Tuesday thought~ Where do you struggle?

This is a wonderful thread!!!  We all struggle.  Personally I have a constant battle with my vitamins.  My husband checks my little pill thing every day and then gives me the evil eye if there is anything left.  I have problems getting them all in everyday!

I, too, my brothers and sisters am a sweet-a-holic!  It used to be chocolate but now I'm not so picky.  I love all sweets.  Now don't get me wrong...I use Splenda and other low carb sweeteners but...as Scott says, the calories and fat are still there. 

One way I am trying to deal with this is by making my protein shakes more interesting.  I have had success with it so far but each and every day is a struggle. 

Hi!  My name is Freddie and I am a vitamin deficient sweet-a-holic."

::: stepping up to mic::::  blowing into mic::::"IS THIS THING ON?!"

Umm Hello.  My name is Melinda.  I'm a recovering fatty.  I mean, I used to be overweight.  On the outside, my body is thin.  But at heart, I'm still obese.  And, whats more, I still love and enjoy food very much.

 

OK Now I feel better.  Confession is good for the soul.   

Now this is what our support forum used to look like.  I recognize this one.  I feel at home again.  With people who struggle just like me, and I don't have to pretend that everything is just fine and dandy as sugar free candy. 

Let me also give another confession.  Sometimes when we all go out to eat together, I purposefully push my plate back and hardly eat because I am afraid of what you all think of me.  I tell  Tim, "I won't eat much."  Him:  I know.  "I won't touch your dessert."  Him:  I know.  "I will probably have to go get something to eat after we leave here."  Him:  I know.   Why do I do that? Now I'm not saying that I eat a bunch of junk.  Or that I eat a lot.  I just feel stressed out when we all get together, feeling afraid that people are watching what I eat.  I still don't like even eating with a group of people for fear they are scrutinizing my every bite.

I imagine that every person that posts on this board can identify with something they struggle with, but will they step up to the plate (no pun intended) and share.  I think some will, but most won't.  It's hard to admit you still struggle after you have had the surgery - whether it's RNY, lap-band, sleeve, revision or whatever other types are now out there.  As a former "fatty", I am embarrassed to admit I still struggle and fall off the wagon, but I do it so that I can see in black and white the honest truth about where I really am in my journey.

I told a good friend the other day that I believe this is a life long adventure where we are going to be constantly learning what we can and can't eat, what works and what doesn't etc., no matter how many years out we are.

So, having said that, what do I struggle with?  For me, it is sweets and junk food.  I think these are probably the 2 biggest for most all of us - maybe not, but that's what I think.  So, how do I deal with these issues?  Right now, I'm not doing as well as I would like.  I have at least 3 bags of SF Jelly Belly's, a bag of SF Jelly Belly Gummi Bears, and I can't begin to tell you how many bags of SF Chocolates (Russell Stover and Weigh****chers) I have.  I also have a supply of Soy Crisps, Protein Chips, Mini Bite-Size Rice Cakes and I have Mrs. Freshley Splenda Sweetened Twinkies and Cupcakes in the freezer.  The thing that gets me the most are the jelly belly's and gummi bears.  I usually have several of these everyday.  The other stuff, I pretty much leave alone now - it's there more for comfort and security than anything else.  So, to mean, that means I still very much have food issues.  This is something I need to work on.  But my really big thing right now is fresh fruit.  I absolutely crave it.  I will drive 10 miles out of my way to go to a Publix to get fresh fruit because they have the best cut up fruit I've ever had.  Now, in the grand scheme of things, I don't think fresh fruit is all that bad for you  - in moderation, but I find my desire for it over protein is beginning to get very strong.  So, I've told my husband no matter how much I say I want to go to Publix, we can't go and when we do go, I am limited to a small bowl of fruit that must last the entire week (unless it expires before then - LOL)

So, yes, I do struggle - daily, but I know what my struggles and I certainly am trying to work on them.  Are we all going to struggle, yes we are.  Are going to come clean about it - again some will, some won't.  In the grand scheme of things, if you are struggling and you are in denial about it, you might want to rethink that entirely because you really could be setting yourself up for failure.

Hi, my name is Wendy and I'm still addicted to food.

Yes....I need to confess!! I know what I need to do, but I sometimes choose not to follow the rules. I don't understand why.. I just like food way too much.

I feel the same way when eating in front of others  as Melinda.. especially at our get togethers... I usually will eat at home before going anywhere and then nit pick at whatever I get at a restaurant....however, this excludes my family since I'm more comfortable around them and I have educated them all. They know that I can eat more than what I could right after surgery. It reminds me of the times when I would sneak and eat before surgery. Anyways, I feel like people are watching my every bite... primarily the ones who are newer post-ops....  And, especially since I'm now over 2 years out from surgery and younger than most bariatric patients I know... I feel like everyone thinks I should be at a normal weight by now...that I should be at my goal weight, but I'm not...I'm far from it. It lingers in the back of my mind, every day. I get so stressed and ashamed about it...and it leads me to...grazing and snacking and yes sometimes it is on things that aren't the best choices. I'm a carboholic for sure!! It doesn't matter...sweet, doughy, crunchy, salty. When Nick gets up to eat during the night *he is STILL not sleeping through the night* I eat while I'm warming up his bottle...I grab whatever is in reach to wake me up. Oh and breastfeeding keeps me in a state of hunger all the time it seems like. I thought it would help me lose weight!! lol This is NOT helping the 20lbs I need to lose to get down to the weight I was before getting pregnant. I am exercising...so I'm doing something to maintain I guess. I know I'm not completely hopeless....yet though sometimes I truly feel that way.

I struggle with food period. I still eat some fast food like a salad, turkey barbecue from Whitts and Captain D's baked tilapia and I've even had a child's size cheeseburger twice. Even though I was a sweetaholic before surgery my cravings right now are salty and crunchy.  This is soooooo hard and I had started doing the 5 small meals until I started working and it's hard to do that now. The place where I work has food around constantly from sweets to biscuits and gravy. I always make sure to eat breakfast and drink a protein drink at my desk.

I just feel like a cheater when I eat the fruit or some chips or some potatoes and I am riddled with guilt but I think that I need to eat real things at the time of my cravings in order to get it out of my system.

like everyone else, my weakness is still food in general.  Where I work has a full service cafeteria and I see what all my coworkers are eating and I sometimes feel deprived.  I don't really feel like I want what they're eating.  It's the fact that I can't have it.  I really don't crave anything in particular so all the foods I used to eat trigger my feelings.  I have a few protein bars in the fridge for when the "sweet monster" rears its ugly head.  Every once in a while I will eat sf jello pudding.
I also have the problem of taking my meds.  My morning pills are ok to take but it's the ones I have to take during the day.  I forget til I get home then Im trying to get them in before bed.
Now for the big thing--EXERCISE.  I just can't seem to make myself do it like I should.  Everyday after work I come home with the intention of walking or exercising (just bought the slim in6 tapes) but it's like I lose all train of thought when I walk in the door.  I know I have to do it and once I do I feel better.  It's just getting started.  Anyone have any ideas to keep me on track with this?
Great thread.  I think we all have learned something about ourselves and every one else!!!

Hi  my name is Melissa and I'm a forgetful,lazy food in general addict!!!

Before WLS my Demons were Breads, Pastry's and Ice Cream. So knowing this I will not allow myself to even try breads, SF Pastries or SF Ice Cream. I feel that will open the door of lack of control and I can't afford the chance of getting ill. My hardest thing and might seem small to some is small bites and slow eating. I've improved leaps and bounds but I still need to look at my watch starting during and after my meal to try and stretch it out for 30-40 min. I do follow the guidelines set forth by my WLS team because I know if left up to me (as in the past) I would not be very successful. This is why Support Groups are so important, we keep each other honest and what we do share good and bad allows others to know we are all human.

I am learning so much from you guys!  This is a life time change and commitment.  I always said that before about any diet I was on, but something seems to have clicked in my brain.  I am trying to break those little sabotage habits, like eating between meals and at night (when I'm supposed to be asleep!)

I struggle with the opposite - I really have to force myself to eat solid food. Period.  I would much rather drink a protein shake.  Eating solid food on a regular basis is now a pain in the butt to me.  I know I need to eat "real food", but it is just such a hassle and takes so long now.

I know, some of you are saying "Sheeeshhhhh, I wish I didn't want to eat!  What kind of a struggle or problem is that?!"  Well, believe me, it is a problem. My nutritionist is on my case about eating at least 2 "real" meals a day to get my system used to processing the food. But I am really just having a hard time doing it.  I hope it gets better as I get further along.

I like reading other people's "stage" of where they are.  It brings back a lot of memories.  I know what you are saying, BamaBob, about not wanting to eat food.  There was a time when I could NOT eat, smell or even talk about food when I had the stricture.  It made me want to vomit.  I was one sick puppy.  But even after it was fixed, I didn't want to eat.  Later, after my gallbladder removal, I didn't want to eat anything either... nor after plastics.  I had to force myself to eat food, or drink protein.  Protein shakes were sickening to me at that point.  I got down to 116 lbs and one friend said to me "that picture of you looked like a crack dealer."  Well thanks! LOL

I get concerned sometimes when people talk about how they don't want any solid food at all and resort to ONLY shakes... cause now I can see what our nuts talk about:  getting in solid food.  We do need to learn how to eat solid food again.  Now we'll probably need protein shakes/supplements (yogurt, etc) forever due to malabsorption...  but I know some people who live on protein shakes at 3 yrs postop....  not just one or two a day but like 5 & 6 a day!  That's scary.  I'm rambling but thanks for sharing!