I could kick myself

Hi all, I'm feeling really guilty right now.  I ate salad for the first time, tonight and I feel like I over did it.  I had it in a small container..( size of a burger box from McDs).  I ate the whole thing over an hour and 20mins. or so.  I never felt full because I was eating so slow.  When I finished I felt like I had over done it by a few bites.  But then the guilt hit me like a ton of bricks.   It's been almost 10 weeks since my surgery and I can't believe I reverted back to mindless eating so easily.  I know I didn't finish off a pizza and it was mostly sliced turkey and lettuce, but I guess I'm feeling so bad because I feel like I ate too much and I hate the bad feelings that brought me.  So I'm beating myself up, but I know tomorrow is new day and I just need to pick up where I left off.  By, the way my hair is falling out like crazy!!!  I need to really concentrate on my protein.  I think I'm getting about 50-60 grams of protein daily. 
     Oh, our camping trip was awesome!!!  I lost two and a half pounds!  I have never lost weight on vacation. 

OK...first, deep cleansing breaths!! 

I'm 13 months out, and I still have moments of "OMG, what have I messed up!?".  Relax Think about this...a few weeks ago, you would not have stopped where you did!  You likely (if you were like me) overdone it not just on salad, but there would have been plenty of other things to go with that salad!

Analyze...set yourself some limits. 
-Never let a meal go longer than 30 minutes. 
-Take it easy on your pouch!  I couldn't have imagined eating salad so early out.  Convince yourself that your "tummy" isn't ready for it.  It helped me stay away from foods I may over-do for a long time. 
-Embrace the guilt.  A year ago, could you ever have guilted yourself over salad???  I couldn't have!  Be thankful that now you are "upset" with yourself over some salad!! 

Ok, so you overdid it by a "few bites"... You ate the salad the size of a small hamburger?  Give yourself some slack.  I'm 13 months out.  I sometimes feel sick because I over do it, or eat too fast.  We're human!  It took us a lifetime to make these habits.  Unfortunately, we're not going to solve them overnight.  (I still sometimes have to learn a lesson "the hard way".

Your hair's falling out...get that protein in!  Protein bullets...100 calories...24 grams or protein!  Can't go wrong!  Add a protein shake, whatever it takes!  When I was having protein issues, I started adding lattes (decaf) to my day.  8 grams of protein for a Panera latte!  Skim milk makes it about 100 calories (I splurge for the 2% 130 calorie version!).  There are all kinds of ways to add protein!

Keep that chin up!  Some surgeons say 50-60 grams of protein is enough...others go as high as 100.  I say, find what works for you!  Remember it will take about 3 months for your hair to come back.  Add Biotin to your vitamin regimin.  It helps with skin, hair and nails.

Breathe...

Hi  Maci

Salad is one of those foods that  can make us feel like we eat normal.  It  crunches up almost to water  and we can eat more of it.  Yes it might of seemed  like mindless eating but if it took you almost an hour  you were not rushising it.   I  think you did great!!!  

You will find   as you go on that salad is one food that you can eat more of and  makes you feel like you can eat  a little normal.  I love my salads.  but  try to consume the same  amount of meat and veggies and you  wont get  a cup down.

Have a  great day!!!

Relax a bit now Keela You are being to hard on yourself.. If it makes it easier for you make your pottions even smaller then you will not get that guilty feeling again.. My surgeon says 60 to 80 on the protein. They are all so different.

Hi Keela! Don't beat yourself up!  I agree with everyone else...today is a new day, a fresh start.  You are doing the right thing by measuring portions.  You are doing fine!  I hear ya about the hair!  Mine is slowing a bit....I can go 2-3 days without cleaning out my hair brush now!  WOOHOO!!  Just try to get your protein in....supplement if you need to!  BTW...how did your hair cut turn out?  Did you go short or not?  We gotta see pix!!  hehe....Keep your chin up!  You are doing great!!!!!!!!   hugs!  Ruth

Hi Keela,
Don't kick yourself...give yourself a pat on the back.  It could have been an actual McD's burger in there.  At 15 months out I still haven't done lettuce.  It scares me for some reason.  I miss salads but it's okay I miss other things too.
Take a breath, move on and remember the tool you have will work.
Congratulations on your vacation loss!!!!

Wow Keela.  You can eat raw vegetables?  I sure can't.  I'm just too impatient to do all that chewing. 

How much are you eating at a meal?  I really don't know the size of a McDonalds burger box.  I didn't even know they came in boxes?  The last time I was at a McDonalds I was married...yeah...I had to think way back on that one since I've now been single for 17 years.  Anyway it took you a little over 80 minutes to eat it.  That isn't so bad...is it?

I did notice you're getting more protein than I am.  I know I need more.  My biggest problem there is I'm so limited in what I can eat and drink that I'm having the same things over and over again.  That makes meal time boring and I'd just rather not eat anything at all.

I'm glad your camping trip went well.  That's cool you lost another 2 1/2 pounds.  I always loose weight on vacation.  I'm not a public eater.  I'm a private eater.  Whenever I eat out (a rare occasion but it does happen) or have someone over for dinner I hardly eat a thing.  But when I'm alone....oh boy.  It's eat, eat, eat.  Hopefully those days are over now???