Grazers Unite!

[workingmom434 12]

I am a grazer, I usually eat healthy foods but, will eat up to 20 times a day. String cheese, almonds, fruit, avocado etc.. I have read that I will lose less weight and much slower due to my eating habits than others. Any successful sleevers out there that were grazers before surgery? Any not so successful?

[chunkyloverlovesyou 197]

I grazed all the time pre surgery, post surgery grazing is hard because of liquid management. You need a good 64oz of Water, but can't drink with meals, thus cutting back on my grazing by a lot. The love affair with food ended after surgery, I just don't enjoy it as much.

[workingmom434 12]

Thank you for quick response. I am worried this will be just one more failure. I don't do it out of hunger mostly boredom.

[Veronica Page 488]

Depending on my day. I still can graze. I ended up joining a food addiction group cause I want to get a grasp on it and it has REALLY helped. Guess only advice I can give it that you went through all this to have a lifestyle change why not make the best of it. It is so hard to cut out those types of habits but I definitely recommend it. You will lose the weight but can gain it back if you do not learn how to have good solid eating habits. Wish you the best of luck!

[CanyonBaby 1,852]

The scary thing about grazing is the uncertainty of calories consumed, as well as fats and sugars. This is dangerous especially if you are diabetic, and if not, it can potentially lead you into that category. And then there is the reality that eventually you will more than likely regain, then you have to ask yourself what you went through the surgery for. What was the point, why did you take the risk. Only you can answer these questions. If you are bored, find a hobby. Find several. Keep your hands, thus your mind, busy. Maybe take some time and read EVERYTHING you can find (there are some really good books on the surgery out there) BEFORE you have the surgery, it may not be for you. The surgery alone will not keep the weight off, you have to follow the rules. And it is HARD. I wish you much luck in your decision.

[p1Sz 52]

I have to watch my grazing. The weeks where my weight loss has stalled are the weeks where I'm grazing more. I think the key is not to "just stop" grazing but to figure out what it's about - depression, anxiety, boredom, avoidance - and try to deal with that issue.

[chunkyloverlovesyou 197]

I guess the rule of thumb is count your calories. You graze a handful of peanuts, better write I down

[MichiganChic 3,262]

I tend to be a grazer. I am successful, but it is because I work hard at not grazing. When/if I do graze I track the calories. I can say with certainty - for ME - that I could graze my way right back to 300 pounds. Especially at over 2 years post op, I could easily eat enough calories, even eating healthy.

The idea is to eat enough to get full, and then stop. Eating small amounts never allows you to get full, so if you are not careful, you could just keep eating. It was a habit I had to break. The sleeve does not offer any protection, in that regard. My surgeon told me it is not the best surgery for grazers, but I wanted to go this route anyway. I'm not sorry I did, but it does require constant diligence on my part and a continuous struggle.