Old habits really do die hard

[sarahgirrl 12]

So I am about 6 weeks post op. ( I actually had to check the calendar to figure this out...it seems like forever ago!) I feel amazing and have really very little complaints. Im able to be as active as I was before surgery and I am down about 37 lbs since the day of surgery - i am stoked. The only down side to feeling so great is that no foods bother my sleeve. this is great because I am able to eat all the healthy stuff I want, but it also sucks because I can tolerate all the crap that got me into a bad place to start with. I knew that the surgery wouldn't be a quick fix, but that fact is really starting to hit home with me now. I hate to admit it, but I have allowed myself to get off track once or twice and indulge in candy or sweets that I should be avoiding. I hate that I am so weak, but I am trying to stay positive and focus on one day at a time. Has anyone else had these problems? how have you dealt with it?

[kyleebean 209]

OMG, I feel you.... I'm almost 5 months out. I ate a half cup of chocolate chips. (I have done this more than once) and each time I feel like crap. I feel nauseous and I get acid reflux from it. I don't usually have any kind of "bad" food in my house but I did have these stupid chocolate chips because I was baking something for my mother in law and needed 3 TBSP of mini chocolate chips. If I do this again, I'm throwing the rest away! But why have I ate them more than once? I have no idea, except, I feel the damn chocolate chips are calling my name and drawing me in with a magnet. I feel weak during these times and have to find a different way of dealing with it.

[Roo101769 742]

I will be 100 % honest about this, I slip - a lot. I will say I eat per plan about 80 % of the time, but that really isn't very good. Yes, compared to the old me it is awesome. But for a person who had major surgery to finally get ahold of herself and put her weight into check, it is a personal disappointment. Each day I get up and say " today is a new day, I will do better". If I go to bed that night and feel good about what I have consumed then it is a victory. I have had zero issues with my sleeve. I tolerate everything. My only problems have come when I have consumed too much. ( I have a bad habit of eating too fast, therefore over eating) Besides that no food has actually bothered my new stomach. I was very good for the first few months avoiding things I shouldn't have. ( carbs, sugars etc) But then I tried one, and that was all it took. The battle has been back on since to stay away from these things. Some days I am winning the battle and some days I am beat up by it. I have managed to continue to lose weight ( although slowly) even with this behavior, which is probably bad because it sort of makes me feel what I am doing isn't that bad. To date I have lost 84lbs, 51lbs since surgery 10/21. Had I stuck to plan better I am sure I would be further down than that. But it is what it is. I am not giving up. I will continue to do what I can to battle my demons and win the war on fat. I refuse to be a failure in this. ( I have already won some freedom with my slowly shrinking body. I am in less pain and much more mobile than I was before the loss.) This is for life. I want to live that life. I will continue to try to do my best, but I also need to try not to beat myself up so much when I don't. Depression can be even more dangerous if you are any kind of food addict. So just know you aren't alone. We all struggle. But try to focus on the positive and do all you can for success.

[Kelly Gonzalez 52]

I wouldn't beat myself up over it, I'm sure there have been plenty on here that get side tracked, and don't addmit to it. I give you guys kudos for telling it like it is. We've been used to a way of life for such a long time, and everything,and every where you look, screams food, or smells food, we're bound to stumble. The old saying " Rome wasn't built in a day" The main thing is you recognize it, and getting back on track. I'm almost 3 weeks post-op, and I would be a liar if I said I was NEVER going to eat crap food again, I have no idea what's going to happen in my future, but I now have the tool to work it. Good luck everyone!

[Mrs Havelock 154]

You're human, life is short. Enjoy a bite of less-healthy food, then get back to a majority healthy diet. Don't allow yourself to get into the guilt/punishment/soothing trap. Focus on your goals and enjoy life ????

[Katcloudshepherd 630]

I agree with don't beat yourself up over it. I fall off the horse too often. Sometimes it's less of a fall and more of a jump : (

BUT I was eating badly for DECADES. You cannot change that overnight--if I could have done so, I wouldn't have had to have 80% of my stomach removed.

Kathleen

[Teachamy 1,042]

How about tracking it on MFP or some other website? Sugar and carbs are the enemy, I guess, but you're not a robot--you need to indulge every once in a while. Is there a way that you could make room in your calorie goals to have something once a week?

[Busymomof3 181]

I slip up like occasionally especially around that time of the month, I've found it helpful to throw out the rest of whatever I've snacked on. I try not to bring it into the house but with young kids, it's impossible not to have snack food in the house. I won't dig through the trash so if it's thrown out, it's no longer an option and makes it easier.

[MichiganChic 3,262]

We are all human, and it's a constant battle. The early post op days are where we can learn a lot, and paying attention to what you are doing, when, and why is important. I find tracking every bite on my fitness pal is helpful. I force myself to do that because when I see how quickly something is adding up, I can usually regroup before it's out of hand for the day. Sometimes I don't want to do that, but it's the one thing I've found that works for me. It's a reality check that I can't ignore. I'm not one of the lucky ones who can "listen to their body" because my body always tells me to eat more. I can eat more than I wish I could, and I am a grazer, and I can tolerate all foods quite well.

[sue_t 7]

I am about 2.5 months post op. My biggest problem is that I sometime eat TOO fast and up throwing everything up. I have gotten very good at throwing up vey discretely.

It's very hard to eat right after eating like a pig all my life. ????

[blackie220 92]

Im almost a yr out... n STILL do it... takes time... im learning to savor every bite..

[gourmetone 394]

admittedly I do the same I truly enjoyed my eating experience and the restriction of my sleeve this week my surgeon said if I want carbs have a little and move on. and just hearing that set me free and I know I am a winner at losing.

just knowing that food funerals are not necessary and that moderation

with the restriction of the sleeve now put so many things in perspective.

[CrazyJaney 775]

I can sooo relate. I was 5 weeks last Thursday and so far, nothing really "bothers" me. I do get full quickly so I'm not getting high calories but I had my first days of feeling like a failure on Friday. After a late night Thursday, didn't plan my meals for work Friday, I found myself "trying pizza". It's a trigger food. I didn't hurt at all. I do feel tight restriction with most solids but that pizza chewed up mighty soft and a bit too tasty. I didn't eat much, just a fraction of my preop life, but it felt "reckless". Old feelings crept in. My total calories for the day ended up at 800 but it was my first carb free for all day. This was. My first post op fall off the wagon day. Back on track today. Just reality setting in that this is only a tool, not a fix. And here I read all these comments on Facebook today about how Rosie ODonnell took the "easy" way out. I'm about sick of hearing "easy". While it helps, it's not easy. I'm happier than I have been in ages, but this is hard work - mentally and physically,