Question:
I feel out of control!!!

I don't know what is the matter with me lately. I am feeling so out of control with my eating. I feel like I am eating constantly and I can't control the urges. Today I ate almost alll carbs. I had 2 pieces of homemade sugar free banana bread, all of the meat and 1/2 slice of bread of a roast beef sandwich, 1/3 cup fatfree cottage cheese, 8 french fries and 5 radishes. I don't know what is the matter with me. I am so scared that I will not make it to goal, or worse yet I will gain back all the weight I have lost. So far I am down 116 pounds Open RNY 7/1/03. I have at least another 60 to lose. I am so afraid I am going to fail at this too. How can I control my eating again?    — Stacie B. (posted on January 16, 2004)

January 16, 2004
For myself, I've noticed that if I eat white bread at all, I will stuff my face the whole rest of the day. When I eliminate the white bread, I'm still not perfect, butI find it much easier to control my eating.
   — joeandteri

January 16, 2004
I'm preop but this is what I did to keep 60 lbs off for two years - I allowed myself the carbs but in measured doses. For instance, promise yourself a carb you like everyday, but only a small one, and only one type. Keep in mind that you can still have another type tomorrow and the next day, etc. Pretty soon you won't have the same urges because you don't deny yourself.
   — Megan *.

January 16, 2004
Ah, welcome to the end of the honeymoon period! Which doesn't mean you'll stop losing at all, or that you'll fail ... of course not! Especially considering how incredibly well you've done so far.<P>But,at six months post-op, your pouch is now able to hold more, and your hunger level is rising as a result. (That's what I meant by "end of the honeymoon".) Add to that the carbs that drive you nuts, and of course, you feel out of control.<P>Your day doesn't look that bad to me, except for the second piece of banana bread (which is not the end of the world). The important thing is the *feeling* that you're out of control ... that you know this could be the beginning of some bad habits returning. It's important to listen to that "early warning system" and act on it, especially if you still have a way to go to get to goal.<P>If you haven't been doing it already, I'd recommend using fitday.com to track your daily eating for the next few months, until you feel you have a grip on your newfound ability to eat more. Using fitday will help keep you honest. Add more protein to your diet ... dense protein foods tend to fill you up more easily, and for longer, and at a cost of fewer calories, than carbs foods, many of which just *slide on through* sooooo easily. Develop some favorite protein snack foods and keep them around for ready access (I like string cheese and turkey pepperoni, but my tastes are pretty unevolved). Try starting off your day with protein -- a protein shake, or scrambled egg with turkey bacon, or cottage cheese. Some folks find that morning consumption of simple carbs and/or sugars gives 'em carb cravings all day long. Eat protein more and ease the carb torture. ;-) <P>Finally, don't forget your exercise. As hard as it is to begin to learn to trust our new eating habits to carry us through the "bad" days, it's the exercise that really keeps us from having to be perfect with food all the time. And don't forget to "rachet up" your exercise to allow for the fact that, the lighter you get, the fewer calories your old exercise regime burns, so ... pump up the volume. Work harder enough to get the heart pumping. If that means running a little instead of walking all the time, so be it, if you can. :-)<P>Good luck!!!
   — Suzy C.

January 16, 2004
I agree that it is how you feel about what you are eating that is as destructive as what you are eating. I find that eating carbs makes me feel out of control even when it is in moderation. I swear it is like a drug for me that only leaves me searching for the next "fix". I was recently on a carb bender (period induced for sure) and the only way that I can get a grip is to stop cold turkey and get back to basics. For me that means 3 days of shakes and cottage cheese with the bonus protein bar in the evening when the munchies get their grip on me. I think that some of us are more addicted than others and the way that it messes with your head is usually far worse than what we actually eat. I think that my favorite thing about this surgery is that it is so much easier now to hop back on the wagon and get a grip. I weigh myself often to keep myself in check and if the scale goes up a pound then I am back to all protein. With 60 more to lose I would not mess with the carbs at all for a while. I do not even remotely understand the concept of moderation. I was never a moderation sort of gal at 277 and it has not changed much over the course of a year and very near goal weight. I also find that having a fellow WLSer to talk to helps a lot and I take advantage of that poor guy often. Lap RnY 1/15/03 277/156/150ish
   — Carol S.