Been thinkin' bout "cheatin"...........

Confession..................... I want to try a "little" chocolate. Like a hershey kiss or a peanut M & M. I have NOT had ANYTHING of that nature since surgery. Almost 9 months. I don't "crave" it, just want to see if I can eat it. Then again, I tell myself, Carm, DON'T DO IT............... You will open a flood gate. I probably am too chicken to do it anyway. I'm only thinking about it. I promise I won't. Just wanted to put this in writing. Thanks for listening. Carmella

Step away from the chocolate! I'll just tell you this. Regular chocolate would make me dump like crazy - anything over 5g of sugar and I'm toast. I CAN have a small amount of SF chocolate, like the mini SF Hersheys. However, they have been getting a little to tempting and I found myself popping one or two a day at work ****ep an emergency stash in my desk drawer). Friday, when I realized that I was making it a habit, and was "planning" when I would have my "fix" that afternoon, I immediately buried them under a bunch of stuff in my desk and refused to have one. 'Course, I didn't throw them away, though, did I?

It has been a year since I've had sugar. I started my pre-op diet a year ago today so I happen to know I have been sugar free for 12 months exactly. Honestly, I'm not tempted and I'm not curious. I think I feel better not knowing and assuming I dump. I suspect I do dump...I dumped on some liquid B complex sweetened with apple juice concentrate and that was enough for me to keep assuming that I do. I'm very happy with sugar free stuff. Gives me the sense of treats without the guilt. I have to work to make them not part of the regular diet since they are usually just "extras". I don't want to be a in treat everyday mode. That got me into trouble in the first place. All I can suggest is to stay away as long as you can. Kathy

Carmella, Ok, I'm putting my confession in writing as well. I have been cheating. Since around Christmastime, I started eating a Lindt (sp) truffle every now and again. Milk and dark chocolate doesn't taste the same to me and gives me a "buzz," but white chocolate is another story. Yummm. I haven't had one in a while, but they are SO heavenly. I also have to admit that I've indulged in cookies too. I can only handle a half of one or one whole small, but with them I have been able to satisfy my occasional "sweets" cravings. Is this wrong? I don't know. I see my surgeon next month for my 9 month checkup and I will ask him. Someone on the MI board is 5 months out and has been craving sweets. She read somewhere that the "craving" may be from a shortage of B vitamins in the system. Don't know if that's true. Maybe I should purchase some and try it? Diane

Diane, You don't take B vitamins? We were required to take: Multi-vitamins, calcium citrate, iron (if needed), sublingual B12 and a B 100 complex. Kathy

Hi Kathy, I've just been taking Centrum chewables and Viactiv Calcium Chews along with my thyroid med. My PCP gives me iron shots. Could you tell me more about the B vitamins? Thanks! Diane

Ooo, where to start... Viactivs are not the best form of calcium for us post-ops. They are made from calcium carbonate which requires stomach acids to break it down to be absorbed. The best form of calcium for us is calcium citrate. The lastest we have been using are Citracal Petites (they are a bit smaller than the normal horse-sized calcium tablets - much easier to take). There is also liquid calcium citrate - a few brands. And I was using Twinlabs Calcium Citrate Wafers which are chalky but kind of sweet tart like. You should try to get about 1500 mg per day. Our body won't absorb more than 500 mg at one time so you have to take multiple doses each day. Also calcium should not be taken with iron because it interferes with absorption. But that isn't an issue for you with iron shots. We take the Centrum chewables (2 per day) for each of us. (Hubby is a WLS patient too.) We take a sublingual (under the tongue) B12 tablet daily. You can get them even at Trader Joes and they aren't expensive. Probably should try to get 500 to 1000 mg a day. The B12 that is in our Centrums won't help us. We hon't have the intrinsic factor in our stomachs to absorb B12 through our digestive tract anymore. So the way for us to get B12 is through sublinguals or via B12 injections. My B12 level is over the normal range and my physician's message to me was "Your B12 level is high - we LIKE high." Also, we each take a B 100 Complex. Hubby takes a horsepill that we get at Costco. I cannot handle the pill so I take an icky tasting liquid. The B vitamins are very, very important! Lack of things like B1 can lead to Beri Beri. Others can lead to neuropathy (nerve damage in extremeties) and even some brain damage. The Bs are water soluable so extra doesn't build up - it tends to wash out of your system. You might want to join one of the Yahoogroups... OSSG-nutrition is a good one. There are very knowledgeable folks there and some have had their surgeries a long time ago and we can learn from their experiences. Unfortuntanely some have the neuropathy and other damage from low vitamin levels. Be sure that when you get lab work done that your B1, B12, etc levels are checked. It is important! Kathy

I personally don't think it's "cheating". We can eat what we want. As long as you are comfortable with what you put into your mouth. I have had different 'treats' on occasion and I think that is all right. I do get my protein in and drink lots of fluid, too. Do what you want, what makes you happy. Stacy 346/188

I'll tell you what I told a WLS buddy of mine (and I tell to myself alot): You have done so well on your program, XXX no. of lbs lost in XXX no. of months. I know you have it in you to fight these demons because you've already done that or you wouldn't have been so successful. You can fight it! Don't let a few minutes of satisfaction or curiosity ruin what you have accomplished. It's not worth it! Anyway, this little speech has helped me and knowing that one leads to two, two leads to four, and so on and so on. So, slam that door shut and triple lock it! Keep those food demons out, once those little suckers gain a toe hold they just keep getting stronger! I hope this helps.

DON'T DO IT! It's not worth it. Take it from a struggling cheater. Having said that, if you do it anyway, then don't beat yourself up....forgive yourself, and move on! We're no longer "on a diet," so you shouldn't have that guilt factor. Changing the mentality is the hardest part, and I think if I can get over that guilty feeling, I would be okay. I know I'm contradicting myself...but that's because I'm struggling so bad because I took that first bite. I regret it, because I don't dump easily, and I now know what I can get away with and what I can't.