Question:
Not eating during the day and snacking, and I mean snacking

I am quite sure I am still sticking with somewhere near 1200cals a day at eight and 1/2 months out, but I everytime my period is on the week before and then week of I get terrible cravings and must admit that I have given in each time, although it has not effected my loss it has affected me because I don;t want to be doing these things I NEVER want to be where I was again, as of today I am committing myself to get the junk out of my house and throw myself back onto sugar free popsicles and give up the bread again because that's what I think started tese cravings. I really need sopme support from my AMOS family now. I am wanting to apply to cooking school because cooking is my passion, I love it, I want to combine the health aspect of food and do that when I cook meals but when I cook for others it's always difficult to make a healthy dessert when people are asking me to bake sweet potato pies and what not. I am scared that my dream of becoming a chef will, while may be my biggest accomplishment, I just don't want it to be my setback as well. I bake all the time for others and I usually taste here and there to make sure the flavors are right but then I end up wanting some of what I baked for someone else. I'm down 110lbs and I just need some advice from others out there mabe going through the same things and some tough love if necessary. I also know I am getting nowhere near the recommended amount of protein because I had some protein in my urine and being diabetic I don;t want it to effect my kidneys, I have not been on diabetes medications in 8 months due to the weight loss and my sugars have been great, I don't want to screw up now-AMOS please help me-and should I still go forward my dream in becoming a chef-should that make me stronger and more determined to say now to my buddy food-Yours Fondly-Tori    — TotallyTori (posted on November 14, 2003)

November 14, 2003
I have the same problem. I'm not a big eater but then prior to my monthly, I'm STARVING...stomach growling, the whole nine! I admit that I tend to give into this and eat but I too know that it's something that must stop.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 14, 2003
Victoria, you must learn your limitations. If you cannot resist tasting and eating the food you cook/bake, then perhaps being a chef is not the answer. Thats like asking me to work in a candy or donut store..right. I NEVER bake, because I know those cookies or brownies will CALL to me until they are finished, so if I want a brownie, I buy 1 brownie, no more. As I have said to others around your stage, where the surgery has done most of the work to date, its now time to have a plan that you can work for the rest of your life. I'm at maintenance stage now-21 mo post op and its so much harder than the first 18 mo. If you can't lick your issues at 8 mo post-op, you will have problems later on and will regain. Heres what I do (my plan will not work for everyone). I selected a reasonable weight as a goal weight. It must be nice to be a size 6, but the less you weigh, the less calories you get to have to maintain that size. That translates to less food! I ensure that I exercise 3 or 4 times a week-NO EXCUSES, and believe me I know them all! I always have protein first at meals, and I allow myself sweet treats every day. I also eat bread, usually whole grains but sometimes a white roll. I try to eat very normally and if I want something, I have it, just in small amounts. I found that if I denied myself something because it wasn't good for me, I had it anyways and then the guilt was too much. So, I figured out how to have what I want... Like ONE fun size candy bar vs a larger one. I also weigh daily and allow a 3 pound window-go over the window and the snack choices change from chocolate to SF popsicles! Thats my plan and its working well. So, find what works for you and make a committment to follow it. You can do this...
   — Cindy R.

November 14, 2003
I read an article that said that we need more calories just before our periods because of metabolic changes during that time. The article suggested eating more of the right stuff to help with the cravings for bad stuff. You had 2 topics in your question. Do you feel out of control all the time when you're cooking, or just during the period times?
   — JoSyrNY

November 14, 2003
being a chef is great. I love to cook also but no discipline to be a chef. at school you will most likely have to cook what they want. But think of the possiblities of after you finish. all the healthy meals you can come up with and you will have the right portion sizes. I am learning to bake with almond flour now. and feel like my cooking has been opened up into a new area. if being a chef is your dream do it just remember the rules for your pouch. and if possiple cook new and health food instead of all the bad stuff we used to eat.
   — carla S.