A Donut !!!!!!

I need all you Junesters to give me a kick in the butt!! I have been having alot of medical issues dealing with parathyroidism. Its been a very stressful month and on Monday I will be having surgery to remove one of the parathyroid glands that is bad. I have been very sick. The stress has gotten to me and on Thursday while grocery shopping I bought a box of peanut pershing dounts at the bakery counter. I ate ONE DONUT on Thursday night and ONE DONUT on Friday morning. What is WRONG with me??? I think I am straying from the plan. I don't get enough protien in everyday and I'm having a difficult time drinking enough water. I started out the first three months doing so well. And I have not completely fallen off the wagon but I'm just giving in more often than I used to. I'm pretty sure I can eat alot more than I used to, I'm very careful about that cause it scared me to death to think that I could gain back any of the 65lbs I've lost already. Please oh please tell me if any of you are having similar problems and give me that mental spanking that I so richly deserve. Thanks for your support! Renee' in WI

Dear Renee', Please don't kick yourself in the butt... it only makes you feel worst & starts the cycle of beating yourself up and eating more and more!!! I think the problem (besides your nerves) is that you AREN'T getting enough water and protein. We have been discussing this very topic in our support group meetings recently!!! We are labeling it "nutritional hunger". Your body is craving the water & protein, but your head doesn't realize it..... your craving stuff (water & protein), so you reach for what always comforted you in the past, not realizing that it's the water & protein that your body is crying out for (our theory). At any rate, a couple of our folks were going through the same thing you described in your post. Reaching out for all the things they knew they shouldn't eat and/or eating more than their pouches could comfortably hold.... once they focused on getting enough water & protein each day... making the water & protein their main focus, the food cravings & hunger levels went away... sort of miraculously, I might add. They also had much more energy throughout the day and were able to handle the stressors much better. You really do need to be drinking at least 8-9 8oz. glasses of water/day... more, if you are taking in any caffeine drinks at all. In our group, those of us that have been focusing on our protein intake have noticed that we feel much better if we increase our daily consumption to anywhere between 100 - 150 grams per day. These are just a few things to consider.... but I know that the worst you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to fall into bad habits and return to old patterns. If you are able to, get out in this nice Fall weather and do some walking!!! There is no better mood elevator than eating right (proper water & protein intake) and getting some healthy exercise. My heart goes out to you, as I know that we are all just a bite away from emotional and/or compulsive eating... believe me, I am hyper aware because I do not want to blow everything that I've been through either... it scares me. We have gone through too much to go back to old patterns... in my doctor's and my opinion, this surgery has saved my life & I know that I can't afford to go back to life as it was before surgery. You are worth the effort!!!! Please reach out to anyone & everyone who can be of support to you. Go to support group meetings if you are able, and be sure to let your needs be known on any of the ObesityHelp boards... there is a wealth of knowledge & support here!!! We are all in this together & need to get this figured out... My thoughts and prayers are with you, Karen

We all go thru our good weeks and bad weeks. You'll be okay. Hope things go well with surgery.

Hi Renee'- I am going through the exact same thing as you are, I've also had that donut...or two. I am so glad you posted the question as I didn't have the nerve- feeling as if I am failing the plan...failing myself. Thank you,Thank you,Thank you. The reponse from Karen above seems to be right on. I have heard that if you are craving "something" and you don't know what it is, it's water. I have to be careful also of caffeine in my coffee. I love my coffee and de-caf just isn't as good. Well, I have to stop rambling. We both needed a kick of reality and the reality is that we have lost 60+ lbs in 4 months and that is awesome!! We do not want to undo what we've worked so hard to acheive. Love, ~Robin 285/226/150

Hey Renee, I think it would be close to impossible to find anyone who hasn't been good 100% of the time. Don't beat yourself up over it, just make the decision to get getback on track. Remember many of us had poor habits for years, we can't always correct them right away. Good luck, Lisa

Thank you all very much for your words of encouragement and support. I really appreciate Karen's words of wisdom on protien and water. I had been eating alot of cottage cheese and low fat mozzerella sticks and then I had to cut out all dairy due to high calcium levels. Once my surgery is over I can go back to those two things that really help my protien intake. I'm so glad to be able to talk with others that are in the same time frame as I am. Thanks again!! Renee' in WI

Renee, You're not alone! Although I haven't eaten one yet, I have been having soooo many thought recently about donuts! And bread, and sweets. The only thing that I have done that has helped some is to allow myself a couple pieces of Russell Stover sugar free candies. You can get them at any Target or Wal Mart. I find that they help give me the sweet without the sugar. I agree with a previous post about the protein. Can you drink protein drinks? I have a double scoop in the morning for my breakfast- it gives me 46 g of protein. Of course it takes me until noon to finish, but it's a start on my water (I put it in a 24 oz. to go cup with lots of ice since I commute to work!). Nectar by Syntax is about the only protein drink I'll take. Plus, I'll have a 4-5 oz. serving before going to bed which gives me another 23 g. Keep your head up- you have so much to be proud of. You can't change any decisions you've made, but you can choose what you do today. Take it one day, one hour at a time. Hang in there- we didn't get here overnight- it'll take a long time to retrain our brains!! God Bless, Kerri

HI, Rene. No, I have not had a donut but I have had ice cream and boy was that an eye opening experience!!! I do not think there is anything wrong with you I just think that there are things that are going on in your life that are stressful and you are really not able to turn to your old friend food. sometimes being a bariatric patient is stressful and at times hard to deal with and that can make you stress. I too have problems with my protein and water and i am a bariatric nurse! So, just know that you are not alone and that we are all struggling with something. take care stacey

OK Renee - you are not bad- just fallen off the wagon like me this weekend... It's our Thanksgiving (in Canada today) and I have all these carb friendly leftovers in my house. My husband cannot eat them fast enough. Just don't do what I just did and volunteer to cook thanksgiving dinner for a group of 12! Even with everyone taking something home, we have lots of homemade stuffing (which I love) and mashed pototes to go with the turkey... Help!!!! Learn from me, go to someone else's house for Thanksgiving in November! Silly. 418-311-onederland.

No mental spankings from here. I've had the occasional donut, and I think it helps me feel more "normal". Honestly, one donut is not a horrible thing. Especially when you think about how many you would have had a few months ago, or how much more often you would have had them then. This is supposed to be a lifestyle change, not another reason to psychologically abuse ourselves. Keep on with the water and protein. I struggle with that every day, too. And yet, I'm still losing! The donut isn't all that I've tried, and no dumping issues, either. Just like before the surgery, I think that if you fight too hard against a craving, you just make it stronger. My plan is to indulge it, and I find that I seldom eat more than a bite of what I was craving. Keep up the good work! Kristie