Why can I eat

2 Packs of instant oat meal? 2 cups of yogurt? 1 entire turkey or ham sandwich? 1 1/2 cups meat sauce? 1/2 pack crackers with cheese? 1 entire bagel with cream cheese from Dunkn Donuts Large bowl of grapes I make a trail mix with my protein bars. I take various bars of all types: EAS, Body for Life, Atkins, those Beach ceral bars and other protein bars I like but can't remember the name. Sometimes I will throw in peanuts, sugar free M&Ms and a few sugar free gummy bears for diffenent textures. Then I find myself able to eat 1/2 the bag by the end of the day. If I only take a handful to work I end up being nervous through out the day because I don't have something to snack on. If I am going to snack I want protein. But the calories are way too much to take. I have always been able to eat more then the average person who has had the surgery. I am just now understanding the Whys? I eat too fast! I drink when I eat! Soft food goes right through me, just like I didn't eat! (didn't know this until I was sick and had to drink that chalky stuff to have MRI done of my stomach. Doc said he never saw anyone where the liquid went through them as fast as it did me. I don't know what to eat for breakfast that is full of protein but not loaded with calories. Real Eggs make me sick. Love Tuna, but it makes me sick. Everything has carbs which is KILLING ME. I eat too many carbs and need to find a way to get away from them. I am not so concerned about gaining weight as I am of picking up bad habits again. My major habit right now is I have to have something in the car to eat while I am driving. I can have grapes, pork rinds, swedish fish, SF stuff, protein bars, anything. But the thing is I don't pay attention to what I am eating because I am driving that by the time I do see what I am doing I have eaten too much. What do you tell your self when you get to this point? I am 2 years and 4 months out and need a major boost. Tell me guys and gals, what has worked for you? Huggs

For me, the only solution to junk food is not to buy it. If its in the house, I'm at it . . . as far as breakfast goes, for me chicken! I buy large packages of chicken breast (on the bone, for me better taste) stick that in the oven and roast it. After it cools, I cut it off the bone and into bite size chunks and separate that into 5 zip lock containers. I take one for breakfast each day and just warm it a couple of seconds in the microwave. Hi protein, low fat and I find it sticks with me way longer than a protein bar or a bowl of cereal. Its a little bit of work on the weekend, but then I've got breakfast set for the week, just grab and go!

Thanks Linda, I eat so much chicken now that I don't think I could eat it in the morning too. Huggs

Linda, I can eat alot too, and I rarely feel full for over 5 minutes. I've had to deal with that since surgery. I've been making a great breakfast that fills me up and takes me a while to eat... Egg whites w/ a slice of swiss cheese, 2 pieces of bacon, wrapped up in a low carb wrap. It gives me the feeling of having a little bit fo bread, the eggs and the bacon fill me up for a little while, and it's easy to take in the car when you wrap it up in some foil. Because the eggs don't pass as quickly as everything else, I usually end up taking 5 bites, waiting 10 minutes, then eating the rest. Total calories: 225, feeling satisfied in the morning: priceless. That's what works for me! Good luck.

Hi Wendy! I've been wondering why I can eat so much (volume-wise) at a time also. I don't eat very quickly, and I never drink while I eat (except for the occasional glass of wine with dinner) so maybe I've stretched my stoma? I'm also frequently hungry, and I've regained about 20 pounds, which I'm struggling to take off. Like you, I can eat an entire bagle with no problem, 2-3 slices of pizza (crust and all!) an entire sandwich, and more! I've tried doing the low/no carb thing, and truthfully I didn't notice much difference. I'll be interested to see the responses you get to this post, because I could use some advise also! It's discouraging to think that this struggle will never truly be over for me. I was hoping that after surgery food would be a non-issue for me. Boy, was I wrong! Sigh... Lelina 298/165 (looking for 145 again!)

I do not drink with meals. But I do eat too fast sometimes. Yes I can eat 2 packs of grits or oatmeal in a sitting. I can eat 6 oz of meat in one sitting. I agree with the chicken poster. I also buy already cooked fat free turkey or ham or vegetarian meats and divide them up into 6 oz serving ziplocs. I have been known to eat meat for breakfast. It works. Your problem is your carbs, I know I am pointing out the obvious but there it is. Bagel. Oatmeal. Crackers. Grapes are okay but in the end they are just sweet juice, no substance. Try a mini box of raisens, eat them one at a time enjoy the texture and taste..play with your food it lasts longer and gives your pouch time to register its getting full. Yogurts not bad, but again for me no substance, try adding a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese to it, or some fruit, or raisens. Make your choices heavier, take smaller bites, make your servings smaller so you are forced to spread it out. Your trail mix = BAD. My very humble opinion = CANDY BAD. And for me protein bars are equivalent to CANDY. Sugar free candy is still CANDY. Need something to eat in the car? GUM. A bag of anything that is not dividied out for me is an open invitation to find the bottom. Your trail mix sounds like a calorie binge eatting distaster hon. Honestly you need no food in the car. Tough love, but there it is. It's bad, you can't eat in moderation, I know I cant. Leave the snacks at home. If its your work snack and lunch, put them in the trunk. At work put them somewhere other than your desk. Try it. One day at a time. If that doesn't work, atleast try taking half the amount you usually take. Gradually lessen the dependency on the snacks. And instead of your trail mix, just take a protein bar not a whole buffet of treats. I can not buy protein bars in bulk or even a box of kashi bars because I will eat 3 at one sitting no problem. I buy a protein bar one at a time like a treat. Good Luck Michelle

Michelle, this is what I love about this board--reading answers to other people's questions are a HUGE help to me too! I really appreciated the "talkin' to" you gave "Wendy"--it's just what I needed right now. Even though what you said wasn't anything I didn't know, it still helps to see it in black & white from somebody else. I'm dealing w/ trying to stay away from bad carbs and just too many calories in general, even healthy food. Like many others, although I knew it was possible to re-gain weight, I really thought it would be easier to maintain than it is. I will NEVER be "normal" and am learning just how vigilant with my food & exercise I'll have to be forever. Is it worth it?--YES; is it hard?--YES, VERY! Thanks, Jo 295/150-155 (at goal but really struggling!)

Hi Wendy: I understand where you are... I eat protein every morning. Tilpia (fish) Ground turkey Grilled chicken breast I keep sandwich bags of celery with me all the time. I also keep tangerines. 2 oz of turkey deli meat 2 oz of ham deli meat These are my planned snacks. In the evening I do reward myself with 1/2 cup of sugar free ice cream or popsicles... I've heard string cheese is another good source of a "planned" snack. Have a great day... Denise 326/219/170 -107 49 lbs to Doctors Goal

I have had to learn to surround myself with good foods so I can make good choices for me. I have protein bars for a quick choice. I keep nuts at work, yogurt, soy chips or soy nuts, oatmeal, tuna, shrimp(lots of frozen shrimp), and cheesw sticks. Almost everything I get is single serving and that helps me stay on track. I also drink so much water a day and this helps me feel full and satisfied. I allow myself a Dunkin Dounuts bagel maybe 2-3 times a month, this is a treat, not a habit. Good luck and be good to yourself....watch the trail mix it spells danger. Individual packets will help you stay the course. Monica

I'm not a "grad" yet, but I too struggle with what to eat in the morning. I have found making my own breakfast sausage to help. I replace half of the ground pork with ground turkey. Find a recipe you like for the spices, but be sure to let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours for the flavors to develop. I then make 2 oz. patties, wrap individually and freeze. Then in the morning I can take one or two out, thaw in the microwave, and brown in a pan. I can only take so many eggs (and I like eggs). Best of luck, Sally