Just This Once Won't Hurt...

I just read this on another site...it's very powerful and I happen to agree with the author. Call it "black and white" thinking...but I have lived as a Compulsive Overeater long enough to know that it's a fact. Sugar/Carbs were my drug of choice...and "one is too many; two is never enough". I could never eat them in moderation...why would today be any different??? The Carb Monster shows no mercy; not today, and not tomorrow, or next year. ---------------------------------------- Copied From Bariatric Support Center International: “Just This Once Won’t Hurt . . .” by Ken Miller I’ve had the opportunity to closely watch the weight-loss journeys of hundreds of WLS patients during the last two or three years as I’ve studied those who are very successful and those who struggle. Almost everyone has plateaus along the way. Some lose weight rapidly and consistently; they reach their goal weight quickly and are able to easily maintain their weight when they get there. Meanwhile others lose weight much more slowly and some never reach their goal weight. Most of those who lose slowly, with extended plateaus along the way, usually struggle much harder to maintain their weight once they reach their goal than those who lost weight quickly and consistently. The number one factor that affects a WLS patient’s rate of weight-loss and the ease with which they are able to maintain their weight after they reach their goal is the intake of refined carbohydrates. When they start their journey everyone wants to know . . . “How fast will I lose weight?” “Do you think I can actually lose all this weight?” “Do you think I can do it in a year?” Those are difficult questions to answer because we can’t predict, just by looking at them, which people will lose quickly and which ones will lose slowly. The number one factor that affects a WLS patient’s rate of weight-loss and the ease with which they are able to maintain their weight after they reach their goal is the intake of refined carbohydrates. Of course there are rare exceptions, but my observations clearly show these two facts: Those WLS patients who say to themselves, “Just this once won’t hurt anything . . . I’ll go back to no carbs tomorrow,” and eat refined carbohydrates struggle to reach their goal weight and then, if they do reach their goal, they have a much harder time maintaining their weight than those patients who don’t. Those WLS patients who eat only complex carbohydrates and who do not eat any refined carbohydrates lose weight rapidly and consistently and they have a much easier time maintaining their weight during the following years. So, here’s my advice to those who might be interested; Don’t make the mistake of saying to yourself, “Just this once won’t hurt anything.” It will. The consequences of that decision won’t be immediately evident to you; it will take time before they show up. But, they WILL show up, and by the time they do, it will be too late to go back and “fix it.” Don’t cheat yourself out of the final success that you can achieve and maintain for the rest of your life, by trading it for “Just this once . . .” The Carb Monster shows no mercy; not today, and not tomorrow, or next year. I know that’s very black and white advice. It’s not sugar coated; it doesn’t taste good, or feel good, and it might create fear in some WLS patients who have already cheated themselves. I hope so. The good news is that the sooner you banish the Carb Monster from your life, the easier the rest of the journey will be for you. I also hope it will scare every new patient enough that they’ll use those initial few months following surgery to banish the Carb Monster forever. There will never be an easier time to do it. It only gets harder later. I expect there will be those who want to express their opinion on this subject . . . both those who believe they are exceptions to what I’ve said, and those who are willing to take a couple of minutes out of their lives to warn other WLS patients about what happened to them when they said, “Just this once won’t hurt . . .” Ken Miller, President ([email protected]) Bariatric Support Centers International

I bought a box of whole wheat pasta, as suggested by my nutritionist.  I cannot eat it.  I know I will be haunted by the carb monster!   I believe in my head and heart that since that was my drug of choice, the 1/4 to 1/2 cup might not be enough.  I know I'm in a different place than I was 2 months ago, but it's still so fresh!  For me, there will be no pasta. Oddly, today I'm going to my dad's for a father's day cook out.  I'm making my gram's famous ring macaroni salad!

Hi Cheri, I agree about the pasta. Nine months out...I have never made pasta! I did have a Lean Cuisine Manicotti a few times but not in recent months. I decided to avoid carbs as much as possible because it will affect my waistline...and my thinking. I swear I'm an addict and when I have even a small amount...I want it all the time! Good luck with the macaroni salad! Hugs, Karen

Exactly!!!!! 

Ya know, the smell of the pasta might make me sick!  That'll cure me!  hehe

Um, whats an example of refined carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates? Pasta is refined, Im assuming, but what is considered a complex carbohydrate?

Alexx, complex carbs are from fruits and veggies and more importantly, whole grains.    

....is it too much to hope that theres such a thing as whole grain pasta? =P Now I'm wondering what pizza would be considered..

Yes, there is whole grain pasta....you just have to look for it.  I've have whole grain pasta with flax in it. Pizza is definitely a simple carb.  Probably made with white flour. If you consider yourself a carb addict, I would stay away from even the whole grain varieties.

see my post above on this! :-)

So, here’s my advice to those who might be interested; Don’t make the mistake of saying to yourself, “Just this once won’t hurt anything.” It will. The consequences of that decision won’t be immediately evident to you; it will take time before they show up. But, they WILL show up, and by the time they do, it will be too late to go back and “fix it.” Don’t cheat yourself out of the final success that you can achieve and maintain for the rest of your life, by trading it for “Just this once . . .” The Carb Monster shows no mercy; not today, and not tomorrow, or next year.. This is a great atricle ... thanks for sharing it!  Hugs, Britt