Big Mistake- It Was The Pasta's Fault

Hi guys! It's been a while since I posted. It seems I've been destroying my own progress. I had been seeing very slow success on the scale. I get almost no exercise since I'm recovering from an accident plus my surgery was a revision, so it was going to be a slow process anyway. I was going for my follow-ups. My lab tests were good except for a very low Thiamine level despite supplementation so I'm supplementing even more now. I fought very hard to stay in ketosis after the surgery. My weight had slowly gone down to 183. Then I got sick with something that resembled the flu even though I had the flu shot. I really couldn't handle the thought of eating protein as much as I should have, but I got the bright idea that I would have more energy to fight whatever it was if I just ate more carbs. Not just any carbs. Not the complex ones. It was pasta, my old frenemy. So for the last 5 days in a row I had pasta. Definately not as much as I would have had before the sleeve but I am no longer in ketosis and I'm still craving more pasta. I need to stop the runaway train. On the plus side my flu seems to be just about gone. If I could just start craving protein so I can get back into ketosis. I know most people don't bother with ketosis after having the sleeve, but I need it or else my appetite will stay in the haywire range. The sleeve for me really is just a tool alongside whatever else I can use with it. No protein or fat, not even bacon sounds as good to me as pasta does right now. Pasta did not suddenly become repulsive to me after the sleeve like it has for some. And it's a slider food for me. I had no problems getting it down. I couldn't be that lucky. I feel bad about messing up my progress, but I'm going to try to pick myself up and start again before too much more damage is done.

Step away from the carbs. You can do this. It will be white knuckle for a few weeks as you detox, but then it gets easier.

Pasta is NOT a complex carb. It's basically white flour and eggs...the same as cake, minus the sugar. Anything made with flour is a simple carb. Veggies and fruits are complex carbs. They are in their natural form and take longer for the body to break down, so they don't raise the blood sugar as fast. Fruit contains sugar, so it should be very limited during the weight loss phase.

That is exactly what she said. " (what I wanted)... Not just any carbs. Not the complex ones. It was pasta, my old frenemy."

Good luck. It's hard to get back on track, but you can do it. I can only eat a few bites of pasta and it sits in my stomach like a rock. I still love it tho.

One of the things that sticks out to me about your post is that you don't seem to be accepting responsibility. "It was the Pasta's Fault" and "before too much more damage is done" seem like you're blaming outside influences.

The sleeve is a tool for all of us. Pasta is a slider food for most of us if we're far enough post-op. Hunger is still an issue for most of us post-op.

Contrary to what some people believe, WLS is not the easy way out and it still takes work and lifestyle change to be successful.

What this all amounts to is that yes, you still need to maintain a healthy diet and yes, it's not easy, but it IS do-able. Are you seeing a therapist to help you with your eating habits and self-sabotage?

Gwen, I think this is her "sense of humor" coming out by blaming the pasta. I am sure she is taking full responsibility. :)

Mindy, it took courage for you to post this and I do sense your pain and struggles. You "can" do this. Like Gwen said,,,, the sleeve is our tool. We need to let it work for us. Maybe talk to your dietician about what you can eat to stay on track while you're sick. I know when I get sick, I do not feel like eating dense protein or veggies. My appetite is not there for it. Maybe at least drink some hot protein drinks? Talk to your dietician for some suggestions. You have come a long way..... you CAN do this! :)

I hope it is sense of humor, as you state! Tone can be hard to interpret in text.

You have already taken the hardest step by saying enough is enough and now I want to get back on track. Here are some steps that helped me and I hope they will help you too! You may have several starts and stops but don't give up, don't beat yourself up. IT WILL CLICK!!! Our tool works if we work the tool and get back to the basics.

Planning/Preparing

Remember when we were preparing for surgery? How many meetings, classes and such did we attend? We were told the more prepared we were the better our chances were for success. And they were right. Go through the house, car and work place and get rid of trigger foods. Stock up on foods that will keep you on track. I removed every bad carb/sugar temptation and replaced it with lots of protein, veggies, grains and fruits.

Journaling

Get back to journaling. This will help you identify when you feel like eating, stress factors and any triggers in your life. Once you identify these factors, this will help you put tools in place to keep you from eating. It became clear I was not taking time for me anymore. I worked my day job and then spent the rest of my time caring for my husband. It was easy to reach for fast, prepackaged food. Since I purged my home I have to eat clean as there are no other options LOL

Use a tool to track you're eating and exercise like Getting Started with Health Tracker. Once I started to track ever bite and drink it became clear why I had gained.

Goals/Rewards

Make a list of goals for yourself. Make them realistic and small. Some of mine were move more, purge all junk from my home, eat more protein. If you didn't make a Weight Loss Surgery bucket list when you first had surgery do it now. GREAT reminder of all the things you can enjoy in life after losing weight.

Food

In general, a long term post-weight loss surgery eating plan includes foods that are high in protein, and low in fat?, calories, and sugar. Important, vitamins and minerals are provided as supplements. (if you had a different surgery adjust this to your food plan).

Water

Water is our Best Friend. I have to say I never went back to pop or any bad drinks, however I was drinking tea like crazy. What is wrong with drinking tea? I was either using sugar or 3 equals and 3 sweet n lows per 32 ounce glass. I found once I started carrying one of the metal bottles of water to keep it cold I drank water all day.

MOVE!

I can't say enough about how key this was for me. The reason I kept my weight off for almost 10 years was no matter what, I kept moving. If I could not go to the gym I would walk. Grab a cart and walk all the isles at your local box store. I loved Zumba, bootcamp workouts, lifting weights. When I stopped, the weight started coming back. So for me I am starting slow to avoid injury by walking and using some of the workouts on my Demand TV. Find something you love to do and it won't feel like a pain in the *** to do daily.

Support

If it's an option "run" don't walk to a support group. Come here on OH daily for support and participate in one of the food threads. It helps you be accountable and also great ideas for food prep.

Keep me posted on how you are doing.

Mindy, when I changed to a ketogenic diet a friend gave me some 'miracle noodles' aka a Japanese root/yam with no calories, no carbs, no nuthin, just fiber...basically inert.

Mine were skinny spaghetti style, but they sell also fehttuchini wide ones... occasionally when I think I miss spaghetti I make everything - beef, sauce, cheese, garlic..and then put over these noodles. It took me a year+ to use one box of 24 of 2 portion packs.

they are pricey, your stomach may not have the 'room' to waste on even this, but I will say when I made the meat sauce, over the noodles, then bake another 20 min with cheese on top it is a great meal. they are $$ ~$2.50 a bag for 7 oz packed in a saline solution, rinse well, boil 2 minutes (fast) and fix however you like.

they have different names but best known as Miracle or Dr. Dukan.

What about cauliflower steamed to pasta 'dente and add butter, etc? that would be denser and have more carbs, tho.

I like your sense of humor!

Hi. Yes, I've tried Miracle noodles in the past. I tried to like them. I really really tried, but they just seemed to have the texture of rubber bands to me. They even squeaked as I chewed them. I just couldn't get past that texture. People say the tofu ones are a better texture but I haven't tried them since they have soy. Cauliflower, that's the ticket! I haven't tried the various mashed, riced, or pizza crust forms of cauliflower but I love it with butter. Thanks for the compliment on my sense of humor. It has helped me a lot on my weight loss journey.