Question:
im so upset ....im 13 wks post op and i feel that im eating weight too much as a matt
im just really dumb about what to eat. i have so far managed to avoid sweets(cept gatorade)but breads do NOT cause me any probs and i can eat. the prob that worries me is most days i can eat bout half of what i normally eat and sometimes i feel as if i could eat more. i guess im afraid i have busted my staples. if ANYONE have any advice please respond. Generally i do not eat til way in noon.....ex yesterday i had a can of vienna sasauges and bout 6 crackers and drank a diet sprite for lunch by the time i left work i was very hungry and i stopped by a covience store and brought a mini-pizza and ate 4 slices leaving off the crust edges. Now im sitting at my computer feeling miserable and thinking i have screwed up the surgery. Please help! — [Anonymous] (posted on October 1, 2001)
October 1, 2001
First of all you shouln't feel hungry at any time,it's mostly what they
call head hunger;unfortunately since the surgery it's just a tool you are
going to have to control how many times you eat a day,limit yourself to
breakfast lunch and dinner,there's no need for snacks,just get your 3 meals
and lots of fluids,that will keep your tummy with that "full"
sensation longer.
— [Anonymous]
October 1, 2001
I am still a pre-op, but by speaking with my nutritionist, I learned that
one bad eating habit that I must change now and forever, is that I don't
eat in the morning. As a pre-op, I can go from the moment I wake up until
I get home from work without eating a thing. Apparently, this is some
really bad behavior. Just as the first poster said, it is very important
that you eat your three meals a day - and, at a set schedule.
— [Anonymous]
October 1, 2001
Ok I'm assuming you want the truth and not some sweet "aw, it'll be
ok" type answer. If not, stop reading. You know what's wrong. You
just typed it. The fact that you know to avoid sweets clues me in that you
had SOME pre-op education as to how to work this thing. If not (and a lot
of us haven't) then the fact that you figured out how to come to the Q/A
tells me that you have the capability of finding out how to work this
thing. So...what the heck are you doing? Why are you eating stuff you
know you're not supposed to? This doesn't have anything to do with a
stretched pouch or busted staples. You're waiting too late in the day to
eat which is making you starving thereby causing you to overeat. You're
taking in carbs (crackers, pizza crust) which cause you to have more hunger
and cravings. I won't even go there on the carbonated beverage. So now
you're feeling guilty and want some advice. What do you want to hear?
That it's ok? It's not. This surgery is not the be all end all to your
food problems. If you had issues before (and I'm guessing you did) this
surgery doesn't get rid of those. All this surgery does is give you a
limited appetite and limited stomach capacity FOR A LIMITED TIME. Once
that window of time is up, you better damn well have developed some good
habits (protein, water, exercise) to keep the weight off. If not, this
will be just like every other diet you've ever tried. You will eventually
gain the weight back. Go to a support group meeting. Go to a
nutritionist. Go to a psychiatrist (but don't get caught up in a pity
party that keeps you in this depressed state). Go to a gym. You aren't
dumb about what to eat. You know what is good for you and what's not. You
know how to make good choices. This isn't easy. It's hard as heck! Tell
yourself that it is work and get to it! Good luck and God Bless.
— Kimberly L.
October 1, 2001
I agree with Kimberly. Hope you read it more than once. This surgery is a
tool and you HAVE to do your part to make it work. It's a real shame to go
thru the surgery and then not utilize it to it's fullest. I think you will
really benefit from going to support group meetings. They are great! And as
far as what you have been eating......did you not research this surgery
before you had it? You're not supposed to have carbonated beverages for
ATLEAST a year. The carbonation will stretch your pouch. Concentrate on
getting your protien and water in. Also, try to put a little exercise in
your daily routine. Even if it's just walking down to the end of your
driveway. It's hard for anyone who hasn't exercised in years to get
themselves started no matter what they weigh. But a little at a time is
better than none at all. By all means, utilize this surgery to it's
fullest. You owe it to yourself. Think of the long run and how you will
look and feel 6 month, a year from now. It will be well worth a little
sacrifice. I wish you the best of luck.....keep us posted....
— Kim B.
October 1, 2001
I agree with Kimberly on this one. See if there is a decent OA meeting in
your area. By decent I mean not one that says "it's o.k....blah blah
blah." Try an open AA meeting if you need to but find some real one
on one support. A HOW OA meeting might e ven be a good choice.
— [Anonymous]
October 2, 2001
well, now that you are probably scared to death by the recent responses,
let me try and ease your mind a bit and help you get back on the right
track. It isn't that difficult. There are several minor things you are
doing wrong. I repeat...minor. You don't need a shrink or AA, just some
good basic nutritional information. 1. You are allowing yourself to get
too hungry, and then you overeat. Plan small, regular meals and do eat in
the morning and mid day, even if you don't think you are hungry. It really
helps to make more rational choices later on. 2. Concentrate on protein.
I find that when I am getting +50 grams of protein a day, I am not as
hungry. Hunger is the bodies signal that it needs nutrition. 3. Avoid
carbohydrate. For me that means especially bread (pizza). The more I eat,
the more I crave, and the more I eat, the hungrier I get. This is probably
because the body is screaming for more nutrition. If you find yourself
craving pizza or bread or pasta, try eating a protein bar instead and see
what happens. I find that when I do that, my carb craving goes away, and
it is easy to get back on my program again. You shouldn't have to grit your
teeth and force yourself to eat right. If you are getting your protein and
drinking your water it all falls into place with little effort. Good luck.
— Anne G.
October 2, 2001
Anne, I see absolutely NOTHING wrong with the recent responses, nor should
they scare anyone. The poster asked, and we answered. And what we all said
was something worth listening to.
— [Anonymous]
October 2, 2001
Ok, i don't want to encourage bad behaviour. But, I think you also need to
remember that one bad day IS OK. It's the day in/day out habits that are
important. If you are beating yourself up, you will not be in a state to
make changes. Remember that you still have your surgery tool to help you.
It sounds like you know, or can tell by the other answers, what you need to
look at. Try to make these changes, but don't spend all this time feeling
bad. That doesn't help and will make you eat more anyway. Remember how
far you've come and relax a little. Then pick yourself up and get back on
the wagon. The one thing I really noticed from your post was that you
stopped by a convenience store. I think you need to do a little planning.
I try to keep string cheese available to me at all times. It keeps well,
it's all protein, not TOO many calories and very satisfying. This keeps me
from the desire to stop off for convenience items. Also, try to find
sources of protein that are filling. I find that fish fills me up very
fast. Good luck.
— kcanges
December 29, 2002
I was told in the San Diego support group that crackers can be the big
downfall...do not eat crackers, let alone - do not snack. If you condition
yourself to 1-3 meals a day and nothing in between, you will be fine. If
my weight loss slows, I up the water and I see the difference.
— Bonnie S.
December 29, 2002
WOW - some of the best advice I have seen recently is here in this Q&A
post! Kimberly- that was an awesome response!
At 13 weeks, now is the time to develop good habits: Sure I eat crackers
and breads, BUT I make sure my meals are 75% protein. Breads are carbs,
carbs turn to sugar, sugar give an immedicate high, than a drop in blood
sugar levels, than you need moe to get the "good euphoric
feeling" again. It is a vicous cycle. Better food choices will help
to sustain an even blood sugar, you will have more energy and can avoid the
"feeling miserable" about your choices stage. DO NOT BEAT
YOURSELF UP!! This is a learning phase-
find what works best for you- right now we know it is not pizza.... Good
Luck on your journey!
— ~~Stacie~~
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