**What did YOU eat today? - Monday**

Hi Susann, my name is Loretta Lawrence and am pre-op, I am waiting for my approval and will have my surgery done at Conway Hospital by Dr. Anderson. I have been reading the posts about "What Did You Eat Today" and am surprised about the carb cravings. I thought that once you have had the RNY surgery, the cravings for carbs and food go away and that you are not hungry as before??? Am I wrong about this? How is it possible to gain weight with such a small stomach pouch and the reconstruction of your intestines? Any input you might have would be appreciated. Loretta from South Carolina

Hey Loretta! Yes, the carb cravings are still there after the surgery. In the very begining you might not want them or much food at all. But, after a while those cravings come back. Even though the new pouch is small, you still crave a lot of things that you use to love before the surgery, you just have to learn how to handle it, and it can be a difficult thing after surgery. Unfortunetly the surgery is just a tool to help you lose the weight , and you will have lots of emotional things to deal with afterwards, that is why you will need a good support group and possibly counsiling to get you through those tough times. It's not easy, as you will find out, so don't go into it thinking these things will never happen to you after having the surgery. Having the surgery myself and being 5 months post-op, I can honestly say that I WOULD do it all over again in a skinny minute, lol. It is the best thing I have done for myself and I have no regrets at all. I wish you the best of luck in your journey, your on your way to better health. Mary

THE SURGERY JUST REROUTES YOUR GUTS, IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX OUR ATTITUDES & BRAINS ... SO WE ALL HAVE CARB CRAVINGS ... SOME ARE SEASONAL LIKE IN WINTER WHEN OUR BODIES SIGNAL US TO EAT CARBS TO LAYER ON FAT FOR THE COLD WINTER ... BUT, MOST CARB CRAVINGS ARE "HEAD HUNGER" TYPE OF A THING WHERE WE JUST "WANT" IT LIKE BEFORE SURGERY. IT'S A TOUGH MONKEY TO GET OFF YOUR BACK. WE HAVE TO EAT SOME CARBS SO TRY TO GO FOR THE ONES THAT ARE THE HIGH FIBER ITEMS LIKE HGHLY-COLORED VEGES STAYING AWAY FROM WHITE CARBS LIKE POTATOS, RICE, PASTA, BREADS BECAUSE THEY TURN STRAIGHT TO SUGAR IN YOUR BLOOD STREAM JUST LIKE IF YOU ATE PURE SUGAR. OF COURSE THIS THEN GIVES YOU THAT "DIABETIC" SPIKE/SLAM DOWN" MOVEMENT OF YOUR SUGAR THAT MAKES YOU TIRED, CRANKY & WANTING MORE FOOD/CARBS. SORRY, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR OWN ATTITUDE CHANGES TO STAY AWAY FROM THESE FOODS. ONE THING TO REMEMBER ... IF YOU EAT CARBS, THAT PRODUCES A CHEMICAL IN YOUR BODY THAT SIGNALS YOUR BODY TO STORE FAT (GAIN WEIGHT) ... IF YOU EAT PROTEIN, THAT PRODUCES A DIFFERENT CHEMICAL IN YOUR BODY THAT SIGNALS YOUR BODY TO USE CALORIES FOR ENERGY (LOSE WEIGHT) ... WITH OR WITHOUT SURGERY, WHITE CARBS & SUGAR PRODUCTS SET YOU UP FOR FAILURE ... THE HARD PART IS MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS DAY IN & DAY OUT. IF YOU GOOF UP, JUST STOP YOURSELF & START AGAIN. YOUR POUCH WILL HELP YOU NOT GAIN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WEIGHT LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE BEFORE SURGERY SO THAT YOU CAN GET BACK ON TRACK WITHOUT GOING BACKWARDS. THIS IS NOT A MIRACLE ... IT IS A TOOL TO HELP US. THE "MIRACLE" IS IN THE CHANGES WE MAKE IN OUR OWN ATTITUDES & DECISIONS. AS FOR GAINING WEIGHT ... NOW THAT I AM 16 MONTHS OUT ... STILL EATING ONLY ABOUT 1,000 -1,200 CALORIES A DAY ... YES, I CAN STILL TEMPORARILY GAIN WEIGHT ON THOSE FEW OF CALORIES DEPENDING ON IF I'M EATING WHITE CARBS & IF I'M NOT DRINKING ENOUGH TO FLUSH OUT MY SYSTEM ... IT IS POSSIBLE TO GAIN WEIGHT AFTER GASTRIC BYPASS, BUT THAT USUALLY DOES NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST YEAR WHICH GIVES YOU A LONG TIME TO SET UP HEALTHY BOUNDARIES & DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

***grumble grumble*** Things I ate today: Profect vial (go, me) Pasta salad (leftover from this weekend ... made with the pasta with protein, so I've got that goin' for me) 1 Reeces Peanut Butter Cup Not enough water I'm not impressed, neither should you be. Dawn

brkfast: 2 of those lil bitty sausage biscuits by jimmy dean or something snack: nothing lunch: nothing dinner 3 bites of core roasted chicken (cooked in crockpot taste great), 1 bite of greenbeans and 2 bites of the potatoe cooked in the bottom of the crockpot in tin foil snack: nothing water: 16 oz's vits: none exercise: walked today

I do this everyday on the January board but I'll share here too! I haven't had the best eating day. B~ Cheese stick and small handful of grapes L~ Grilled chicken breast S~ 3 small chocolate eggs D~ 1 slice of pepperoni pizza & small salad S~ Protein shake Vitamins: done Water: 60 oz Exercise: none today.. shame on me. Kay

Kathy you are doing better and Girlfriend I buy SF Dove Dark Chocolate and believe it or not I eat one at night and it does satisfy me...I nibble on it. No it isn't the same as eating a couple of regular but then I have no guilt. I also savor SF hard candies. Hope that helps...you will make goal! Joan M

I ALSO BUY THE SF DOVE DARK CHOCOLATE, THE MINT & THE STRAWBERRY (both with dark chocolate). I PUT ONE IN MY MOUTH & LET IT MELT UNTIL IT IS GONE ... IT IS SO RICH I CAN'T EAT MORE THAN ONE & I'VE FOUND IT SATISFIES ME SO I DON'T CRAVE CHOCOLATE WHICH WAS MY #1 CRAVING BEFORE SURGERY. NOW, I MAY HAVE CHOCOLATE ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS. I DO HAVE NSA FUDGECICLES AS MY EVENING TREAT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. FOR CRUNCHIES, I GET QUAKER SOY CRISPS (NOT RICE!!!!!) THAT HAS PROTEIN IN IT ... SO, IT'S LIKE A HEALTHY CHIP INSTEAD OF EATING POTATO OR TACO CHIPS OR CHEETOS ... MUCH HEALTHIER & HAS PROTEIN. GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

What didn't I eat Monday is more like it. I didn't eat protein I didn't eat vitamins I didn't drink water HELP...seriously, its tuesday and I'm better

OH MY GOSH ... THAT WAS JUST TOO FUNNY ... THAT IS PERFECT MS MARY ... YOU GOT ALL YOUR GOOF UPS DONE WITH ON MONDAY & THE REST OF YOUR WEEK IS GOING TO BE SUCCESS AFTER SUCCESS!!