[gidget]

I know I have lost a good amount of weight now that I am 4 months post-op and that I can tolerate more solid proteins, but I feel like, if I let myself go, I could still very easily over eat! I do get full fast sometimes, but at other times I feel like I can juust keep on eating! I feel like I have myself on a "diet" of sorts. I make healthy choices now, eat losts of fish and a few veggies. I still don't eat carbs (except occasional fruit carbs)or sugar or excess fat, and I have never dumped, so sometimes I feel like I wish I would just to know that my tool is working and that it isn't all my head and self-control doing the work! Any suggestions? Also, even though I eat slow, what is the purpose of eating slow?

[judijo]

There came a point, at around right where you are (and I am only 2 months behind you) where I realized that a "diet" is exactly what I will be eating forever to maintain the weight loss, when I finally do reach my goal. I am talking about a typical "Weight Watchers" diet, or a 1200-1500 calorie ADA diet.

Recently, I have been giving in to some of my "oh, that looks/sounds good" cravings, and have really paid for it with dumping. It is really a gift that my tool is working for me. Today it has been pretty much greek yogurt w/ fruit, veggies, and flax seed for me.

Re: eating slow...you got me. I don't take a long time to eat...maybe 10 minutes. But I am very careful to 1) not get seconds, 2) not drink with my meal, and 3) chew my food to mush. I have even read, in other WLS support boards, that one should be DONE eating within 10 minutes, with no more than a fist-full of food at a time. That isn't the regular code, though. In my WLS classes, they say to take 25-35 minutes/meal.

[clancythecamper]

The slow eating part has several facets. First, we dont want to overload pouchy (makes me sick). Also, if you eat slowly, it gives your stomach the opportunity notify your brain that you're full. It's a good idea even if you aren't a WLS patient.

Gidget, I also know how you feel coz I don't get sick too easily. You could always test yourself and see if you puke your guts out - LOL - just kidding. I decided not to really test myself as to what I can tolerate too much coz I felt I would have less control. Congrats on your success so far

[wannabe skinny]

rather than thinking "diet" it is important to look at all of this as a new way of eating because the people who have had long term suggest with weight loss surgery have completely changed their eating habits. the surgery is just a tool which i am SO glad that i had - because it has helped me immeasurably. i have approx 800-1000 calories per day and around 25-30 carbs per day. take very small bites and chew chew chew - also take around 30 minutes to eat my meals, setting down my fork or spoon between bites.

[Queenofthenile]

Like Clancey said, eating slowly helps to notify the brain that you're done. It takes the brain 20-30 minutes to register that it no longer needs to eat. There are 2 hormones Leptin and ghrelin. Leptin turns off eating and ghrelin turns on eating so your brain needs to register their signals. As for being on a "diet" that is precisely what you're on. I wouldn't use diet though. I would say it is a lifestyle change and you now have a tool that keeps you true to your lifestyle change. I hope things get better for you.

[needanewme]

I am 9 months out and hunger and cravings have returned. I have realized that I am a recovering food addict and it will be a forever battle with me to maintain healthy eating patterns. I have changed my eating habits, allow myself my treats without guilt, remind myself at every food craving that I cannot eat like this if I am to be the thinner, healthier person I want to be. It is a daily struggle, never easy and when I am emotional or bored it is twice as hard.

I equate my struggle to the same as the struggle that an alcoholic must face everyday.

[gidget]

Well said, ladiess, and thank you all so much for your replies and continued support. I don't know what I'd do without all of you!

[reastland]

G,

I LOVE THIS MESSAGE BOARD, BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT. BEFORE I HAD SURGERY, SOMEONE ON HERE WROTE ABOUT DRINKING COFFEE WITH SOME HIGH CARB GRAHAM CRACKERS. IT MADE A SLURRY THAT FELT GOOD TO THE TUMMY AND WAS TAISTY. PROBLEM WAS, SHE GAINED WEIGHT. FOR SOME REASON THAT STAYED IN MY BRAIN, AND FIVE MONTHS AFTER SURGERY, I FOUND THAT COFFEE WITH SOME CARBS WENT DOWN GREAT! I REMEMBERED HER STATEMENT, AND I STOPPED THE CRACKERS AND RACED BACK TO THE PROTEIN.

Sorry for the caps, I just realized they were on, and I don't want to retype.

So I agree with you about the information here. Amazing. Those carbs and my addiction to them got me here, so I have to watch them closely no matter the size of my tummy. And the DO get me into trouble on the scale.

Good Luck,
Becky

[sue4491]

Originally Posted by judijo

There came a point, at around right where you are (and I am only 2 months behind you) where I realized that a "diet" is exactly what I will be eating forever to maintain the weight loss, when I finally do reach my goal. I am talking about a typical "Weight Watchers" diet, or a 1200-1500 calorie ADA diet.

You know, I really agree with you and that's true for surgical patients and non ops like me.

I'm really beginning to think that what the TV tells us that sometime after we lose the weight, we are supposed to be "normal" and eat whatever we want like the mythological "normal" people and not gain, is basically untrue! TV misleading... oh what a surprise! NOT.

I think in our society which is like a food jungle, it's necessary for anyone who has the genetics to become fat, to count calories (or points) for the rest of their lives and that this is NOT a diet BUT a lifestyle for sure. I've tried every OTHER way under the sun to keep my weight off but the only times I was ever successful was when I was keeping close track of everything I ate and counting calories.

It's just that our society, albeit kind of obscessed with size, looks down upon the idea of counting our calories because eating is supposed to be "spontaneous". Well, I suppose if one limits oneself to the stuff our ancestors ate (cactus and bean slurry and stuff like that) one CAN be spontaneous but living in the NOW, spontaneous eating is history if we want to keep off our weight.

When I tell folks I expect to be counting my points for the rest of my life, still many folks cringe at the idea. And I say "well, you know, it's more of a dealbreaker for me to be overweight than to count calories!"

JMO

[not quite Barbie]

I agree with Sue, even though I'm NOT counting calories or points, LOL.

In the last 14 months I've relearned how to eat, maybe I should say WHAT to eat, and I pretty much know what makes a "good" meal versus a bad one. I don't think of it as a diet but as a new way of life - this is how I have to eat for the rest of my life if I want to keep the weight off.

Occasionally I'll log everything I eat just to make sure I'm still on track and will adjust if needed. The scale is still moving downward for me (though very slowly now) but I intend to weigh myself every day for the rest of my life and if the scale starts moving upward, I'm going to relook at what I've been eating and make sure I'm not letting bad foods back in.