CAN"T STOP....GIVING IN TO CRAVINGS...PLEASE HELP!
I am 15 1/2 months out from Open RNY. I keep craving sugar mainly and some salty snacks and the worst thing is I AM GIVING IN. Why??? I am promised myself I wouldn't. Earlier on I wouldn'r even try these things and now I feel like such a failure. I haven't even reached my goal. Still 18 lbs away. My appetite and capacity have come back. I can eat so much more per meal.
What goes on at this stage ? Is it normal? Can it be beat or am I doomed? I am so obsessed with food. I don't want to be. I seem to always need to have snacks with me at work, on my way to work, shopping, in the car, even on the way to the gym..
I am getting so down and feeling failure lurking over me.
Can anyone shed some light?
Thank you, Pat
Well, if you can't stop, at least divert it to something healthier:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/valgroce/
On Val's profile, she has a recipe for her fabulous trail mix. It helps to curb the sweet & salty cravings, and still get in a good measure of protein. Try it!
Pat, it does get difficult after the 1yr mark. Our capacity increases and we venture into things we haven't eaten for awhile. That's why changing the "old habits" to new ones during the first 1yr after surgery is so important. I'm still working on that too b/c I'm an emotional eater and my coping mechanism was taken away so I'm trying to learn new ways of dealing with things. You have come so far so fast so don't give up now!!! You can do this! I think what you're experiencing is very normal and you are NOT doomed!!! I believe most of us were/are obsessed with food or we would not have ended up MO. We need to find positive behaviors to replace the old negative ones. This may take going to a therapist, working with your dr, etc to accomplish, but it can be done.
For me, pre planning what I am going to eat for the day helps. I know ahead of time exactly what and how much I will consume and I try to stick to that most days. I'm far from perfect, but being prepared helps me not to go for the quick fix as often. Sugar is something you just need to kick~its hard the first few days, but once you rid your body of it, you won't crave it as much or at all. I know this from first hand experience~I went a little crazy around Halloween time and for a few weeks my eating was out of control~I became good friends with peanut M & M's again!!!!! Urgh!!! Well, I finally said goodbye to them again and got myself back on the right track~so it can be done!!!!
You hang in there and don't give up! Don't be hard on yourself, just pick yourself up, dust off and begin again!!! That's the beauty of it~the tool still works if used properly!
Good Luck to you and let us know how things are going!!!!
Hugs,
Tracy B
328/150
5'9"
Pat,
Sorry to just "Copy/Paste" but it saves on typing time
Maybe something in this babble will be beneficial.......
------------------------------------------------------------
This is a Re-Post -
And I'm hoping to keep adding on more info.
(skip if you've seen)
Please do not be Offended with the "Graphic" Nature
Of some of it!
(Now you feel compelled to read.)
I saw a post and some replies about Grazing or Snacking,
And just how hard it is to fight off these urges to slip in
"Just One Little Taste" of this or that throughout the day.
I'm Below Goal and Holding now for about 2 -1/2 years.
And it Is a trick to keep my head "On Course" when that
Little Voice in the back of my Pea-Brain keeps saying-
"You can Afford to gain 2 lbs., You're "Under-Goal!"
So-
Here are some Tips / Tricks that have worked for me- (also RNY)
1.).....Foods High in Soluble Fiber,
Like Oatmeal, All Bran, Blueberries, etc...
I throw a little Bran (just a spoonful) into any food it can "hide in."
Soluble fiber tends to break down very slowly
After it has passed the stoma
And it sustains your blood sugar levels longer than many other foods.
This keeps insulin levels stable
And keeps you from being "hungry" for hours longer.
Oatmeal is the Ace of Spades when it comes to this.
But what if you are still on full liquids,
Or relying on Protein Shakes that pass on through so quickly?
Cook up a little instant Oatmeal,
In fact, overcook it into a real mush!
Keep it in a little dish in the fridge.
When making a "smoothie" drop a dab of it
In the blender with the rest of the mix.
You'll never notice it, except you'll feel satisfied Longer!
Parents out there?
Remember when you could first add that little pinch of cereal
To the baby's formula/milk,
And suddenly they would sleep through the night?
Same thing, Different Baby!
2.).....Chewing Sugar Free Gum with a strong Flavor.
I keep some "wintergreen mix" going nearly all the time.
It fought off the "Ketosis Breath" early on,
But later helped prevent me from snacking.
A nibble on "just one" Bar-B-Que Flavored Potato Chip
Is less appealing with a mouth full of Wintergreen. Yes?
(Clearly it doesn't have to be Wintergreen,
Just what ever you like!)
3.).....More Fat in my Diet!
(Is this man Nuts?
Yes, But This one works even for the sane.)
I don't mean slather on the butter,
But don't avoid nuts because of the fat content.
A Purdue University study showed that people,
Who ate Nuts high in Monounsaturated Fat,
Felt "full" an hour and a half longer
Than those who ate fat-free foods.
Almonds are particularly good at this,
Followed by- other sources such as-
Avocados, Sunflower Seeds, Flaxseed meal, etc...
Even by adding Monounsaturated Fats
In cooking or as salad dressings-
Olive Oil! Sesame Oil! Canola!
These go into "nearly" everything I cook,
And they all are excellent Bad Cholesterol "scrubbers."
As are the Omega's such as the oils
Found in Salmon, Tuna, and "Darker" Fish.
These not only clear out the arteries,
But play a role in speeding up the metabolism.
A study at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that
People who took omega-3's,
Burned more calories throughout the day than those who didn't.
And, they claimed to feel "satiated" as well.
4.).....Water, Water, Water!! In any flavor you like.
I still keep a bottle or glass within arms reach at all times.
This is particularly effective for RNY'ers.
By constantly sipping on No-Calorie Liquid, (WATER)
The Jejunum limb is kept "plump" and stimulated.
Now, follow me....... (an Uneasy Analogy)
The Stomach has, prior to surgery,
Been our major supplier of satisfaction from Eating.
The Nerve endings there were stimulated
And gave us Pleasure.
If The surgery we had was to reduce
The Craving and Pleasure Reward systems of Sex,
The "primary" Sexual Nerve Centers
Would have been "By-Passed"
No Access to the Clitoris for Women, penis for men.
In order to feel that "Sexual Satisfaction,"
Other nerve systems would need to be stimulated
And one would have to become "attuned"
To "Feeling" that stimulation.
(Beyond the Naughty Bits Now)
By bypassing our Stomach, and only leaving the pouch,
Which doesn't send the same "Pleasure Signals"
That the full stomach did,
Only Pain if one stimulates it beyond its limits,
The Jejunum becomes our Metaphoric G-Spot!
Deep and full sensations of Satisfaction and Fullness
Emanate from the Nerves there when it is "Full"
And Plumped up from excess Water.
(Sorry I went around the cup to get to this handle,
But who knew we Men had our own G-Spot Now?)
Do you follow?
By keeping the Jejunum stimulated,
A feeling of Satiation is produced that is sent to the Brain
Very similar to the Signal that was once sent by the Stomach.
It's a "Different Full"
But once one learns to "feel it" It is just as powerful!
(It's an obligatory graphic analogy, but you get it. Yes?)
I worry that people will get all "tingly"
When looking at their Crystal-Lite Now!
5.).....Habits, Habits, Habits!!!!!!
"We Are what we repeatedly Do.
Excellence, then, is not an Act,
But a Habit." - Aristotle
That Old Greek was Pretty Smart.
Keep using every opportunity to establish habitual routines.
That's how so many of us got to be Obese to start with.
Eat at roughly the same times.
Once again, Parents?
Remember how much less "fussy" the baby was when
He/She was on "schedule?"
Same thing with us!
In order to prevent snacking,
When I come across something I have a "Craving" for,
I'll take it, and set it out in preparation for my next meal.
Lie to your Brain-
"That does sound good, I'll have that for Lunch, 2 hours from Now."
Usually, by the time Lunch rolls around,
The impulse to snack on "whatever it was"
Has diminished, and your need for "real food" will prevail.
Keep to a schedule as best you can.
But what if you're 8 months Post-Op
And the habit you have created is to
"Blow off Breakfast, Have a shake for lunch,
And snack the rest of the day away?"
A member of my support group said she found herself
In exactly that same predicament.
The Dr.'s Recommendation?
"Start Over!"
He had her go back to a week of Liquids,
Followed by Pureed, the Mechanical Soft, etc...
The plan was to Learn to use the Pouch.
She had skipped the "Learning" part her first time out.
She now is at goal and said that-
"Putting the Hard part of re-Learning how to eat
At the beginning, made the later part much easier."
Once Again, Back to the Babies!
While becoming Obese we started Learning -
What Satisfied Felt Like,
How to Keep that Good Feeling Going,
How to Stimulate our Pleasure Centers with Food,
Etc.....
By Viewing this Surgery as a "Re-Birth" and
Acknowledging that even at 3-1/2 years Post-Op,
We are "Three Year Olds, "
Just Learning the most elemental of Habits,
We can establish Habits Different
From those that helped us get to be Obese.
Yes?
OK, Enough Babble from me-
What Tips or Tricks Work for you?
Surely there must be Lots and Lots!
Got some more?
Best Wishes-
Dx
Maybe something in this babble will be beneficial.......
------------------------------------------------------------
This is a Re-Post -
And I'm hoping to keep adding on more info.
(skip if you've seen)
Please do not be Offended with the "Graphic" Nature
Of some of it!
(Now you feel compelled to read.)
I saw a post and some replies about Grazing or Snacking,
And just how hard it is to fight off these urges to slip in
"Just One Little Taste" of this or that throughout the day.
I'm Below Goal and Holding now for about 2 -1/2 years.
And it Is a trick to keep my head "On Course" when that
Little Voice in the back of my Pea-Brain keeps saying-
"You can Afford to gain 2 lbs., You're "Under-Goal!"
So-
Here are some Tips / Tricks that have worked for me- (also RNY)
1.).....Foods High in Soluble Fiber,
Like Oatmeal, All Bran, Blueberries, etc...
I throw a little Bran (just a spoonful) into any food it can "hide in."
Soluble fiber tends to break down very slowly
After it has passed the stoma
And it sustains your blood sugar levels longer than many other foods.
This keeps insulin levels stable
And keeps you from being "hungry" for hours longer.
Oatmeal is the Ace of Spades when it comes to this.
But what if you are still on full liquids,
Or relying on Protein Shakes that pass on through so quickly?
Cook up a little instant Oatmeal,
In fact, overcook it into a real mush!
Keep it in a little dish in the fridge.
When making a "smoothie" drop a dab of it
In the blender with the rest of the mix.
You'll never notice it, except you'll feel satisfied Longer!
Parents out there?
Remember when you could first add that little pinch of cereal
To the baby's formula/milk,
And suddenly they would sleep through the night?
Same thing, Different Baby!
2.).....Chewing Sugar Free Gum with a strong Flavor.
I keep some "wintergreen mix" going nearly all the time.
It fought off the "Ketosis Breath" early on,
But later helped prevent me from snacking.
A nibble on "just one" Bar-B-Que Flavored Potato Chip
Is less appealing with a mouth full of Wintergreen. Yes?
(Clearly it doesn't have to be Wintergreen,
Just what ever you like!)
3.).....More Fat in my Diet!
(Is this man Nuts?
Yes, But This one works even for the sane.)
I don't mean slather on the butter,
But don't avoid nuts because of the fat content.
A Purdue University study showed that people,
Who ate Nuts high in Monounsaturated Fat,
Felt "full" an hour and a half longer
Than those who ate fat-free foods.
Almonds are particularly good at this,
Followed by- other sources such as-
Avocados, Sunflower Seeds, Flaxseed meal, etc...
Even by adding Monounsaturated Fats
In cooking or as salad dressings-
Olive Oil! Sesame Oil! Canola!
These go into "nearly" everything I cook,
And they all are excellent Bad Cholesterol "scrubbers."
As are the Omega's such as the oils
Found in Salmon, Tuna, and "Darker" Fish.
These not only clear out the arteries,
But play a role in speeding up the metabolism.
A study at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that
People who took omega-3's,
Burned more calories throughout the day than those who didn't.
And, they claimed to feel "satiated" as well.
4.).....Water, Water, Water!! In any flavor you like.
I still keep a bottle or glass within arms reach at all times.
This is particularly effective for RNY'ers.
By constantly sipping on No-Calorie Liquid, (WATER)
The Jejunum limb is kept "plump" and stimulated.
Now, follow me....... (an Uneasy Analogy)
The Stomach has, prior to surgery,
Been our major supplier of satisfaction from Eating.
The Nerve endings there were stimulated
And gave us Pleasure.
If The surgery we had was to reduce
The Craving and Pleasure Reward systems of Sex,
The "primary" Sexual Nerve Centers
Would have been "By-Passed"
No Access to the Clitoris for Women, penis for men.
In order to feel that "Sexual Satisfaction,"
Other nerve systems would need to be stimulated
And one would have to become "attuned"
To "Feeling" that stimulation.
(Beyond the Naughty Bits Now)
By bypassing our Stomach, and only leaving the pouch,
Which doesn't send the same "Pleasure Signals"
That the full stomach did,
Only Pain if one stimulates it beyond its limits,
The Jejunum becomes our Metaphoric G-Spot!
Deep and full sensations of Satisfaction and Fullness
Emanate from the Nerves there when it is "Full"
And Plumped up from excess Water.
(Sorry I went around the cup to get to this handle,
But who knew we Men had our own G-Spot Now?)
Do you follow?
By keeping the Jejunum stimulated,
A feeling of Satiation is produced that is sent to the Brain
Very similar to the Signal that was once sent by the Stomach.
It's a "Different Full"
But once one learns to "feel it" It is just as powerful!
(It's an obligatory graphic analogy, but you get it. Yes?)
I worry that people will get all "tingly"
When looking at their Crystal-Lite Now!
5.).....Habits, Habits, Habits!!!!!!
"We Are what we repeatedly Do.
Excellence, then, is not an Act,
But a Habit." - Aristotle
That Old Greek was Pretty Smart.
Keep using every opportunity to establish habitual routines.
That's how so many of us got to be Obese to start with.
Eat at roughly the same times.
Once again, Parents?
Remember how much less "fussy" the baby was when
He/She was on "schedule?"
Same thing with us!
In order to prevent snacking,
When I come across something I have a "Craving" for,
I'll take it, and set it out in preparation for my next meal.
Lie to your Brain-
"That does sound good, I'll have that for Lunch, 2 hours from Now."
Usually, by the time Lunch rolls around,
The impulse to snack on "whatever it was"
Has diminished, and your need for "real food" will prevail.
Keep to a schedule as best you can.
But what if you're 8 months Post-Op
And the habit you have created is to
"Blow off Breakfast, Have a shake for lunch,
And snack the rest of the day away?"
A member of my support group said she found herself
In exactly that same predicament.
The Dr.'s Recommendation?
"Start Over!"
He had her go back to a week of Liquids,
Followed by Pureed, the Mechanical Soft, etc...
The plan was to Learn to use the Pouch.
She had skipped the "Learning" part her first time out.
She now is at goal and said that-
"Putting the Hard part of re-Learning how to eat
At the beginning, made the later part much easier."
Once Again, Back to the Babies!
While becoming Obese we started Learning -
What Satisfied Felt Like,
How to Keep that Good Feeling Going,
How to Stimulate our Pleasure Centers with Food,
Etc.....
By Viewing this Surgery as a "Re-Birth" and
Acknowledging that even at 3-1/2 years Post-Op,
We are "Three Year Olds, "
Just Learning the most elemental of Habits,
We can establish Habits Different
From those that helped us get to be Obese.
Yes?
OK, Enough Babble from me-
What Tips or Tricks Work for you?
Surely there must be Lots and Lots!
Got some more?
Best Wishes-
Dx 
Pat, I think many of us have given in to temptations. Does it make us failures? Heck no, it makes us human. So what to do? Refocus and go back to the rules we learned as new post-ops. Water, exercise, vitamins, protein first, then vegetables, fruit, a bite of carb if there is any room left in the pouch.
I too went down the slippery slope of sugar, only to find out I don't dump. A few weeks ago, I decided enough was enough and elected to go on a 3 day liquid diet. Not only did I lose 6 lbs but I also lost the desire to eat sweets and bad carbs.
Find what works for you, the first couple of days will be trying but if you stick with it, you'll lose the desire for sugar and high carb foods.
You are not a failure, don't let yourself believe that, think positively and refocus. You have a wonderful tool, if you use it the way it was intended you can gain the control you are looking for.
Best wishes,
Dana
PS, after the first year I to could eat more and it scared me. However, think about it, we can't eat such small amounts forever and stay nourished. Our body needs fuel (food) to function.
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