Confessions.....

Okay-  I need to confess to someone out there-- 1) I have not exercised seriously for six weeks now, and I am fearing the 'start-up'. I don't know what to do to get me going--- does anyone have any suggestions for a ramp up work-out?  I was up to spinning classes four times a week in September/October, but I don't know if I could make it through one now.  I need motivation and I need some guidance on how to move back into gear 2) I am eating horribly.  I am having chocolate (and not just one piece) every day.  I can't seem to stop myself. It usually happens at work (where I am not currently happy). Today I had a 3 mini hershey bars, and two mini kit-kats.  I haven't started gaining a lot yet, but I know I am playing with fire. HELP!!! Anyone else have these destructive cycles. I know I am stress eating and habit eating, not hunger eating.  I am about 20 months out, and don't want to gain everything back! Andrea

 i think you are experiencing what alot of us have...i am almost 6 yrs post op and did the same thing..a few times actually. you just have to wake yourself up and do it. thats the motivation you need. tough love. you have come to far to spoil your accomplishments.  you just need to take a long hard look at an old pic of you and ask yourself if that is what you want. you have to want to change all we can do is support you. i regained about 20 pounds.....went from 233 to 133 to 153 now at 147. it is a life long battle that will never end, change now or suffer later.  i am not being rude but I am the farthest post op who seems to post on this board. too many people sit back and read and never post....well some of you could be the support that some one needs. we are all here for each other. and many people say they never mess up with working out or eating 100% like the doc said....well good for you....some of us arent that lucky. some of us need support, need to be smacked with reality. andrea, all i can say is get up and exercise....start out slow......dont freak out about the chocolates..ok if it isnt an everyday habit...then it is easy to stop. one piece wont kill you. I have learned if I crave something,,,,,I better eat it or I will eat non stop until I do eat what I was craving. i had to re-start my eating habits and get back on the treadmill jan 01-07. just do it girl.....you can tammy

Ah, but you see, I too am more than 6 years out and I do come back to share the good with the bad so your comment that you're the "oldest" post op on this particular board is not necessarily true.  (No offense, of course) However, I too had to re-start my program recently - first by cutting out booze- and then by paying close attention everythng I put in my mouth.  It's hard work, but that's what boards like this are here for! Good luck to us all! N

what is so sad is that we are all here for one reason..... some people do not post and for some of the newbies...they need to hear from those of us long term post ops. but then again you get some newbies that get angry because we post our failures and they dont want to hear that this surgery is not a cure all it is a tool.  ya cant please everyone. I just wish more long term post ops would post...I want to hear from an 8 year post op for when I have issues....do you agree with me? oh have a good day and good luck to everyone

Sometimes just committing to something helps.  I got out of my routine of exercising due to a very busy schedule and was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get started again.  So, I joined our local run/walk club and committed myself to walking/jogging an upcoming race.  That was enough to get me started and now I'm back on schedule. As for eating, you need to ask yourself whenever you reach for that candy if a few seconds of satisfaction is worth all that you went thru to get down to where you are.  Tell yourself it's just head hunger, you aren't really hungry and if that doesn't work, then eat  a protein filled snack....slowly!  I've never been much of a chocolateholic but I eat the chocolate fudge Citrical Creamy Bites for my calcium and that seems to fill whatever "candy" need I may have and gives me my calcium to boot.. I am also 20 months out and I do have days where I feel I could eat anything and everything.  I'm not perfect and I do indulge some days, but I recognize what I've done and try to get back on schedule.  If I find something that is becoming a daily occurrence, I get rid of it pronto.  I found that having Doritos at home will be a definite "never" for me, it'sstill a trigger food and I can't resist the temptation.  So just not having it around should help alot.  You'll struggle at first and won't be able to stop thinking about it but each time you resist the urge, it'll get easier the next time. So, get tough with yourself, commit to some kind of exercise and something that requires you to sign up for may be the motivating factor and just simply get those trigger foods out of your life.  You didn't go thru all this work for nothing you know.

Glad you posted this concern. How 'bout bringing some snacks w/you so you might not go for the chocolate.  I always have nuts and a SouthBeach bar (or any other you might like) in my coat pocket.  I'll also bring cheese sometimes.  Just to give me something to snack on...or popcorn, pretzels or potato chips depending on how you do with carbs.

Hi Andrea. It seems that we are at the stage when this is very common. I too have had my struggles on and off~most days I win, but there are times when the struggle gets the best of me. I know we can't be perfect every day, but I really try to stick with the plan on most days. I float up and down a little bit, but I have that top ## in my head that I won't allow myself to go over. At Christmas time I had a little too much fun and I paid the price. So I upped my workouts and got recommited to eating properly~thankfully the pounds dropped back off, but I had to work my tool to make it happen. You CAN do this!!! You know what the problem is now you just have to figure out how to deal with it. If chocolate is a trigger for you you might need to give it up entirely. If you think you can handle it then cut back to one piece a day~there's no right or wrong~you have to figure out what works for you! I'm a moderation girl~I can't go all or nothing~that just doesn't work for me. So I allow myself certain things in limited quantities and then I do much better in the long run. Start by pushing protein, that will help with hunger. Up your water intake as much as possible (I do 100 oz daily). Follow the 30/30 rule so no eating and drinking at the same time. Get back to working out~just do whatever it is that you enjoy. Good Luck and keep us posted on how things are going for you!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for the suggestions and support! I  will let you know how it goes.  I brought in some nuts to work today and I am going to snack on those if I get a chocolate craving. I'm also going to try to sneak to the gym today (during work hours, b/c I am scheduled after work) and just start with 20 minutes on the elliptical. Thanks again, Andrea