Gaining Fast, Scared and Tired

This is the first time that I have been to this forum and I hope that someone can offer me some advice and support. In the last few weeks I have gained 15 POUNDS! It came on very quickly. I gained a pound a day for about a week then leveled off and then a half pound here and there. I cannot stop eating! Even when I am not hungry, I find myself eating. A typical day for me is 1 oz of low fat cheese or instant oatmeal or cream of wheat for breakfast and then a doughnut or nuts or candy or crackers later in the morning at work. I eat a sensible lunch from the cafeteria. Usually a cup of soup or a main dish (meat) with either potato or vegetable. I normally don't eat all of my lunch at one sitting. An hour or two after lunch, I usually finish the rest of it. Then I seem to graze all afternoon on whatever is around! Nuts, cheese, crackers, sweets, candy. I drink about 4 travel mugs of coffee each day at work and about 48 ounces of flavored water in the afternoon. Then at night I usually eat either chicken or fish or pasta with vegetables or salad. But even though I am full, I end up eating junk (pretzels, sweets, cheese, chips, etc.) an hour or two after dinner! Even if I am not hungry I cannot seem to stop putting food into my mouth! It is like I cannot control myself. I will tell myself DO NOT EAT THAT! and then I end up eating it anyway. I feel out of control and don't know how to stop it. I am very scared and looking for suggestions. I exercise sporadically and know that I need to get more consistent. I am so tired now at night that I can hardly make it until news time and have a very difficult time waking up in the morning. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Allison, I have had the same problem...I have gained 15 lbs in past three months and don't want to buy new clothes. I don't dump on anything and can eat everything I want. I have signed up for curves and plan to try to get back in control Monday. I have done so well and feel so much better I don't know why I am sabotaging either.

Its is a scary feeling . Im 4 years out I did gain 15 lb back and scard me to death . I am so strick now I have put myself on a low calorie diet . I keep track of my food on www.fitday.com (free site ) Bad thing is I am hungrey all the time . I try and drink as much water as I can . Somedays it helps . If your going to snack find a low cal snack you like and try that . Celery has very little .Its plain but hey it helps when you want something to chew . I honestly think its all in our heads but the hard part is getting it out .... Good luck .. if you find anything that works let me know Ill do the same ....Kristy

only been 5 months for me so I don't have this problem - so far. I think if you switch back to carbs your body will start craving them again. Things that are supposed to be no nos for us are chips, pasta, bread, crackers, potatoes, rice, and deserts. We will all slip a little, but we shouldn't make a habit of it. Stick to protein items 1st, and then fruits and veggies. Try peanut butter on that celery. I haven't eaten any for a long time myself, but I believe it is good for protein. Nuts are good for protein. Or try protein bars like General Nutrition Centers have. Hope you're still taking vitamins daily. Not hard coated ones like centrum, but fast dissoving ones as the other will usually pass through our systems before you get any benefit from them. Getting the proper vitamins will keep your body from craving food to get them. General Nutrition also has sub lingual B-12 and fizzing vitamin c drink mix for 2,000 mg of C per drink. Jer

Hi Kristy- What type of surgery did you have? I had Lap-RNY 3 years ago and have gained back half of the weight I lost and am having the same problems that you are describing. I am hungry all the time, don't dump too much anymore and can eat just about anything. I know you're right about it being in our heads - I just wish I knew how to get it out. Now, I feel like I've failed at this as well. Is there a way to get back on track? Thanks for your post - it has helped me feel less alone. Robin

I've really noticed that I eat a lot more and am very tired when I'm eating carbs. It's really hard to stop tho... confession: I just ate chips and cookies for dinner and I want to go to bed and it's only 8:15. I know I just have to choose to do it, but I know when I do slip up it's easier to get off the carbs if I make protein foods very available. I get deli meat and cheese and eat it rolled up together. I also eat Think Thin peanut butter low carb bars from Trader Joes (you can prob find them online)-they are the only bars I actually like. My husband even likes them and I have to stash them because he'll eat them all and waste them on his skinny body! Just writing this I'm thinking about how much I need to get back on track too. Oh, also, when I do the high protein/low carb thing I find I don't have the need to constantly be chewing on food either. All these results do take me about 10-14 days to really kick in though.

Have you tried the low GI diet and having 6 small feedings a day? I know there are people who do well at avoiding all carbs but I find if I eat a limited amount of complex carbs, it keeps me from craving sweets and junk food. I get the complex carbs in by adding a spoonful of beans to my lunch (you will be amazed at how few complex carbs you need to get rid of your hunger), 1/2 apple for one of my feedings, or 1/2 of small pinto bean muffin (delicious whole grain muffin made with pinto beans, all bran cereal, splenda, eggs, milk, baking soda and oatmeal, there are several recipes on the internet if you do a google on pinto bean muffins or pinto bean cake).

I'm 23 yrs post op so have been through it all.. I have found the times I eat starches I want more.. I chew a lot of gum and don't drink the flavored water..I do like it though it just seems to spur on the hungies... I had to mentall convince myself I don't want to eat... I drink the profect.. sometimes 2 a day.. I try to not stretch stomach so I only eat very small portions about 5 times a day ..I haven't updated my profile in a long time but I'm doing really well wt wise I'm having back problems good luck e-mail if ya want Wendy