Got advice for a newbie?
Hey guys! I am 6 weeks from surgery today and am concerned that I am able to eat too much in both volume and variety. Actually, I'm considering it a very mixed blessing that I don't have much trouble with food. I went to a wrestling tournament on Saturday, not allowed to leave and get back in and their food choices were all junk, but I got hungry, so I decided on some nachos/cheese. I only ate about 10 and pitched the rest. Kept waiting to get sick or feel bad but I never did. Then yesterday I was away from home for the whole day, ate 1/2 of a flatbread from Wawa, then a cup of spaghetti at dinner, and then last night in a fit of "can't sleep and want to eat" I even ate a slice of pizza! I hadn't tried any of these foods before and even though I know I didn't totally blow things calorie wise or whatever, it kind of scares me how easily they all went down and moved on through my pouch. I don't know. I definitely have not lost my motivation to eat 'healthy' nearly all the time but it's kind of good and yet kind of scary that I seem to be able to eat whatever I want already. I will definitely have to work to make those things "treats" to enjoy from time to time.
Anybody have any good advice or suggestions?
Anybody have any good advice or suggestions?
My word of advice is this:
At the beginning and for as long as possible there are certain foods that you just have to cross off your list that you are not going to eat under any cir****tances. All the surgery does is give you an opportunity to fight from a points of strength instead of weakness your battle against obesity. Once you know you can eat something you have lost the point of strength and are back to battling that certain food craving by will power, which our lives already proved was insufficient. Cross those foods off your list and never leave the house with out a back up plan. At least a protein bar or piece of fruit. The problem with those food choices is not only are they bad calorie wise they are not giving you much in return nutritionally. If I am going to eat something (1 year out) that is higher in calories (over 200) it needs to offer something of substance in return. (i.e. protein, or a needed nutrient like a banana for potassium) Really now is not the time to test anything.
Jason
At the beginning and for as long as possible there are certain foods that you just have to cross off your list that you are not going to eat under any cir****tances. All the surgery does is give you an opportunity to fight from a points of strength instead of weakness your battle against obesity. Once you know you can eat something you have lost the point of strength and are back to battling that certain food craving by will power, which our lives already proved was insufficient. Cross those foods off your list and never leave the house with out a back up plan. At least a protein bar or piece of fruit. The problem with those food choices is not only are they bad calorie wise they are not giving you much in return nutritionally. If I am going to eat something (1 year out) that is higher in calories (over 200) it needs to offer something of substance in return. (i.e. protein, or a needed nutrient like a banana for potassium) Really now is not the time to test anything.
Jason
Absolutely always have something with you. When my family and I do any kind of outing, I always take a protein bar or some other kind of food choice with me. It is very hard to find something good tasting and nutritious at those kinds of events.
I don't know which surgery you had, but could you imagine ruining your night out because something got stuck, or you did have a dumping episode.
When I am having those gotta eat cravings, this is what I do.
1. Get something to drink a bottle of water or sugar free something.
2. If after I drink that I am still wanting something to eat, I ask myself am I really hungry or is it a craving, stop and try to feel my stomach. Is it the stomach that is hungry or my head.
3. If it is my stomach, then I eat something that has positive nutritional value, generally protein based.
4. If it is my head, then I ask myself if I had this surgery, and allowed them to rearrange my body only to waste this second chance for a piece of pizza or candy or whatever.
If I still have to have that poor food choice, I limit the size and calorie content, I have it, and I move on. I don't beat myself up over it. I just don't let it be a string of mistakes.
For me the best reistance to the temptation is to not have that crap around. If it is in the house, I will end up eating it. If it isn't there then I can't slip. Same thing for going out. If I don't bring the money for hotdogs, beer, pizza etc, then I can't have it. Plus by bringing my own protein bar or something like that I can still eat if I am truly hungry.
I wasn't even allowed the kinds of foods you are eating at 6 weeks. At 6 weeks I was still eating soft foods like puddings/jello/yogurts etc. I think it was almost 12 weeks before they let me have solid food.
Good luck.
Scott
I don't know which surgery you had, but could you imagine ruining your night out because something got stuck, or you did have a dumping episode.
When I am having those gotta eat cravings, this is what I do.
1. Get something to drink a bottle of water or sugar free something.
2. If after I drink that I am still wanting something to eat, I ask myself am I really hungry or is it a craving, stop and try to feel my stomach. Is it the stomach that is hungry or my head.
3. If it is my stomach, then I eat something that has positive nutritional value, generally protein based.
4. If it is my head, then I ask myself if I had this surgery, and allowed them to rearrange my body only to waste this second chance for a piece of pizza or candy or whatever.
If I still have to have that poor food choice, I limit the size and calorie content, I have it, and I move on. I don't beat myself up over it. I just don't let it be a string of mistakes.
For me the best reistance to the temptation is to not have that crap around. If it is in the house, I will end up eating it. If it isn't there then I can't slip. Same thing for going out. If I don't bring the money for hotdogs, beer, pizza etc, then I can't have it. Plus by bringing my own protein bar or something like that I can still eat if I am truly hungry.
I wasn't even allowed the kinds of foods you are eating at 6 weeks. At 6 weeks I was still eating soft foods like puddings/jello/yogurts etc. I think it was almost 12 weeks before they let me have solid food.
Good luck.
Scott
The first time you do something - It's going to be a personal record!
If you want to lose all of your excess weight, try to stick to the rules. If you will be satisfied with losing most of your excess weight, eat carbs and drink alcohol on an occasional basis. My suggestion would be to put on the blinders and don't stray until you are within your ideal weight (probably below your initial goal). The additional help you are getting with mal-absorption doesn't last more than about 6 months....take advantage of it WHILE YOU CAN!
You should contact your surgeon's office and have them send you an appropriate diet for this stage of your post-op recovery. The WLS provides a physical tool when it reduces the size of your stomach, but it doesn't do anything to your brain. Most people reprogram their ways of thinking about food during the first 6 mos post-op.
If you begin to cheat now, I forecast that you will have continued problems. I know that I sure did and it has taken me 9 years from the time of my first RNY to get past those problems. I posted on the Main Forum asking if anyone knew of a book about behavioral changes as I mentioned that I am a carb addict and junk food junkie. A woman who is also a food addict in remission and a therapist suggested that I get the Beck Diet Solution. It comes in both a hardcover text and a workbook. Most people here who are getting it are getting the workbook. She said that she uses that book in food addiction therapy with both individuals and groups. Since I got my copy of the book, I have not had any of my addictive foods.
Note: The author suggests not starting a diet until day 15 of her plan, but you don't have that option. Follow the diet/food plan you get from your surgeon's office, but learn what the book says. Basically, the theme of the book is that we fail at diets because we don't know how to follow them for life. She takes away the guilt of failure by showing that we are ignorant of what to do.
The program is set up as a 6 week program of a lesson a day or 42 lessons. You can do more than one lesson a day or spend more than a day on a lesson. For example, I did a lesson a day for the first week but averaged 2-3 days per lesson for the second week. See my Latest Posts for further information.
If you begin to cheat now, I forecast that you will have continued problems. I know that I sure did and it has taken me 9 years from the time of my first RNY to get past those problems. I posted on the Main Forum asking if anyone knew of a book about behavioral changes as I mentioned that I am a carb addict and junk food junkie. A woman who is also a food addict in remission and a therapist suggested that I get the Beck Diet Solution. It comes in both a hardcover text and a workbook. Most people here who are getting it are getting the workbook. She said that she uses that book in food addiction therapy with both individuals and groups. Since I got my copy of the book, I have not had any of my addictive foods.
Note: The author suggests not starting a diet until day 15 of her plan, but you don't have that option. Follow the diet/food plan you get from your surgeon's office, but learn what the book says. Basically, the theme of the book is that we fail at diets because we don't know how to follow them for life. She takes away the guilt of failure by showing that we are ignorant of what to do.
The program is set up as a 6 week program of a lesson a day or 42 lessons. You can do more than one lesson a day or spend more than a day on a lesson. For example, I did a lesson a day for the first week but averaged 2-3 days per lesson for the second week. See my Latest Posts for further information.
Ditto on what others have said. I'll just share some things that I keep in my car...I may never use them, but they are there (small amounts of each...if they go bad...they go bad): Beef jerkey, plain mixed nuts, dry roasted peanuts, whole wheat crackers, a can of either beef or chicken vegetable soup (pop top lid), a back up water supply, a protein bar. Not saying to have all of these, but a couple of them could work in a pinch. Brian
Yea ditto on all. Amazing your pouch is not sending a message. But NEVER NEVER go out without backup food. We all got here in some part because of bad food choices. If you dont MAKE CHANGES in what u eat now you'll be back 5 yrs from now wondering why you threw out the fat clothes and depressed big time
I can say this because I have learned it the hard way. The change is in your head, not your stomach. I can eat anything I like. Anything! At three + years out I have been successful because I run 60+ miles a month. I don't eat correctly and my weight fluctuates just like it did before surgery.
If you have to join OA, do it. If you have to go to support groups, do it. The surgery will give you 6-8 months of rapid weight loss and if you have not changed your head in that time, you will risk gaining a lot back.
Good luck.
If you have to join OA, do it. If you have to go to support groups, do it. The surgery will give you 6-8 months of rapid weight loss and if you have not changed your head in that time, you will risk gaining a lot back.
Good luck.
Scott
Link to my running journal
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1303681
4 full's - 14 halves - 2 goofy's and one Mt. Washington!
Link to my running journal
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1303681
4 full's - 14 halves - 2 goofy's and one Mt. Washington!
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