Question:
Does anyone feel more stressed post-op?

As crazy as this may sound now that I am not indulding on christmas cookies, fudge, and other delicious goodies post op I feel really stressed out. Not nescisarily due to the holidays but I am more stressed at my job. Of course I'd rather be healthy, thin and stressed out than unhealthy, fat and depressed. Has this happened to anyone else who has lost there sweet vice?    — MARY E. (posted on December 22, 2000)

December 21, 2000
If sweets is stressing you out so bad, no need to. Many bakeries, grocery and speciality shops (Harry & David) have sugar free cookies, candies, etc. They still have lots of calories but no sugar. So be carefull.
   — [Anonymous]

December 21, 2000
I was a stress eater big time- not just sweets! This Christmas has been VERY stressful (the entire year has been) while I have been learning how to deal with stress in a HEALTHY way. This too shall pass, for both of us! Hang in there and baby yourself with hot baths, good-smelling lotions, and for me, FLANNEL!! Good Luck and Merry Christmas from one who knows how you are feeling!
   — M B.

December 21, 2000
I work in the grazing captial of the western world. There are literally day when folks bring in platters of food and graze all day. At Halloween I was still so close to surgery that just smelling all the candy and treats made my stomach (pouch) rebel. Christmas has been something else. When everyone else is eating and partying, I have to fight the feeling of being left out. When possible, I eat a few healthy things like carrots, celery, cheese. If the isn't possible, I eat a piece or two of a protein bar while I visit with the others. Actually, my surgery has encouraged the other folks in my department to bring healthier foods without fat and sugar so that I can share in the "celebrating." I work with alot of nice folks who struggle with their own weight issues.
   — Nanette T.

December 22, 2000
I have been more stressed since surgery, but not because of surgery. In fact, I would say the surgery helped me cope at least with Christmas shopping, because my hips didn't knock anything off the shelves this year, I didn't have trouble getting through the aisles and running into people, and my knees and feet didn't ache from shopping. Sometimes the stress leads me to food, so I've been working on a bag of bagel chips at my desk for 3 weeks now - they are hard, so they take time to chew. I remember when I could have eaten the whole bag at one sitting! This week, however, I got into the cookie tray. Tried not to beat myself up about it, but old habits die hard (at least I still lost 2 lbs!) Somedays, like today, the stress keeps me from eating. But gone are the days when I would eat all night, until I thought I would puke, just because I was punishing myself and telling myself that "you'll always be fat...ALWAYS". That kind of stress is gone, thank God.
   — Allie B.

December 23, 2000
I think we all go through some kind of food withdrawls, but it doesnt have to be too bad if you snack on the right things and make sure you wait at least two hours in between. I am taking banana cream pudding pie and chocolate pudding pies to our family Christmas. Each one will only have about 4 grams of sugar and 7 grams of fat and most of the fat is from the pie crust. There are fat free pretzels and you can dip them in some cheese and get protein. You can have sugar free cookies, limited of course, but you can have one as a treat. If you want a realllllly good treat there are sugar free eskimo pie ice cream bars that I found the other day. When I took my first bite I spit it right out because it did not taste like it was sugar free. Its coated in dark chocolate flavoring and oh man...its heavenly. It has 8 grams of fat per bar and only 4 grams of sugar. It is higher in calories, 120 but thats not bad if you need a fix that makes you feel like your cheating. They are so yummy and definately satisfy that craving for sweets. Anyway, there is so much you can much on that is good for you, take some time and read up on some recipies that you can do. Its really kinda fun. We have to try and change our eating under stress habits, that is for sure, but having a goody that tastes like a cheat helps now and then. Good luck. Cindy
   — Cindy S.