Question:
Why am i sabotaging my weight loss?? I have been getting my hunger back

and have been giving in to it, i am a carb freak and work in a Dr.s office where there is alot of food. I am discouraged with my plateau but continue to eat....I feel like such a failure. I have lost 105lbs since 4/8/03. I need and want to loose more, how do i get back on track, i dont know if i was ever on track though i make to many excuses, i feel like i didnt deserve this surgery....    — roxxyblue72 (posted on June 2, 2004)

June 2, 2004
We all struggle with food. I just try to think of every day as a new beginning. If I made a mistake yesterday, I will do better today. My desk at work is right next to the microwave and I smell people heating up there food all day long. It drives me NUTS! Don't be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes, the most important thing is to recognize the mistake and make sure it doesn't happen again. If eating right was easy for us, we wouldn't have needed this surgery. Hang in there :)
   — Peggy Boyd

June 2, 2004
Welcome to the world of carb addiction! Believe me, I know exactly what you're going through and I fight it every day. I haven't found a "cure", but there some things I can do that give me more control over the cravings. Here's what works for me (the queen of the carb addiction!): 1) If you've been eating too many carbs, do a carb detox for 3 or more days (protein only and lots of it) until you break the hold. 2) Stay away from all refined carbs because they just make you crave more and more and more. 3) Start all meals with dense protein, and then fill in with veggies. 4) I limit fruits and whole grain carbs as they are a trigger for me too (although not for everyone). I try to eat them just once a day. 5) Have protein snacks on hand (hard boiled eggs, pistachios, mozzerella cheese sticks, sunflower seeds) for when you get hungry. It keeps me from reaching for that muffin that I would rather have :) 6) Remember the no drinking w/ meal rules as it will keep you full longer. It's a struggle, but I always TRY to make good, healthy, high protein choices, and if I manage to succeed at least 80% of the time, I do OK. Keep trying and you'll find what works for you. I think many of us struggle with this issue, but you now have a weapon (tool) that you can fight with!
   — mom2jtx3

June 2, 2004
I second the previous poster: If eating were easy for us, we never would have had this surgery! Since you work in an office where food is plentiful, have you thought of bringing your own snacks to enjoy while others are indulging? Something like cut up raw veggies and dip or some soy crisps or peanut butter and apple slices? That way you get to munch and partake of the socializing aspects eating has, but doing so on your own terms? Believe me, it's no fun to sit back and watch everyone else eat and gossip and laugh while you chew on the end of your pen cap! Just don't count on them to make healthy choices for you. And maybe you allow yourself a small treat once a week, by having a small bit of brownie or a handful of Chex mix or just a small taste of what they're having. It'll do wonders for your sense of normalcy. Getting on track is never easy, but is so worth it. You've done well, losing the 105 pounds! And you can do even more to contribute to your health. Are you getting yuor water in? First thing in the morning, I fill a 52 oz big red cup from 7-11 up (it's a thermal cup, keeps liquids cold all day, even when you leave it in the car on a 100 degree Louisiana day-trust me, it's a Godsend!) and just chug as much as I can, straight off the bat. And I try not to eat anything until I finish it. It usually takes me a good two hours, because I have a tendencey to get sick of it halfway through and abandon it for a bit. Anyway, once I drink all that, I feel much better-I've almost gotten all my water in for the day, I'm not hungry, and DEFINITELY not thirsty. (By the way, I've been reading that many times people think they're hungry, they're actually dehydrated...just thought that was interesting.) From there, I go on to a "brunch" (since I usually miss breakfast.) That's usually half an apple or some sliced strawberries. A few hours later, I have my lunch-I've been doing a lot of tuna salad or I'll have half a sandwich on light bread. Then I'm usually done until dinner, but I could stick a snack in there if I were hungry. Dinner is whatever the family's having, just a small amount. My husband is the grill king, so that usually means some sort of grilled meat, 2 different veggies, and some fruit or carb. Last night, for instance, we grilled chicken shish kabobs, alternating the meat with pineapple chunks, green pepper, onion, and cherry tomatoes. Hubby and son each had a generous portion of potato salad, I waited till I finished my shish kabob before I had any potato salad-and guess what? Two small bites and I had my fill. I'm a huge believer in protein first (I don't suscribe to "no-carb" but yes, protein first.), lots and lots of water, and taking a midafternoon nap! (You might want to try it, it at least gets you through an hour without munching...believe me, that's my gateway between lunch and dinner!) If you exercise, keep it up. That's somewhere I'm not strong. :( Sorry if I rambled, I just wanted to let you know what works for me because I know if I can do it, you have a perfect shot at the same thing! And please, try to bring something to work with you that fits in your lifestyle and see how that works. Best of luck to you and feel free to email me anytime you need to talk! =0)
   — jenn_jenn

June 2, 2004
Carbs are like a viscious circle for most of us. While I don't subscribe to the no-carbs, I do subscribe to the low-carbs. A couple of suggestions: Get something nicely scented for your desk that will help overcome the smells. If you find yourself in a viscious cycle where you keep overindulging--go back to protein drinks for a few days to break the carb hold on you. Try getting some high-protein snack of some kind you can keep at your desk like beef jerky. I get beef jerky and cut it up with my kitchen shears into bite sized pieces and keep it at my desk. Takes to long to chew it up you won't have time to indulge. Depending upon brand, it's 11-15 grams of protein per ounce and the calorie count isn't bad.
   — Cathy S.

June 2, 2004
I am in the same boat as you and the sharks are bad foods. I go in phases with this one all the time. I am currently 17 pounds from goal and stuck. I love all of the suggestions people have given. Thanks! My desk drawer at work used to resemble a convience store. Now I have stocked it with good things. Nuts, sunflower seeds(low sodium), and sugar free low carb treats. It has helped when the drawer starts to call my name.
   — Becky F.

June 2, 2004
First off, congradulations on your success. 105 lbs..!!! good for you. you have been given alot of choices with the food suggestions form the other posts. As far as sabotaging yourself... do you not feel like you deserve your success? are you being treated differantly by others?when your fat..people dont pay you much mind unless its to remind you your overweight. wheni was within 10lbs of my goel... going out was a whole new ball game. men who wouldnt give me a second look would hit on me when my boyfriend went to the mens room.while i loved the attention at first..it made me very uncomfortable when men would send me over drinks . i was the same person 6 months eairler just alot thiner . nat having that barrier or shield makes one feel alot more vonerable.You do deserve to feel happy, confiedent, sexy and turn a few more heads.may each day make you more comfortable with the new slim you!also maybe you can take a few minutes and go outside while all the food is out.maybe some fresh air, some deep breaths and a pep talk can keep you on track and focused on your success.all the best! Tracey
   — traceybubbles

June 2, 2004
I would suggest getting the Atkin's book. I'm NOT saying do the diet, but read the info on carbs. It talks about why we crave foods, why we can't stop the eating after eating certain foods. This made a lot of sense to me and didn't make me feel like such a failure. There are real physical symptoms due to blood sugar etc. Best of luck!
   — ZZ S.

June 2, 2004
Self sabotage is more common then we like to believe - its because we had stomach surgery and not brain surgery - the thing that got us big in the first place is still lurking in our brains, and we need to work to overcome it. BTW congrats on your success!! -Sherrie
   — saderman