Daily Struggles?

Hi BAF,

While struggles with post WLS is a common topic, I just wanted to see in one message thread the daily struggles that folks are having and how you are coping with them.

My main struggle happens to be right here at work.  Our office sponsors faculty research symposiums three days a week.  Well these events happen over the lunch hour and naturally lunch is provided. Not only am I confronted with a smorgasbord of food three day a week but on these days...the Research Dean makes catering bring all the left overs to our conference room (2 doors down from me) so that people can snack throughout the day.  So basically I am confronted with all kinds of temptation (cakes, pies, cookies etc...) for four hours out of my work day...three days a week....  people in and out taking about how good this is or how succulent that is. ..I mean its maddening at time.  I have literally visualized myself going in there and turning the whole damn table upside down ....but I do need my job. So its just a thought.  

What I have started to do is make sure that I have my office stocked with all kinds of nutritional items.  My little frig has plenty of Atkins high protein shakes and carrots sticks, I have a drawer full of Protidiet cocoa, soups and tuna cups etc..  Yet still...I have have taken a pinch of that or a pinch of this... I mean its not out of control...but I do have fear that I will start that vicious cycle all over again.

The thing that really irks me is that the Dean (who is overweight herself) knows that 2 out of the five in the office is trying to watch their weight...the others are already fit.  Sometimes I feel as if shes trying to sabotage our efforts.  She has made joking comments about having a rule in the office that everyone has to maintain a certain weight (i.e. not smaller than her). Its enough to make your blood boil. Yet...I am persevering. 

I think the best thing that is helping me out is the exercise.  I just think to myself...do I want to undo all that hard work I put in the gym last night by eating things I know are not good for me.

It also helps to jump on here and look at all the beautiful people and get a little inspiration from Ya'll.

So what are your struggles and how do you handle them?  

For me it is mindless eating, bored eating or whatever.  I'm stuck in a lab all day processing people's jacked up cases and it is boring as hell.  Everyone is eating because there is nothing else to do.  I can't even post here with my stupid phone and so its either fix boring food stamps cases or eat.  The last thing I want to do is fixed someone messed up, worker didn't know how the hell she got her numbers, no income anywhere in the folder, 50 folks up in the house, I need my food stamps like yesterday cases.
On the other hand, being in the lab does allow me the access to get in a over an hour of walking daily.  I just hate not having anything better to do than eat.  At least when I was seeing clients I never had time to eat.  Its the worst of 2 worlds.

Hi Nikkemo!

Wow thats excellent that you can get in all that walking.  I also have times when the work is a little monotonous.  I have been either using my MP3 player or hooking my earphones up to my computer to get some music jumping off...it does help the day move along. Thanks for posting.

My struggle is night eating.  I worked all day and worked out then when it my time to do nothing all I can think about is eating.  I have been making sure it is protein rich food like deli meat with cheese roll ups or sf jell-o.  I just wish i could quit eating late like after nine.  I know it is not helping my weight lose. I am working on not eating after 8pm.  It is all mental because I am really not hungry. 

Hi HF,

Thanks for posting.  A couple of things that work for me is chewing gum.. I am up all time of the night working on projects so this helps to keep my mouth moving but not towards food.  I really try to be aware of when I am hungry and when I am feeling some other way (ie. bored, lonely etc...) Now when I am legitimately hungry..I will do like you and eat something high in protein ( I love the Atkins Peanut Butter Granola Bars 19 grams of protein)...they are crunchy and are able to curve my hunger for several hours.  Now if I am bored...I will either do the gum chewing thing or I will eat carrot sticks. I read somewhere that carrots are good because it takes your body more energy to digest them than most foods...so it works to your advantage by making your body work overtime. I can tolerate carrots though...some can't.  Hope you are having a blessed day.    

Thanks for your response I do chew gum at work to avoid snacking I need to try that at home.  I have had cooked carrots not raw but  I will try them.  Thanks

Hey HF:

Someone on the Board mentioned Hobbies to help with "avoiding food." Well, I have always believed in having hobbies; I knew hobbies were a good stress reliever, but when it was mentioned here I took a second look at them. Even though I believed in them, I did not "weave" not one into my Life...but I was always talking about a Lifestyle Change!

It hit me when I saw that on here about hobbies, that if I continued to do the SAME stuff I did getting fat and unhealthy, I would not lose as much wt as possible after WLS or in time I would regain any weight I lost. So, I defined the word hobby, then I thought about what I like to do and what I needed. I love the outdoors, I enjoy communing with nature in a meditative way, I need to work with my hands when I sit down, I must be challenged to think, I need creativity. So, I Googled Hobbies/types of Hobbies...and man, they are out there. As I was looking at different sites, several just JUMPED out at me, but one that I NEVER thought I would ever be interested in>>>Needlepoint!
OMG, it is challenging, creative and occupies my hands and thoughts(it IS painting with thread/yarn). I also decided on Scrapbooking, Bird Watching, Digital Photography and Star Astronomy. When I looked at them I realized that they can be intertwined. (I'm taking them one at a time but Bird Watching and Photography are definitely partners>>>thanks Mr. Doug!)

I guess what I am saying in a nutshell is Lifestyle Change means Change your Life (more than just the WLS and what we eat or exercise). Some how we (the obese and formerly obese) must find methods to adapt/improvise and overcome the stuff that  "trigger" us to eat, and that's about Habits.

Good point my lifestyle is definitely changing.  I really do not have as much time as I use to to just eat.  I love to read and make jewelry.  So I will have to start occuping my mind with more of those things at night so I will not think so much about eating. 

My daily struggle is to get up early early in the morning and workout everyday and not eat a pack of M&M's every day.

I wish I could just eat junk food and never workout and maintain a size 6 jeans.

Hi PT! Thanks for posting.  Peanut M&M are the devil in disquise.... I love them things.  I just love peanuts and chocolate period...Reeses Cups werea also my weakness. Have you ever tried Peanut Dreams by Healthwise.  They are very crispy and oh so good. have 15 grams of protein, 160 cal and 19 carbs....much more healthier than our snack of choice.  I get them from my nutritionist...$10. 95 a box of 7.

 http://www.healthwisenri.com/crispybars.htm


As for working out...I have to go straight to the gym after work...or it will not get done. I know this...Take it easy! Back to work for me.