Question:
HELP! I feel like I can eat too much!

I had my rny on march 2, 2009 and have lost about 85 pounds. I really havn't been able to exercise as much as I should due to feet and back problems, hoping to start soon. But my question is about the amount of food I can eat. At night particularly when I'm bored or stressed I find myself eating, and nibbling even when I'm not hungry. I used to get nauseous or feel real full in the beginning and could not even think about doing this, but now it seems like my stomach can hold alot more. Any suggestions would help. I don't want to slip back into old habits. Thanks for any and all responses. JoAnn    — JOANNFV (posted on October 25, 2009)


October 25, 2009
Congrats on your weight loss! I am 4 months out from RNY and have found the same thing - my key to satisfying the "night hunger" has been to drink water or hot decaf tea - I am so afraid of the foamies - that if I drink - I know I can't have food. I also love sugar-free popsicles, sugar free jello or even sugar free pudding (the milk is good) (Satisfies my desire for ice cream). My other new fav. - beef jerkey - good protein and takes a long time to chew. Good Luck!
   — ericahamel

October 25, 2009
Things I eat when I just have to have something. Like before bed. Yogurt, cottage cheese with a few sugar-free peaches, half a peanut butter sandwich, wheat bread of course. lunch meat wrapped around a chunk of cheese. These are all filler uppers. Good luck and congrats on the loss. Don't stop now, this is your window of opportunity!
   — lesleigh07

October 25, 2009
Congrats to you. I have lost the same amount since Feb 09. I see tht I can eat more and also a wide range of food, but what I tell myself is that I don't want to gain any back because I still need to lose ore. At night, I treat myself to a Breyers no surgar fudgcicle or maybe a protein shake (which I love). This sems to help me. I know exactly how you feel, but remember we have worked so hard to get this fair and don't want to go back to where we were earlier in the year. Just stay focused on where you are and where you want to be in 2010. You will make it.!!
   — gagini

October 25, 2009
Thanks for this question and the answer. Same problem I have been having and worrying about and the exact suggestions I have needed.
   — Denise L.

October 26, 2009
You have dfone a wonderful job and now must praise your self for it. You will fnd the amount you can eat goes up. If you stick to high protien foods you will eat less and your weight will keep going down. Nuts, Cheese, Jerky, deli meat rolled up. cottage cheese and fruit. These are some of my favorites for just snacking on. smoothies are good I like to freeze them and eat it like ice cream.
   — trible

October 26, 2009
Congratulations on your weight loss!! I had my surgery on the same day as you, and as of today, I have lost 120 pounds. I seem to be on a bit of a plateau, though... and it happens every couple of weeks. I'll get stuck losing and gaining back the same pound for days! But, as to your statement about exercise.... I had problems, too. I have severe lumbar spinal stenosis and lumbar arthritis (which causes severe pain down my left leg), and severe arthritis in my left knee. My surgeon demands daily exercise both before and after surgery, but my knee and back hurt so bad that even walking was excruciating, and that was what he wanted us to do most of (walking). I asked him if I could substitute riding the stationary bike, and he said yes. After surgery, I was lucky if I could do the bike for 7 minutes at a time, at an intensity level of one. When I went in for my six week checkup, I hadn't lost much weight, and I hurt so bad that I was sobbing when I walked in the door. He happened to see me, and was so concerned that he gave me the number for some neurosurgical colleagues of his, and I made an appointment to see them right away. This little tiny female doc (looked like she was about 13) put me on a plan of action. I was to go and get an epidural pain shot (even though I hated that idea), and then if it worked, I was to go for physical therapy with a guy who works ONLY on the lumbar spine, and then we were going to wait and see if the weight loss affected my pain level. Well, I got the first shot on May 1st, and within 24 hours I was totally pain-free. It was so exciting that I actually joined 24 Hour Fitness, and I've been exercising ever since. Of course, I've had to build up, but I've gone from 7 minutes on the stationary bike at intensity level of 1, to 30 minutes at intensity level of 7. I've also begun walking now on the treadmill for half an hour at a speed of 3 mph. after gradually building up to it. And I do the rowing machine for 15 minutes, or the elliptical for 15 minutes (that one took my knee a little while to get used to). But, as you can see, the only one of those that would really affect the pain in your feet would be the treadmill, and you can always substitute something else. My epidural pain shot began to wear off in late June, so I had another one. It was only about half as effective. And it wore off about a month ago, so three weeks ago, I had another one, and it didn't work at all. The pain is back big time, and has changed somewhat. I not only have pain in my lower back and buttocks, it also goes down my left hip, and the calf of my left leg feels like it is in a perpetual cramp. But, I just can't lose what I've gained!! I just had my second MRI this year (the first was in January), and it shows that the stenosis is getting worse. I feel like my weight had a big part to play in getting the stenosis to begin with, so with a mind on my pain level - which is now at a 7-8 constantly - I really watch what I put in my mouth. I don't want to gain a single pound back because that puts more pressure on my back. I always think of my pain, and how eating got me here in the first place, and how controlling what I put in my mouth can help me get rid of it, or be in a better position for surgical help if I need it down the road.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

October 26, 2009
I'm 4 weeks post-op lap band and going for my first fill this week. I find I'm still a night snacker too.. I hate that but I am! I'm trying decaf flavored coffee or teas, even a small lettuce salad. I am scared I'll gain back the 35 pounds I've lost this month, so I'm being very careful!! You've done a great job, and thank YOU for being an inspiration to me!
   — LinnieJean

October 26, 2009
Wow I have really enjoyed hearing other answer to our problem. I'm at 1 year and I do the same I eat and it seems I can eat more than before, with no left overs and it scare me my weight will go down then for the next two weeks I stay in the same place. Thanks for your question It helped me too.
   — kaybusk

October 26, 2009
It would be helpful if you could do something using your hands, like sewing or scrapbookingor even if you could find a real good book to read away from the TV
   — bonniew43

October 26, 2009
hi joann my name is sandy i know it's hard to look the other way with food this time of year but you have to have control try to eat fruit or something low in sugar and calories i drink slim fast in between meals and sometimes fruit or protein bars put out by south beach . i had my lap band surgery in janauary 2009 and lost 130 lbs , it's hard but keep up the good workyou can do it .
   — sandy fairweather




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