Question:
I am hooked on sugar again! What now?
Okay I am 10 months post op. It started out innocently enough. Just a bite now and then. I could handle it. I don't when I got hooked again, I just know I am. I have tried to quit several times the last two weeks. I barely make it a day without it. No I don't have it in my house. I WORK IN A GROCERY STORE! I just don't seem to have the will power. I really want to kick this. Anyone else kicked it after surgery? What did you do? Any phrase, picture or suggestion that will help me? Please only those who can give been there, kick that advice. I know it's wrong, but it's to late now. I thought of eating so much it would make me dump, and I know I would stay away from it then. Right now I only dump when I eat to fast or to much. I want my control over sugar back! I make excuses for eating it (I deserve it, it's been a hard day, just to get through today, etc.). Please help me. I haven't gained weight yet, but I know I will if I don't stop. I can't go back to my old life. I like this one to much. — june22 (posted on November 11, 2003)
November 10, 2003
Beenn there done that:( Gained near 20 pounds. Went on a sugar free eating
plan, now that was tough, but it reset my dump o meter:) Eat near all
protein, avoid junk and carbs, basically eat like a new postie does. No fun
but it works, having balloned to over 205 I now weigh 191:) Want to get
back to 180. See the very bottom of my profile for updates oin this
struggle. Its very common I talked to a postie yesterday with the same
issues and jen my wife is in the same situation but isnt aware of how
dangerous it can be.
— bob-haller
November 11, 2003
Hi!
I am almost 2 years post op and I have never dumped on sugar. I just dump
when I eat too much. I have gained about 30 lbs back. Since yesterday I
have not eaten anything sugar or junk. It wasn't too bad. I really want
to lose another 60-70 lbs. I hope that I can do it. Good luck - Tracy
— tracyr
November 11, 2003
I feel your pain, and have done this more times than I care to admit. It
takes three days to get over the worst of the cravings, but the question
is, how do get through those three days? I got this suggestion from the
grad list, and it's the only thing that works for me: For three days,
consume as MUCH protein food and protein shakes as you want. The key is to
kick the carbs, not worry about calories for a few days. Don't worry about
how MUCH you eat (within reason :), just WHAT you eat. If you need a
protein shake every hour, then do it. If you have to eat a cheese stick,
or a hardboiled egg every hour, then do it. The trick is to keep yourself
full on protein only foods to get through the first three days. I can't
hack the "protein shake" fast, although this works for others.
I'm diving into a box of crackers by noon. This however, gets me over the
hump and back in control. After three days, add back good carbs only like
veggies. Good luck! (BTW, the South Beach diet is great for carboholics
too :)
— mom2jtx3
November 11, 2003
My suggestion: and this is not a flame, believe me. <br>
Treat the problem, not the symptom. Therapy, or a local support system. I
think that finding out why you are doing this will help you STOP doing this
for good, instead of having a quick fix.<br>
Also, drink water nearly constantly. And stay ACTIVE! <br>
Good luck, you are in my thoughts!
— kultgirl
November 11, 2003
Maybe if you really truly plan on what you're gonna eat for oh say 2-3
days. Make sure you have it all there BEFORE you start...its gotta be easy
& ready to grab when that urge hits. <p>I think sometimes for me
if I dont have something handy I'll grab WHATEVER is the closest/fastest
thing..(usually carbs). <p>Make sure you dont deprive yourself
either. If your wanting something grab something good, and something that
you like. I cut up little chunks of cheese, make a bunch of bacon, roll up
some deli meat with slices of cheese then slice 'em into pinwheels...
anything thats quick and easy is what works for me...cause when that urge
hits all the water in the ocean doesn't help curb the monster within!!! My
Best Wishes goin out to you =)
— Denise W.
November 11, 2003
I've been bested by serious carb issues twice now. I musta turned my head
for a minute. Wow. I am not much of a food protein eater--never was. I went
to a protein drink every 1-2 hours, depending on how loud the
"voices" were. I ate regular food in between, but no milk, no
sugar and not white starchy things for a coupla days. I still had veggies,
though. I LIKE veggies. Really, you start to get a power surge after 24
hours and think you really can lick it. What I keep forgetting is that
they will get me again if I relax my grip. I have to remind myself that
it's only the FIRST one I can't have
— vitalady
November 11, 2003
Me too. I'm 15 months out and in the same boat. The last two months =
sugar daily. Back to the pounder bags of M&Ms! Crazy!!!!! Someone in
my support group suggested weaning off since cold turkey wasn't working.
Spread it out over about 4 days, then do the whole
out-of-the-system-protein-to-the-hilt-lots-of-water thing. I'm going to
try it... just as soon as this last bit of chocolate is gone.... Why am I
doing this??!!! Good Luck to you!!!
— jen41766
November 11, 2003
When we have this surgery it doesn't make the old habits go away. It only
make it harder to eat those things that got us in trouble in the first
place. The surgery is just a tool and if you don't use the tool correctly
it will break. I agree that you may need a support group and/or counseling
to help you deal with this issue. Planning meals for the day is very
important. I carry with me a little lunch bag and if I'm going to be out
all day I will bring my lunch, dinner and liquids that I must have. You may
want to try Atkins Breadfast bar (apple crisp) it's good and it has a sweet
taste. Try sugar free candy. I was a huge carb eater before the surgery.
I stay away from all breads, pastas and rice. I'm afraid I will stop. You
need to look at this as a diet tool (yes diet). We still need to watch what
we eat. I eat fat free, no sugar or low sugar, and low carbs products.
Keeping a log of what, when and where you eat is important and will help
show your eating patterns. Seeing it in writing will really hit home.
Good luck to you.
— Linda R.
November 11, 2003
Keep in mind that many fat free products have a higher sugar level and if
you are a dumper you may have troubes with these products.
— ~~Stacie~~
November 11, 2003
"I deserve it, it's been a hard day, just to get through today,
etc." . You said it, you do deserve it - but what you deserve is your
wonderful, thinner body. Your self talk should tell you how much you
deserve the healthier you you have become and you deserve to stay that way.
You deserve your healthy body so much more than you deserve carbs or
M&M's, etc.
I also like the idea of preparing the healthy protien snacks so they are
easy. Because when we need a food fix for reasons other than hunger we do
tend to take what's easy and put it in our mouths. The bad stuff is so
easy. So we need to make the good stuff easy. Where I work they sell string
cheese so I am trying to buy that instead of chips or candy. It only costs
a quarter for one too! It seems to satisfy me, much to my surprise :-)
Good luck, you can do it!
Cathy
— catleth
November 11, 2003
I have poor will power also but have went to having a piece or two of beef
jerky in morning when I want to snack. Only wieghs about a ounce and has
about as much protien as the shake so have that mid-morning for snack with
about 3 Oz of tomato Juice and seems to take care of the snack craving as
takes about an hour to eat the 2 jerky's.
— john59501
November 11, 2003
You may think I'm nuts, but something spicy tends to curb my sweet tooth.
I like to make home made pico de gallo (like a salsa) & eat it on/with
a meal. It has always helped me (even pre-op) cope with chocolate
cravings. I have also found that I tend to want certain sweets (like
chocolate) but not others. When I'm at the mall I stop at a good chocolate
shop and get one piece of sugar free. It's enough to stop and satisfying
until the next time.
Of course, I'm 7 months out and I can truly imagine cravings and bad habits
getting worse as time goes on.
Best wishes!
— Diane S.
November 12, 2003
Is it possible to allow yourself to have small amounts and be satisfied, or
are you seeing the amounts grow and grow and there is no control or end in
sight? You say you haven't gained weight, so perhaps, allowing yourself a
small amount of sugar a day would satisfy? this is what I do at 21 months
post-op. I want my chocolate, so I allow myself small amounts daily and
just watch the scale. Denying myself caused stress, and guilt if I messed
up,which I always did, so allowing small amounts was a good compromise for
me. Some cannot do this and perhaps you don't want to, so I will also
address kicking the habit. I have "heard" that going all protein
as the others have suggested does help kick it after a few days when the
cravings go down. Another suggestion is sugarless gum. Its sweet, so you
feel like your getting a sugar fix but you don't. I polish off 5 or 6 of
those babies a day, to cut down on my sugar consumption. And finally, tape
something to your fridge, the Nike slogan, JUST DO IT. You just do it-stay
away-period-no excuses allowed-period.
— Cindy R.
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