How to stay away from sugar without dumping syndrome??

My surgiversary is 1/28/09 and I am so scared because I thought Id be doing so well right now but Im not. Dont get me wrong I have lost over 100 lbs which is good. I am doing everything wrong now I learned that I can eat sugar and not get dumping syndrome. I was sad to think before that dumping would keep me away from all sweets but now that I dont have it I wish I did. I am eating candy and cookies etc. I tell myself each day that I will do better and resist but I just cant. I am so scared that Ill gain all my weight back and be back where I started. If I keep going this way there will have been no point of even having surgery in the first place. PLEASE help me I dont know what to do. Also going back to how I was before surgery this is making me depressed and when I am depressed I eat the wrong things. AM I DOOMED?

I share your concern.  I too  have discovered that I do not dump. Be strong!!!!!!!!! Remember that you have come along way.  I have eaten cookies, bread and other junk over the holidays and boy .........were they great.  I have to re focus. We went through alot with the surgery. I keep trying to remember my reasons for the surgery. I was diabetic, BMI of 54, HTN etc. the medical condition were many.  I am trying to journel my eating, that seems to be helping me. You had the strenght  and determination to make the through the hardest part....Deciedeing to fave the surgery and yu can refoces again.  I would be happy to keep in touch.  Maybe we can support each other?  Today is New years Day and I will get back on track...and you can too!
Judy

Thank you for your advice. I would love to keep in touch with someone who is going through the same issues. It is a new Year and I need to stay focused and like you said Ive come such a long way it would be a shame if I just screwed up all of my progress. I do someitmes however wish I did have dumping just so it would be easier to resist. Take care and Have  Happy New YEAR!

AMANDA

My 2 yr surgiversary is 2/27/09 and I am beginning to have the same issue.  I know it is because I sniched some cookies, etc. EVERYDAY during the holidays without the dumping too.  I haven't gained yet, but I know that I will if this keeps up.  I have also been beating myself up pretty bad and that is a big no-no!  I do good during the day, but when 7:00 rolls around, I feel like a herion addict that has to have a fix.  I have 4 grandkids who live with me and by that time I am exhausted and don't really feel like exercising (or anything else, for that matter).  I don't think we're doomed if we STOP NOW.  I'm considering going back to my shrink.   I think it may be SAD (seasonal affective disorder) because It has been especially cold and icy and snowy and I am an outdoor person.  I would appreciate any support from anybody.

I was TOTALLY addicted to sugar before my sugery. I try and stay away from it. I will eat sugar free stuff if I need a little fix, but it isn't as good as the "real" stuff. I CAN"T just have 2 cookies or half a candy bar. It totally throws my mind into "gotta have sugar, gotta find some" mode and after that it is so over for me! I don't dump on sugar and I am only 6 months out (scary) that is why I have just decided it is like crack for me and I can't even take one step towards it!

You know I think that the more I think about it your approach is probably the best bet for me as well. Because I dont dump and if I have one piece of candy or anything with sugar I tell myslef that Ill just stick to one piece or a small portion but I can't. I just cant stop myself once I start and I dont get uncomfortable at all but I can hear my stomamach making many different weird noises. So I think that its like a drug for me too. I guess I just need to stay away completely. Its just alot harder to stay away when I know I can have it and it wont bother me. For all those who do not know if they have dumping dont try it because its better to think you may have it and then stay away. I wish I never would have tried it out, because once I knew sugar didnt bother me that was the end of that and now I have to force myself to resist it.
AMANDA

Hi Amanda:
I can totally relate.  I had my surgery July 10th and I do not dump.  I can eat as much sugar as I like and I have no consequence and because of my addiction to sugar I have had a slow weight loss progress.  The first 3 1/2 months were my honeymoon period and now I feel like I am back to the original battle.  It is a difficult thing for me to face that there really isn't a magic fix for me.  I am just going to have to battle this with prayer,self-control and exercise.  I try to tell myself "no" and sometimes it works and other times I just dive in and indulge.  I guess that is why I can not live month to month, or week to week but day to day and celebrate victories and learn how to cope with my triggers.  We can do this.

Tammy

Thanks for replying. You know I have been struggling everyday with this sugar thing. I get so upset at myself when I give in. It is really hard. I just think that this is going to be my Kryptonite Ive come such a long way and made so amny changes and sacrifices to get to where I am that it honestly terrifies me that I will not be able to resist the sugar and that will cause me to end right back where I was. I know that the sugar has slowed down my weight loss and it will keep it from continuing especially now that I am definately way past the honeymoon phase its even that much harder. Not to mention that now I can eat alot more than I was able to in the past. Well I wish you luck and hopefully we can both overcome or at lease regulate this addiction to sugar.

Do you workout?  What are you telling yourself?  For example:  I will wake up in the morning and say "ok, today you are not going to have any sweets"  and I try for that day not too.  For me if I say this week I am not going to have any sweets then I usually give in by the second day.  If I do one day at a time at least for that day I don't have any.  That usually works for me.  I was told if you keep the carbs down that it decreases the cravings for sugar.  I don't know what part of it is mental or which is physical cravings.  One day at a time.

Tammy