fitforlife

thanks for your comments everyone. I wonder too about the sugar substitutes. I think they make me crave sugar. I have read some studies that show that these do cause sugar cravings: i.e. your brain thinks it got sugar that it didn't get and it will look for the calories that were suppose to come with that sugar taste---but they are not there and then it will try to make you consume those calories later.....
I do feel fake sugars do not help me and only feed this strong addiction I have. But thank you for sharing and making me feel that I have company in my struggle. There are so many success stories and I love to hear about them, but it also helps to know that there are others who struggle and there are some for whom the sleeve did not kill their brain's cravings for certain things. I lost my cravings for the first 2 weeks---I felt ill mostly, but they have been back since week three and are in full swing. I wish I was one of those sleevers that didn't think about food so much...

I am so with you, I think to my self: I had my stomach cut out and I'm stilling failing! The studies show that the effect sugar has on our brain reward system is the same as herion/cocaine etc... so you are not alone and you are probably in the majority actually

Okay, I have been totally obsessing and reading /watching everything I can find about sugar and carbs.
I have realized that I am a sugar addict and the sleeve has not changed it. No matter how much I read about how bad it is for me, I still go for that cookie, or seek out that pastry. And let me tell you: they go down fantastically well.
Any tips from my fellow sugar addicts on how to kick this habit?
I know it's why my weight loss has been so slow..... I know better, so much better, but seems like sweets have power over me! Crazy that an object controls my behavior.
The sleeve has only limited the quantity I can have at one sitting, nothing else.
preop wt 240
surgery date wt 220
surg date 1/23/12
current wt 173
goal wt 120

okay, let me start my confession
1. I confess I wish I would have lost more weight to show myself off at my brother-in-law's wedding, I want to look better then the bride and I don't care
2. I confess I have carbs alot more than I should, including chocolate
3. I confess I still love sugar and feel guilty for eating it
4. I am afraid that I should have lost more weight and I feel guilty
5. I don't get my Vitamins or fluids in
6. haven't been to the gym in 3 months, and I don't exercise very often

I confess:
1. I had lots of white wine on my 10-day vacation, enjoyed every bit of it and still lost two pounds.
2. That I still love cooking, maybe even more as I get to try new recipes, and my family is eating healthier as a result.
3. I got rid of nine bags of clothing that no longer fit and felt good about it! But, my closet looks a little pitiful. Thank goodness for Macy's big sales!
4. I ate more than a handful of sea salt and pepper rice crisps the other night and felt guilty for a nanosecond, until I realized that it really wasn't that bad of a cheat (and my first real cheat since surgery four months ago).
5. I wish I had this surgery years ago. -- I missed out on many experiences because I used my weight as an excuse.
6. I wish I were more into exercise. I go to the gym three days a week, feel great afterwards, but can't convince myself to go more.
7. I get jealous when I see others my same weight and height losing faster.
8. I haven't found a food yet I can't eat, but I still eat too fast.
9. I am becoming a shoe-aholic. I think my feet are as small as they are going to get so it's guilt-free shopping :-)
10. That having this surgery was the best decision I have ever made.

I confess...
- I haven't been to the gym in a month.
- I have weighed myself everyday this week (normally only 1-2x a week) because I'm SSSOOO close to the century club!
- I get really irritated with some people's "holier than thou" preachy, opinionated attitudes on this site which makes me not post for fear of judgment and ridicule. Why can't we just all get along???
- I'm really sad about getting rid of all of my clothes. All I see is wasted $$$ (because I have A LOT of clothes).
- I've only told a few close friends this... I plan on staying single during this journey so I can see what kind of "ass I can pull" and truly enjoy the attention I get!

Hey guys... I am going to try to answer all the questions but if I leave anything out let me know...
First off food intake - I average between 400 and 600 calories a day. Yes that number is low but my bloodwork is great and I feel great. I do still struggle to take in as much Protein as I am supposed to.
Typical Foods - I eat a lot of grilled chicken, salad with vinegarette dressings, oven baked bologna, milk, etc. I drink atleast 1 cup of heart healthy fat free milk each day with a tablespoon of nesquick. I think it curbs my sweet tooth.
The rules I swear by - I avoid breads, pastas, and pretty much all grains. Every once in a while I have a bite or two. I also avoid carbonated beverages. I avoid crackers, chips, and Cookies bc they go down way to easy and are too fattening.
Exercise - I do not have an exercise routine. I have 3 kids and I coach softball. I try to stay active during the day either with my dogs (I work with a Pitbull rescue), my kids, or cleaning house. Throughout the day I focus on tightening my muscles, I do counter push ups, work on my posture when sitting, etc.
Loose skin - I have a lip of skin on my stomach that I hate but I have had 3 c-sections so I had it before the weight loss. My arms look fine with no real lose skin to note. The inside top of my thighs look a little lose and wrinkly but not so much that I am uncomfortable in booty shorts. My breasts however are a different story. I weighed 120 when I got prego with my first child and I went from a B cup to an F... After three kids I was a droopy triple D. Now I am a 32 D but they look like tube socks with a tennis ball when I lean over (sorry for the visual!).
I am still steady losing but much more slowly. My surgery date was 03/01/2012 so I have lost 98 pounds now in less than 6 months.
Thanks for all the congrats! I will try to get my before and currents posted tomorrow.

High fructose corn Syrup is MUCH sweeter than sugar and that is no accident. It also creates more craving for more corn syrup. Of the 2 poisons, sugar is the lesser of evils. Read your ingredient labels before you feel weak. At least you will have a slight head start. The american public did not request that food manufacturers add large quantities of high fructose corn syrup to so many of our foods. And when I think of it this way I get angry enough to avoid corn syrup just on the principle of the thing. Remember back to when the tobacco industry conspired against the public saying cigarettes were not ADDICTING? I hope one day corn syrup will exposed as a way the public has been manipulated for food industry profit. Sorry for the soap box. I too am a sugar addict.
A private theory of mine is that if someone suffers from a candida yeast overgrowth, the yeast cry out to be fed sugar. And every other day I find myself back slipping back to sugar and feel temporary relief.
On other boards, I notice some people's cravings are lessened by taking L-Glutamine and Selenium.

I order Protein pudding powder from diet direct.com. The roasted seaweeds everywhere these days - costco, trader joes, but also regular grocery stores and Amazon.com.
Good luck - we CAN do this!

Okay, I have been totally obsessing and reading /watching everything I can find about sugar and carbs.
I have realized that I am a sugar addict and the sleeve has not changed it. No matter how much I read about how bad it is for me, I still go for that cookie, or seek out that pastry. And let me tell you: they go down fantastically well.
Any tips from my fellow sugar addicts on how to kick this habit?
I know it's why my weight loss has been so slow..... I know better, so much better, but seems like sweets have power over me! Crazy that an object controls my behavior.
The sleeve has only limited the quantity I can have at one sitting, nothing else.
preop wt 240
surgery date wt 220
surg date 1/23/12
current wt 173
goal wt 120

If I can get my net carbs under 40 grams (ideally under 30) per day, resisting temptation gets a lot easier after the first 3-4 days. Those first days I just have to power through, using everything I can - chewing gum, lots of Water, tea, you name it. I think of it as detoxing. It's hard, but once I get through it I feel so much better, and the sweets calling my name get a lot quieter.
I've eliminated dairy milk (sub almond milk), Pasta, rice, and potatoes from my diet. I found a low-carb bread that I can have half of slice of for an open faced sandwich at lunch for only 2 net carbs. I've found a soy Protein chip I like to replace potato chips. I've discovered roasted seaweed is yummy and salty and helps when i crave popcorn. I almost never eat fruit - I know that approach isn't for everyone, but for me, a big part of this really is biochemical, and to my body, fruit IS sugar.
Once I've detoxed, it's a combination of strategies. One is getting the temptations out of the house or at least out of sight and less convenient. Another is eating regularly throughout the day, high protein - letting myself get too hungry can lower my resistance. Another is paying attention to triggers, and trying to avoid them. I deal with stress directly, with deep breathing, a little walk around the office, and a soothing cup of tea. I avoid reading food blogs (I've become a big fan of low-carb, sugar-free blogs!) if I'm having a challenging day.
And, I'm working on finding substitutes like the ones listed above that make me happy so I don't feel deprived of treats. Sugar Free Chocolate pb protein pudding is a regular treat for me (made with almond milk - regular milk is too many carbs!). I make a sugar free protein mocha frappuccino often in the afternoons. I made a low carb sugar free microwave molten chocolate hazelnut cake earlier this week that was AWESOME. Not exactly low cal, but not terrible, and with my workouts I have room for a couple of indulgences as long as they don't become daily habits. But the key for me seems to be watching the carbs so an indulgence doesn't send me into a binge cycle that goes on for days.
This has worked for me. I'm below my surgeon's goal, and I never stalled until I started messing around with carbs again.
I've read blogs by people who've managed to train themselves to enjoy anything in moderation. Maybe that would be possible for me, but right now having a stable weight and not binging is more important to me, and I'm willing to give up the sugar for alternatives, at least until I feel like I have more control.

I am 5'3 and weighed 220lbs on surgery date (1/23/12), I currently weight 174lbs, so down 46lbs in 5.5months, not alot, but I don't exercise. sounds like others have had more success?

I am so with you, I think to my self: I had my stomach cut out and I'm stilling failing! The studies show that the effect sugar has on our brain reward system is the same as herion/cocaine etc... so you are not alone and you are probably in the majority actually

thank you everyone for you suggestions. I definately eat alot less sweets than before, but I haven't eliminated like many successful people on this site. For those strict low carbers can you give me some pointers on how you do it?
How do you stay low on carbs, what do you do to stop your self from eating that piece of chocolate or whatever your sin is?

Fitforlife, you are correct that the brain thinks fake sugar is the same as real sugar. In fact, the consumption of sugar in the US has exploded after artificial sweeteners were introduced. After giving up sugar and caffeine, my next goal is to cut back on artificial sweeteners. I think my body will adjust and will no longer crave it. Things, such as strawberries, willprobably taste like dessert.

I am so happy to see this post because for the last 3 to 4 weeks I have been craving and eating nothing but sweets almost daily. I was 266 then 254 on surgery date 3/5/12 today I am 209. I thought maybe I was unconsciously messing up my progress. This is the smallest i have been in 19 years and i still have a ways to go. i will not allow myself to destroy what i have worked so hard for. I think I am going to go back to my south beach diet plan that my doctor had me do pre surgery. That way i can kick the cravings. Its just so good to know I am not aloe. I love this website :0)

Thanks everyone together we can help each other!!!!!
I am working on my Protein intake and I now drink crystal light that helps the sugar. I also have asked a friend to be my accountability partner. Everyday she knows what I eat which helps

I have a terrible time with sugar and carbs as well. I tried sugar free candies and chocolates, but found they just reinforced the habit of snacking.
For me, what helps the most is getting my eating back to really high Protein, really low carb (I aim for 40 grams or lower). The first few days are the hardest, but then the carbs are out of my system and the cravings go away. When I have the urge to eat, I try something like hot tea or iced coffee. For sweet treats I stick to protein-based things. For example, I buy the Click mocha protein, and make a mid-afternoon soft-serve with almond milk, a scoop of protein, and crushed ice in a blender. Or, I buy instant protein pudding and make that for dessert. But especially for the first 3-4 days of low-carbing I really have to watch anything with a sweet flavor or it leads me down the path to trouble. I know I'm going to struggle with this forever, but there are so many great low-carb, sugar-free recipe blogs out there, and I know I can make substitutes that will keep me from a carb/sugar binge but not leave me feeling deprived. It's a balancing act for sure!

I am so with you, I think to my self: I had my stomach cut out and I'm stilling failing! The studies show that the effect sugar has on our brain reward system is the same as herion/cocaine etc... so you are not alone and you are probably in the majority actually

wow! amazing, 50lbs in 10 weeks? 5 lbs a week! that's so good. Can you give us some tips. what are you eating, anything that could help us slow losers? I'm 5.5 months out and down 45lbs

Okay, I have been totally obsessing and reading /watching everything I can find about sugar and carbs.
I have realized that I am a sugar addict and the sleeve has not changed it. No matter how much I read about how bad it is for me, I still go for that cookie, or seek out that pastry. And let me tell you: they go down fantastically well.
Any tips from my fellow sugar addicts on how to kick this habit?
I know it's why my weight loss has been so slow..... I know better, so much better, but seems like sweets have power over me! Crazy that an object controls my behavior.
The sleeve has only limited the quantity I can have at one sitting, nothing else.
preop wt 240
surgery date wt 220
surg date 1/23/12
current wt 173
goal wt 120

Sorry that happened to you. I understand though. I've never been on a plane, but restaurants always suck. I always request a table! I will be so happy when this will all be a thing of the past! Good luck on your journey! I'm sure one day we will be that sweet lady you sat next to on the plane, and it will be sincere understanding seeing that we've been on both sides!

There are so many things I want to say to you right now...after I give you a big virtual hug.
The first thing I want to say is this: there are more people like the wonderful lady on your plane than there are "negative nancy's". Your new co-workers were more worried about impressing you than anything else. Believe me.
That being said....I understand how you felt.
Only another overweight person can truly understand the "prepping" it takes just to plan a trip to the mall/store/friends/park. From planning how far of a walk it is from the car to one's destination to seating to what to wear that will be comfy and not show how much I'm sweating. It's agonizing. Then to have that flight attendant ignore your request like that!! Unacceptable. The attendant allowed you to be physically harmed when she had the ability to avoid that at no cost to the airlines or you. This makes me upset.
I am so happy with the sleeve and I think you will be too. I went from a 22 to a 9 and still have about 30 lbs more to go. Before you know it you will no longer look at chair and think to yourself "will I fit" but will look at chairs and think "it needs more padding". I say this because now that the fat is gone from my bum, it gets so sore sitting!!

I think maybe you are eating too many carbs and calories. Try no carbs for a couple of days and mainly Protein. if you eat too many carbs, you will be hungrier and crave them. Make sure you are drinking enough Water. I drink water (flavored with Mio) constantly all day when I am not eating. I think you will see a difference. Also try this if you have a treadmill: 1 minute at 2 mph, 5 minutes at 3 mph, 1 minute at 4 mph. Repeat this 4 more times for a total of 35 minutes per day.This is interval training and will build up your metabolism and endurance and will burn fat quickly. My doctor recommended it for me. Good luck!

I eat carbs, but it is crazy how hungry they make you. After a year I can eat way more, and I could see myself slipping, but dense protien never fails. You have got to eat meat for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. chicken & tuna. I can get away with cheese for Breakfast because I don't have alot of hunger pangs...If you do then you have to EAT meat. I can easily eat a slice of pizza...which could be about 300 to 400 calories. The amount of chicken I could eat to get to 300 to 400 calories would be WAY more than my sleeve could handle. After I eat the pizza...I am hungry again or want to snack. 1400 calories is way too much!
I never eat fruit...it is just sugar and it goes down so easy. Meat, meat, meat and more meat.
Then I eat these GREAT protien chips for my chip cravings. I eat ice cream sometimes. I keep a rotisserre chicken in my fridge at home at all times.