Question:
HAVING A HARD TIME WANTING TO EAT MORE THAN NORMAL.
I am having a hard time wanting to eat more than normal with the holidays here. I am 8 months post, and find myself wanting to pick here and pick there. It's something I am getting worried about.Shelly — ShellyJ (posted on December 17, 2004)
December 17, 2004
Like many say, this surgery fixes your stomach, not your head. Everyone
eventually gets more comfortable eating more after the swelling and effects
of the surgery go away and then it's the learning to discipline one-self
that gives us long-term success. I know I will struggle with wanting to
eat too much for the rest of my life, but it's up to me to exercise and
structure my days so that I can succeed. I know I will always have to
practice self-discipline and when/if I do fall, make my self get back up
and on-track.
— Cathy S.
December 17, 2004
Shelly,
I can sympathize because I am having the same problem right now. I am about
7 months post op and 35 pounds from goal. I have been stuck there on my
first plateau and I know it is because of all of the holiday temptations. I
have decided that if I stay here and don't gain any over Christmas then
realistically I will be happy because I am sure I have gained weight in all
of my past holidays. So after the holidays I will have to make sure I
forget about what I ate now and get back with the plan and stick to it. I
know that is probably not the healthiest choice but I also know myself well
enough to know that if I don't occassionally indulge I will resist
temptation for so long and then go off the plan and over eat enough to make
myself sick. I know, I've seen me do it before. So I will take a bite here
and there over the holiday but I already know my new year's resolution is
to get rid of this last 35 pounds as soon as possible. Best of luck
maintaining control and have a great holiday and a happy and healthy new
year.
Donna
— Donna F.
December 18, 2004
I hope you won't mind hearing from someone who is a little over 2 years out
on this issue. The temptations you're fighting are perfectly normal-- but,
gaining control of them now will serve to empower you when life's other
trials tempt you to cave in to a little emotional eating in the future.
Eight months is a tough stage as you are actually feeling hunger and you
have an increased ability to eat more. But, now, while your capacity is
still reasonably limited, you have an ideal time to continue to try to
sever your emotional relationship with food and to try to learn healthy
eating habits (something with which I still struggle to this day). For me,
when I try to equate a particular treat with Christmas, and to then justify
indulging in it, I try to remind myself of a few salient points: (1) the
Three Wise Men didn't bring Reese's Peanut Butter Trees to the baby Jesus,
so that treat really isn't that important a part of the holiday, (2) for
all the over-indulging that I did for all my past Christmasses, none of
those treats ever really did anything for me-- they didn't make Christmas
last longer, didn't encourage Santa to leave an extra present and certainly
didn't make me any healthier and (3) with the exception of fruitcake (which
should never be served at any time of the year), there really isn't any
food item that is only available at Christmas (or that won't be available
in years to come) to justify falling off the wagon to have it now. It is
tough work to look at food in a purely utilitarian fashion-- but once you
make that break, you will have given yourself a Christmas gift that will
last for years to come, and that, after all, is what you truly deserve.
— SteveColarossi
December 20, 2004
Shelly: I'm 15 months post-op RNY, and it's not so much amounts that I'm
struggling with, but what I'm eating between meals that is hurting me. I
have never dumped, and even though that can be a good thing, right now it's
definitely a bad thing. I have no discipline when it comes to sweets and
candy, and this time of year they are everywhere. So it's definitely a
struggle. I had decided that once I reached my goal weight
"area," I would not allow myself to go over 165 pounds. Well,
guess what, I got up today, the scale said 166.5, and I still ate a
chocolate chip cookie and a small ladylock today (I'm at work), after I had
just told myself this morning that I wouldn't eat any more sweets until
Christmas Day - right!! So I can see that it's going to be a daily
struggle for me, especially through the next couple of weeks. I'm actually
looking forward to January 2, when mostly everyone gets into
"diet" mode anyway, and I can then detox and rid my home of the
nasty stuff. While at work I know I will still be challenged, as everyone
tends to "dump" their left-over goodies (or baddies) in the
office kitchen. So you are not alone in your dilemma or in your worrying.
I do believe that the support I have found here has been one of the most
helpful things to me along the way, so let's do our best to keep each other
honest. Blessings to you.
— Carlita
December 20, 2004
Steve, I agreed with almost everything you said, esp 1, 2 & 3. lol
What gets me thru now is the January feeling of "Oh darn, I didn't pig
out in Dec." followed immediately by "Yipee! I didn't pig out in
Dec." I am not perfect as this 10th holiday approaches, but I HATE
feeling guilty or defeated almost as much as gaining wt, so I work pretty
hard not to do that. I enjoy Chex Mix, for example. But it is ONE of my
small meals, not IN ADDITION to my meals. It has to be some on a plate,
not a pinch every time I walk by. (no grazing) I have my rules that work
for me. I make a milk & sugar free pumpkin pie, but, I'm not all that
wild about PP anyway, so it's no loss. I do not have fudge at my house.
Fudge and I would be having a torrid affair if it was (& I'd be wearing
proof on my hips within 3 days), so nope, it's not here. I do have the
regular holiday dinner foods, turkey, potatoes, gravy...... but again, it
has to be a MEAL, not grazed. I have had 2 wt gains in 10 yrs, but neither
of them were during the holidays. I also am more inclined to add another
protein drink or two, especially if my friends have fudge. (I love fudge)
It's only the FIRST one I can't have of fudge, and then I'm ok.
— vitalady
December 20, 2004
OMG Steve, that bit with baby Jesus and the Reese's peanut butter trees
cracked me right up! My all time favorite candy was the Reese's peanut
butter eggs. (they taste so much better than regular PB cups) When I saw
that they made the TREES, I was elated just long enough to almost grab a
handful and run out of the store! I knew I would eat them all so I didn't
grab the whole box. :) I will never again be able to look at them without
thinking of the wise men bringing gold, frankensense, and peanut butter
trees. Merry Christmas! Rebecca
— RebeccaP
December 21, 2004
Steve, I can so relate, except substitute the words " Queen Anne milk
chocolate covered cherry cordials" for peanut butter trees...this time
of year is the only time those darn choc covered cherries are out, and yes,
I have to endulge. Michelle, those dang cherries are my peeps!! I find it
more stressful and difficult and yes psychologically depressing, to resist
all the holiday goodies. So, altho Steve's logic makes perfect sense, and
if you can set your mind that way go for it, I prefer to do a little
endulging, the key word here is "little", not totally overboard.
and in return, I either have to up the exercise to compensate for my choc
covered cherries (not to mention the goodie baskets that adorn the kitchen
tables at work this time of year, and the daily holiday parties) or watch
the scale go up. At almost 3 years post-op, I have learned what works for
me. You have to find the same.
— Cindy R.
December 22, 2004
I try daily to look at food in that utilitarian way that Steve mentioned,
and fail I am having a really hard time separating food from emotions.
— **willow**
December 22, 2004
I try daily to look at food in that utilitarian way that Steve mentioned,
and fail I am having a really hard time separating food from emotions.
— **willow**
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