My Inner Muncher is throwing a fit

Hi all,

My inner muncher  wants to rule my world and I am doing all I can to suppress it and make it go away.  I gave in to it last night. I didn't want to, but it was screaming at me and instead of having a proper dinner with protein, I ate watermelon and a tablespoon of peanut butter. I realized last night when I don't eat my proper amount of protein, I don't feel fulfilled and my will to tell my inner muncher to go away isn't nearly as strong.

I have to say my biggest challenge in the past 13 weeks since having RNY is dealing with that little voice in my head that wants to graze all day.  I am at my most vulnerable when I am sitting at my desk at work in the afternoon.  In my attempt not to eat throughout the afternoon, I've broken 2 stress relief toys and a ton of rubber bands.  I knew I had nervous energy, but didn't really understand how much until after surgery.

Anybody else out there experience this or found creative ways to deal with their evil inner muncher? I feel this is going to make the difference for me between being successful or not with this surgery.

MsBlues

The hardest time for me is right NOW.  The weekends when I don't have my meals planned out.  So I am working on it and planning my meals to some degree and just focusing on the protein.

Acknowledging it is half the battle, are you meals planned at work?  I know for me because I have mini meals set up I don't feel deprived.  For the most part I eat at 9, 12, 3 while at work.  Some "meals" are just a piece of fruit and string cheese.  Or a protein bar, or drink, or whatever it is that I have planned.

Good luck figuring it out cause yes it does make a difference for long term success.

Ms Shell

The best advise I have is to pack your mini meals and take no money for vending machine and such. Plan it out the night before and remember PROTEIN first. Oh, and I love watermelon and I still have it from time to time but I eat the protein first.


Good Luck Sweetie.

HUGS
JOY

"Grazing" is NOT bad, blue.... as a matter of fact, with our tiny tummies, it's a great way to eat.

It's just a matter of WHAT we choose to graze on that is the thing!

Before WLS, and maybe growing up, we were kind of taught that we needed three square meals a day, with maybe a snack here and there. Well, now, we can't eat that same exact way. Eat throughout the day! Plan good protein rich snacks to have with you at work, in the car, at home... and graze away!

Beef jerkey "keeps" well and is a good protein snack. Raw almonds... sunflower seeds ****ep some in the glove box of my car for after work if I'm needing some crunch and protein on the way home. keeps me from hitting a drive through!).... yogurts at work... soups...veggies and fruits....

you get the idea...

i think it's not so much about the grazing as it is about transforming your thought patterns about eating and "meals"...

what do you think?

Lori

I guess I am confused about snacking.  I was told snacking or grazing could fool your pouch and stretch it out.  I eat my three meals and find I want a snack I can savor in the afternoon and a small thing to eat right before bed.  

When I do snack I am eating protein. Things like no or low fat cheese, turkey stick thingies from Whole Foods, maybe a couple of pecans, or some other protein related thing.  I've found dried edamame, just a small handfull fills me up and is a nice snack.

I am so worried about blowing this opportunity that maybe I am worrying too much. I would just like that little voice in my head that tells me to eat almost all the time would just go away.  Perhaps I need to acknowledge a small healthy snack is OK.  It's not OK though if I am snacking for a couple hours or I am eating junk.

Any more clarification on snacking would be helpful.

MsBlues

Oh my, you don't need to tell me about how hard it is.  Sitting here in a chair for the last few months are driving me crazy, but I have found sunflower seeds to be my saving grace.  Before RNY I would have gained 20 lbs more by now, after RNY and learning good from bad foods, no gain. 

I think the secret is in the planning.  Get some protein bars and munch on them, slowly, it really makes you feel like you are cheating when you find a really good one.  Feeling like a candy bar.  Just try and find proteins and carry them with you everywhere and eat it whenever you want...It is ok to eat 6 small meals too.

Good luck, it's a hard journey but so worth it.

Hugs, Diane