[MotoCO]

Okay, it is almost 4am. I have been doing searches on the internet about stretching your stomach. I will give you the straight scoop and be honest. Please don't flame me for being so.

I had the surgery on August 30th. I have lost right at 55 lbs. I feel better than I have in years. Fitting into smaller clothes is a bonus for me but moreso it was for my health and longevity.

I have not touched a soda pop in 9 months. I have not had sugar. In those respects I have been very good. As of late I have had the problem of being hungry. I would be remiss to say there is a bit of head hunger in there as well. I have been excercising. I did 1 hr 20 minutes/2 and a half miles on my treadmill worth about 410 calories per the treadmill on Friday.

I have had an unbelievable craving for salad!!!! I know they are empty eating because the lettuce really has no nutritial value. But the blue cheese is protein for me as I am a vegetarian.

But I am eating cheddar cheese at night when my tummy gets rumbly. I try to tell myself no...but I eat it anyway. I am so fearful of stretching my stomach. Tonight I had popcorn...yes, I can eat it no problem. And I had some salad. I felt so bad I tried to throw it up but could not for some reason. I know I shouldn't be doing it. I only did it once before and I promised I would not do it again...but I did. I am so fearful of breaking my stomach. I cannot go back to that 283 lb self. If I stay at 218 and not lose another lb that is fine but I cannot go back.

I feel like I am having some sort of freaking breakdown. I am so afraid of doing it wrong. I eat small meals. I had chili for dinner made with tomatoe/ kidney and pinto beans and 2 meatless meatballs I crumbled and just a hair of tiny little cheddar crumbles I made with some onion. I did lunch with a bit of mashed potatoe and hominy and 2 meatless meatballs (they are about the size of a quarter) and I got full and stopped.

What is wrong with me???? Is this normal??? My nutritionist..I cannot talk to. I am just feeling lost and hopeless and worried that I am streching my stomach because everytime I specifically ask that question no one seems to be able to answer me how you do that. I am miserable! When my tummy feels full now I feel worried and afraid it is stretching.

Please someone tell me...help me.

[DocSanae]

It's awfully awfully difficult to stretch your pouch. Unless you are constantly stuffing yourself until you and refuse to stop even then, and keep that up for months, you won't get anywhere near stretching your pouch.

You're around the time when your brain and your pouch reconnect, and start recognizing how each other is feeling. So you are starting to feel the hunger of your pouch. Now, the question here is, is that hunger the same as the raging, gnawing hunger that you have felt when you had your original stomach? Or, is it a much milder version? If it's the latter, don't worry. It's totally normal. Plus, that's the kind of hunger a normal weight person, who's been normal weight all their lives, feel.

Second. Whenver you feel hungry, and it isn't your regular time for meals or snacks, drink some fluids--preferably water-- first. A lot of people who've carried a lot of weight for a long time, and had eating issues, have their sensation of hunger and thirst mixed up. What they think of as hunger may be thirst. So, drink first, and see how it goes.

What's so bad about craving salads? You may think empty calories, but if that fills your pouch between your meals, isn't that a good thing? Plus, veggies have lots of fiber and vitamins in them. Just be careful, since are less than 4 months out, that your pouch may not be able to deal much yet with the more fiberous veggies such as lettuce.

Kudos to you for stopping when you felt your pouch was full. Do not be afraid of eating, do not be afraid of making mistakes. You aren't going to damage your pouch permanently with one mistake. Just make sure you recognize what your pouch says, and follow it.

(((HUGS)))

[msmonica]

I just wanted to say, I'm sorry your having such a rough time. I hope things get better really soon.

[Nell]

Doc gave you the best feedback so I'll just add that I'm sorry you are having these feelings, hang in there and I'm glad you came here to share with us. ((((hugs))))

[nursesrock]

Moto, you're like my soul sister on this journey....you're a week or so behind me, and I just posted something similar a week or so ago! I have been struggling with eating, falling into some of the same old habits like night snacking, etc. I believe we are at a time in our journey that our bodies are saying, "enough of this, I need to EAT!!". And, I too can tolerate things that other people can't, which adds to my anxiety. So- I made a few choices.
1) I excercise every day, even if it's just a walk. Keep up the treadmill, as you're builiding muscle the scale may not move, but you're burning cals more efficiently (which incidently may make you hungry more often)

2) I'd abandoned some of the foods that gave me such success, and began eating the regular types of stuff I make hubby. I STOPPED. Went back to the tortilla soup I make, yogurt, FISH, all the high protein low cal stuff. Cheese is fine, but buy some Sargento string cheese (light) which only has 50 cals. I too have veggies when I'm hungry between meals....celery and carrots with a tbls of lowfat peanut butter.

3) Doc is right, try water when you're hungry first. Sometime it's just head hunger. I chew gum, also.....however I think that's a no-no for your surgery (?) as I still have a stomach. It keeps my mouth busy when I want to graze. As far as soda- I have 7oz cans of diet pepsi around if I must indulge. I've found an 8-pack lasts a couple of weeks, as it sits differently in my itty bitty tummy.

Lastly, try to relax a bit. I know the panic of the scale not moving and you feel like you're overeating. One day at a time.....I took a day off on Friday, got my hair cut and my toes done. The compliments from those folks hadn't seen me in awhile helped renew my motivation. You can do this

[ki2006]

The holidays are so hard for me as well i cant wait until there over with good luck

[pretty woman]

Hang in there, better times are ahead.Keep sharing. Good luck!

[kiddiecakes]

You are not bad at all!! You are completely NORMAL! It think everybody has had head hunger or ate more than they should. It is a learning process as well as a mental and physical. Even when you make a mistake,you still are learning from it.

Don't make yourself throw up. That isn't good for you or your pouch. Go back to step one. Read your surgery rules and dont's and list them on your fridge. You know how good you felt when you lost the weight? Remember that feeling everytime you get the urge to bend the rules. I LOVE salad and I occasionally eat salad and and cheese. It is on my rules of things I can eat six months out. But remember, part of your journey is relearning how to eat. Get your protein in and the rest that your body needs then take a couple of bites of salad. Just a couple of bites sometimes gets rid of the craving and you thinking about it.

I know I had this issue and someone on this forum told me about the three bite rule. First bite was to satisfy you. Second bite was to see if it was as good as you remember and third bite was to seal the deal. I use this rule when I get tempted to try something. It usually helps.

Stay strong and this shall pass as you start losing more weight and become more confident that you are not going to blow this diet like we all have on the others we have tried. Now, just remember, you are human and keep up the good work with your activities and do the drinking as that helps to. We are all here for you!

[lpully]

You are in my prayers. I try to drink when I feel "hungry" and it's not meal time. That usually satisfies me for a while.

[Katbeyer]

Hugs to you honey.
Now, take a deep breath, exhale, inhale, exhale. Sit down and relax. You are doing fine.
PLEASE, stop the throwing up crap. That will only cause more problems.
Drink lots of liquids. I do the G2, Gator aid etc. I drink it all day long. We all have fallen off of the wagon, but get back on it.
I am sorry that I am sounding mean. But you sound desperate. I have been where you are, and it will be ok. Just follow the rules. It is ok to do salad, have a few bites. But you do need to get your protein 1st. Then you can do the rest.
I hope that you are doing better now. Hugs to you