Having a hard time

I'm having a hard time following the program. I'm embarrassed to have to admit that I can't get myself under control. I start the day(s) out with good intensions, but as the day turn's into afternoon, then into evening I lose all control of myself and start to eat, and eat, and eat some more! I know the simple solution is to stop eating, it's so much easier said than done though. I know I need to get back to the basics, and like I said I start out doing that and then........ Any tricks or solutions to help get me back on the wagon and keep me there? I hate food or should I say I hate the control it has over me still. Thanks for your help. God bless, Annette

Oh Annette, my heart breaks for you as I know what you are talkng about. Do you by chance attend WLS support groups? If not perhaps that would help. As my nurse says.. "We only operate on the intestinal part. Too bad we can't do brain surgery too!" Of course she is half kidding because though we have been given this tool of WLS we still need to fix our heads and address the issues that got us to the obesity in the 1st place. I hate these words but it's true. Behavior modification is so necessary. GRRRRR So in the short term what helps? Well as you know getting back to basics with the eating but perhaps even more important is physical activity. What about getting up and talking a quick walk around your block? Nothing drastic like 30 minutes or more, just once. Then maybe you will feel like doing it twice.. Anything to get your metabolism moving. Or on those cold snowy days what about 2 or 3 trips up & down the stairs? Also increase your liquids. Drink a bottle of water while you wak.. I know in these cold times it isn't as easy to drink cold water so what about some sugar free hot cider? Or tea flavored with a splash of one of the Davinchi syrups. The Kahlua (sp) is yummy.. Hang in there and know we are all here rooting for your success. Happy Thanksgiving

Hi Patt, Thank you. I do go to support group meetings and lead one as well. Although we stopped meeting for the summer. We did start up again, had one meeting then I got sick and ended up in the hospital twice, the second time I had major abdominal surgery. I'm feeling better now and plan on starting them up again. I'm sure exercise will help. I'm to the point where I am starting to walk again, That's all I can do for now. It's kind of disappointing because I was so good about getting my exercise in. Water that's good I'm not getting enough in. I'm grabbing a glass of it right now. Thank you for your suggestions and help. I will use them. God bless you, Annette

Annette, I know exactly what you are going through. I have been doing that for about 2 mos. Couldn't figure out why I wasn't losing. This last week I decided to snack on better foods. Cottage cheese, beef jerky and some nuts. I have lost 3.5 lbs. in the last week. The only thing I can suggese is keep only good snacks in the house. It's hard for me as my husband has a hard time keeping weight on. He eats all day long. As he is retired he does this in front of me. Good luck! Nancy

Hi Nancy, Thank you for the advice. I try to keep just healthy stuff around, but that doesn't always work. One of my sons moved back home and that's all he seems to live on, pizza, pop, chips etc. I think I'll have to talk with him and ask him to eat it somewhere else or at the very least not to have it around me. It must be horrible for you to be around the junk all of the time. I hope it gets better for you. Take care. God bless you, Annette

((((((HUGS)))))) Oh Annette, we mirror each other on this particular issue. I have completely fallen off the wagon and just can't seem to get my mind around eating right. And the more I don't eat right, the more I hate what I'm doing, and then guess what?....I go off to eat something bad out of feeling sorry for myself!!! It's a vicious cycle and I hate it! I know we can beat this though....we've done it before. But it sure was alot easier when we simply COULD NOT eat the bad things and were also in the frame of mind to behave. I think depression has a hand in it for me, and as I get disappointed in myself, guess what I turn to???---FOOD. It's just many, many years of bad habits that we are trying to break, and it doesn't happen overnight...or even in three years, I'm finding out. We just aren't made of steel. I wish I were. I wish I were a stronger person in this aspect of my life, but I never have been, thus the years of obesity and eventually surgery. After all that said, I DO believe there's hope for us! I DO believe we can fight this, and I have to realize it will be a fight! It's not just something given to us that is foolproof. We have to work at it just like any other diet we were ever on. The only thing is, we have a head start!!! We lost over one hundred pounds so we're not looking at that daunting amount of weight to lose. Now it's only 10 or 20 or 30 lbs...whatever the case may be. THAT is a blessing! Now with this Holiday season coming up and me not dumping on anything these days, I just have to stay away from it!!! I can't do "just one bite". It's none or all usually with me. Pathetic, I know. But as I said, it's the old demons! So....hang in there and KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! I am a group leader and you would think I could be a better example, but I'll admit it...I am weak. But I am a good lesson for my group on the traps that you may fall into and to watch out for! All kidding aside, we support each other and they help me very much! We can help each other, especially knowing what our demons are. It's an every day struggle, but we can do it!!! Love ya, Theresa P.S. If ya ever want to talk, just let me know!

Thank you Theresa. You are always such a big help to me. You have always been here for me right from the beginning. You have encouraged me to fight~ To Fight for what is right, to fight for what I want and need. I'll be darned if that isn't the key. We have to fight off these demons everyday, all day long if we are to win this battle. It gets so hard. I guess that's what makes it all the more worthwhile. It used to be so easy. I didn't want to eat. I was never hungry. I would be stuffed after just a bite or two. Now I can eat~I mean really eat. It scares me. I need to realize that just because I can eat doesn't mean I have to eat. I am obsessed with food to the point that I hide cans of it in my room. What in the world makes someone do things like that? Maybe I need to see a shrink. I'm sorry others have to go through this kind of stuff, but I'm glad I'm not alone in this venture either. Like you said at least we don't have hundreds of pounds to lose anymore. You are right we do have that in our favor. I'm just so afraid I will gain it all back if I don't start fighting now. I need to find my pre-op and early post-op attitude. Thank you I know we can do this, if we give and get help and support from our friends. Thank you for being my friend Theresa. I love you. God bless you, Annette

Hi Annette I am so glad you had the strength to admit this, but KNOCK IT OFF! Remember how bad you wanted surgery ? Remember how you felt? Remember how hard it was to lose it all? I am not trying to be mean, i promise. I am only saying this to make you remember how miserable you was. I work in fast food, it's so hard to not eat the bad stuff, but i remember what i went through. No excuses! You are accountable for what goes in your mouth, not your son or anyone else. Get out and walk, eat protein, drink water! I know you are strong enough to do it, just commit and be determined. Come walk with me on sundays, I am always here for you. Hugs Linda

Hi Linda, Thank you. This has been a fight and a struggle right from the beginning, and you are one of the people that have been right there with me from the beginning. It has been so worth while. I was very miserable and wanted this surgery so bad. I had it and losing was so easy for me. I followed the rules of the pouch and did well, I didn't want(nor could I) eat anything but a very limited diet. I lost 214 pounds in just over a year. I don't understand why suddenly it's so hard to follow the rules. I don't want to gain weight back, but I know I will if I don't follow the program. That's why I came here. Because you all are always such a big help. I know you are not trying to be mean just trying to help~trust me you are helping: ) It may sound like I was trying to blame my son, but that's not how I meant for it to sound. I am responsible for what I eat no one else. It just makes it harder when there is garbage around is the point I was trying to make. I know my pouch still works, I just have to work it. Where do you walk at? I went and walked with Kp's group one Saturday. I enjoyed meeting all of them and walking with them, but it's just so far away (an hour and 40 minutes). So I haven't been back. I'll talk to you later. God bless you Linda, Annette

Hi Annette-i have battled (and will continue to battle this too) I seem to go in cycles.....one thing that helps me is when i feel i am having trouble staying on focus (good choices etc)...i go back to basics...i make sure that i do a protein drink (i use unjury) every morning right when i get up--before i let other carbs into the equation......this makes a huge difference for me.........within three days, i will start losing again...or at least balancing!---it is a life time battle....not the gut--but the head! hug.... rae