Question:
Has anyone after a year post-op finding it hard to follow the diet?

I am 15 months out and am finding myself sabatoging my WL with snacking and soda. It is like I cannot stop. I have only lost 95 pounds with a TT and finding it hard to get below that 200 mark. Am I the only one? Everyone I meet seems to kick-butt following the diet, I cannot. HELP    — Jenny F. (posted on January 5, 2001)

January 5, 2001
Hi Jenny: I'm not a year out yet, or even a 1/2 year, for that matter. However, I have been prone to snacking during the holidays and times of stress. I find myself getting back into my old brain, "You'll always be fat, so go ahead and stuff yourself". Seems to me when this kicks in, I am punishing myself, and I have to stop playing the 'old tapes' and put in the new ones. I have to tell myself, "You're doing great!" "You're looking good!" "You're feeling good", and then I have to get back on the plan, especially since I am not prone to dumping. I KNOW I can sabotage this. Maybe you can try something I do when I successfully overcome the snacking and cravings: Don't tell yourself you CAN'T snack, but make sure you work for it first - get all your protien, all your water, walk for a mile, walk to the store to get it. Dance to your favorite CD. Oops, for every caffienated soda, you need to replace it ounce for ounce with water. Keep goodies out of the house - I absolutely have to do this. Buy a variety of pickles, sweet, kosher, hot, etc. and eat a plate of them if you have to. Have six small meals. This worked for me over Christmas...I pushed myself to the limit with bad choices and somehow I've lost 7 pounds in two weeks - the best I've done in a long time - and I KNOW it's because of the protien and water. I've heard it said that if you go back to 4 days clear liquids, 4 days full liquids and 4 days purees, you'll shrink the stoma and you'll be fuller longer. Take your goal in 10 pound increments - it's so much easier for me to look forward to being under 200 lbs. than to see ahead to 150 lbs. Go to a support group. Get in the chat room when you want to snack. Call a friend. If you get away from the snacking for just a day, it will get easier! Best of luck to you, you can do it!
   — Allie B.

January 5, 2001
I'm 6+ yrs post-op. When I am tempted to do something silly, I drink more protein supps. I take in 4-6 a day anyway, but I can crank that up if I need to get over a rough spot. Have had several strong emotional upheavals this year, so have taken in a LOT of protein supplement. If I must binge-eat, it's popcorn. Won't hurt my pouch or my wt loss.
   — vitalady