Is anyone else going through this?

Ok, I have been beating myself up all week and now I just have to share. My hubby and I have been eating out like 2-3 times a week. I know I am not eating that much and I always try to order the right thing--and I make my 1000 cals a day limit--and I haven't gained any weight back--I just feel like I am cheating myself. I also feel like if I make this habbit of eating out then it easy to slip back into my old habits. Plus sweets are not a problem for me and I am starting to crave them. It worries me. Also, now that I am down 68.5 pounds I am terrified of weight regain. Sometimes I just don't want to eat and other times I am ravenously hungry and do eat. Is anyone else scared of regain this soon after surgery?? Going through something similar? Thanks for letting me vent -Katie

Hi Katie, I am going through the same thing. For me, it isn't eating out, but I AM going over 1000 every day now. I think the protein bars are a bit of a problem for me, and I am definitely craving sweets, though I'm mostly using the bars for that. But they are high cal and addictive, even if they are high protein. I worry about regain or my weight loss stopping at this point. I have to watch the worrying though, because, for me, when I get discouraged, my behaviors tend to get worse instead of better. I just keep track pretty religiously on fitday and hope that things stay on a fairly even keel. If I can maintain this intake instead of increasing it, then I'll be fine. So will you. It's just frightening to think my appetite may go up. This week I've been very hungry. Almost every couple of hours. I have to make good choices. The exercise seems to be making me hungrier, if that's possible. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I understand how you feel. ~Sue

Yes, sounds like me, too. I am surprised at how hungry I do feel sometimes, especially at work!! Home is not that much of a problem. Sweets are not a problem either and sometimes set better than other stuff!! The cake we had at work yesterday went down great while the chicken didn't. So what can we do? My friend who had this surgery 7/03 and has lost all her extra weight and is maintaining well says she beliveves the secret is not to obsess with it. Not to become so wrapped in fear of gaining that we lose the big picture--so to speak. We will continue to lose as long as we work the tool MOST OF THE TIME. Don't go to pieces over and opps now and then---just go back to doing the right thing next time. I am like Sue, my behavior gets worse when I get discourged. So I am trying to stay positive no matter what!! This is not just the latest in a long line of failed diets. This is it, this is the rest of my life and I am going to make it a good one. So I think you will do well too, Katie. You see the problem and are aware of it but I believe you can handle it!! Vent all you want when you need to---that is what this board is for. But just keep that big picture in view And stay positive!! Sorry I got so wordy for some reason but I really have faith in us and this surgery--we are a team effort and we will do this!! Like my friend Tracey says, if she can anyone can. And she works nights which is a handicap in any weight loss effort. So hang in there and take care of those kids and animals!! We have had birthday parties at our NICU like the one you did for your boys and they are great and always make everyone feel so good about our baibies and their outcomes. And my twin grandsons who are home now will have the same party one day!! My best to you---------Sharon

Katie girl Im right there with you. I am going through the same thing. I have been since christmas. Not only am I scared of regain but not losing anymore. I have decided to stop my protein shakes for a while it was adding alot of extra calories. I increased my water because that was not good enough. and just today I lost two lbs. I have only been losing 1 lb a week since xmas. It is very hard to change our lifestyle. But together we can all do this. You have came so far you can do it. ((((Hugs)))) Tina

Thanks so much for your support gang. It felt so nice to hear that we are having similar thoughts. I truly appreciate the encouragment. Hugs! Katie

So Im sitting here at work lurking and pretending to work bored outa my mind and I think I'm hungry or have to eat something - though Im drinking my water..so I pull out my little cup-a-soup envelope and heat up some water and have something. If Im busy I'm not even thinking about food - and sweets - that's a hard one when people are eating around you but I just walk away though I allow myself one hersey nugget on Wednesdays. Regaining weight is a constant mental challenge we all have. I've heard from post-ops 1, 2 & 3 years out that have & not have regained the weight. Yet there is one guy 18 years post-op that is a success - or so he seems. This is a constant battle we all face - we have to continue to challenge ourselves beyond those cravings and struggles and vent or reach out to others to help us pull through.

Hey, Yes, I am going through the same thing and that is exactly why I logged on today to see if this is normal. Your post was the second one I read and it made me feel so much better knowing I am not the only one fearing this. I have lost 63 pounds since 9/7/04 and have felt great but over the last 3 weeks I have plateaued. I am able to eat more and sweets don't bother me either. It was like Valentine's Day made me crazy with all the candy. My husband and I eat out for lunch almost every day. I usually could only eat a half of a half of sandwich and now I want to start on the other half. I do make my self stop after the one half though. My hungry has increased too and I think about food more. I am scared to death I am going to revert back to my old habits and gain the weight back and be right back where I started. I just wanted to let you know I feel the same way. We will just have to hang in there. Darrue

Darrue, I see you are from Prattville. My husband and I are both originally from Birmingham. He's in the Air Force, so we move around now. I hope home is warm b/c it's not here in Missouri. Roll Tide! -Katie

Katie - You vent all you want girl! That's what we're here for! My weight loss has been pretty steady so I haven't started thinking about weight gain yet but I am feeling a little panicky about getting my appetite back. And I don't mean head hunger, I mean real tummy hunger. Because now sometimes I feel like I "need" to eat but then I realize that I'm not even hungry and I am usually able to control it, usually some kind of emotional upset triggers this. But what will happen when my hunger comes back, how will I control it then? So I definitely know how you are feeling. When I mess up and make a not so great food choice I am usually able to tell myself that tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to succeed. For some reason I have become more forgiving to myself since my surgery which I'm glad about. Good luck and keep up the good work! Hugs, Sandy

I am sooo glad you posted this thread, Katie! I share many of the worries and issues you and others here have posted about. I am relieved that I am not alone and that this is part of the journey! This does feel like one of those crucial times that leads long term success. Learning to assess, curb, adjust, and make changes. I had a day recently when I ate 1600 cals! OMG! How did that happen? 1600!!?? It's embarrassing to admit. I snacked most of the day. Little portions, decent choices - just a lot of them. (I usually take in about 800-1000 cals a day.) I have been panicked since. I do not want to mess this up. So I am resolved to make some changes... I am trying to back off the protein bars, too. I find that I like them so much that I want a taste or three of them even when I am not hungry. They really don't provide enough value for the cals. Nuts are evil. I love them, but they are sooo high in cals and fat. They were (oddly) one of the first high (?) protein foods to go down well. Now that I can eat most foods, the ratio of cal to protein in nuts seems pathetic. My mouth/mind really likes 'em, tho. Since I use Nectar for my protein shakes I don't mind including them still I encourage those with high cal protein drinks to order samples - 90 cals, 23 g protein, no carbs, no fat. I like the roadside lemonade. A few months ago I read here on the September boards a reminder that lack of exercise and food cravings are often linked. This is true for me. My activity levels have decreased over the last two weeks. I think I'm more vulnerable to cravings and head hunger when I have not been in motion. Perhaps some of you see a similar correlation. Since surgery, sugar and starchy foods have held NO appeal. Starchy foods tasted like flour in my mouth. Sugar had no draw. But this last week, something started to change. Starches are not so unpalatable. Crunchy starchy foods are actually tasty. Sugar is not yet yummy or desirable, but I'm starting to think it might not remain like that. For me it's time to dig my heels in and start dealing with my issues with these foods. I suspect there might be a battle, but I think with the grace of God and the surgery I'll get thru the other side of it. I think we all will! Remember that this is why we had the surgery... to have a tool to help us get thru the times when normal diets would fail us. Here we are panicked over 1100, 1300 and 1600 calorie days! In the past it would have been 2000, 3000 and 4000+ calorie days that would have thrown us into the downward spiral of another failed diet. I'm so glad we do not have to learn this alone. We'll get thru and overcome! Thanks so much for posting this! Thank you all for being open and honest! It really helps! I feel better knowing it's normal! Hugs, Nancy Open RNY - Medial 09/16/04 276/174/150 (or 135?) -102 total, -81 since surgery (Today my BMI is 29.9 - I am just overweight! I am no longer obese!)