I need help ASAP with to things PROTEIN & CRAVINGS
Our WLS treated the symptoms of obesity but not the cause. It can't treat the cause because I don't think anyone knows what the cause is yet. I believe the mantra of the skinny folk, "just stop eating"! will someday be found out to be as silly as telling a diabetic to just stop being a diabetic. Technology has given us a wonderful tool to treat the symptoms of obesity and I'm forever grateful that I was able to take advantage of it. But the present state of this technology has not been able to cure our ills so to speak. A good friend and a recovering alcoholic once told me that the alcoholic who has been sober the longest is the one who woke up first. Unlike alcoholics, we food aholoics must eat each day and in some ways our challenge is as great as theirs. Our thin is their sober and it does feel good.
As CF mentioned earlier, nothing requires that you mix the protein shakes according to the instructions. At first, I usually mixed a scoop to 3-4 ounces of water, if that (milk tasted better but made me uncomfortably full). Some flavors work better at "extra strength" than others (vanilla and chocolate mint were fine, strawberry was disgusting).
I don't know what to say about missing eating food, I adjusted pretty quick, though with time I'm having more problems (arguably, or maybe I'm just eating amounts I "should" be long term). One thing I'll say is you need to retrain to concentrate on quality and enjoying the food. For me, that was easier to do alone, taking small bites and eating very slowly. (Somewhat perversely, since eating alone is a classic no-no for overeaters.). It was only after a lot of eating alone that I became comfortable eating with others and not feeling weird about eating small amounts at a reasonable speed.
Hey Matt,
Congrats on your surgery, and the two issues you are bringing up are VERY common. I'm only 8 months out, but have lost 225 pounds and have dealt with both issues.
The protein is just a trial and error thing in my opinion. I found that nuts (mainly almonds) and skim milk string cheese are an easy way for me to get in extra protein throughout the day. So, just keep trying different things and find what you like, and what you can tolerate. Personally, my surgeon doesn't push the protein supplements, and I'm glad - I prefer to get my protein from natural sources (nuts, dairy - cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, jerky, tuna salad, chicken salad, deli meats, etc - i will eat any of those for a snack).
As far as thinking about the food - just remember that eating was a big coping mechanism for most of us. I personally struggled a lot with cross-addiction (transfer-addiction). When the food was taken away from me, my primary coping mechanism was removed, and I wasn't prepared to cope with the emotions and other self-defeating behaviors and thoughts.
Some people benefit from the support groups - I know this board has been very helpful for me, and last month I finally went back into therapy. So, I'm currently going to therapy once per week to deal with all my self-image and body-image issues that have come up over the past 8 months. I won't do it forever, but it's very helpful for me right now at this stage in my journey.
Just remember, what works for one person, doesn't always work for everyone else. I just wanted to share my experience with you.
Best of luck to you - and hang in there, and keep reaching out.
Chuck
Mix your protein not as a drink with full water, but as a thick syrupy elixir. You can get down 40 grams easily by mixing it in a small coffee cup's worth of water and dumping it down. This should not be at the same time you have water, but maybe right before you eat your other stuff. You can get it in that way, no sweat.
Dave
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