Help -- I've been grazing!!

Hi everyone. I had my surgery nearly 3 months ago, and I've been having a major problem for the past 3 weeks or so... I've been grazing like nobody's business!! And of course, due to this I've not lost any weight recently. I don't know how to quit. Please don't say "just do it" -- if I *could* just do it, I would. I feel guilt, remorse, and shame because of this. I am so lost and am afraid that I had this surgery for nothing. I don't want to fail, but I'm so afraid it's inevitable. In addition to the grazing, I'm also able to eat much larger portions that I think I should be able to. What is going on with me? I'm very distraught by it all. Does anyone have any tips for me to help get back on track? Thanks for reading... ~Susan~

Hi Susan, My first question is are you hungry or just eating? If you are hungry it may be time for a fill. If not, increase you fluid intake and make some high protien snacks available to yourself. I like SF pudding. I prepare it in 1/2 cup servings and keep it in the fridge. Gives me my chocolate fix as well as extra protien. Don't wait to consult your Doctor or dietician. My band slipped from vomiting, and overeating and I had to have surgery to fix it. Be proactive and seek help right away. Diane

Diane, Thanks for your reply. But I did not have the Lap-Band -- I had the RNY!! So it's not a band problem. I am not hungry -- I'm just eating. I know that I'm not supposed to, but I feel compelled to do it. It's all so distressing!! I really don't know what to do. ~Susan~

Susan don't beat yourself up about the grazing. It's a hard habit to break and I find myself starting it every now and then. What I've done is get rid of all the bad stuff to graze on and have healthy stuff like veggies & fruit. It doesn't take that much to fill me up and it's still good for me. Since I don't know too much about the band, I can't help you with the amount of food you're eating but if you have a question about it, it wouldn't hurt to call the surgeon's office for their advice.

Hi Ann, Thanks for your post. But I didn't have the Lap-Band -- I'm not sure why you and the previous poster thought that, because I actually had the RNY... I'm grazing a lot and can eat much more than I think I should be able to at approximately 3 months post op. Maybe since you had the same surgery as myself you could help me with some tips/tricks? I need all the help I can get, because I don't want to fail!! Thanks, Susan

again...don't beat yourself up....but good advice was given. Try to increases your water intake... do you drink jus****er..if so try a flavored water like Crystal Light. thats all I drink. I know I went thru the grazing for about 2 weeks...and it wasn't fun...seemed like I was able to eat more than I should also. Go back and start journaling EVERYTHING you put in your mouth. Get a protein bar you like. What stuff are you grazing with? With not losing any weight..I know thats hard to...I went probably 2 weeks with no weight loss....but then they discovered about my thyroid and things are picking right up again..... Hang in there....

Sorry Susan, I just read the post ahead of me instead of going to your profile. The only other trick I can tell you, other than replacing the bad stuff you're grazing on with good stuff, is to keep a food diary. I use Fitday and I put everything down that I eat. This makes me responsible for what goes in my mouth and if I've grazed then I have to cut down on something else because I can't go over my fat grams and calories. Usually, I'll pick the good things to eat and watch myself very closely. There are some days though that I do graze. The thing is not to feel bad about it if it's every now and then. Sometimes you just have to have something between meals because whatever you ate is just not sticking with you. If you do find you need to graze and don't have the veggies, try about 5 pretzels or a piece of string cheese. This should be just enough to take the edge off but not cost you mu*****alories or fat. I do have to confess that I was having a real salt craving and the only thing that took care of it was some fat free Pringles. They are only 70 calories for 15 chips (I only ate a few though just to get the salt off them) and no fat. I don't recommend doing this often but sometimes the craving is there. Do I do this often? No, I try to get something that's good for me into my mouth. Sugar free popsicles are a good way to beat the cravings too. If all else fails, get up and go outside and take a walk. Take a big bottle of Crystal Light or water and water load until the thought about grazing goes away. Good luck and don't worry, you'll do what you're supposed to. As to the larger portions, there's times that I think I can eat a horse and end up with only a few bites and then there's other times that I can eat a Subway 6" sub. I can't explain it and neither can my nutritionist. It happens. You probably are not eating much more than you're supposed to but the best way is to weigh out your food and keep it all in a diary.