Question:
7 months out, and I'm grazing like crazy ... help!

I am 7+ months out of surgery and have already lost 150 lbs. It was easy at first, because I had absolutely no appetite. I've got about another 70-90 lbs. to go, and my appetite has suddenly returned full blast! I find myself grazing throughout the day and eating sugary things. I'm so frustrated with myself! I understand that this surgery is only a tool, but I was so hoping that it would work for me. I am working out 3-4 times/week and getting in my water, but I can't seem to help this grazing problem I've got! HELP, please!!! I don't want to gain weight. Only a month or so ago, I was eating 800 calories tops. Now I'm eating 1200-1500, split up into 5-6 meals. This is so frightening!    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 20, 2001)

October 20, 2001
Believe me..i'm a snacker. So i know exactly what you're talking about. It's ok to snack. It's what you snack on that makes all the difference. Chips, cookies,crackers, pretzels, and any bread products are to be limited. Not forbidden, but limited. Try non-fat, low cal vanilla yogurt w/fresh fruit. Cut up veggies w/ low cal dip. Nothing wrong w/ snacks..but watch the carbs.
   — [Anonymous]

October 20, 2001
You might want to consider finding a therapist who deals with eating disorders. I only wish I had done that the first time I had WLS...I made it down to 220 (from 350) and then started grazing...just little amounts, but it added up...I regained my weight up to 319, and just had Open RNY conversion done on 9/26...so far, down 21 pounds...I still go the therapist and she's helped me enormously. I didn't believe I had an eating disorder...this was required for the second surgery. I'm glad it was. I'm only sorry I didn't do this before regaining all that weight. Best wishes to you. Yvonne
   — Yvonne R.

October 20, 2001
Hi There: I am a snacker also, and even though I am only 10 weeks out, I find myself getting the urge to snack..salty things are my weakness. I have found that when I do get that urge I fix myself maybe 1/4 of a graham cracker with peanut butter or maybe a cup of hot tea with milk in it...PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN...just start cramming in protein and that will usually help....If all else fails. go ahead and have that "1 oreo cokie" and flush the rest down the toilet.....Good Luck
   — Joi G.

October 22, 2001
I was told that the more carbs you consume the hungrier you'll get. Try fluid loading when you think you want to graze, if after drinking alot of fluids then waiting 30+minutes if you still feel the need to graze, hit the protein. I see you are keeping track of calories but are you still keeping track of the amt of protein, fluids and carbs? Remember for most of us food has been our way of dealing with stress, depression, fear, lets face it most emotions would get us eating in the past. A good therapist can help you find different ways to deal with different situations, another good thing is they can check you to see if depression is a problem. Mine did and the new antidepressants have made a dramatic change in my life. Good luck, I'll pray for you----Helen
   — Helen B.

October 22, 2001
Hard as it is....water and protein should be your choices. When you feel the need to snack, dring a large glass of cold water or (I drink Crystal Light) as you comfortably do it. Wait twenty minutes. If you are still hungery, eat a protein. This works like a charm for me. Also, sipping on cal free, non-carbonated drinks throughout the day helps.
   — [Anonymous]

October 22, 2002
My heart goes out to you. I am a year post-op. I do ok some days, but other days, I feel like a bottomless pit. Eating has always been a compulsion for me. I have pondered for a long time. Is it because of my family? A history of sexual abuse as a child? Is it a deep down self loathing?? I don't know for sure. When the weight started coming off and I started to get some male attention. It made me (and still makes me) uncomfortable. I would try to hide if a man stared at me at a stop light. I avoid looking at them. Flirting makes me uncomfortable. I don't want to sound conceited, but I am a very attractive women. One day it dawned on me that I try to sabatoge myself, because fat is comfortable. Fat keeps me safe. Fat makes me invisible. Fat has been my way of life. It is hard to leave what you know. I wish I had magic words to tell you and make your struggle easier. Be patient with yourself, take it one day at time, above all love yourself and start a real relationship with Christ (if you don't already have one),it really helps. I will pray for you.
   — denaa

October 23, 2002
I feel your pain. My appetite was back at 4 months. i am now 7 months as of yesterday. When I feel those hunger pains I usually get a 20 oz. cup of hot decaf tea with a little milk in it to cool it down. It takes me up to an hour to drink it all but it helps me to get all my water in. I usually drink 2 in the morning and 2 after lunch. And I night I will have another cup before bed just to give me that full filling and it puts me to sleep and makes me warm on these cold nights we now are having. Good Luck hope this helps.
   — Chris9672

January 1, 2005
try rules for the pouche for dummies bad name but it works
   — missysandy