Question:
Almost 5 months post op and very concerned...........

MAY 10 WILL BE 5 MONTHS, I AM DOWN ABOUT 70 POUNDS, WHICH IS GREAT, HOWEVER DURING THE PAST 5 MONTHS I AHVE HAD NO APPETITE, WELL THE PAST WEEK OR SO I HAVE BEEN EATING THINGS LIKE COOKIES AND POTATOE CHIPS, I DONT DUMP UNLESS I DRINK LIKE A STRAWBERRY DAQUERY WHICH HAS TONS OF SUGAR. THE BAD FOOD TASTE GOOD TO ME AGAIN, IM TRYING SO HARD TO CONTROL IT, IM HAVING FLASH BACKS OF PRE OP WHEN I TRIED TO DIET AND HALF WAY THROUGH THE DAY FAILED BECAUSE I GAVE IN AND ATE SOMETHING BAD, ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO HAVE SOME CONTROL HERE. IM NOT OVER DOING IT, I MEAN MY POUCH IS STILL SMALL, BUT ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS WILL AD UP, OH AND PEPSI, I CAN DRINK REGULAR SODAS WITHOUT A PROBLEM, GRRRRRRRR!    — Karen W. (posted on May 5, 2003)

May 5, 2003
First of all, throw out ALL your regular soda! Those are like poison! Keep telling yourself it's POISON! If you want a soda, buy diet. I know it's hard, but you HAVE to. Next, start your day off with protein. Eat it, drink it, whatever. Just DO it! I'm tellin ya, you're cravings will decrease if you up your protein. I'm almost 5 months out too, on the 11th. It's hard, I know! I have to fight the chips demon and the sugar devil too! Get back to the basics and you WILL get back on track! Remember... PROTEIN FIRST! To me, that means FIRST thing in the morning, first thing on my plate, first thing in my mouth, ect... You'll be fine, just get back on the protein, and away from the sugar. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
   — Diana L.

May 5, 2003
Karen, your demons aren't back, don't let them be. As we all know, this surgery is a tool, so it didn't fix our head. Although our portions can be controlled, the things that go into our tummies isn't always controlled. I'm not going to lecture you about trying the things, but one thing I will say is to get rid of the Pepsi- b/c of the sugar and the carbonation. Does carbonation cause pouch stretching? Hmmm- the idea is probably overrated- but personally I'd rather believe it as true so I stay away from my demon- coke. You should try the same. There are 3 main rules I live by after WLS: protein first ALWAYS, drink a TON of water, and moderate exercise. I believe you can lose and maintain your weight by doing this- I have. And i do allow myself treats- so don't feel guilty b/c you tried sugar. SHould we eat it? NO, but its too late for me. And anything in moderation is okay, so as to not feel like you're on a strict diet- b/c that is when I start to fail. Eat your 4-5 small meals a day, have a protein drink, drink your water, and then allow a treat if you want. You are in control here. Goodluck to you!
   — Lezlie Y.

May 5, 2003
This happened to me about seven months out, as far as cookies go. I really find that I just cannot keep cookies and some types of crackers in the house at all, any more than I could keep them around as a pre-op. They will scream at me until I graze myself into a real panic. It isn't worth it. Instead, I eat those things as "treats" if I am out to eat, or at a friend's house if they're offered. One thing you have to do is change up your habits, NOW, while your pouch is still a new thing and still relatively limited in capacity (that only gets bigger and more tolerant of sugar over time, if it keeps getting it). Not getting handle on it now will make it much tougher later. Plus, you're still in your months of maximum weight loss potential (though it may slow at six months or so), and you don't want to wind up kicking yourself in a few months over those last 20 lbs. or so that you can't get rid of because of foods like these. Not to mention the potential for weight gain down the road, when your capacity gets bigger. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid. But figure out how to keep this stuff away from yourself ... consider using protein shakes ... consider how exercise fits in your life (and if you can get enough extra exercise in to allow these things more often) ... and figure out what, FOR YOU, will be different *this time* -- because you're right, something has to be made different in order for this to work! Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

May 5, 2003
I am 19 months post-op. Here is my advice. Don't buy cookies. Not in any way, shape or form. When you really need a cookie, get in your car, drive to the furthest bakery (you don't want a cheap cookie)you know, buy 1 (one, in case you didn't see the 1) cookie, the biggest, choclietest, wonderfullest cookie in the bakery. Now sit down, eat it. Chew each bite at least 15 times. Smell the cookie, look at the cookie. Tell the cookie how much you love it. Eat the cookie. Completely. Love the cookie. Remember how much the cookie meant to you. Do it again. NEXT MONTH. Make it your "cookie time." Never feel guilty. Cherish your cookie time. And remember, now you eat ONE cookie, not 12, or a bag, or a box. It's OK to eat ONE cookie! Buy yourself a new shirt. You ate only ONE cookie! Celebrate. Give yourself a cookie party. Live life. Did I make my point???
   — sandieguy