food struggles

Hello everyone, It's time to be honest and truthful. I am struggling with carbs! I am seeing old habits coming back and it is scaring me to death. I do great in a structured environment, like being at school all day, but as soon as I come home I want to pick. I'm not dealing well with down time. I have come so far and feel so fantastic compared to life a year ago. I was in such a depressing and desperate place last year. I had given up hope of being able to live a normal life. You would think just that alone would keep me on the straight and narrow. I know all the techniques I should be using but am battling with my inner self somewhere. I have always had trouble this time of year with the season change and being indoors. I go into hybernation mode and want to be in my fuzzy warm blanket. Help I need words of wisdom! Carolyn -135 pounds

Carolyn- You have done so well! 135lbs is amazing!! Don't be too hard on yourself. Just have a plan for things you are going to eat when you come home so you don't pick. I never thought carbs would be a downfall for me...I can't even have just a little..it makes me crave more. I stick to a slice of rye toast for a sandwich now and then...but if I do anythink pickable like crackers or pretzels..I get uncontrolable! You have done a great job...just the fact that you asked for help here...makes me know that you won't let it get out of hand. Good Luck!! Joanie

Thanks Joanie, I've always tried to keep my posts uplifting and positive, so it was a bit difficult to write about this. I know I can turn this behavior around. I needed to say it outloud to really face it head on. I also wanted to hear from others so that I knew I wasn't alone. Thanks for your support Carolyn

Hi Carolyn, Carbs are an issue for me too, if I allow them to be. I know you have older kids in your home so it might not be so easy, but I really limit the amount of 'bad' carbs in our home, unless they're for a meal and we use them up completely. if they're not around, I wont eat them! If I want something sort of crunchy and dip-able, I'll get a handful (or 2, or 3) of shrimp and ****tail sauce (I make my own) and thats perfect...NO carbs, NO fat, high protein. Shrimp have been my saving grace. but you probably already knew that since I sing shrimp praises in a ton of posts. Hang in their Carolyn, you've done so well. We'll always have occasional food battles but it really sounds like you have what it takes to overcome them. Peace, -Deb

Coming tonight?? Peter

Wouldn't miss it for the world! You?

Carolyn It is so hard this time of year when the air is crisp outside and all the eatiing holidays are upon us. You find yourself sitting home all snuggled up with (insert your comfort food of choice here) which makes you feel so warm and fuzzy. I had those thoughts going through my mind just yesterday, sitting in the TV room with the woodstove burning in the next room and watching old movies with the kids. I couldn't help but think that there was something missing... dad burn it! it was FOOD! It is so programmed, I can't believe it. Food was such a big pastime in my life and it is awfully hard to break so many years of habit. So don't be so hard on yourself. You are human. You have come such a long way and have a lot to be proud of with your success. I just got some great words of advice from Christine who said that when she sees the numbers going up, she pulls herself right back to basics, which takes a lot of disipline, I am sure. But you have it, Carolyn. You have lost 135 pounds! That is so awesome!!! It is okay to fall of track once in a while, and guess what? You came here and posted a difficult post which is a great step in the right direction and you have support group meetings to help as well. I like the shrimp ****tail snack alternative that was suggested, that seems very satisfying. Have a cup of sf hot chocolate, water or something to drink when you get those feelings. I remember in a support group meeting, where Amy said a lot of times when we think we are hungry we are really thirsty. Then if you are still hungry, keep safe snacks available. Routines are the best. I have had my best success when I stuck to eating 3 meals around the same time every day and held off on my snack till nighttime when I watched TV. Play a game with yourself by making yourself wait until 8:30pm or 9pm to have your snack, and that way you are not going off your plan and having something good to eat during those tough times. By the time you are done with your snack it will be time for bed. And... .don't forget exercise! Carolyn, I do enjoy your encouraging posts, and I am not happy that you are having a problem, but I am glad that you are posting about times of struggle. I am a new post op and want to be prepared for what is ahead of me. So sharing the not so good times is very helpful for all of us. I hope that you get some suggestions and support here to help you get back on track. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! ((((HUGS)))) Terri

Carolyn -- I'm right there with you!! I've lost close to 100 lbs. so far, but my weight loss has slowed to a crawl ... a really slooooooow crawl ... and I know it's because I've let carbs and sugars back into my life. I was really starting to feel panicked! I have read that this is pretty common, because our bodies are adjusted to the stomach we have & can tolerate so much more, and we're able to fit more in than we could in the beginning. That means this is the time we REALLY have to battle with those food issues we've had that brought us to the point of weight loss surgery. It was easy not to eat a lot of foods when you were pretty well certain you would at best feel lousy, at worst get sick if you ate them. That's not so much the case now. Believe me you're not alone. What I started doing recently is using the FitDay program. It was a real eye-opener for me, as far as what I was allowing myself to eat. Now I enter the foods I eat & I have a good idea of how I'm doing carb/protein/fat-wise. I've only been doing it a little over a week so I can't speak for any long-term success, but it put me back on the right path. You can enter in exact measurements for exact foods you eat -- that's the part that made it work for me. It might be worth a try. We also need to remember that we are, above all things, very human. This means we will not be perfect. I guess we need to accept that & just do our best. That means there will be days when we eat things that might not serve us well and we need to forgive ourselves (I'm telling this to myself as well as to you). I'm going to try taking some artsy craftsy courses to learn something to keep my hands busy so I'm not thinking about/eating food & not sitting in front of the TV with my blankey over me ... which is what I'm doing now!! Good luck! Kathy F.

Carolyn, I admit I am in the same boat and not as far out as you are so I need to get the whip out. I got too lax with keeping a journal and counting carbs and all. But I had just said to my sister last night... I need to buckle down and start writing everything down. My biggest issue is I hang out with a bunch of people that always have great food and junk among us. Since I'm the only one eating healthy it's hard to say Umm..can you NOT have all this crap around?...lol But I've been tempted. At home I have taken the steps to tell my mom to hide the junk or at least take them out of the main cupboard. Especially the little Debbies she buys for grandkids. Not that I would eat them but just to stair at them when I go in the cupboard for my Decaf tea and Atkins Cereal is pure torture. I know what got me to this point in the first place but I sometimes depression sets in and thats when I want to pick pick pick. Thanks for posting this today. I know I'm not alone and it feels good to let it all out. Take care all and hope to see you tonight. ~Julie~

Thank you all so much for your support and great suggestions. I need to get myself to a support group also. I know it would help tremendously. Carolyn