CANDY ANYONE????

I've ben practicing for Halloween. I keep a bowl of M&Ms in my office for the docs. It lures them in so I can get them to stand still long enough to sign whatever I have for them. I keep it by the door, a good 6' away from my desk. I have nibbled a few here and there but for the most part, I haven't been tempted. Put Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia in there, however, and I am a dead woman. Kristen

I'm two years out and I guess what amazes me is that everyone talks about candy they eat, stuffing, cranberry sauce, all sorts of things that I thought we weren't supposed to eat anymore. Now mind you, I've not lost as much as you all have and I don't eat any of those things, and you all might be gym rats; I'm not. I've not lost 100 lbs yet but close. I can't get the last 5 off to get there.... I don't do any extra sugar and limit what I have to 12 g because that's what's in milk. I'm not tempted by candy but occasionally I'll get a SF chocolate turtle or something. I did have a piece of pumpkin pie today that my DIL made and it did have some sugar in it, but very little. She's learning to use Splenda. I was able to eat it but had guilt pangs all the way home and had a headache. Those little peanut butter cracker thingees in the 6-cracker packages are my downfall. I get those gone before I realize it. I'm just so darned scared of gaining my weight back before I've had a chance to hit the 100 lb mark. Janet

Hi Janet! When I talk about "eating candy" it might be a snack size candy bar here or a bite there~I can't and don't sit down and eat a King Size Snickers, anymore that is, LOL! My surgeon comes from a viewpoint of moderation~nothing is completely "off limits" for the rest of my life b/c for most that wouldn't be a realistic goal. I usually stick w/ sf candy if I get a craving and that does the trick. I'm not a "gym rat", but I do work out on a regular basis~it has become just another daily habit in this new life of mine! I too am afraid to gain any weight back so I monitor myself daily to stay in check. So far it seems to be working! Congratulations to you on your success! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

what we are and are not "allowed" to eat varies by the person and the surgeon they went to. candy is probably not on anyones list, but thisis the real world out here 4 + years post op. if you are eating a sugar free turtle you are eating the candy too, just sweetened with sugar alcohol instead of regular sugar, and with just as many calories, if not more. the sugar free label is a marketing tool to get you to eat stuff that is completely devoid of nutritional value and feel ok with it because after all it is sugar free. I thnk when most of us mention having candy it is indeed an aoccasional treat in small quantities in most cases. As far as stuffing and cranberry sauce, you can bet money I will have them on thanksgiving, and I will enjoy every single bite. I will use splenda (no calorie sweetener, unlike the sugar alcohols in the sf candy) to make my cranberry sauce and my pumpkin pies, and no one will be the wiser. I will also eat my baked sweetptoatoes (actually I have them on a regualr basis, topped with butter, slenda and cinnamon) I will also use sf jello in my jello recipes. thanksgiving is once a year and I will enjoy these foods once a year with total enjoyment and NO guilt or fear. I feel that if I indulge, like a normal person omn the holiday and am eating carefully for my health the other days I have achieved something, balance in my life related to food, and my good health.

I hate this time of year. Candy, candy, candy. My biggest downfall, my greatest enemy. I had to make my mom hide the trick or treater candy somewhere where I didn't know. Tootsies Rolls ar e like crack to me and that's what she bought this year. So, I can relate. Get halloween over with! Cheers, Jane

I totally agree about Halloween - stupid me, I offered to set up the office Halloween party - which meant creating 60 treat bags of assorted candies. It was the worst think I have ever gone through since my surgery. The smell of the chocolate, the small packages begging me to try just one - it was horrible. I finally just starting shoving candy into the bags - so if some one got 2 snickers and no milk duds - oh well! LOL!!! I actually was proud of myself - I only ate 2 toostie roll midgets but never again will I ever subject myself to such torture!!!! I am passing out bubble gum to my trick or treaters - and the last kid before I turn off the light will make a killin'! He/She will get the end of the stash! Valerie

Hi David~ Candy is my biggest temptation that I just can't refuse! If it is chocolate I eat it. Around the holidays it's bad especially Halloween. I went to my moms house on Friday and she had those 1000 grand mini bars out and I ate probably about six of them. I also went to Sams club and they had Cherry Cordial Hershey Kisses and it's not in a little bag..but we are talking a big one. Well, it took my husband and I a week to go through the whole bag. Needless to say I feel like crap and began my exercise regimine to help counteract my behavior. I'm like you...WTF?? I'm ready for some turkey!!

There is chocolate on the floor where I work. Good chocolate and candy. Every 10 feet there seems to be a bowl out. It's like halloween on crack here 24/7. Worse, chocolate is my downfall. I'm amazed my surgery had a chance at all. However, miracles do happen. I may have one two peices a week, but after about 9 months I stopped craving it. I think I might even be able to handle making Christmas cookies this year. Cheers, Torrey (281/180/160)

David SMACK!!! That is me slapping you. Snap out of it. What are you thinking? I hope that helped -- I feel better anyway. Now David, this is really a pep talk. I just wanted to get your attention. You have come so far and done so well to let the call of a crappy candy bar bring you down. Remember that Tux in January. PS - give out quarters and don't even buy the candy. It's cheaper too. Win/Win CathyA