Why can't I have SUGAR? (I am 7wks post op RNY)

Lisa - well - obviously you've been offered lots of 'what on earth are you thinking' responses.  I don't dump.....I didn't really begin to test that by eating anything that would be considered a refined carb that was devoid of protein and offered no nutritive value (candy, cake, icecream etc.****il I was below goal...and even then I avoid refined sugar that falls into that category - no added protein or nutritive value even now.   It's important to understand why sugar is bad for the body.

Sugar (or any refined carb) is quickly converted to glucose by the body - glucose is the energy source the body prefers to support metabolic function.  When the body senses glucose in the gut - it triggers the pancreas to release insulin.  Insulin has two jobs.  It helps transport that glucose into the cells to support cellular metabolism/function - and it takes any leftover glucose that that the body can't use at that time and stores it.....as body fat. If you eat in such a way to trigger insulin - and eating foods that are refined carb - easilty converted to glucose - known as high glycemic foods - you will be making it very much harder on your body to loose the body fat you already have - and you will be helping your body store more body fat.   Excess glucose combined with the cholesterol your liver makes even if you eat lowfat will lead to plaquing in your arteries and veins (heart disease, hypertension etc.)  Glucose in excess of the minimal needs of our body wreaks havoc throughout our body.  The goal of the best nutrition - weight loss patient or not) is to provide the body with nutrients and energy......and help the body function optimally.  Keeping a stable blood sugar throughout the day is one way to take very good care of your body.......keep it evenly fueled.....and avoid triggering rebound hunger and cravings.  Cotton candy offers no nutritional value......I'd rather you ate a few dark chocolate covered almonds - dark chocolate offers anti-oxidants and almonds offer protien - important fats and some nutrients.    At this early stage.......protein - nutrition - need to be your primary goal.    We all have associations with foods (like the cotton candy at the parade) that we have to learn to modify.  Most of my life I can think of food in tandem with every important holiday and event I've experienced.    I no longer give food that kind of importance in my life......and I emphasize nutrition over all other things.     Just some 'food' for thought.   Susan

Yes, Susan, I have gotten too many 'what on earth were you thinking comments'...

It really 'stings' to receive such 'angry' comments on my obviously poor choice when I have been working my tail off for the past seven weeks...sticking whole-heartedly to my nuts 'plan'... 
I decided (I mean, I made a choice- for ME) to take 3 bites of my daughter's cotton candy at a Christmas Parade and I get all of these really 'angry' responses...

When, all I genuinely wanted to know was: do all RNYers 'dump' on sugar...
So,
I am totally thrilled to receive your informative response...

This reply shows me and every one *****ads your reply why YOU are perfectly qualified to be a Weight Loss Support Group LEADER...
I pray that ONE DAY when I am a WLS Success Story (like yourself), that I will be able to offer advice like you have blessed me with today.

I absorbed everything you said, and I plan to make the best food choices for my new body from now on... I will save the occassional luxuries for later when I have also met my goal... YOU provided me with wonderful information that I will hide in my heart!

May God Bless YOU to be able to Bless Others!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Lisa

Wow so you went from,in your blog, saying that you had to have YOUR favorite food and ate half the bag, to you ate 3 bites, to you ate 3 bites of YOUR DAUGHTERS cotton candy. So which was it???

You also said you have stuck whole heartedly to your nuts plan. Was cherry pie with cool whip at 5 weeks out in your nuts plan? I find that very hard to believe. 

I am 29 months out. I hit my lowest weight which was 15 pounds below goal at 6 months out. I have maintained at goal  since then. I am another person who can tolerate sugar, but can not tolerate artificial sweeteners. Doesn't mean I go extremely overboard with the stuff. Well until recently, but that's only because I refuse to deny my pregnant body what it wants. 

Even with being 32 weeks pregnant I have only gained a whole 3 pounds because I still try to live by the rule of protein first everything else after. 

You, at 7 weeks, need to step away from ANYTHING not in your nuts guidelines and work your tool. No one here wants to see a post from you 10 months from now saying that you are looking for a revision. It hurts to hear the truth, but the truth is... you are setting yourself on a path of self destruction. Wake up and smell the coffee. 

I don't dump on sugar either, but sure wish I did.   I'm not going to fuss at you for testing the waters at 7 weeks post-op, but I will tell you that for me, sugar is evil.  Convincing myself that I can have just a little on special occasions is dangerous for me because I believe that my body is very sensitive to it.  Allowing myself to have a little bit of something with sugar in it sets me up for failure because I can't indulge in it in moderation.  I have no self-control when it comes to sugar.  I am an addict pure and simple.  Eating sugar is what got me to morbid obesity and I won't let it interfere with my long-term weight loss success now that I've had RNY surgery.

So my advice is just to be very careful because sugar can be a person's downfall.  I know that it is for me and I have to abstain from it altogether or I go off the deep end.  I'm 5 months out from my surgery and can eat more now than I could at seven weeks.  If you can eat a few bites of cotton candy now, you can probably eat an entire bag of it in a few months.  You don't want to go there, do you?

I fight the sugar addiction battle every single day.  I have finally come to realize that sugar is toxic to me and I deserve to be healthy, so I'm not going to pollute my body with that stuff.

Leanne,
Thank you so much for your response.
YOU wrote to me with such sincerity.
I heard every word you wrote, and I will take your words to heart.
 
I do not know, yet, if I have a problem with sugar control or not... because I have been adhereing to my nuts plan like a "NAZI", and I have my family that "police" my every bite...
But, I did love sweets prior to RNY...
So, I very well may have an addiction to sugar that I have not had to deal with yet...

Again, thanks for sharing your battle with sugar with me..
Yes, we all do deserve to be healthy and if sugar pollutes us, we need to avoid it at all costs...
I realize that I am on a HUGE 'learning curve' at the moment...
Maybe one day I will get it!
Lisa

Lisa,

     Let me start by saying that I am not trying to pick on you, but I am truly concerned for you. We are almost the same surgery day, so because of that I fallow your blogs/posts. My concern this time is that this is not your first time with sugar since surgery. First it was the Halloween peanut butter cup, then cherry pie (that made you dump), and now half a bag of cotton candy(according to last nights post). All of this is very concerning to me, I think it's time to get honest with your Dr. and nut so that they can get you back on track. You should also look in to a support group in your area. I know it's hard to give up old ways, but reward yourself when you do. Example I now get my nails done because I no longer spend money on fast food and Starbucks. Don't worry about what your Dr. with think I am sure your not the first to mess up and you won't be the last, the important thing is to get back on track.

Wendy,
WoW...maybe I do have a problem...
I guess I thought everyone ate a bite every once in a while...
Well, I will tell my Doctor and my nut...
I told my counselor about the peanut butter cup on Halloween and about the cherry pie on Thanksgiving...
I guess he just didn't find it out of the ordinary... but, maybe my Dr and nut will be as "appauled" as one of the above posters was...

I feel like I am a toddler in this new life... I am getting reprimanded today... and I now realize why...

I guess I need a lot of self awareness help and I must need to get this taken care of immediately!

I truly am grateful for your concern... I really appreciate your advice about rewarding myself and/or celebrating by getting my nails done instead of using food as my reward.. I definitely will take that idea to the bank!!!

Again, Wendy, I sincerely thank you for your reply,
Lisa

I guess I thought everyone ate a bite every once in a while...
Well, I will tell my Doctor and my nut...
I told my counselor about the peanut butter cup on Halloween and about the cherry pie on Thanksgiving...

Lisa,
It took me 18 months to get to goal and that was following my nut and surgeon's plan to the letter! I was considered a lightweight, too.
Check this out.. hopefully it will open your eyes. 



Bite 1:
You are cleaning out the refrigerator for trash day and notice there is only a quarter cup of juice left. You need the space so you decide to drink it instead of throwing it out.
30 calories 
      
Bite 2:
The kids are having mini powdered donuts. They look so good one can't hurt.
65 calories 

Bite 3:
You made the coffee too strong today so you add some hazelnut flavored creamer to tone down the taste.
35 calories

Bite 4:
You decide to have a small hamburger for lunch but forget to tell them to leave off the dressing.
100 calories 

Bite 5:
Your breath is not smelling so hot after eating lunch so you have two breath mints.
20 calories

Bite 6:
The candy jar at work is calling you. The peppermint patties are only snack size so one shouldn't be a big deal.
57 calories 

Bite 7:
You are getting kind of hungry but it is too early for dinner. You decide to eat the other half of the protein bar in your drawer.
150 calories   

Bite 8:
Your commute home takes over an hour. You have some chips in the car and you grab about 8 chips to eat while you sit in traffic.
75 calories    

Bite 9:
You are going to a card game at your friend's house. There are all kinds of things to munch on. You decide a handful of peanuts (¼) couldn't hurt.
163 calories

Grand Total: 695 calories!
This is over half the day's calories for many surgical weight loss patients. One half hour of exercise typically burns only 200 to 300 calories so even that cannot counteract this type of eating behavior. It is very important to keep a food journal if for no other reason, to make you aware of your eating habits and help you see what you need to work on.

Hey Sweetie!

Everyone's reaction to most things will be different. It is my understand thing Pure sugar can be harsh on your new stomach and cause dumping. Your body will let you know about anything you put in your mouth. So, if you didn't dump, that is a blessing. But PLEASE don't take it for granted. I have not tried anything with pure sugar, but because I was previously diabetic, I was fine with Splenda in my food, so I have continued to use that. You just don't want to sabotage yourself.

Sometimes, I think we just have to find out for ourselves. For instance, i am ok with salad, but some people say I should not bother with salad until like MONTHS out. I haven't had any issues, but to err on the side of caution, I have limited myself from salads. You know I have had issues, so I just want to get well and move on with my new life.

For instance, I would give anything for a slice of pizza right now or anything italian pasta related. But, I'm only a baby at 1 month from surgery, so I am working on my patience.

Keep up the good work that you have already been doing (from previous convos) and just be PATIENT!

I personally didn't go into this WLS experience to never have sweets or carbs again. I understood going in that I would likely have a major sensitivity after which would cause dumping (which in turn would cause me to not desire a repeat episode) but my overall goal in having this was to be able to limit what I do eat since for me that was my problem... not knowing when to stop. Now it doesn't take much & I feel full. This is what I was after! I have dumped on something as simple as trying to take liquid Tylenol, but I can eat a half a cookie, or a little square of fudge or even half of a cinnamon bun if I really want to & it norrmally it doesn't effect me at all. Some days are fine, others I'm more sensitive. I've dumped on a half a Protein bar before! So I never really know... but like I said I didn't go into this to avoid sweets. If I feel like having a little bit I do. I firmly believe it's about moderation & having just a little of something satisfies my craving. It doesn't mean I've thrown all caution to the wind and don't appreciate the tool I've been blessed to of been given.