Question:
Why did I go through this surgery just to eat things I'm not suppose to?
I had RNY on 4/10/02 & have just been okayed to start adding things to my diet. For what ever reason I choose things to eat not because I'm hungery but just because of my head hunger & because it's convient or there. I cannot seem to get past this. This is driving me nuts! I feel like why the heck did I go through all of this just to eat things I'm not suppose to. I know I can't be expected to be perfect all of the time, BUT. For example today I had a few bites of FRIED CHEESE and also tried two cookies because it was fast and it was there. That is so bad!! It's almost like I don't know how to eat right or something! What can I do to stop this? I do go to support group meetings once a month & I did see a dietician once before my surgery. Part of it is, I am only cooking for myself & don't really like to cook all that much for just me. Any suggestions on foods that are fast and don't require much cooking because I'm constantly on the go? I eat things only out of convience. Obviously that is what got me here in the first place!! Does this make sense? Any other suggestions to try to stop this? — Allison T. (posted on May 18, 2002)
May 18, 2002
How much protein supp are you getting in? Perhaps you would not be victim
to whatever is looking back at you if you were well nourished. Also, simply
by the act of drinking my protein drink, I remind me that I am the new
healthy me. It REALLY helps when my staff is running naked through a plate
of homemade brownies with choc chips & walnuts. I just fire up another
protein and say, "No, thanks". I didn't say it was EASY, just
do-able. I have to eat on the go A LOT, perpetual meals in my lap as I
drive. I grab a protein as I run out the door, and while out, I usually
have to do fast food, but it is not SUGAR fast food. I'm not willing to
undo what has been done. I'm far from perfect (how would I know I still
dump?), but my good days far outnumber my bad days. And I know that staying
nourished is the key. It's certainly not will power.
— vitalady
May 18, 2002
You have what is called a food obsession/compulsion: irrational thoughts
and behaviors related to food. It is the equivalent of hitting yourself in
the head with a hammer and asking, why can't I stop doing this? I know it
is bad for me, I know better, yet, I can't stop!?!?! There are a couple of
ways to treat this and you have to find the one that works for you: a
psychologist who can talk you through these self-destructive tendencies, a
psychiatrist who can prescribe medication for obsessive compulsive disease
(a true biochemical disorder of the brain), or Overeater's Anonymous, which
uses a behavioral/spiritual approach to treating food obsession/compulsion.
Mostly, you need to stop the cycle of
behavior/guilt/anxiety/behavior/guilt, ad nauseaum as it is the basis of
low self-esteem and will stop you from doing the things you need to do to
be responsible for your health and well being. Good Luck to you. I have
been there, there is hope of recovery...
— merri B.
May 18, 2002
The first thing I would is advise you to do is STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP!
So what if you ate some fried cheese? Are we supposed to stop living life
because we had this surgery? Are we supposed to eat protein shakes and
salads the rest of our life because we had weight loss surgery? You know
what I ate last night? My neighbor lady turned 80 and she brought me a
piece of birthday cake from her party. I scraped all the icing off and ate
that piece of cake! Am I going to do this everyday and eat like this
everyday? No I'm not, but am I going to treat myself every once in a
while? Yes I am. You hold the key to controlling your destiny and this
weight loss surgery is a tool to help us. Every once in a while we're
gonna fall off track. So jump back on there and keep on going. So today
it's back to oatmeal, protein shakes, tuna and vitamins. Do I regret
eating that birthday cake? No I don't and I'm not going to beat myself up
for eating it.
— Annie H.
May 18, 2002
It is hard to change habits you have had for a really long time. But it is
NOT immpossible. Remember that your surgery was not on your brain. You
still have the same eating style in your mind. I know you don't want to
hear this (you've been told 100 times) but your surgery is only a tool. You
have to make the change. I use to live to eat. Now I eat to live. I know
that I have to get protien to be healthy. I would suggest planning out
everything you will eat each day. If you need to, grab your favorite Smart
One's out of the freezer section at the store. Or allow yourself a small
amount of what you like the most. Good Luck to you and hang in there.
— Sarah K.
May 18, 2002
Try having some quick things on hand like string cheese if you can tolerate
milk products. Also yougurt, protein drinks, cottage cheese, protein bars,
deli meat, etc. They also now make tuna that doesn't require draining
because it is in a foil pack that you just open and eat. That saved me
when I spent a weekend in a motel. Lean Cousinne also makes some good
entrees that we can have. Just check the sugar content in them. I like
the lasagna, 3 cheese ravioli and stuff like that. If I haven't had enough
protein I will even add a serving of cottage to it. These are very
convenient and only take 3 minutes in the microwave. It only takes a
couple minutes to scramble an egg and throw some LF cheese on top of it.
There are so many things that you can prepare quickly that you don't need
to be eating stuff that is bad for you. I had this surgery because I
wanted to be healthy and am determined to do so. I had to do some
re-evaluating lately to see why I wasn't feeling so good like I was in the
beginning and discovered that I was eating way too many carbs (make me
bloat and feel yucky) and too many dairy products. I am now pretty much
eating protein supplements, meats, veggies and fruits. I feel so much
better and my energy is back up there again.
— livnliter
May 18, 2002
I know how you feel! Some days I might have something that is not good for
me. I know I have an obsessive desire for food and I eat compulsively.
Especially with post-op nutrition needs, I find it hard to meet those
criteria 100% of the time. I would do 3 things...1) Make sure you do a lot
of grocery shopping so you have a variety of healthy choices available when
you need to eat. I try to make sure I have a variety of fruits, veggies
and meats available so if I want something sweet - I can eat a few
strawberries or if I want to crunch on something, I can eat a few lightly
steamed fresh green beans. 2) Stop thinking of food as a reward. I don't
know if You do this, but I did and sometimes still do. I had a few french
fries the other day and was telling someone about it and began with "I
treated myself..." Well, food is not a treat. Even the ooey, gooey,
delectable stuff. No treat. Treats are pedicures, manicures, massages and
shopping trips at the mall. Food is not a reward. So if you do that,
stop. 3) I began seeing a therapist who specializes in eating disorders
about a month ago. I have discovered so many things about myself since.
Food is comforting, and you probably always used it for comfort. I
encourage you to find someone. Already I've noticed a difference in my
attitude towards food. Please get help - you didn't come all this way to
hurt yourself now. And like the previous poster said...Don't Beat Yourself
Up!!! Good Luck!!!!
— Pamela P.
May 19, 2002
I am 13 1/2 weeks post op and just realized this week why eating has been
so easy for me since surgery. PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION! I
also go grocery shopping and cook only for myself - even though I still
live at home with my poor-eating-habits-parents. As a postie, I've
discovered that my old way of eating was the worst (obviously, duh). I used
to wait unTil I was famished and then eat my way through the kitchen like a
whirling dervish. And, whatever I could stuff in my mouth the fastest was
the first thing I'd eat. And then I'd continue to eat the next fastest, and
then the NEXT fastest, and, well you get he point. Usually it was not the
healthiest fare. Now, planning my meals/snacks has become a part of my
life. When I go food shopping, I break out the chicken into indivdual
portions before I freeze it, so I can just grab one, thow it in the pan
with a vegetable and some tasty sauce and cooking it doean't seem to be a
big project. This weekend I made a weeks worth of chili and a weeks worth
of turkey meatballs (last week I bought the meatballs pre-made, but they
didn't have them this time). When it comes mealtime, I just scoop out my
1/4 of a cup and I am good to go! I boil about 4 or 5 eggs at a time, keep
them in the fridge and they are waiting for me to eat whole, or make into
egg salad , or whatever. I keep string cheese and Lite Mini Baby Belle
cheese on hand. This weekend I bought Purdue Chicken, cooked white meat in
strips, to put on top of some greens, with lite dressing and FF feta
cheese. That's a pretty easy, no hassle meal. If I am super-super on the
go and don't have a minute to even think about eating, but know that I have
to I'll grab a protein bar. Every night either as soon as I get home from
work, or right after I eat dinner, I put together my breakfast, lunch, and
afternoon snack to eat the next day (I am the Queen of those Ziploc and
Glad disposable containers). You see, the key is to be prepared for being
hungry. I understand being busy and on-the-go, but this surgery will be
with you for the rest of your life, now is the time to prioritize it in
your life and set the patterns neccessary to support it. Spend a couple of
hours one day during the week to food shop, plan and prepare meals, and
even pre-package them (yes, I do that sometimes too) for the week. It will
make your life and your food chocies SO much easier. It has saved me many,
many times from eating something I really don't want to be eating (i.e -
would LOVE to eat, but know I shouldn't). You are still really early on,
now is your chance to settle your habits. Do it for yourself, it will be
worth it. My best wishes to you and your success! ~Paula :)
— PaulaM
May 19, 2002
Dear Allison,
If you're like me you were a food addict before surgery and you'll be one
the rest of your life. The good news is there is help out there. For me
that help is overeaters anonymous, a weekly meeting with a
counselor/dietician, daily exercise(if I don't do this I start eating junk)
and staying on top of my spiritual growth. For you it may be different
things but you have to find out what it will take to keep you from eating
junk. Surgery did not take away my cravings or my addictions it just gave
me a jump start with the weight loss. Good luck.
— lori T.
May 19, 2002
I always carry a protein bar in my purse for those instances when I am on
the run and get hungry. Also, I have eaten at a few fast food places, and
there are some wise choices you can make. I had a chicken whopper jr. at
Burger king, told them to hold the mayo and removed the top layer of bread
(could only eat 1/2 of this). Also I have gone to Kentucky Fried chicken,
gotten 1 chicken breast and removed the skin(they are so big you can munch
on that for 2 meals). Also get a six inch Subway sub with meat and cheese,
holdthe mayo, remove the top layer of bread (I can get in about 3 of the 6
inches). Keeping hard boiled eggs in the fridge, fruit, and yogurts help.
Also, I found that by cooking a large Lean Cuisine or one of those Lean
Cuisine bags makes 2 or 3 meals and are easy to take to work with me or to
pop in the microwave. I also keep chicken strips (they are in the deli
section of the grocery store) on hand to throw into a soup, salad or
leftover Lean Cuisine if more protein is needed. Hope some of these food
ideas help.
— Cindy R.
May 19, 2002
You seem to have a lot of suggestions for on the go food so I'll just say
about only cooking for yourself. The best think I bought after surgery was
one of those George Foreman grills. They come in a mini size designed for
college dorm rooms. Fast, easy and no pans to clean. Hope this helps
— Alison N.
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