HELP...can eat more all of a sudden!

Hi everyone.  I am 15 months out, and in this last week, all of sudden, I can eat things I never could before.  And I gained three pounds too!  Need some advise...and support.  Hubby deployed, lots of stress in my life.  Should I just go back to protein only for a few days to knock off this three pounds?  I do NOT want to start to gain after all of this.  Any advise would be so greatly appreciated.  My Dr. told me to stay at 126, am right there right now.  Was staying at 118-122 but all of a sudden, just shot up this week. 

I am looking forward to responses to your post, I am in the same boat. I had surgery about 2 months before you and I've gained 13 pounds! It's awful and my old habits have come back with a vengence!

Kathleen, around 15-18 months is when many post-ops start being able to eat more (some sooner) and yes this is when the challenges begin.

I can only imagine the stress you have in your life right now with hubby deploying.  What I suggest is find a hobby that you can do to keep your hands busy instead of turning to food.  I'm working on this myself right now and by golly of all times of the year to be here with the holidays just around the corner.

There are those for and those against the 5 day pouch test, www.5daypouchtest.com.  I have had SUCCESS with the plan and strongly believe in it.  I am going to watch myself this week and know that I'll "cheat" some for Thanksgiving but come next week, it's time to pull the boot straps up and get back on track.

Some things to consider:

1)  Are you eating protein first, then low glycemic vegetables or fruit?
2)  Are you taking your daily vitamins and minerals?
3)  Are you drinking enough water, and waiting at least 30 minutes after eating before drinking again?
4)  Are you planning you food intake, meals and snacks?
5)  Are you measuring your portions and eating within 20 minutes (that's my plan, yours may vary, consult your surgeon if necessary)?

I believe if you follow the rules and come to the boards for support those 3 pesky lbs will be gone in no time.  Come to the boards and let us know how you are doing and let us support you. 

Good luck!

I would say you didnt really gain 3lbs... you would have had to consume thousands of additional calories in order to put on 3lbs of actual weight. If you were eating more carbs and/or more salt than more than likely its water weight that you put on. Instead of going back to protein only I suggest you track what you are eating and get yourself back in balance with how you normally eat... it will also give you an idea of where you have been falling with your nutrition and you can see what changes you need to make. If you are suddenly eating things that are not so good try keeping them out of the house if possible, if not limit the portions that are around and hold yourself accountable for what you are eating - just by logging you will see how its adding up and that can be a good deterrant because you have to decide if eating something is worth the carlories/carbs/fat/sugar/protein you are getting from it.
Also work on finding other things besides food to help you with your stress. Sit down and make a list of things that you can reference... call a friend for a few minutes, read a little of a magazine, take a hot bath, count to 10, do yoga breathing (or deep breathing) for a few minutes, jump back to a happy memory that makes you smile, listen to a song that makes you happy or makes you shake your groove than, get a pedicure/mani/massage, read a funny joke... whatever will help you destress a little and take your mind off food and elsewhere.

Halp! I'm right there with you.  Sudden ability to eat food in amounts never before seen.  And since I'm used to having a VERY picky pouch this is changing my way ot looking at food- AGAIN! So, fo me it's time to cut back on those complex carbs (good bye lovely potato)  cut back on the sugars (for me this is an ongoing battle, sugar an I have a complicated relationship) and up up up the exercise.  I've been walking and going to the gym.  With the gym thing thas means I'll be initially replacing fats with heavier muscles so at first I prolly won't even see weight gain.  BUt I'm already feeling a little better- though in some withdrawel from the sugars.

Thank you SOOO MUCH everyone.  I am going to keep a log, watch what I am doing and exercise.  You are ALL awesome and I so appreciate you!

You should not eat as much as you CAN.  You should eat whatever amount (by volume) that your surgeon prescribed.

If you surgeon does not recommend a specific "cap" volume, I suggest you use one anyway.  My surgeon caps his patients volume at 1/2 cup which we work up to over the first 2 - 6 months.  I am still (and will forever be) at about 1/2 cup.  Do I freak out if I go over that OCCASSIONALLY... no.  Because he said every so often it was okay to go a little over.  But that is only every so often. 

Research has shown that post-ops who measure their meals have a much 
higher success rate than those that eat until “full”.  If you are eating until you feel "full", 
you have eaten enough food to fill your pouch to capacity.  The problem with this is 
that, over time, it will take more and more to give you that "full" feeling.  This will lead 
to regain long-term and inadequate short-term weight loss in some cases. 
Source:             OH Magazine January-February 2008

It may seem like a headache to measure your meal volume every time you eat.  But I figure it is a very small price to pay for my new life.  And since my liklihood of success is so much higher because I do it, I continue to do it and plan to fovever.