Question:
What is the best way to get back on the right eating plan?

What its the best way to get back on track? I am 3 1/2 months post op and for the last few days I have been eating quite a bit of the wrong stuff. I know this is wrong and it is just eating at me. I do not need a lecture about this- I know I am in the wrong. I just need to know what is the best way to get back on track? Would it be o.k. to go on protein drinks for a few days just to get all the crap out of my system? I just have these massive cravings like for cookies and junk food. I try REALLY hard to not give into them, but then I just feel so deprived. Advice,please. I really do not want to screw up anymore. Thanks.    — Jan S. (posted on July 18, 2003)

July 18, 2003
Hi Jan, I agree with your own idea of protein only. The Carb addicts plan calls this "de-toxing". I did it for 2 weeks this month & my plateau broke. I was not having issues with cookies, but with bread. :-) I am 4 mos post-op this week. If you have been eating carbs, they could make you crave more carbs. Good luck with your plan!!!
   — M B.

July 18, 2003
Atkins has out candy bars! Let me tell you, they really do the trick when I'm craving sweets. They don't even taste carb free either!!
   — SMG I.

July 18, 2003
Hi! Been there, done that... won't do it again for anything!! Email me and we can talk... you need someone who has really been there... look at my profile under sharon m. brittain to see a good diet. Also, I recently started selling some protein shakes and drinks and bars that are just awesome... they don't taste proteiny at all, nor do they taste like vitamin covered carboard..! LOL! They have only 4 carbs per bar, too... but taste like candy bars!:~) Let me know if you are interested!:~) Even if you don't want to buy bars, I am still here for help! Okay! :~)
   — Sharon m. B.

July 18, 2003
Your last sentence about how you try really hard not to give in to them, but you feel so deprived, struck a cord with me. Thats me to a tee. So, after feeling massive guilt when I did give in, and worrying to death that I would regain (still do worry bout this one...), I decided that it made more sense to try to moderate and not eliminate this behavior. I admitted that I love my sweets and without them, I do feel like I am being deprived and punished. I wanted to live like a normal person, being able to have a small slice but not the entire cake. So, the way I handle it, is that I ensure that I eat protein at every meal, eat 6 or more small meals a day, ensure that I eat whenever I am hungry(so that I do not get overly hungry and then make bad choices), EXERCISE consistently, drink plenty of water, and build my snacks into my daily diets worth of calories. Its still a calories game-too many taken in and you gain, and altho I don't count the calories in everything I eat (kinda guesstimate), I weigh daily to keep control, and allow myself a few hundred calories of treats at night (which is my snackin'time). The treats are small though- mini ice cream sandwiches, 4 or 5 mini bite size cookies, few cups of popcorn-. The key for me was getting rid of the guilt and the feelings of deprivation. For some, though, they have to de-tox from all carbs/junk food and stay away from it permanently. That would not work for me. Weighing daily helps me and if I see the scale creep up, I add another workout, increase the water, and cut down on the snacking. So far, at 17 mo post op its working....
   — Cindy R.