Question:
Have you set up some specific rules surrounding your eating and exercise habits?

I just completed 8 months of counseling at an eating disorders clinic to address my Binge Eating Disorder. The counseling is group style and encompasses the 3 major ED-anorexia, bulimia and binging. One topic we discussed was the rules ppl with ED set up for themselves surrounding eating and exercising. This was hard for me to work on since I have always had rules and those rules got me to over 300 lbs. Now I have other rules related to wls and I am confused. I'm not talking about drinking after eating, eating dense foods so they will stay in the pouch longer, etc. I'm talking about the won't touch this food and can't eat that food ever again. Restricting foods. The ED clinic teaches eating from the food guide in portions that are comfortable and provide proper nutrition. I know it's different for us postops b/c we have to eat a larger portion of protein and a smaller portion of carbs. Do any of you have strict rules about what you will and won't eat or do you eat some 'fun' foods once in a while and not freak out after you've eaten them? Do you eat a few cookies or such food then exercise like crazy to 'get rid' of those calories? Do any of you purge by making yourself vomit sweets or fats or do you use laxatives or excessive exercise to 'get those calories out' of your bodies? I am really curious how many of us still have issues about foods, diets, restrictions, fear of fat, fear of carbs, purging, binging, etc. I would like to know if I am one of the rare ones who struggle with food issues like these and am conflicted between a postop wls weight reduction plan and a 'balanced eating' food pyramid. All input is welcome.    — mary ann T. (posted on June 30, 2004)

June 30, 2004
in the past when i set up eating rules for myself it never worked out. if i broke a rule i would feel like such a failure. i would punish myself to the point of making myself sick. then i would go off the diet completely adding more pounds to my body. then binging because i figured that if i couldn't stick to the rules why bother even trying. it made each diet attempt even harder and my selfesteem even lower. no more rules for me. i'm only human and i will make mistakes, but this time i will learn from them and move on instead of giving up on myself.
   — franbvan

June 30, 2004
The only rules I have (besides not eating and drinking and no high calorie beverages (other then protein shakes) basically that I no longer eat bread or drink soda (even diet). The reason for the no bread is it was just added calories and took up room from protein. The soda rule was because I read that people who have sustained weight loss avoided carbonated beverages. I have broken these rules before, but not very often.
   — Lisa N M.

July 1, 2004
When I decided on the surgery I identified what my triggers were and made myself a promise to not reintroduce them into my life as a post-op. For me the triggers are sugar based desserts and chocolate (including the low carb). I have kept to my promise to myself about not having them back in my life. I am about 7 months post-op and pretty much don't miss them. I am using fruit as my natural sweet because it was never a trigger for me in the past and still is not. I do have something that I really enjoy and that is a small bag of Lay's regular potato chips. I allow myself one bag a month for the crunch/salt and have no problem sticking to that. They were always a favorite of mine before surgery, but not a trigger food. Beyond that I try to eat in a healthy way and amount. I do 3-4 protein shakes a day and I believe that they help me to not crave the sweets while they are providing me necessary protein. I happen to like them too. Sandra
   — Arizona_Sun

July 1, 2004
You certainly are not alone in dealing with food issues. If we didn't have food issues, we wouldn't have gotten to the point of needing surgery. And the surgery only rearranges our digestive system, it doesn't resolve the mental issues. I do not purposefully vomit, or take laxatives to purge food, and don't specifically "exercise off" a poor food choice. However, I do have to set up some rules for myself. There are no forbidden foods because that only makes them more attractive to me. But, I do limit certain kinds of foods to either special occasions and parties (for example, bread, potatoes, pasta, potato chips) or weekends only (a bit of candy or a small piece of dessert). I can manage that. I also have to set routines (I hesitate to call these "rules") about exercise, or I just won't do it. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, I do a circuit training workout. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings I walk two miles. I know that I have to do these things before I go to work, or I will find excuses not to do them later. I sometimes will walk another two miles after work, and occasionally walk or workout on a weekend day, but those aren't scheduled--that's bonus exercise that I do if I have the time, energy, and inclination. I try not to get too rule-oriented or too structured in the routines as that feels unhealthy and abnormal to me. But, I do have to set some parameters, or I'll be back where I started. You're not alone. Keep on the trail of taming your demons.
   — Vespa R.

July 1, 2004
Mary Ann, I spent years and years in counseling and self analysis, etc., to deal with my eating disorder. I know what my trigger foods are and I know how certain foods affect me. I don't have any rules as such but I will not touch anything with over 10g of sugar per serving just because I think it is better for me to not know whether I dump or not. I just assume that I do but that hasn't been too hard because I never had much of a sweet tooth anyway. My problem was white bread and volume eating. I don't eat white bread anymore just because it doesn't feel good in my tummy. I have eaten whole grain dinner rolls on a couple of occasions since surgery but I made sure it was at dinner so I wouldn't get hungry. Hunger has always been my nemisis.........guess I thought I'd die if I ever got hungry and I now recognize that refined carbs make me hungry so I just avoid them since I'd rather not deal with hunger. I do eat items from the entire food pyramid as I understand it but I don't think white flour and sugar are even on the pyramid are they? I don't have strict exercise rules either. My philosopy has been to just move as much as possible. I park further away from my destination, I climb stairs, I take a walk everyday, and I just joined Curves but don't plan to be obsessive about that either. I've tried to develop a plan that I can live with for the rest of my life and obesessive dieting or exercise is not a part of the plan. I don't particularly like exercise so I'd just rather not eat things that might mean I'd have to work out harder or more frequently. I do like hiking, bike riding, kayaking, etc., so I try to do those as often as possible because, in addition to being good exercise, they're just plain fun. Sorry for the long post here but I congratulate you on working so hard to understand yourself. If I've learned one thing, it is that we are all different and have to develop our own life plan. What works for me may not work for you. We can take input and suggestions from others but ultimately, we have to know ourselves. Good luck on your journey.
   — scbabe

July 1, 2004
Rules can be helps and rules can get you in trouble. It's all in how you approach things. My basic rule is (1) there are exceptions to every rule (2) protein first--meet the daily recommendation first and foremost (3) water second--unacceptable to not meet the minimum daily requirement (4) get some kind of exercise every day. My personality is the type that it will slip if I don't do that. (5) never let vitamins slip <br> <br> Outside of that I struggle with food issues like the rest of you guys, but as long as I have the discipline to get back up and go back to basics if I fail, I don't do too badly.
   — Cathy S.