Question:
2.5 Months Post Op, Old Food Habits Are Creeping Back

I am about 2 1/2 months post- op & down around 45 pounds.... yesterday I ate about 3oz (which is almost the whole box) of Crunch & Munch! BOY was it so good & I didn't get sick. I didn't eat it all at once but I would say over a two hour span. After which I was very guilty & I confessed to my husband. He was VERY shocked & he got on to me. For that I am greatful. It was kind of like a snap back into reality. I can pretty much eat anything without getting too sick... which to me is a bad thing. However, I am really good about staying away from the things I'm not suppose to eat. I now relize that when I found that box of Crunch & Munch I went back into my old self... I am ashamed on how fast I snatched that box up & tore into them. And then while eating them trying to justify it. I think that I learned a bit about myself through this & I only pray that the lord cont. to work with me on "will power". I have come such a long way & I don't want to fail. I know we are not to compare ourselves to others.. but I wonder if I am where I am suppose to be? I wonder if there is anyone else out there that has had temp. set backs? Am I normal??? :)    — Beth G. (posted on March 11, 2003)

March 11, 2003
You are perfectly normal. These changes dont take place overnight. Our habits have been with us 20, 30, or whatever amount of years, its going to take awhile to change. I have posted several questions about this in the last few weeks. I will be 5 months out on sat (3/15) and for the last 2 months have been having a terrible time controlling my eating compulsion. Here are a few ideas that have helped. I went one day and did not eat until I felt really hungry which ended up being 6-7 hours. Now I eat every 5 hours no matter what. That way Im not starving at any point. And if I get the urge to eat, I start telling myself I can eat at 2, thats only _____ minutes away, I can hold out. I Get in at leat 64 oz no matter what and that helps fill the pouch. I work out mon-fri now. That makes me thirsty so I started drinking more...and that helps fill me. I have also started telling myself that if I have those 3 (or 30 LOL) cookies I want I will have to do my workout on Sat instead of having the day off. It would take 30 min of aerobics to burn off that many calories and fat...its not worth it. I started attending a post-op support group..that was a major help. Im also looking for a therapist to help with my eating addiction. Finally, I am recording everything I eat and watching where I go wrong..looking for things that trigger my eating. You have to figure out what your triggers are....stress, boredom, depression, whatever it is, and work on that..get to the root of the problem. You are not alone!!!
   — cherokey55

March 11, 2003
OOoooooooo, I think you're *totally* normal, and it's great that you're freaking out about this instead of having it "creep" up on you, repeating the same behaviour day after day, telling yourself it's okay (it isn't). When I have an episode like yours, I cut off the offending food for a few days. It can sit in the cupboard and call to me, but I will not answer. Then I "allow" for it, planning in advance when I'll have it (instead of responding to the call). If I find I can handle it, pre-planned, then I allow it again, pre-planned. If that goes okay, then I will answer "the call," if I find it doesn't trigger a frenzy. If I lose control at any point along the way -- out it goes. This worked for the Cookie Obsession of November '02 (6 months post-op) and is working so far with the Great Goldfish Cracker Smack-Down!! going on right now (at 9 months out). It failed with the Shameful Edy's Ice Cream Incident of January '03 (7+ months out) -- I was saved only because the remaining ice cream turned out to be a flavor I didn't like (but boy, did I try!). So, ice cream's still banned from the house.<P>Think of yourself as Indiana Jones, hanging on to the back of that fast-moving truck, doggedly climbing back up to the front where you can punch out the bad guy and take over the driver's seat again. Grrrrrrr!!! You will *not* be humbled by a stupid box of "Crunch & Munch," no way, no HOW!! >:~D
   — Suzy C.

March 11, 2003
Great responses from the previous posters! First, some changes in your mental thinking. Eating Crunch and Munch or any other food that is not protein or a vegetable is NOT a shameful, failure kind of thing. It is also not a temporary set back. In fact, you are, egads, NORMAL!! Don't you think skinny minnie people have Crunch and Munch or cookies, chips or ice cream or candy? I have found that if you deny yourself your treats, then you feel deprived, punished, and will eventually go off on a binge, feel guilty, and repeat the cycle again. Not good. What a waste of time. Instead, build the treats into your day or week. Just like Suzy C said, if you can handle it, do it, if not, keep it out of the house. I have mini chocolate chip cookies, SF cookies, miniature chocolates, etc in the house and have a little bit every evening. No guilt at all, and I am still losing. I keep up the protein, water and most importantly EXERCISE and I build in the treats. Relax...
   — Cindy R.

March 11, 2003
I don't know what Crunch & Munch is, I don't think. Unless it is popcorn, caramel, nuts? I'm going to assuyme it is that, ok? It would go over my personal sugar limit (like I NEVER?), but I'm not perfection there. I think what grabbed me was the "over 2 hours". Grazing is deadly for our wt loss. If you had to have a fix, perhaps dividing it into 2-3-4 ziplok baggies (a whole "unit") and alotting it to yourself in place of one of your meals? I think we need to eat somewhat normally, but I cannot include milk (ever) opr sugar into my daily routine or I would regain, at least 50, maybe endless. I had a bout with Peeps and it cost me several pounds. I don't even LIKE marshmallows, but it was about texture. In any case, I cannot ever bite one again. 3 yrs sober. There are some exceptions I simly cannot afford to make. I have a fatal disease (morbid obesity) and if I don't follow my treatment, the disease will be in control again. I loved Suzy's answr below, about fighting your way back into the driver's seat. I have to do with carbs every now & then. There are healthy carbs, but for me, they may or may not trigger the desire to put carbs first in my life--above good sense. I just am taking notes & keeping track of what works, what doesn't, for me.
   — vitalady

March 11, 2003
Hi Beth. I totally agree with Cindy about not letting yourself go deprived with snacks either. If you eat 5-6 small meals a day and have your protein requirements, and never have a snack again, that just isn't normal. Sure, some people can do it, but they are superhuman and have awesome self-control! :) Something of which I still don't have. That is why I had this surgery. Instead of eating 2 candy bars, I have a hersheys mini, and that is enough for me. Instead of having 2 packages of skittles, I have one of those tiny snack size nerds or something. I honestly cannot live w/o my candy, so I don't try. Because I did, and then I just went nuts. Just like some people have their icecream or chips, i need my candy! lol It may not be the best, but I also work out 5 times a week and am still losing weight at 9 months post-op (10lbs away from goal) so I don't let myself get hanged up on it anymore. My parents are proud of me and think I am doing great. Just like your husband is right there supporting you, and helping you "stay in line" so to speak. :) The previous posters are right, in the grand scheme of things, this "binge" if you can even call it that doesn't matter. Just make sure you are aware of what you are eating, and measure, measure, measure!! You are completely normal, we are all human. Allow yourself some snacks, just make them small and try to allow some protein snacks, too. Goodluck to you- and congrats on really good weight loss!!
   — Lezlie Y.