Out of control

I rarely post on the main board, but I just found this one and am hoping there are things others have done that you can share with me. I am about 8 mos. post op and for the past 2 months or so, have had terrible hunger issues. By mid afternoon, I start feeling like I need to devour everything that I can put my hands on. I have been able to avoid sugar and "junk" foods, but I am still eating way too much. I use Fitday and have found myself going over 2000 some days and its all grazing and snacking. I'm not a whiner... really. I feel like there is this other person living in my body that just takes over and I feel so hopeless. I am so afraid that I'm wasting my "window period" and that I will not only ruin the rest of my opportunity to take the rest off, but will turn around and just gain it back again. I've seen a counselor, but focusing on eating slower, etc. doesn't take away this nagging need to have something in my mouth all of the time. I do the protein first, etc. but within an hour I am starved. I'im exercising, drinking water at the right times, etc. Has anyone found anything that has helped with this? Is there hope? I can't believe I went through all of this only to go right back to my old ways and I'm not even a year out yet!!! Oh well, at least I can talk about it to, I think, people who understand. Thanks for listening. I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks for listening.

Hi Terri~ I'm sorry to hear that your are struggling right now with the hunger issues. I'm 10 months out this month and I'm struggling with the emotional eating. I think I'm hungry but I'm not. Could this be happening to you or are you physically hungry?? I don't know if this will help you or not but this is what I've come up with and it helps me out so so much. I have a piece of paper on my fridge and it's called the triangle of success. On the top of the triangle it has 64 oz of water..the second is exercise and the third is to get protein in..and on the bottom it says if you are missing one part of the triangle, it will collapse. It really puts things in perspective for me. I also have a food journal in the kitchen so I can see what I'm eating right then and there. If I want to eat more than I should or reach for poor food choices, I have index cards that I write on and write out if I'm really hungry or if I'm going to eat because of something emotional. I write down my feelings on this card and what I want to eat and then I throw it in a plastic bin. I also write down on the card how many calories I have saved by not eating the food. At the end of the week, I add all of the cards up and see how many calories that I've saved...IT IS AMAZING!! We aren't talking just a few calories here and a few there..we are talking hundreds of calories. I don't know if this would help you or not?? Anyways, good luck and hope you find out what works for you!!

How have you been Terri?

Good, Joe, and you?

Thank you so much. I really love your ideas. I'm printing your response and will try it. Its hard to tell the emotional from physical sometimes. It almost has to be emotional when it is so soon after eating sometimes. I do travel out of town for work every week so I'll have to keep the card with me. I sincerely appreciate your ideas and support. Take care.

You're welcome I really hope that this will work for you!! Good luck!

I'm struggling with emotional eating as well. Thanks for sharing. It's good to know that someone else is also struggling somewhat. Keke

Okay, here I go....this is the first time I've ever posted but feel that I can really relate. I've been so afraid to actually admit my food addictions and really face the issues, but I've been reading so much on this website and it feels like a safe place, if you know what I mean. Your suggestions are wonderful. I'm going to try them myself. I haven't gained any weight back and pray that I never do, but I am one year out, August 31st. I've lost 83 pounds. I'm 13 lbs. from my goal weight, but haven't lost any weight since May. I'm not sure if I am at a stubborn plateau or if this is just where my body wants to be. I'm learning to try to accept myself for me if that is where my body stays. I physically feel wonderful. Hoping to have some plastic surgery in the future, possibly that will take care of another 10 lbs. But who knows, and again, I am learning to be okay with myself. I excercise for 45 minutes at least 4 to 5 times a week, I force myself even when I don't feel like it, it's the one thing that keeps me on track. I drink my water all day. I thought I was unique in that I haven't really had the dumping thing and so of course, just gotta try a cookie or two when I started feeling like a "normal sized" person and now I often have unhealthly carbs/sugar daily. I've got to make those choices, which are so difficult when you have this addiction. Your suggestions, as well as, other's have been helpful. I am an emotional eater as well, and have had trouble making the distinction between head hunger and real hunger. I just don't want to gain any weight back. I could go on and on, but it's getting late. Thanks again. Helen

Terri - I am sorry you are having this difficulty, but I know exactly where you are coming from. I know this may seem over-simplistic, but if you FORCE it, it really does work! I posted earlier for another message thread: And I quote, "Also, one trick that really does work, is to chug-a-lug liquids (crystal ligh****er, whatever) in between meals. With EVERY pang you get, chug-a-lug and it will disappear for a little while. Just keep doing this - it really works, although it can become a pain after a while....." This is commonly known as "water loading", and it really does work, but you end up drinking an outrageous amount of fluids - which is actually great for the kidneys, etc. I know that this certainly helps to keep me on track! Hope this helps - you will do GREAT!

Terri: I will say "ditto" to the other suggestions given to you here. It sounds like you're an emotional eater, like me. I like the idea of writing down the feelings when you think you're hungry, and the victory one can feel when you've made the choice to confront the feelings instead of medicating them with food. It can be very empowering. Another thing I do is to drink protein shakes mid-morning or mid-afternoon when I really am pouch hungry. I make them with water or non-carbonated sugar-free soft drinks (Tropicana makes a really great tasting orange flavor, that when you mix it with vanilla protein powder, tastes exactly like a creamsicle). This adds only 100 calories to my daily intake (which I also track on FitDay). I figure it this way...better to add 100 or 200 calories of protein than to sabotage a whole day's work of munching on food that's not good for us. Just my two cents! Good luck! Robyn Lap RNY 7/11/03 Dr. Paul Singh, Albany Medical Center (NY) 227/127/136