wondering

Why would someone who went through the surgery, sabotage themselves by eating large amount of foods that pack on pounds, like lots of carbs and peanut butter, nearly forcing themselves to eat too much, as if to stretch the pouch to hold more and more? What do you say to someone who does this day after day? How can you help someone like that? What do you say? Nona

Nona, We have all had problems with food issues and we all have our own food demons. We just have to remember how much we wanted this to work before we had the surgery. How hard it was to get it, all the testing and months of waiting then waiting for approval. We all thought before surgery that this was going to finally be the end all of dieting and gaining weight. Just try to remember how badly you wanted this surgery, how determined you were to make it work for yourself. Don't beat yourself up for what you have done in the past, just start over today! Just as if it were the first day after surgery. Re-read all of your literature that you brought home from your doctor on what to and what not to do and commit yourself again to doing what you know is right. Food is very tempting to us, maybe more so than the rest of the general public. You just need to refocus on your goals. Why you had this surgery. What weight you want to be at and set dates of when you want to be there. If you have not already, go to www.fitday.com and log in everything you eat. You can also set a goal for a weight you want to be and a date you want to get to that weight and fitday will calculate everything for you and let you know exactly how many pounds per week you have to lose. Log in your weight every day there, whether it goes up or down. This really helps you see what works for you and what doesn't. Remember your main rules... if you feel you are eating too much...do not drink at least 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after meals. You will get fuller faster on just the food without liquid and it will stick with you longer not allowing you to get hungry as fast again. If you want snacks, allow yourself good ones like SF popsicles, you can feel like you had something but not hurt yourself in doing so. Beef jerky is a good snack as it is so full of protein. If you have to have crunchy as we all do some days, pork rinds are a good alternative to other crunchy snacks and they also contain protein being that they are an animal product. Allow yourself 3 meals and two snacks. Keep in mind that you have come so far!!! You CAN do this and make it to your goal weight! Really you can! It's up to you to do this for yourself. The doctor only performed surgery on your tummy, you have to do all the hard work, as we all do! We all knew what we got into prior to our surgeries, we all committed ourselves to making this work for us, we all knew that we COULD sabotage it and we all try daily to make sure we don't do that to ourselves. It is a daily struggle for all of us. Just know that you have the power to make this work for you! You and only you! You can do it!!! Keep up the great work! Today is a new day, DO OVER!!! Tracy

From what I read all the time, part of the problem might be that carbs make you crave more carbs. I know it's hard, but try one day at a time. Try to make it for ONE day with high protein and complex carbs. Then try to add the next day. Hopefully after a few days, your craving for the carbs will lessen and it will be easier. I am scared. Terrified even! I have lost less weight then anyone on this forum and I have so much more to lose yet. So far, I want to lose so badly, that I am very very strict with myself, but I always worry about what will happen if I just stop losing weight all together.

It may be a sign of other things going on in that person's life. We all use to use food as a crutch. Talk to him/her and see if there's some new stress or events that would cause this binge eating. Encourage medical or psychological therapy if need be. Don't be critical or condescending -- but try to find the REAL problem. luvitsunnyv

Ruthana, I love your new picture!! Wow... at goal already.... that must feel wonderful! You've worked really hard-- congratulations! ~Rachel