Help!!! Food Issues

Hi, my name is Emily and I'm having a lot of difficulty. I'm so afraid that I'm going in the wrong direction. I'm a year out and I've only lost 125 pounds. Lately I've been eating things that I know I shouldn't eat because they are all the wrong things I ate before surgery. Every time I think about it I just cry. I can't go backwards but I feel so out of control and I feel alone because I'm so embarrased that this is happening. I haven't been able to work out for the last 4 weeks because I had a hernia and had surgery and I'm healing very slowly. I don't want to screw this up, but I feel like I'm loosing to the junk food again. Does anyone understand what I'm saying or can anyone help me. I'm desperate and I still have about 75 pounds to loose, so I don't want to gain any weight that I've already lost. I need suggestions, advice, direction, connections, etc..... Please, Please, Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Emily, First of all 125lbs is great. I had surgery over three years ago and still have about 30 lbs to go to reach my goal. That is down from 50 because I too had to change what I was doing. It is very easy to fal into the old habits and for me the junk food seems to go down a lot easier then the healthy food. I had to look at what, and why I was eating the wrong foods. First I had to clear out the house all the bad foods that I didn't need. If it isn't in the house I can't eat it. Second was exercise. Start out by walking. MAKE time for it. If I don't make myself do it I will find an excuse not to. Lastly take it a little bit at a time. Now is the hard part when life is back to normal and the newness of the surgery has worn off. You just need to make some adjustments in the right direction and you should be able to get back on track. Mark

Thanks Mark for the encouraging words and advice. I've gone back to making sure I get in my protein and vitamins. I started back at the gym working out on Saturday and I'm feeling pretty good about things. I'm determined to stay away from junk food. I can't afford to erase all the good I've done so far. Emily

Dear Emily: You are not alone!!! I am 2 years out, and have lost 130 lbs. I too have fallen back into some of my bad eating habits!! I don't dump, so I find myself eating far too much junk!! I have gained back about 7 lbs, which I am currently trying to get rid of!! I am about 20 lbs from my goal weight, but am not really worried about getting there. I'm in a size 8 jeans, so i know I'm not huge any more, but I still feel fat at times. I guess the best advice I can give you is to not be too hard on yourself. If you eat stuff you shouldn't at one meal, eat lighter at the next meal. I think the most importent thing is to be physically active. If you exercise regularly it does compensate for the goodies to a point. You've heard the usual suggestions, water, protein, exercise!! You've done great, don't knock yourself. Not everyone gets to their goal. It's just a number, go by how you feel. The first year I was rabid to get to my goal, I havbe relaxed a little. My main goal now is to maintain my loss. If I can lose the 7 I gained, I'd be happy, but the world won't end if I don't. I just don't want to gain any more!! Summer is comming, and it's a perfect time to get outside, get active, and lose a few pounds in the process!! Best wishes, you can do it!!!! DeeAnn

DeeAnn it's nice to know someone who understands what I'm going through. I've gone back to making sure I get in my protein and vitamins. I started back at the gym working out on Saturday and I'm feeling pretty good about things. I'm determined to stay away from junk food. I can't afford to erase all the good I've done so far. Thanks DeeAnn for the encouraging words and advice. Emily

Emily: Good for you, getting to the gym!!! We're at least on a level playing field with other people now!! It's so normal to deal with 10-20 lbs, instead of 120!!! Try to keep up what you're doing, the protein, vitamins, and exercise are all importent for your health!!! Now get out and enjoy your life!! If you're like me, too many years have been wasted obsessing with food and weight. Now we can live normal lives and focus on being healthy like everyone else!! Any time you need an ear, drop me a line!! Have a great summer!! DeeAnn

Thank you for posting...I find myself in the same boat... Honeymoon is over. I wish for the days my body rejected junk food, but these days it does not. I recently read a post that our bodies "repair" themselfs by 2 years out. Makes sense why so many of us are struggling with weight gain. Good luck to you and all of us in the boat. Donna

I know I am probably way off base for posting here because I am still pre op. My surgeon suggested I see a therapist once a week to work with me using cognitive behavior therapy. She has pounded into my head that this surgery is just a tool and that I will need constant therapy for a while to deal with my food issues. It's not about not having will power, it's our relationship with food that most of us have had all of our lives. I am working on stopping negative talk and trying to empower myself. This is the most difficult for me because I am VERY afraid of failure! I have not been able to overcome my relationship with food before, what makes me think the surgery will help me do this? As with all diets, I thought I could "fix" myself with will power, but it's impossible for me. I will be getting my surgery date this afternoon (hopefully), I still have a ways to go before I am close to conquering my food issues. Anyways, I thought maybe suggesting therapy might help you get back on track? I am hoping it will work for me. I'll keep y'all posted

Hi everyone......I am fairlty new to the boards. I am Marty, 42, single Mom from Ohio. I am about 9 months out and 86 lbs down. I am edging towards goal, but fighting the old habits also. I do eat fairly healthy and I do eat my smaller meal portions. But the munchies get me. Unfortunately, I can eat larger amounts of those types of foods and I love them. I do try to buy baked versions, soy versions, and more natural popcorn, etc. But the problem is that I have not broken the habit of using it for emotional reasons nor always been able to control my portions like I want to. So far I am still losing, but I don't want to stall out, or lose control and gain back. As a poster suggested, I have thought about counseling......but am just not sure where to go. I get very frustrated by clueless counselors and end up feeling worse. Well, I guess I do already know some of the answers, but BOY is it hard. Marty