Question:
I am a firm believer in staying away from my trigger foods, like

Sugar, wheat, alcohol, added fats, caffine. These foods make me crave and have joint aches. I also keep my food in its most natural form and try not to eat processed foods. Such as brown rice instead of white rice. I see people posting on here about keeping track of what they eat. I feel that just staying away from my 5 trigger foods and stop eating when I'm full will be enough for me to loose weight. Personally I feel that by posting my food intake every day is a little obsessive and hinders my recovery to be normal. I know that staying away from my trigger foods is about as normal as I'll ever get. I once lost 158# by staying away from these foods, drinking water and walking was enough to do it. However, I went back to eating them and gained a tremendous amount of weight and opted for the surgery at this time. Does anyone else believe in staying away from these types of food and does not post their daily intake? How is your weight loss coming? I need to hear some opinions on this!! Thanks Tammy    — Tammy D. (posted on April 18, 2002)

April 18, 2002
I think the people that are posting what they eat are just trying to figure out what they should be doing..I don't think they are obsessing. Maybe they don't feel like that isn't a "normal" thing to do.. I personally don't see the harm in it.. I think that's a little harsh to say that it's obsessive and not normal jsut because you have a different point of view.. for some it's harder to stay the course and if it helps to keep a daily diet log..then GO FOR IT PEOPLE>> In fact our dietitian encourages us to write down everything we eat to make sure we are eating enough protein, getting in enough water etc.. We choose not to .. mostly because we are too forgetful to do it.. but I don't think it's a bad idea! Wheat and white rice are on our dietitian written diet plan.. Everyone is different .. tolerance and understanding are 2 marvelous things to practice!
   — Allie A.

April 18, 2002
I've never written down what I eat! Never occurred to me! I'm trying to NOT be food focused. I get in all my protein supps a day (which I do count) and my vites (also counted), and I avoid milk & sugar. That's it. No other counting or tracking for me. I'm trying to remove my brain from food thoughts. I just don't think I'd be where I am if I was trying to extract the basic 8 nutrients from my food and had to think about it ALL THE TIME. So far, so good, approaching 8 yrs, still under 115# in weight.
   — vitalady

April 18, 2002
The thought of writing down and keeping track of what I am eating reminds of all of the diets that I have been on in the past. I actually get a feeling of dread and don't plan on doing it. I won't ever "diet" again. I've never written anything down, and am doing absolutely just fine. There are a number of foods that I avoid because they don't agree with me, but otherwise I eat whatever I want, in much smaller quantities. My surgeon believes in a normal, non dieting, lifestyle. I had surgery 1/8/01 and by 9 months had reached my goal of 139. I now weigh about 120 and am holding. I am actually trying to gain a few pounds as I feel I am too skinny. Good luck1 Shellely
   — Shelley.

April 18, 2002
well...if I stayed away from my trigger foods I'd starve! Everything is a trigger for me it seems. As for the obsessive food trackers...I wish that I had the time to do that...it would probably be a huge advantage to me and I could think of many many things that are worse than keeping a food journal.There is no such thing as "normal" every one is different. I think that if you can identify your trigger foods (which I can't) it is a very good idea to stay away from them.I am pre op but I am under the impresson that as a post op you will need to keep a food journal to make sure that you are getting in all of the requirements. Let me know if I'm wrong. Good luck
   — Tina C.

April 18, 2002
I know that posting all your food is a little obsessive. Most big people are odsessive eaters and this may focus their (my ;))behavior in a better direction. How will I know if I am thirsty?;-) I do like to see how much protein i take in daily. Just one mans opinion
   — Robert L.

April 18, 2002
I'm way to busy to post everything I eat and actually, even at 4 years, postop, I don't eat that much. Like you, I avoid my "trigger foods" and when I do, I don't get hungry and I don't crave carbs. It took me a long time to really understand that. I avoid the simple carbs, drink plenty of water and exersize and I'm losing weight again. Slowly....but consistenlty. At one time, I thought I'd never reach my personal goal.....now I know I will!
   — margaret N.

April 18, 2002
I think that maybe when we 'plateau' for an extended amount of time, it may be a good idea to start writing everything down. It may show you what may be causing the stall in weight loss. A handful of this, a little bite of that all adds up and we have to be careful of those 'little handfuls' and 'little bites'. They seem so insignificant until you look at it on paper. But I wouldn't track my food intake unless I was on a weight loss stall. Other than that I feel like my mind would be on food constantly (like what Michelle said) and it would be too focused on 'what I ATE, what am I EATING, WHEN I am going to eat, and WHAT am I going to eat. Too much focus on food!! That is what got me into trouble in the first place. I don't think about food now until my pouch starts talking to me. I think that maybe for those that food track and chart, are those that have success with it. Not me! I feel free from the thought of food!
   — Cheri M.

April 19, 2002
tammy i agree with u 100%. i had this surgery to live a 'normal' life & get away from my lifetime obsessions of dieting, yo yo dieting, depriving myself of foods that i love etc. i have learned what causes me to dump & stay away from those triggers. i have become accustomed to using splenda but not sugar, & yes, i do cheat & indulge myself, but, not anywhere near what i used to do before i had my wonderful new tool to keep me in check. my dr wants us to eat anything we want & balanced meals, but, of course the rules of the pouch apply. how can they not when my pouch now dominates my eating habits? i secretly call my pouch 'little hitler' because it is such a dictator lol. i have promised myself that i will never ever 'diet' again. i will not deprive myself of anything as long as it doesnt hurt me. if hubby is eating a donut, i have been known to take a small bite of it. mmmmm its so good but, i dont do it often & it certainly is not worth having 2 bites just to get sick & dump. i also stay away from the scale & weigh myself once a week only. doing this has allowed the scale to become my friend instead of my hated mortal enemy. the same hold true for my tape measure. i love myself now, truly love myself. i am confident, much more social & outgoing & can physically do things that i have not been able to do for at least 15 years. i love my pouch & try to take good care of it so that it will take good care of me. i tell everybody...if i had to have wls every year for the rest of my life, i WOULD.
   — sheryl titone