have the munchies

ok just curious to see if this has happened to anyone. I have noticed that I am in a cycle of wanting to eat, I went through this about 4 mo out it lasted 2 weeks then I was fine again, did care if I ate or not. Well for about the last week I have the urge to snack. I joined Fit Day today and I have already eaten 800 calories not including my dinner. So I think I need to rethink how I am eating, no more SF anything, the calories still add up! I really want to lose the last 45 and wt loss has been sssllllooowww, but then again my time of the month is coming up and I seem to lose 5 lbs at that time. But I need to step up my game, the honeymoon is over and I am going to really have to work at this. Sorry to vent but just writing what I feel. Well back to the question does anyone have cycles of wanting to eat more then less?? Thanks for the input...Erin

Erin, I'm so glad you posted about this. It happens to me too! I have to work at trying to recognize what is genuine hunger and head hunger and whether or not what I want to eat is motivated by boredom or whatever. We are in the real hard work zone here, I think. I've been using sparkpeople.com and it works just like fitday and is great for helping me keep track of calories. So I know that if I am having a munchie day I have to have foods on hand that I can either count as 'free' or not very expensive in the way of calories. Such as chopped (very well seeded!) marinated cucumbers, sliced strawberries, diced watermelon, diced jicama or a pre-measured baggie of soy crisps. I allot myself a certain amount...say 1 cup of strawberries and then eat it for however long I want until it is gone. To me, I think of it as planned grazing because I am very afraid of allowing real, unchecked grazing back into my life. That is just a direct way to regain, I think. It seems to not run in a true cycle but happens a few times a week. And it does definitely have a tie in with hormones for me. Weird... Molly

Thanks for the reply Molly. I am still very proud you are almost at goal. I think what I am going to do is start bringing my lunch in a seperated container. Much easier to control my portions. I like your snack ideas, need to try the soy crisps!!! Thanks again for the wonderful feedback!!

Hi Erin, I"ve started wanting more food more often. Is the honeymoon over this early ? I hope not I've got about 45ibs more to lose. My weight has slowed down too. My 6months will be up in a few days I really want to reach 80lbs by then. We can do this just keep our protein going and our water flowing.lol Betty

Hi Betty, thanks for the reply. I think the honeymoom phase is over for me. I am not losing 3-4 lbs a week and havent for about 2 months. So the wt is not falling off anymore. It is much slower, I too have about 32 lbs to my doctors goal and 47 to my personal goal of 145, I'm 5' 7" an 1/2. I agree with you on the protien and water!!! Erin

I used to not want to eat, so three meals a day was fine, and I could fit in most everything, but not always my veggies/fruit. I've noticed the week before my cycle, I do want to eat more often. So, I rearrange my schedule, and bust up my 3 meals a day down to 5, and that seems to help with that. I stay within my protein goal, and keep the pouch full and busy, so it doesn't bug me. I'm going to have to ask my PA about calories on Friday, for my 6 month, because we were never given a daily calorie limit, just our protein and measured portions (and our list of approved foods, and stay away from foods). But I've noticed that my calories tend to stay from 650-900 calories a day.

Heather, please do let us know what the PA says about calories. I brought a week's worth of my sparkpeople daily food log printouts and they ranged from 450 to 850 and my surgeon was pleased with that. (except the 450 day, that was too low he said) He thought that my lightheadedness was probably too little calories an that I should aim for 7-800 and once I was done losing to go up to 1000 to maintain. I think I will book myself another appointment with the nut. when I get to goal just for a checkup of sorts. My insurance doesn't pay for her but she's such a wonderful person and has so many good ideas that I know it will be money well spent on my health. Molly

I will. I also go for my 6 month and beyond maintenance class on the 20th of this month with Memorial Hospital's Health Education Center.. so I'm sure the RD there will have plenty to say too! =)

Hi, Erin! I'm still finding the way our weight loss interacts with our time of the month just a little weird and more than a little annoying!! I know that in a couple of days I'll have dropped about 3 or 4 pounds and fit into my clothes even better. Very strange. I'm completely with you on the munching-thing, and it's all with food that is HORRIBLE for us! Ice cream, nacho cheese, Doritos, pudding, chocolate, candy, things that we should be eating sparingly if not avoiding!!! Luckily, with the type of surgery I had there's no such thing as "dumping", but I definitely pay for it at the gym. I think the important thing is to remain diligent. Honestly, what else can we do? We've been given an amazing tool... and sometimes tools get rusty. All you can do is clean it off, and use it the way it was intended for as long as possible. Keep up the great work! - Krystal 388/342/259/200

Thanks for the reply Krystal, we definitly have to stay diligent. I really have watched my calories over the last couple of days and lost 2 lbs!!! Take care, Erin