Plateau Busters

Well, I re-gained the 5 I lost on Plateau Buster's. I am terrified I am going to end up a fat blob like I was and have to go into hiding again. I just get so damn hungry and so I eat a little bit and in a half hour I am hungry again. I try and keep it within reason, but sometimes there is nothing availible but junk, and I can't stop. I get so bored at work and all I can think about is what can I eat? Today someone brough muffins in and my first though was, oh, I can have just one...but no, no, no!!! When the honeymoon is over, it's really over. I am deeply frustrated. -=db=-

Dee, Remember that you are in control not the food. Do not allow the food to have power over you. Place a pre-op photo on your desk to remind yourself of the road you have traveled. I was wondering have you been exercising? If not you may want to look inot incorporating formal exercise into you life as it will help burn those extra calories. Mary M. 415/159

I do excercise, the thing it it is routine. I have a wacky schedule and trying to squeeze in regular excercise is difficult. I do as much hiking and walking as I can. But you're right, I need to remind myself when I get the powerful cravings that I have come too far to snap back. I am just bummed at the 20 pounds I've put back on this year and how many of my really neat outfits don't fit anymore. -=db=-

Dee, I totally feel ya girl. Im not as even as far out as you and I struggle daily with my eating. I notice if I get a plesant full feeling I last about 2 hours(not long enough)and if I dont its even less. I try to reach for the water but sometimes(more often than not)the food wins. Believe me you are not alone! Candy

as I sit here reading your posts I realized I dont think I even know what hunger is. I eat cause I want something/ im bored/ angry/ happy but I dont think in my life I have ever been hungry. Maybe I eat too often??? Just in case your wondering Full I know. Diana RNY 9/17/03 360/200/aiming for 180

I'm sorry that you have had another regain (still battling my baby weight gain myself). Take 'good-for-you' food/snacks with you to work...that way, junk will NOT be the only things available to you. ~~Sherry

Dee. FYI, Your NOT a Fat Blob. Just think today, how well you've done !!! So what if those clothes from last year don't fit. Think of the size you can fit into NOW. Think back when you were heavy and wished you were the size you are now. Doesn't it seem crazy. I feel the same way you do. I've gained about 20lbs since my lowest last year. I'm a little over two years post op. and yes, I have jeans that I can squeeze my behind in but won't wear in public, jeans I bought last year that fit. I don't let it get me down, I just look at old pics of myself and it reminds me of where I came from. Do that, post a pic of your old self on your desk, look at it since it's a constant reminder of what you looked like, ask yourself, 'were you happy then?" I posted a few FYI's of what I've been doing to lose/maintain my weight, I think you've read it. But here it is again,,, I too feel hungry all the time. My NUT said to eat no more than 5 small meals a day. I limit my carbs to one of those meals so I don't feel deprived. I normally eat, cottage cheese and fruit for breakfast, lunch is a salad or some type of protein and a veggie, snack at work (because I get bored too) is sf pudding or nuts, or half of an avocado/veggies, cheese. Dinner is when I give myself the carb, I have protein, veggie and some pasta, etc. Snack at night my 5th meal is something small like cheese, beef stick. Maybe, sticking to 5 small meals a day will help with your hunger. I know it's so hard to NOT eat when your bored. I get like that at work too. I read all of your posts you seem like a cool lady. I hope you can find out your answer, You have support in me. L

You . . . are . . . not . . . alone. It's just damned hard. The only thing that's different for me is that I have to honestly admit I do not have hunger issues. When I eat nutritious food until I'm reasonably satisfied, I truly do not get hungry for many hours. BUT, and this is a big BUT, my problem isn't with hunger; it's with just plain wanting to eat. The old grazing & craving the bad carbs. Unfortunately, I don't dump on ANYTHING. And I always have to make myself stop eating at reasonable portions--I think I could EASILY eat way more than I do (and I think I definitely eat big enough portions). So it boils down to just plain having to discipline myself to eat normal portions and not eat the junk. I hate it! Even though I had read and heard that eventually, after wls, you have to be very disciplined, somehow I expected it to be easier. With that said, I LOVE my weight (well, OK, I love it when I'm at the bottom of my "allowable" leeway I give myself) and all the ways wls has changed my life. I'm 56 and feel younger than I did at 30. And am definitely more healthy. I love my new clothes, people's compliments, my family & friends' continued support and happiness for me, my ability to play with my little grandsons, my ability to do all kinds of physical things, my feeling of being just a normal person in a room of people, etc., etc. I could go on & on, and I know you can too. I absolutely CANNOT bring junk into the house. I can't be moderate with certain trigger foods. If I bring stuff home, I know I will eat it and gain a few pounds. So far I have been able to get a grip when that happens and re-lose the weight, but I am really afraid of my eating behavior sometimes and am really working on continuing to change how I eat emotionally. Also, I am pretty darned faithful with my working out. I go to the gym and/or walk--usually 5-6 days/week. If I didn't do this, I would gain weight. I hate to work out. Hate it! But I just have to, or I'd really have to cut back on what I eat, and I'd hate to do that even more than working out. You can do this. Go back and re-read your profile. (By the way, you are such a good writer! I love your way of putting things, your humor, your insight!) You deserve to look and feel your best. You've come so far--all of us on the grads board have--so don't let the 20 lbs. re-gained get you back into that old "all or nothing" thinking. You don't have to panic; just start in making the changes you know you need to do. Keep coming to this board--it really helps me to know that most of us are struggling to finally reach goal or to get BACK to goal or just reasonably maintain goal--and those who are very successful--well, they give me inspiration! Jo 295/150-155 (at goal)

Thank you Jo. I always so enjoy your posts. I've read your profile and we have mu*****ommon in terms of our ages (I'm 48), weight/bmi (currently 155/ 26.6), joys (books/english), beliefs (Christian), marriage (28 years), children (1 married, 1 single adult, 2 grandchildren), etc, etc. You write about right where I live food-wise. Could eat more, don't dump on anything; have to watch every bite that goes in through sheer discipline. Sometimes my discipline stinks; other times, it's fabulous. My old food habits terrify me and I know they put me at risk. Wouldn't you think that would be enough to help me stop? Now if I can just get the exercise thing going. I'm 3 days into a Pilates routine which feels good (but I'm unable to complete..YET..but I'm determined) but every muscle on me aches this morning. I'm trusting that's a good thing. I guess we all knew this wasn't a magic cure for being permanently thin, but it was a nice dream while it lasted. Now it's back to the daily grind and the nitty, gritty details if we want to continue to be healthier and happier. Fondly, Julie 254/145/currently 155 (RNY lap 2/12/2004)

Dee, I'm so sorry you're struggling right now. I know how hard you worked doing the platue busters diet. I understand what you're saying about the food~I feel like its calling me sometimes. I can do really well one week and feel great and then BAM! the next week I'll do terrible b/c I'm feeling out of control. I'm not sure how to combat this, sorry, but please know that you're not alone in this struggle. Tracy B 328/151 5'9"