"Where are they now" ... 4 year 8 month VSGer

Hey Santos,

Your stomach will NEVER grow/stretch to the size it was before surgery.  I mean unless you CONSTANTLY abuse it and over eat every minute of every day.

I can't speak for others, but I have been able to comfortably eat 8-10oz of food in one sitting since I was 2 1/2 years out.  Now I can if a choose eat that 8-10oz more often.

I eat give or take every 3 hours before after much trial and error it works for me for now.  The reason I'm doing it so close is because I HAVE an addiction and literally right after I eat, I can still feel the food in my stomach but I want to eat some more...or a little more...so I'm clock watching like an addict waiting for their next fix.  So it works like this

10:00am take vits
10:15ish eat
10:45-11:00 drink water (look at clock...damn I wanna eat not drink)
12:00 - damn I really wanna eat, but it's just 12...oh but that's ok because I get to eat at 1

I'm TRYING to not eat after dinner.  But last night I caved and had some blackberries with cream.  Then I had some pork rinds...My goal is to NOT eat after 8pm, espeically since I'm in bed by 10pm.

To many calories eventually in the LONG run are to many calories regardless of the source.  Take everything you've read, what I've said, other vets, websites and the like.  File it in your mind and LIVE because everything you've read are stats and what works for person A...you are person B so you ultimately have to figure out YOU.

Ms Shell

Thanks for your feedback.  Good luck in your journey..

Regards,

Santos

I have started to keep a daily journal to write down all my feelings. to try to figure out why I feel the need to be full all the time. What am I trying to fill up? I have found that when I have an emotional upset of some kind either when someone hurts my feeling or I have to stand up for myself... etc... I am more hungry and snacky than ever. I think eating makes me push my feelings away. I am more emotional now but I can often re-direct my hungry feelings by replacing that eating with another activity that is not compatable with eating... like painting my nails, going for a brisk walk, talking with a friend or going to visit a friend... etc...  If I stay busy when I have an upset then I can get away from the constant fight with myself about eating more than I need to live....  I hope this helps...

Hi

I really need to ask you this.

When you were in the first year of losing your weight,were you doing the low carb plans that so many people do?

Were you weighing and logging and measuring your food?

Did you eat out a lot?

Did you practice saying no to yourself for some stuff but allowed yourself a small treat every now and then?

Did you practice mindful eating then?

I have prefered to be confronted with normal food every day.To have to say no to myself for lots of food that is not good for me.To allow myself the occational small treat.To learn to love proteins.To not snack.To be very mindful when I eat.To not go super low carb at all.To not deprive myself but to try and learn to eat really healthy,tasty,great quality food.I am almost 5 months out and I have not overeaten even once (that I can remember now..lol) I have decreased my portions even more in the last month as I have learned to enjoy the little bits more and to feel really satisfied with the small amount.

Am I a fool to think that this is what will change my bad habits into good ones?If it isnt,what will,do you know?

I was on my way to bed as it is super late already but reading this thread has me wide awake again.

Am I dreaming when I think my constant desire for food,that is gone now,will stay gone?

Great great thread and I truely hope that mindfulness might just make the difference for you that you really desire.

I was VERY mindful, weighing, measuring, and not SUPER low carbing but around 50g of carbs for the first 2 years until I got to MY goal.  So to your first questions...absolutely and I thought I could COAST into years 3, 4, 5+

In year 2 I "allowed" myself a few more snack etc.  My bad habits were in MY opinion EXCELLENT new habits and I promise you it was like one day I was fine and the next I was knee deep in cake without a protein around to save my life.  By the end of year 3 I was LOST in an abyss of I'm tired of being "good" I would say like an alcoholic thinks after being sober for 2 years they can have a drink socially every now and then...well yeah the next thing you know your stumbling out the bar drunk.

There are many who do NOT fall victim...maybe I didn't work on my head enough (which this is really about your HEAD not just our stomachs).  

And I have been struggling ever since.

Ms Shell

I must confess,realizing that this might not be the end of the struggle but just the beginning of a new one is so depressing.

I understand that thing of one day I am fine and the next I have juat lost being fine.I thought I had the headstuff thing licked by seeing a shrink and losing 70 pounds 2 years ago.learnt normal then lost it overnight after a year.

You have to find the way back.You just have to.You are so right it is never to late.Baby steps.Maybe just start practicing saying no to yourself just once a day to start off with.For just one thing.And if at first you dont succeed,try,try again..

As a relatively new sleever I am now rooting for you! Im afraid if you dont find your way back to where you need to be with the eating,it means many of us wont make it either.And we have to,we just do!

Good luck and I will keep looking for your once a month post.

OMG just realized you are in Dubai...I wanna visit.

I almost cried when I read...you have to find the way back.  You just have to....I will!!  I realized some truths recently and am working through.  I plan on posting once a month and working on my head continually.

The good thing about YOU is that you DID work on the hard stuff the head stuff.  Don't be depressed about the lifetime be empowered because the more you are AWARE the stronger you will be.

We WILL do it!!  Never forsake your new sleeve you have to do as much work as your sleeve does!!

Now go to be lol!!

Ms Shell

((Hugs Ms. Shell)) I love you, you, your brain, your insights and attitude. Damn, I wish I lived where you do so we could grab a coffee and let loose.. I catch myself now barely a year out thinking, and sometimes doing things that got me to where I once was.. Do I realize it in the moment, usually yes- do I always shut it down- NO (my choice, no excuses made, I do it- I own it!)

This **** ain't easy, and as someone still in the "honeymoon" phase for whatever that really means, I don't know.. it does spook me. One day at a time, one hand to mouth moment at a time is what I'm working on staying in control of.. I come to the maint board, and for better or worse, I post my weight.. I battle it some days since I feel like the gains = I've failed that day (I NEED to get over this), but in reality- if I gave in and DIDN'T post- that's when I open the door to failing.. EVERYBODY that's been there before battles this, for me- it's just not giving into the "keeping it a secret" and pretending all is well when sometimes it's just not.. So thank you for coming back, and keep checking in monthly, or I may bug you just to get your attention. You have been someone I've grown very fond of here, and someone I miss when I don't see you.. 

Awww shucks...thank you =)  Well I'm back for better or worse, richer or poorer...oh wait that's wedding vows!!!

Yeah I'm here and for at LEAST once a month I am posting!!!  And please do nudge me I need it!

Ms Shell

I love this post! I'm almost 4 weeks post op and I really needed this.