Grazing Question

Happy Friday!

Normally I lurk over here for the different topics on maintenance.  I'm pre-op and in the past I did good with losing the weight but awful with keeping the pounds at bay.  Since losing is just the beginning and the real test is maintenance I want to study up as much as possible.

One of the big things I have seen as an obstacle is grazing during the day.  I currently do not graze and was wondering if this becomes a problem more after WLS than before?  Did anyone go from not snacking throughout the day to munching outside of B/L/D?  

 

In truth grazing and drinking your calories are the two worst habits during maintenance, and yes it is easier to get into them after surgery.  If food  is your addiction and makes you feel better, than eating more often makes you feel better more often.  It makes sense.  I keep a close eye on the snacking and make sure it is healthy snacks with protein that I am eating, but I also check in with myself to determine if I am really hungry or if this is head hunger.  Head hunger is a life long problem and I think it is not ever going to just go away.  So I keep an eye on it.  I really work on the motivation behind the eating so that I am never hungry but I don't allow myself to just use food for comfort either.  It is much easier to do this after surgery as the real hunger is so diminished.

Thank you for your reply.  It is reassuring to know that this can be controlled.

We were told in our support group that you are a WLS patient for life!  You cannot lose weight and think that you are back to being pre-WLS.

Your reply confirms that a sound strategy works!

you are wise to be thinking ahead on these issues so you can be prepared. grazing is a bad habit which can cause regain and my surgeon recomends three meals a day. but many of us find its difficut to eat only every six hours as our tummies are so small. so he says five meals a day is ok. of course this means planned eating of healthy stuff within your surgeons guidelines such as protein and not cookies or chips. I do have snacks between meals sometimes but always try for cheese or almonds or grapes or sf pudding with protein added or a glass of skim milk. not something you would consider an endugence but sound nutrition. hope this helps. good luck when you get your surgery.  Diane

I have always done better - more healthy eating, less overeating - when I eat small amounts and very frequently.

however, I see grazing as different - eating mindless when bored or for some other reason.

so, my answer is I have always eaten without worrying about if it is a meal time and the more I wait until I am hungry no matter what time it is, the better I do.

I know lots of people do better with a set shedule and rules like only eating 3 meals and 2 snacks or every 3 hours or whatever. so it is about what works for each individual.

good for you for looking ahead, I think the better idea you have of what's coming up the more likely you will do well.