Question:
Do other long terms have a hard time controlling urges?

I am 3 yrs. post-op and I have these overwhelming urges to eat carbs, mostly breads.I could survive in my mind on just eating bread.I have to force myself to eat proteins.More times than not I eat protein bars and not meat.I believe this is causing me to gain back weight for not getting the right nutrition.I work anywhere from 47 - 60 hrs a week and eating right just doesn't happen.Can anyone help out getting rid of these bread demons?lol    — frostin_queen (posted on April 16, 2007)

April 16, 2007
I have the same problem I eat too much bread what I am trying to do is limit myself to 2 pieces of bread a day. I don't eat protein bars anymore but bread is my down fall I am also trying to eat more vegs and fruit good luck!!!
   — rollergirl41

April 16, 2007
Overeating carbs & justifying it by saying that you are too busy to eat well will result in wt gain. It is inaccurate that you could survive on carbs. It is inaccurate that you don't have time to eat well. How important is your health & all that you have accomplished ? Your consumption of the proper amts of protein,should be satisfying. It is your disease of compulsive overeating that will lead you back to wt gain & misery. Have you tried OA? I appreciate the support that they offer,and they might help you as well. Their web site is www.oa.org for meetings in your area. There are also meetings on line,since you seem to be too busy. You might want to look at why you work so much,and where your priorities lie. I hope that this helps. I wish you well.
   — peacelovecat

April 16, 2007
Yes! 12.5 yrs and I dream about potatoes, bread, etc. Of course, when I indulge, I bulge, as they say. And it doesn't take long. So, I'm better off with my least fave forms of these, if any.
   — vitalady

April 16, 2007
Hey, I had surgery GBP 2 years ago, I lost what I needed to loose and I struggle daily. I am a food addict and it's hard for me to be around "No Nos". A book, The Thin Commandments by Dr. Gullo has helped me tremendously. I review it often. He goes against the grain of the common statement that those who have never been fat make - everything in moderation... That won't work for me at all. He talks about "blocking off" certain foods. I do not eat bread at all. If I start, I won't stop. Get the book, it's the most helpful one I have read. I've come tooooo far to roll back into my old killer habits. Best to you, hang in there and go get the book!!!
   — Kathyskpr

April 16, 2007
try starting your day with Grapefruit! For some reason it will block your craving for the carbs...start eating with your brain and not your desires....you have to change no matter what, you took the first step to a healthier you, no one claimed it was the FIX IT and you know that. Just supposed to help with the quantities ..you are the one to control the qualities
   — LouAB

April 17, 2007
Shannon, thanks for writing. You struggle with the same things that we all do. The thing is, and sorry to be blunt, but the thing is you have to make choices. I love the bread and pasta and all the carbs, but I have to make choices. You work a huge amount of hours, so you are gonna have to plan the foods you eat. Cut up apples and fruit, plan some carbs, and journal what you eat. If you don't take control of what you eat, eating will again take control of you. Is that what you want? There is no other way to stop it but to make decisions, start a plan that will work for you, and make it a priority. Your health is much more important than any money you will make. Your money will not survive your health. Please evaluate what works for you, and plan your meals and snacks, and then exercise somehow and stick to it. You need to do this for your health. Cottage cheese, lean deli meats rolled up in cheese. I take those baked chickens from wal mart and put them through the food processor and make chicken salad to have on hand all the time. 5 crackers with chicken salad is good protein. Egg salad, good protein. There are choices, you just have to decide what you like, and think for yourself about this. I can see that if I were working so much that I also would not be planning my meals, so I am sympathetic to your situation, but you have to work it or it will get the best of you. You didn't have surgery to regain weight, so please, please, fight to keep your success and your health. Take care, Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

April 18, 2007
Hi Shannon. I understand the urge. I recently was invited to speak at a living well dance for post op patients. One man, a psychologist spoke, and what he said hit home with me. He described himself as a recovering food addict, and that he will always be an addict. Therefore, he has to live his life everyday with that mindset just as any other recovering addict would. It's our choice to eat properly, to take the time out of our busy schedules to prepare to eat healthy. Your health, and the struggle you went through, and what you put your body through for surgery are worth that extra effort. One poster suggested what I was going to suggest-get the cottage cheese to go containers, grab deli meat and cheeses, and make rolls with those. There's a lot of meal solutions out there these days for higher protein diets, and low on time schedules. Just remember you're with the effort-remember why you had the surgery in the first place, and get back up on the horse and continue to push. We all fall off-I have. We just need the humility to admit we've made mistakes, and that we still crave our "drug" and need help. For me, if I load up on protein, and then try and eat bread, I just don't want it. Good luck, and its great you came and asked for help. First step is the hardest-but once you overcome, you will win.
   — Meghan R.