most. If I make sure and get my small meals in, then I do not get that very HUNGRY feeling that makes me want to gorge. I can not gorge-but I still WANT to. I also try to do a lot of thinking. What do I want? Would food help me to get it? Does food taste as good as being skinny and healthy feels? I actually keep myself on a VERY short leash. I do not trust myself because I made so many bad choices in the past. (on more than just food issues!). I plan ahead so that the decisions are made when things are cool, calm and not hungry. I do not know if this is what you mean but going through self examination is VITAL to my recovery. I have had a lot of counseling in the past. It did not work for me. I have found that I need to really to do is figure these things out for myself. It goes back to how I FEEL. I FEEL so good and the compliments make me happy and I FEEL life is all about LIVING it. Food is not my friend, it did NOT comfort me-it only added to my woes. Food and I have come to a truce at this time. Each of us will try to get the upper hand at times but I am going to win each and every battle and I WILL WIN THIS WAR!!!!

According to my surgical weight loss center, I am to eat 3 4 ounce meals a day, no more or less. I measure every meal. I have done ok so far. I follow the rules. I don't want to gain any weight back. Jan