Did you know your pouch probably has "default settings"?

Yeap.
The scale is one... the clothes... that is something else...
The weather is changing... and with it it is time for me to change my closet...My summer clothes got used to me and I most likely chose to wear the one that were comfortable.. dresses and light clothes... 
 My winter clothes don't fit as well as they did last year... My boots are tight.   ouch... my sweters snug... it is time... time to re-evaluate, time to regroup... I am not going to buy bigger clothes...

I will re-evaluate and need to change....

Nik, what a timely post!!!!  I have recently experienced something similar but for a different reason.  I just got over a "flu-like" illness..... not a full-blown flu but a lot of the symptoms..... sneezing and coughing (but not like a cold), body aches, headache, and decreased appetite (I even lost my taste for chocolate for a couple of days - that's how I KNEW I was sick!)   During this time, my pouch became "Sybil" again and very fussy.... old favorites not agreeing with me.  By the time my illness passed, I realized my pouch capacity had decreased, and I was getting full on less food.  But this was a GOOD thing as I had been eating too much at times, and I had even gotten a little sloppy with eating to fast and now chewing enough. 

So all in all, my little "flu bug" turned out to be a good thing because it seemed to "recalibrate" my pouch and got me back on track and cleaned up my sloppiness!

 Thanks.  Im just 5 weeks out but still helpful info.  Im trying not to eat unless im hungry. but also trying to get enough enough calories. somedays i get too much, somedays are just right.   my bean soups seem to have too many carbs in them. :( 

That is so true.  Also,  we tend to get to darn comfortable with the way we look and forget the things like head  hunger, what foods we can handle, etc,

Excellent information you've shared here!  Thanks!

I really enjoy reading your well-written thoughts.  Keep 'em coming!

Nik, I love reading your posts! When are you going to write a book?!

I am here.

I am 2 1/2 years out.  My lowest weight was 139lbs.  My ultimate goal (which I never have hit) is 135lbs.

I have been hovering at 142lbs for about 6 months.

Today?

I am a whopping 152lbs.

There is no mystery.  I have been eating C R A P.

Did you see the caps?! 

CRAP.

Chips.  Bread.  Candy.  Candy.  Donuts.  Cookies.  Candy.  

I am not kidding.

Why?  Because I was able to justify it.

"Chris, you've worked so hard, you're so small, of course you can haz a snickers!"

"Chris, your stomach is tiny, it won't matter if you have a couple (or six) powdered donuts."

"Chris, you malabsorb some calories right?  Eat that danish."

And so on, and so forth.

So, what now?

Do I give up?  Am I going to let these pounds continue?

I don't know.  I don't have a magic answer to this.  I have to be honest, eating feels good.  


I do know I am going to be here more often.  This place kept me sane the entire first year, and I think I need to remind myself of what I've been through, and talk to like minded peeps.


Oh and for any newer post ops thinking "I won't ever eat that!" ....it happens.