HELP!!!!!

Ok I am having a really hard time staying on track! I have found that surgar does not bother me. I do not eat a lot of it, I have about 2 cookies a day. I am having a hard time staying away from CARBS! I eat chips and fires. I had this surgery so I could get healthier. Now look what I am doing. I have been really stressed, my 11 month old has to have surgery, my 5 year old is acting up in school! I am a single mother, so I am the only one that they have. I really want to loose all this weight. I had surgery May 7, 2004 I have lost about 54lbs. I am so upset with myself, i cannot believe that I am doing this. I think I need someone that I can just call when I am going to go get the junk food. And the only reason that stuff is in my house is my son has to take a snack to school everyday. I know that I do not get in enought protien i have tried a lot of stuff out there and it is all nasty to me. Plus i do not have enough money to by the different protien shakes and stuff that is out there. I am loosing my hair so bad, I think I am going to go BALD!!! I know I do not get enough water in, most of the time I drink Crystal Light Ice Tea. Is that ok? I know I am just feeling sorry for myself, but I really need some help. Please!!!! TY, Janette

Hi Janette, I feel your pain and understand the frustration with yourself. I was reading your profile and it says you were down 63lbs. Have you gained some of your weight back? As a teacher, I do understand that you need to send a snack. However, have you thought about sending fruit. I encourage my students to bring fruit and not sugary or high fat snacks. As for getting in your water, I think it's fine if it's all Crystal Light. So long as it is decaf. I am addicted to the Crystal Light Sunrise classic orange right now. What type surgery is your 11mth old having? My 3 year old had tubes put in his ears at around 14 months old and it was a blessing from God. We finally had a normal life again. Before the tubes we got very very little sleep and it was hard to function each day. This surgery can work for you Janette. You just need to re-committ yourself to making it work. Have you talked with your surgeon? Does your surgeon have a nutritionist? If so, that's one person you need to be talking to. It also sounds like counseling might be a great idea for you. Please email me sometime and maybe we can exchange phone numbers or just chat via AOL IM. My email is [email protected]. Christie

TY Christie. No you are right it has been 63 maybe more. My scale decided to die and I ahve not gone an bought another one. My 11 month old is having her atnoids removed, she had tubes put in her ears on May 20, 2004. She has been very sick since she turned 3 months old. I am just so tired of everytime she gets over one thing she gets another. It is also taking time away from my son, and he is now acting up in school he is only 5 almost 6. Last year he was in Pre-K and never got into trouble. I really do not know what to do with him. I am having a meeting with his teacher on Wednesday. Again TY Janette

I'm sorry you are haivng such a hard time Janette. They say that this surgery is just a tool it's not a guaranteed weight loss, it's hard work. Do your best to take one day at a time, we all make mistakes. Try string cheese for a smack, get some protein bars. I don't know if you have Costco there or not but I just got 6 pounds of protein for $19.99. Good luck to you and go easy on yourself things will work out. 275/260/195/165

Hi Janette~ It's ok! Your 5/6 year old is just a kid and will probably have those phases!It doesn't mean you aren't doing a bad job or he isn't a good kid. I will keep your baby in my thoughts as she goes towards suregry. As for your weight loss, I agree that maybe try sending a healthier snack with your son to school. Try string cheese and apples. Kids love it and it's good for ya! It's hard to get back on track when you think of how much there may be to do, so just go one thing a a time. Work on the chips first, then maybe the fries after that. Take your time. Stress is also a huge factor in weight loss/gain. Just keep breathing! Try to maybe get your protein in with what you eat. Chicken, Fish, beans all that. Make it up the night before then you can have it on the go. You can also look for high protein vitamins and pills. Other than that if you can afford around $30 get a protein powder to mix into your crystal light. (an unflavored one) then you can also mix it in to soups, pretty much anything and you don't have to make shakes. It can go a long way. Being a single mom is the biggest job in the world for any woman and I admire you! Your kids have a great mom that loves them and loves herself enough to try to lose the weight for them. Your success however doesn't mean that you are a good or bad person or mom. Do what you can! Take it slow and you'll get back on track! Hope today is better! Kristin

Janette, Don't deny yourself anything! Just make better choices in what you eat. Snackwell has some very good sugar free cookies. One will not hurt as bad as those regular cookies. Some might disagree but I have found that if I deny myself something I will go and eat that something and then I will eat too much of it. Get some peanut butter and whole wheat crackers they will help your sweet craving also. Tea is how I survived the first three months!. I then discovered that about two table spoons of lime juice and 6 pks of splenda and ice make plain water into a treat. Try the lime juice or plain lemon slices in your water and a little sweeter. I am sorry to hear about the problems your child is having. I pray that she will get better. Talk to your son at 5 he is old enough to understand lost priviledges and time out. I have a 4yr old little sister (I am 25 ha ha) and a minute in time out really helps how she behaves. Also if she can't play with her games for just an hour she is ready to behave.

Yeah I have had the snackwells cookies they are really good. That is what i usually eat. I just bought these about a week ago for my son and they are in the fridge so everytime i open it I see them and just grabe one. Now with my son. I have grounded him for a week. i just hope that I can stick to it. I can get so fustrated with him sometimes. Well thanks. Janette

Are you going to any kind of WLS support group? This really helps and can be life saving -- great place to meet people whom you can have direc contact with when you need it. As for the 5 yr old.....here's my opinion --- There is LOTs going on in his life... Mom's not been well, sick baby brother, etc. My grandson & a friends grandchildren (same age as your son) and my 12 yr old have all gone to a couselor and it has worked wonders..... Major point the Therapist makes...disipline has to be AGE APPROPRIATE.... time out up to about 7 years old is 1 MINUTE PER YEAR OF AGE.... I know this does not sound like enough, but the point is that after that time they don't even remember why they are there or what they did. A WEEK grounded for a 5 yr old is more punishment on YOU, than him. I have been a single mom for 22 years.... I know what you are going thru... maybe thru your Insurance you can get some "family/child" counseling -- which may also help you understand why you are sabatoging yourself with your old eating habits! You need some tools to help you deal with everything you are going thru right now. God Bless you, and take care Pam RNY 5/13/04

Hi Janette, I know what you mean about protein drinks being spendy. I can't hardly stand the taster of them either. My hair is also falling out,but I have heard from others that it really has nothing to do with not getting enough protein. It is mainly because of the shock to our bodies from the wls surgery. I can relate to you about the chips and fries. I was addicted to them pre-op. I never cared much about sweets,but I would go for the carbs!! I still want to... I don't deny myself a few chips by that I mean a handful a couple times a week. I find I mainly crave them in the evening. I try to go for cashews or beef jerky instead. Jerky has some protein in it. You can find some pretty good deals at Walmart,just try to buy the highest protein,and lowest sugar amounts you can find. I find that jerky helps my craving for "munching" it keeps you chewing,and its good for you. Also,I really like these snack bars called "SlimWhey" there are 6 bars in the box for $3.90 and they have 9g protein 3g sugar they have coconut almond bar with a chocolate coating,couple different peanut butter ones with carmel. Anyway they are really good. Found them at Walmart also. I have a hard time getting in my protein also,I love chicken,so I try to make up some shake-n bake chicken in the oven,that way I can just cut the chicken breasts (thats what I use) in smallers pieces and put them he fridge and grab one to take to work for my luch or in the evening when I want a snack. Shake-n bake original only has 40 calories, 7g carbs, 0 sugar,1g protein per 1/8 of the package (which is about enough to coat one piece of chicken) Don't beat yourself up..Try to stay postive. Are you taking your vitaims? I personally think you would be off drinking plain water,its so much better for us and our wt loss. Water flushes out our system and is one of the keys to wt loss. You can drink your Crystal Light,but first try to get as much water in as you can. If you and the kids are out and about and you want to treat them to fast food,get them what they want McDonalds etc.. and you should try Subways Atkins Chicken and Bacon Ranch Wrap. The wrap is made with wheat,soy,and sesame flour and it has a whopping 43g of protein in it. 440 calories and 1g sugar 17g carbs. Very tasty.. I hope everything goes well with your 11 month olds surgery. Take Care. You can e-mail me anytime you need to vent. ~Jeanne -82lbs

Janette is there a WLS support group in your area? I know that for me it is such a help when I am starting to run out of steam and then I go and I have such a great time and inspired to keep on doing the right things. I too am one of the 4 in 100 who can eat sugar. So I understand the craving things. Good luck! -Gerriann 101 pounds gone forever!