Question:
How can I get control of my eating

I am 19 months post-op from open rny and I have lost 145 lbs. but I have noticed that with each day I eat more and more and have begin to gain weight again. I don't want to do this but I can't stop. I eat ice cream and pepsi almost like before and I eat large amounts of food. Any suggestions........ I have tried to stop but I am hungry all the time. Whats a person to do...    — T R. (posted on November 18, 2002)

November 17, 2002
Hi T, first, I can not tell from your profile if you are transected or not. You may need to check with your surgeon if you are not to have your tummy looked at to make sure you do not have a staple line disruption. If you ARE transected, then go back to the rules. Protein firts. Lots of water, no sodas. The rules can still work for you, but you have to follow them. Good Luck!!
   — Vicki L.

November 17, 2002
I am wondering if you do see or can see a nutritionist. even if you could do this weekly for a little while it would give you someone to talk to about what you are eating who could work with you to make a food plan that you are satisfied with and keeps you from gaining your weight back. My insurance covers a lisenced nutritionist and many do. Good luck to you!
   — Carol S.

November 18, 2002
If you are hungry all the time, chances are you are eating a diet too high in carbs. Try starting your morning with a no carb breakfast. I find that if I eat carbs at breakfast I crave them all day long. And I don't mean to bash you or anything, but you have to make good choices. Ice cream and sodas are fine as a treat, but you are still responsible for feeding your body good food. If you are having other issues that cause you to not have control over what goes in your mouth, address them. If you get at the root cause you can fix the problem. Addressing the symptom (out of control eating) without addressing the cause will get you nowhere. Good luck and hope this helps!
   — ctyst

November 18, 2002
First, congrats on the weight loss-you've lost a whole person! Now, to gain control. When you do eat, do you eat until you are full, or just satisfied? I've learned how to recognize the difference and now stop at the first sign of satisfied. But I eat frequently. I think that if you fuel the body with good stuff (mostly all good stuff) every few hours-whenever you feel the slightest hunger-your body will have a source of fuel to burn all day long. If you are not hungry, you should have more will power to stop from eating the really bad things like ice cream and pepsi. I find that if I let myself get HUNGRY, I make bad choices. Feed myself when I get slightly hungry, and I can make better choices. What we have to do to trick the body...
   — Cindy R.

November 18, 2002
Another trick- keep the junk out of the house! If there is no ice cream or pepsi in the house-you may be "forced" to reach for the nuts or the apple...
   — Cindy R.

November 19, 2002
T--perhaps remembering what weight you started at and dont wish to go back to might help? I read in my literature from my surgeon that you can always start back at the "liquids" phase then soft food etc. I really think the pepsi is harmful in two ways--it stretches your pouch and its just pure sugar. You may wanna cease the carbonated beverages for a bit until you are back in the drivers seat. It sounds like you know what you're doing wrong and know how to correct it--you just need to draw the strength to do so--hopefully you'll see the many people on here that are still preop and that will give you the drive to make better choices. Good luck and God Bless.
   — Bambi C.