I'm in my 6 month diet phase and scared to eat

[WitchySar 244]

***I just realized where I posted this. This probably isn't the right section for this. Sorry.***

I can not shake the feeling of hunger tonight. I have tried all my tricks for head hunger and still the feeling persists, including stomach rumblings. My PCP put me on a low carb diet and I’ve only eaten 7 net carbs tonight so I have some wiggle room (try not to go over 20 net), but I hate the thought of eating more. I feel like I’m failing if I do. I’m not, right? I’m just hungry and there’s nothing wrong with eating when actually hungry.

Ugh, this stupid diet and having weight loss goals that I have to meet for someone else is messing with my head. When I lost weight before on my own if I was hungry I would eat something and not worry about. I was the only one concerned with my goals, no one else would be disappointed in me. I lost well over 100 lbs that way. This time though since it’s monitored by my PCP and my surgeon I feel terrified about putting anything in my mouth.

I have a weigh in with my PCP on the 3rd and one with my surgeon on the 9th. I'm so scared of letting them down or having them be disappointed that I didn't lose enough. My surgeon said he would like to see me lose 10 pounds before surgery. That's it. It's not a hard goal, I know that, and yet I'm so worried about not losing at every weigh in.

Has anyone else felt like this? I'm so afraid of failing, I hate being monitored by other people. I've always had a problem with disappointing people (I blame my childhood) and I feel like this is playing right into that.

Edited August 2, 2016 by WitchySar

[daniotra 298]

You can do this! Where are you calorie-wise for the day? While you want to get out of the habit of snacking, if you're truly hungry, and not just bored, have a snack. Some cheese, yogurt, or a tablespoon of Peanut Butter powder may do the trick.

My program gave us a 1200 calorie diet and I tried to stay within 50 calories either way on it. (We were allowed significantly more carbs than you.)

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[Djmohr 6,965]

I do think you are likely too worried about it at this stage. Mostly because you are worried about disappointing them. It should be about you. You are the one working very hard to get yourself healthy.

Sometimes worrying about things like that actually triggers the need to run to food. I would suggest maybe talking to a therapist about your feelings because if they are getting to you now, they will certainly get to you once your body changes and you have to deal with that and head hunger.

Most people do not realize exactly how much change you go through after Bariatric surgery. It is a significant change and it impacts everyone around you.

For example my husband tends to still eat like crap stopping at fast food restaurants for meals. I never ever ever eat fast food. I cannot stomach it, the idea of it is gross. That makes it difficult when we are on the road and need to grab something to eat.

Because I chose this for myself, I tend to make sure that I am careful about inconveniencing others so I will always find something to eat regardless of where we go. I am also careful to have a Protein bar on me.

Hopefully you get the idea. I chose this for me an honest it is ok to be selfish for a while.

Lose the 10lbs for yourself because it will make your surgery safer for you. If you are hungry there are lots of options for a small Protein healthy snack. Have a Greek yogurt or an ounce of nuts. Just measure and track so you know where you are at any given time.

Tracking helps to hold yourself accountable and most of all it helps in making better choices.

I use Myfitnesspal and it works great.

Best of luck to you!

[WitchySar 244]

I already have a therapist and believe me this will be discussed at my next appointment. I was doing fine until my PCP said 5 simple words. Words that most anyone else would love to hear, but instead for me it was doom.

"I'm so proud of you."

Ever since I was a kid the moment someone would tell me they were proud of me I instantly would do ANYTHING to never disappoint them. And I'm losing weight okay right now. I will easily reach the 10 pounds lost that my surgeon wants. He wants it by December, I'll probably have it by the weigh in on the 9th. I wish someone would just say "Not bad." instead of telling me they're proud of me.

As for my current diet, I'm not on a low calorie diet. I'm on a low carb/high fat/moderate Protein diet. I try to stay under 20 net carbs a day, okay with going up to 30. Today I've eaten 7 so I definitely have room for something else to eat. I've already done all my tricks for combating head hunger.

- Read a book

- Put away laundry

- Watch a show

- Watch my fish

- Drink more Water

- Play a video game

- Text a friend

And through out it all the hunger has remained. That tells me I'm actually hungry. I just am having a hard time telling myself that it's not going to disappoint anyone if I do eat something.

I have a lot of food allergies so I lot of the easy go-to Snacks I can't have. Like Peanut Butter or nuts (as an example, I'm allergic to a lot more than that). And yogurt is far too high in carbs, my PCP wants me to stay away from it and dairy as much as possible. I'd love some other snack ideas though.

Edited August 2, 2016 by WitchySar

[B-52 7,113]

What is the purpose of the 6-month pre-op diet????

I had to do it, and have my beliefs as to why I needed to do it...just curious what others believe...

[James Marusek 5,244]

As far as your weight loss thus far pre-op --- N o t B a d !

[KristenLe 5,979]

@@WitchySar Eat something healthy when you are hungry. There's no need to deprive yourself of food. Stay strong!

[justhere4theshow 462]

The purpose of the pre-op diet is multi-faceted. You need to be able to make necessary changes in your eating habits. You need to shrink your liver (that is usually the 2 weeks immediately preceding surgery). You need to be able to not gain weight during the pre-op phase, as most every insurance company will not cover surgery if this happens. You risk having to start over and wait another 3 to 6 months. Every program is different, many doctors have a different approach, but insurance requirements tend to be pretty standard. I personally found it easier to lose weight pre-op, but it's coming back around as my body adjusts. I just never could maintain long-term weight loss before. The surgery throws your body for a loop, so things can take time to adjust. I have been able to make so many positive changes with the help of this tool. I quit smoking, I have broken my addiction to soda and sugar, and I feel better about myself each day. I think it all started with the pre-op diet and the self-discipline it required of me to make changes.

[Valentina 2,642]

I already have a therapist and believe me this will be discussed at my next appointment. I was doing fine until my PCP said 5 simple words. Words that most anyone else would love to hear, but instead for me it was doom.

"I'm so proud of you."

Ever since I was a kid the moment someone would tell me they were proud of me I instantly would do ANYTHING to never disappoint them. And I'm losing weight okay right now. I will easily reach the 10 pounds lost that my surgeon wants. He wants it by December, I'll probably have it by the weigh in on the 9th. I wish someone would just say "Not bad." instead of telling me they're proud of me.

As for my current diet, I'm not on a low calorie diet. I'm on a low carb/high fat/moderate Protein diet. I try to stay under 20 net carbs a day, okay with going up to 30. Today I've eaten 7 so I definitely have room for something else to eat. I've already done all my tricks for combating head hunger.

- Read a book

- Put away laundry

- Watch a show

- Watch my fish

- Drink more Water

- Play a video game

- Text a friend

And through out it all the hunger has remained. That tells me I'm actually hungry. I just am having a hard time telling myself that it's not going to disappoint anyone if I do eat something.

I have a lot of food allergies so I lot of the easy go-to Snacks I can't have. Like Peanut Butter or nuts (as an example, I'm allergic to a lot more than that). And yogurt is far too high in carbs, my PCP wants me to stay away from it and dairy as much as possible. I'd love some other snack ideas though.

Not bad, friend. Not bad at all.

You got this 10# thing. You've lost that much many many times before, right?

You aren't losing it for your PCP nor for your surgeon. You are doing it for YOU!!!!! IF you don't have WLS and die long before your time to do so, will your PCP or your surgeon's life be altered forever? Nope. ---But YOU may notice a slight difference in your life's status if you die before your time...

This is YOUR time. Do WLS for YOU. Be strong enough to stand by yourself, have WLS alone--for yourself. Love yourself enough to give yourself this gift. To you. From you. Love YOU.

Snack ideas:

Jerky

Pork rinds

SF ice pops

Cottage cheese and tomatoes or tuna

roasted veggies with nutritional yeast

smoked meat/fish

chicken/turkey breast

hard boiled eggs

Now, buckle down. Stop fretting about this. You can do it. Just set your head in the right direction and move---forward---always forward.

Keep posting on your progress.

I'll be watching you.

[maggie'smom 30]

I'VE BEEN dieting since oct., my surgery is aug 12. During this time I've discovered a lot about my eating behaviors and feel this will be helpful after surgery. I was disappointed that I had to wait, but I feel I have a much more realistic idea of what I need to change. I'm a carboholic, if I begin the day with carbs, I'll eat them all day long. I've learned to drink Water and not hate it. For somr reason flavored water made me hungrier, so I quit that.I just finished day 5 of pre-op diet and I feel fine. Maybe the dieting all this time makes this easier. I've dieted all my life and lost about 750 lbs. over the last 40 years, I'm tired of feeling like a failure, this time I'll win, you have helped me more than I can say. Hang in there Witchy-poo, you'll make it!

[WitchySar 244]

Had my appointment with my PCP and I was down another 10 lbs.

Thank you for the snack ideas. My dieititian wants me to eat 3 meals and 3 Snacks a day which I admit I've been having trouble getting all that in. Definitely need to work on my head. It's hard for me to feel right eating so much through out the day. I discussed this with my PCP and she was very helpful actually. Thanks for all the support.