[Lch]

They are eating too much, and that they shouldn't be able to eat the things they eat, and by doing so they are going to ruin everything that has been done???
I feel like this almost every day, i sometimes think i should be grateful that i am able to eat so many different types of food. But then i look at my dad who just had the surgery about a month ago, and of course he can hardly eat anything, he gets sick. i am 8 months out, but eat just about anything i want. I mean i don't eat a lot, but i eat foods that i shouldn't, pasta for example, some breads, like bagels, again, not a lot, but still ....... And then i wonder if i am on track with the losing of my weight. Which my Dr. say's that i have surpassed what i should be at right now, i have already lost 75% of my weight. But i still worry.
I feel great, and i continue to lose weight and/or inches, but.....
I also still see my self as being fat, i know that sounds sooooo dumb, but when i look at my legs and arms, they are so flabby ( i know it is the skin) but it just looks fat. Like my legs in my clothes look fine, but when i take them off and wear shorts, i think ewwwww.
I know i am whining, I apologize. I am just worried about when the honeymoon period ends, if i am going to blow up.

[Kenyar]

none of this sounds far off. as far as the eating, just be careful and mindful of how much and what you are eating. our abilities vary. there are certain things that make me sick that those who have had surgery recently can eat. never compare yourself

as for the still seeing yourself fat...im right there with ya i dont see change in the mirror at all. pictures do help though. especially if you put them side by side. dont worry about the skin. just remember what is hanging now was once full of fat. and the fat is gone!!

you are not whining, BUT i would guess that you should be conscious of what you SHOULD eat as opposed to what you CAN eat. and that will keep you from "blowing up" later on.

[Chilly]

Your thoughts and feelings are SOOO totally normal. I think we all think we eat too much at one time or another. And HOPE we haven't stretched our pouch out. The main thing is to make sure you eat healthy. It's very important for us to continue eating the "right" way. Sure, on occasion we may eat a "treat", but we can NOT allow ourselves to dibble and dabble in our old lifestyle of eating.

[jilarie1]

I am 3 years out, i have always been able to eat anything since the surgery, I am down 150 lbs, but am still overweight. I know what you mean though it is soooooo scary, i have actually gained back a few ponds and it is freeking me out! I am down to asnug 18/20 from a 32, but i still go to the 26-28's when i shop still. I am sure my honeymoon is over, and still i am over 200 lbs, i would like to lose another 40 lbs, but now i am having issues with really dangerously low iron, so i am being transfused weekly. I think that i have learned morein the last two weeks on this chat line then i did from the hospital that did my surgery. Good for your dad i am always wanting to go up to older folks and recommend the bypass, because i know how much pain they must be in. Nice to tqak with you. Jilarie

[Lch]

yea i hear you, on the what i should eat instead of what i do eat. But it is still hard for me. I wish sometimes that is would just get sick whenever i eat any foods that i shouldn't. LOL, then i remember how much it hurt to get sick.
I will say that it is really nice when i read things from people who have had the surgery done years earlier and they have kept the weight off. I do wonder if they struggle sometimes and gain a little back. I know a friend of mine years and years ago had her stomach stapled. and she still does the yoyo thing. I know this involves life change and i am prepared. I just worry. It is hard to be heavy for so long and not.. at least for me.

[Lch]

Jilarie,
i am so happy for my dad!!! he has been heavy his whole life, it is so nice to see the daily change in him. Even though he is having a tough time of it right now. The rewards will be so great. Not to mention the fact that both of us no longer have diebetes or high blood pressure.
Congratulations on the weight loss, that is so awesome! every time i hear these stories i am so inspired!
Chilly, I totally know what you are saying about making right choices, and i will admit, it is not always easy, we live in this fast food world. Not that i eat fast food... well i shouldn't say i don't, i don't eat burgers, fries, etc. but i have had panda express, terriyaki king, which is still fast food. I have a hard time with any left over meats, they make me sick. I just need to find the right dishes for left overs to bring to work for lunches, i just haven't yet. and everyone talks protien, so...... when i just eat fruits i feel like i am not eating the right foods.

[Kenyar]

well i think that last article doc posted said we'll regain 10% of what we lost? or something like that. but you couldnt get back to the same size you were pre-op.

everyday is a struggle. so dont feel like you are lone at all. i think my only saving grace is that fat makes me dump. otherwise i would be nibbling a lot more than i am LOL!

i agree with everything you are saying. i have been over 200 lbs my entire life over 250 my entire adult life with the exception of one weightloss effort. i reached goal using slimfast once. and once it was time to eat again i gained it all back AND THENSOME. could you imagine being your goal size for literally 24 hours?? makes THIS experience all the more worrisome for me. i do understand your worries. but im glad i found a place like this where i dont have to feel alone about it. its good to talk about. and since we recognize what we are doing the next step is learning how to control it.

[Kenyar]

i did really well with cold cuts. turkey especially. i eat lots of cheese as well. meat balls or meat loaf in gravy or sauce does well when i reheat also. do you like yogurt? fruits? tuna or chicken salad. i know they are mostly cold things ( i like warm meals) but they are mostly high protein and portable. just a thought

[Lch]

i do like the chicken salad, not so much the tuna, i keep trying it, but.... just can't seem to do it. i wish there was another way to make the chicken salad without the mayo, i really don't or can't do much mayo. and i don't do any of the ranch dressing anymore, (though i loved it). So far no left over meat agrees with me. even the chicken salad, it bothers me, i don't get sick, but it doesn't make me feel good, so i tend not to eat it so much. i can eat plenty of fruit and veggies, not worried about those, just the protien. My Dr. does not want me eating protien bars or shakes, at all!! I have tried the lunch meat with cheese, it is ok, again, i can't eat very much and it doesn't make me feel good after. I eat it, because i need to and that is about it. I can feel it, when i need the protien. so i will grad a piece of lunch meat and a piece of cheese. but then i am down for about an hour, feeling like crap. Yogurt not so much. used to like it, but not anymore. I do like cottage cheese, and i know it is great for protien... so i do eat that. The milk products give me so much gas, it is crazy!!

[Kenyar]

i have a hard time with tuna for some reason. i get a lump in my chest. are you using reduced fat mayo? also i find if i put the chicken salad thru the food processor once ( not quite puree but smooth) i do a lot better than as is.

do you eat beans at all. reduced or low fat refired beans seem to be a hit.
also with your meats, try cooking them in the crock pot. that worked wonders for me.

its tough finding things to eat. i never imagined in a million years that it would be.

NO SHAKES?? at all?? i wouldnt even come close to the minimum protein without one a day. hmmm...