Question:
Is weight lost to slow

I had RNY on Feb 15th it has been 10 weeks and I have lost only 30 lbs. Fats make me dumb, sweets don't. I need to find a way to control my cravings for sweets and breads. Please help.    — lisa-b (posted on April 24, 2008)


April 23, 2008
If fats make you dump, and sweets don't, does this mean you are eating these things? I crave things too, but I won't eat them because I want to loose weight. Our surgery is just a tool. Make an appt. with a NUT, maybe he/she can get you a jump start. Hope things get better for you.
   — Pamela S.

April 23, 2008
First of all, you should ahve cleaned house before you had your surgery. I sat down with my family and explained that this was going to cost us a lot of money, but it ment that I would be around for a longer period of time to provide for my family. We took everything to a food bank, and we handed out the open items that should not be in the house to the neightbrhood. Everyone has a hiding place for their own special treat except for me. They know where they are and they keep it there and eat it there. There is no temptation to snack except on protein, fruits and vegatables. A family member or freind goes to they gym with me three days a week, and the other 4 I have a personal trainer or take group classes. I no longer drive to the gym, I walk 2 miles each way and I feel great. When someone sees me an offers me a ride home, I usually refuse and say thanks, but I need the excersize. We cook only fresh foods, and I do most of the cooking. I go to social events, but I make sure I drink only water and snack on vegatables or fruit. After 4 1/2 months I lost nearly 100 lbs. If you want your new tool to work, use it right, and don't feed it crap. It is up to you. You have to make yourself today do the right thing. IOf not go back to the Shrink and ask his help, or call your surgeon and ask for help. Go to the support group meeting and ask for help. If you did not like the message, its OK, but you ask what to do and I have given you the truth. You can delete this or post it on your referigerator. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 24, 2008
Lisa, I so sympathize with your dilemna... I am in the same boat. A suggestion that has worked (most of the time) is a technique to control cravings I saw on television from an author called Paul McKenna. I understand people just telling you to NOT do something, but if I could just do that, I wouldn't have the cravings. I needed something to replace that bad behavior. Realize too that it took you a long time to get these bad habits, it will take a while to relearn new and healthier habits. If you are interested in learning about this technique I would be happy to discuss it with you privately, as it is too long to go into on this forum. That offer applies to anyone else interested. It doesn't work for me all the time, it requires a conscious effort to do this, but even if it helps me half the time, I consider it a small step on my journey. Best of luck and I can be contacted privately at [email protected] my two cents Jeanne
   — Jeanne Aldrich

April 24, 2008
I haven't had the surgery yet but I'm on the 6 month diet. I'm also a diabetic so I know about craving sweets. The easiest way for me to cope with it is to not have those things in the house. Most of the time a small amount of fruit or sf jello satisfies me. Are you allowed to have any fruit at this stage? I've learned that it things aren't in the house I can't eat them. Good luck. Karen
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 24, 2008
First, congratulations on the weight loss. If there's one thing I've learned, we all lose at different paces. I had my surgery last Oct. and the month of November I did really well then Dec. came and I didn't lose a pound. My doctor said it wasn't uncommon to hit a plateau so early. So anyway, come January I started losing again and in 5 months I lost 81 pounds. I was disappointed because I wanted to have 100 lbs off by 6 months but I lost a month so I'm ok with that. As for the cravings, I was a sweet eater and although I'm never hungry, I still crave the sweets so I've been eating the 100 calorie packs. No, not such a good thing to do but it gets me through and I'm still eating so I'm ok with it. Don't beat yourself up over it, I did that at first and was very frustrated and disappointed but now, I'm so happy that I had the surgery and work things out as they come. I hope this helped a little. Keep up the good work and if you're ever in question of what you're eating your dietitian is a great resource so use him/her. Good luck!
   — PAWLLA L.

April 24, 2008
You are doing good...but you don't need to be eating a lot of fats or bread. So eat low fat or use good fats such as olive or canola oils...I use an oil mister (similar to Pam) only I can add my own oil choice for quick frying veggies or meats...You use minimal fat this way. As for sugar...eat fruits rather than sweets and sugary things. You can make some awesome desserts with SF jello's and puddings and fruits. This is something you need to get a hold of and make a commitment to changing forever or you will continue having trouble! Sugar and breads make you crave more sugar and breads...Eat whole grains...They have high carbs but do not raise your sugar...Good carbs help you stay in control unlike bad carbs that make you hungry! Good luck...You are doing great...Just grab a little more control and look for sugar free stuff if you just have to have something sweet! But try for protein foods first and foremost...Good luck!
   — .Anita R.

April 24, 2008
A way to control cravings- that's a challenge most of us obese people face. We have to make the lifelong committment to healthy and wellness and get the crap that we are not supposed to be eating out of the house. You admit that you know the response fats and sweets have on you which to me means that you have been eating them. Yikes! You need to make a commitment to yourself and stick to it. It is hard, it is work. Hour by hour, meal by meal, day by day to win this battle. Don't beat yourself up about yesterday, focus on the future and eat only WLS appropriate foods and exercise and the weight will really come off. You have to do the work though- especially the emotional work. If you stop eating fats and sweets, your body and mind will no longer crave them. Good luck, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

April 24, 2008
I can't believe you are eating bread or sweets. I eat very very little bread to this day and no sweets and I am 9 years post op. Really bread should make you sick just like the sweets. I would be calling my dr.
   — nascar_angel_3_2003

April 24, 2008
Hi Lisa, hang in there... I'm in the same boat except that I'm over a year out. I struggle daily with the cravings still. Sometimes I am strong and sometimes I give in a little. I try to keep sugarfree candy or whatever in the house for me on those such times. Fruit does help too but I know once you get your mind set on something like candy... its hard to shove it into gear for health, hehe. It takes a lot of willpower and determination. We are eating to live now and not living to eat! Stay strong and stay possitive, if you stay true to yourself and your decision to lose weight and be healthy you will get through this. There are a lot of SF items out there that will satisfy your craving... go for them. Just remember that they too can be dangerous to your goals if you abuse them. So eat them in moderation too. Good Luck to you. You can do it! You're on the right track by seeing the problem and asking for help so keep up the good work and stay strong. :) Ann
   — RoosMom

April 24, 2008
Lisa, your problem is not uncommon. Weight loss is always going to be about diet and exercise. You need to find ways to trick your mind into doing other things instead of concentrating on your lust for food. It is a lifelong battle, take one day at a time, and find those distractions. I would also walk a lot, like 2 1/2 miles twice a day, this changes your metabolism after about 6 months and it really does help overall. You have to fight for your weight loss, surgery is only the beginning, but it is a battle that can be won. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

April 25, 2008
The simple answer - don't have sweets or fats in your house. Make sure you are getting in your water, protein and vitamins. Exercise will help. My NUT allows 1/4 slice of toast. Carbs/starches always come last at meal time. I would bet most WLS patients have a food addiction or food issue of one sort or another. It's important to your success that you find support. I recommend going to a therapist along with local support group meetings. You will continue to have food issues unless you deal with the root cause - boredome, stress, addiction.
   — gonnadoit

April 26, 2008
My dear, the question you need to ask yourself is, Do I want to loss this weight or not? If the answer is yes, then get back on track by following the diet, portion size, and the two W< W water, and more water> Walking. I have a four oz container and what ever fits inside of that is my meal. I crave sweets, so I brought me a bar of bitter sweet chocolate, after my meal, i take a small bite of chocolate. June will be a year for me so far I've loss 76 pd, I feel great and make it a point to do my walking every morning before I start work. The pounds are not leaving as fast as I had hope, yet with what I've loss so far, why complain........I celebrate each mile stone...
   — Start306_65Goal180

April 30, 2008
For cravings there are alot of food options out there now a days that can help with those food cravings... 1st of all bread should just be a no, have some crackers instead and if you are craving chocolate, SmartForme.com has some chocolate pudding mix : sugar free and has 15 grams of protein and you can mix it in a blender with some ice, we have a shake bar at my weightloss clinic and they use that product and let me tell you those things are so yummy, when everyone at work is having cake for someone's birthday or something, I ran and get a shake from there, add some sugar free raspberry syrup and it's so yummy.. You just have to make an added inner effort to think of sugar free, while meeting your protein intake and you will feed those cravings. Weightloss surgery is a tool. Contact your doctor's office nutrionist and i'm sure they have great recipes or suggestions to help with the cravings.
   — teekayoki




Click Here to Return
×