Going a Little Crazy - Advice, please?

I have been diligently working on behavior modification, because I want to ensure that I am successful. After several months of counseling, I started again with the seminar, then the nutrition classes. I've lost 30 lbs since September, and am already feeling so much better.

Yesterday I had the appointment with my surgeon, and got my date: 12/18, one week from today! I was ecstatic, as this makes it easier for me given vacation time, and insurance complications.

On the way home, I wanted to stop at McDonald's for "one last jalapeno double cheeseburger". Never mind that the last one of those I had was last summer. I didn't go, but I watched the McD's sorrowfully as I passed it. I got home and started searching the cupboards for crap food. I ate some soup instead. I texted my husband and said "Let's go out to dinner tomorrow!" thinking about Chicken Parmesan, or something equally fatty/carby. I went back to searching the cupboards, and started thinking about the boxes of candy I have wrapped as Christmas gifts. I made some popcorn and ate that. This seemed to get me out of that searching mode, and I felt better for the rest of the day.

While I slept last night, I dreamed about eating butterscotch chips from the package, and Christmas cookies.

Today I'm starting up again. I had yogurt/fiber one and and apple w/ PB for breakfast. I'm now looking at chinese and thai restaurant menus online and thinking about going. I'm still thinking about going out to dinner tonight with my husband.

Other than a semi-not-so-good choice of popcorn yesterday, I've been pretty good about my choices. However, I'm torturing myself with these mental images, and I am making myself crazy.

Advice, anyone, please??

Sheryl

I have to stay far away from carbs (popcorn, peanut butter.. Even the apple) once I start on carbs the cravings start taking over and I find myself wanting more. Get through a couple days of little to no carbs and the cravings may become easier to control. Good luck! 

Yeah, the popcorn, especially, was probably a mistake, though it sure could have been worse! :) I do have a serious issue with carbs, and abstaining altogether I know does help. Thanks! 

This just proves you are one of us!  Good job with sticking to just popcorn yesterday!

I might have missed it in your post, but does your doctor have you on a pre-op diet?

I don't have an answer for what pops into your brain, but try to stop your hands from surfing for food *****n the internet.  I still avoid looking for menus/recipes on-line because it triggers my head hunger.  

And, for what it is worth, I SO REMEMBER grieving that I didn't have fish and chips (volume style) before my pre-op diet started.  I gotta say that post-op, I was so glad that I didn't give into most (but not all!) of those impulses in the weeks leading up to surgery.  It ended up being a jump start to weight loss post surgery. 

Best wishes, you are going to have a great year!!!!

Nope, no pre-op diet, except clear liquids only the day before the surgery. As I "graduated" from nutrition appointments, she said "You no longer have to keep a food journal, just make sure you don't gain weight before your surgery." I have to say, I was somewhat shocked at that. I kept on the way I had been eating under supervision, though, and have lost another 6-7 lbs since that appointment. Reading posts this site (for the last year or so) made me realize the importance of diet before surgery in order to reduce the risk of complications. I would prefer not to be part of the 1% that has to convert from laproscopic to open surgery. Thanks!

Keeping a food journal (I use MFP) is one of the best lifestyle changes I've made.  I started before I had surgery and continue to this day. In the past it was easy to compartmentalize what I ate and forget about it.  Keeping track makes me stay accountable, whether it's good or bad.

I would ignore the nutritionist's advice and keep tracking.  There's a correlation between successful weight loss and food tracking.

Back to your original comments, food funerals are often part of the process.  I did all of mine early before I was approaching my surgery date.  What I've learned is that it's never really a funeral.  You'll be able to eat anything again later on down the road, but hopefully you learn to make better choices and not eat the foods that bring on the obesity as often as you did in the past.  At least that's my take on it.  I was a junk food junkie before surgery; now I rarely eat it.   It just doesn't taste the same anymore.

Good luck on your surgery  

What an interesting reaction to the good news of your surgery being scheduled!  Some people eat "Last meals" before surgery, and it certainly is an option. 

I chose not to because I figured I had decades of eating big meals, and I didn't need one last one.  It helped me to remember that after surgery I'd still be able to eat all those foods, just in smaller quantities.  There will be a period of about 6 months when your eating will be very restricted, but in the long run, you can have all the foods you love in limited quantities.

One word of advice, if you give up carbs now, it'll make the transition easier after surgery.  The cravings will diminish after a few days, and then its easier to stick to the healthy diet.

Congratulations on your success so far.  I think you'll do great in the long run.

best wishes,

Carol

My therapist tells me the same thing - don't look at it as deprivation - you can still have these things in moderation. I'm not so sure about that, given my history! We'll see. Thanks for the advice and good wishes!

I agree with you, shery. Moderation in carbs is usually not possible for us, especially junk-food carbs. Maybe your therapist can eat popcorn, crackers, candy, and ice cream in moderation, but I can't and most people on this forum can't either. Eating even small amount of junk carbs sets off cravings for more. More than one sleever has been undone by thinking they have can a little bit of their favorite carbs, resulting in weight loss screeching to a stop, or worse, regain.

Pre-op, it's just about impossible to ignore the call of junk carbs, and kudos to you for trying. That's why we needed the surgery. You'll find that post-op, when you eat your protein first, your sleeve will keep you nicely filled with little to no cravings for junk carbs. BTW, when you start your pre-op diet, take every carb in your house, whether it's pastry or 50-grain health bread, and throw them out! Don't let them back in ... ever.

Good luck. You have a great attitude. You'll do fine.

psychoticparrot

Good job! There's no magic behind resisting temptation...it's just something you have to get yourself in the habit of doing so it becomes your normal. It helps me to tell myself "I'm not going to eat that" instead of "I can't eat that." It puts the emphasis back on the fact that it's my choice.

I also found that if I do allow indulgences once in awhile, they've usually been so built up in my mind that they can never live up to the expectations, so I wind up disappointed. That sounds depressing, but it actually helps complete the cycle of realizing I really didn't (physically or mentally) need it in the first place. That said, I also don't beat myself up over small planned treats. I know I won't be able to stick to a plan that leads me feeling permanently deprived. It's hard to learn moderation though when you never have before, so there are some things (like bread) that I still avoid because I know I could not eat just a reasonable amount.