Fiddleman

Addiction, obsession, food control issues, binge eating, over eating, etc are all pretty much the same when applied to food. All I know is I had this problem before and do not have it now. I have made so many changes physically and mentally post op that it is really difficult to say what was the turning point for me to feel free from food bondage. I will be the first to admit feeling out of control around food left me feeling depressed, powerless and out of balance in so many ways. I do encourage you to take control of your relationship with food. Here are a few suggestions that worked well for me : 1. Eat food that will regulate the insulin response. Stop eating high carb or high fat food that messes with your mental balance. 2. Take an anti depressant if depression is causing you to eat. See a therapist to work on understanding a toxic relationship with food and the impact it is having on other areas in your life. 3. Reduce the PH levels of the body (e.g. reduce inflammation) with green drinks or other supplementation. Fiber will help here. 4. Exercise to release those good endorphins. Really push yourself so you can see and feel the results rapidly. HIIT and lifting harder and faster is a good way to get the post gym pump n glow. 5. Eat protein all the time, at least every 3 hours. Eating protein does help abolish hunger. 6. Take on new activities. Try new things. Meet people. Stay busy to not get bored which may lead to eating. For example, I am just starting cross fit and yoga. Totally new to me, but fun because I am expanding my social sphere. Now that summer is around the corner, I am looking into going on hiking meet ups not just for physical activities, but to do a common activity with others. Still working on socializing, but think I am getting better at it by practicing and not letting fear of the unknown stop me. There is nothing like having a positive outlook in life and of people to replace psychological issues with food.

Just as an FYI: my doctor wanted us on Prilosec for 9 months post op. I take 1!a day and on occasion, take 2 a day. If I miss a daily doze I will notice burning in the throat. You can buy OTC Prilosec, but cheaper to get a prescription for it.

Interesting! Thanks for sharing!!

Apparently, I had to ask my wife about this. Lol. So, women's=plus and regular=misses or petite if I have interpreted the smoke signals correctly. I found this codification to be a tad unnessary. But I guess that is from a male perspective.

My resting heart rate is 48. In the hospital during recovery from VSG, my resting heart rate would go to 30 causing alarms to go off even though I was still clearly obese at the time and blood pressure was previously way high at 158 / 105 ( was on meds for it). Do not remember shat my bp was in hospital. I think it was more normal because of the effects of anesthesia on me. Now that I am physically fit ( for the most part), resting heart rate is 48 and blood pressure is 100 / 70. Running every other day for months now really helped with this. Just hope this does not lead to heart issues that is sometimes associated with runners or formerly obese people. No idea. Just a thought.

Should we stop using the word addiction then for our food issues? I do not think any of us had the common traits of drug addiction as applied to food. That is, to lie, steal, commit felonies etc for food. No, I cannot really associate it in this way. The reason may be that we had a psychological or mental issue with food whereas drug addiction is more of a physical addiction. Now that I put it this way, I agree with bean that perhaps it is an obsession instead of an addiction. Oh Dr Laura? Please straighten this out for us. Lol.

My daily water is massive. I go through 1/2 dozen 32 ounce containers a day, maybe more. Drinking water is A ok with me at my current distance from DOS. I do not think I can be dehydrated. I have been dehydrated before while post op and have not felt like that for a long time. Something else...

Yes, but Fiber One original has a fair amount of carbs right? And not high in omegas like chia seeds.

Thanks for the plan. It looks good. I hate having to give up my bedtime snack though, but it does have vitamins and minerals as it is either a shake or a Protein Bar. I will try out your suggested plan this next week.

I do agree that it is OK to throw caution in the wind every so often ( had my April drink last night - an apple martini shaken with some expensive vodka I picked up). I think it would be a fallacy to think you can succeed long term without being keenly aware of diet and exercise. You are going to go through shock and awe treatment at the end of weight loss phase if you do not develop good diet and fitness plans while you are going from month 1 to 6. The first six months are almost designed to help the post op get their lifestyle plan in order forcing a progressive introduction of food and exercise. Think about this. It is important to heed this warning in order to enter life as a thin person and remain a thin person.

Hey Mike - About a shot BMR: I just got done with an hour of power yoga ( vinyasa and hot). Will this type of Yoga get my BMR up? It was killer, but I actually finished with little modification. Felt good about myself. I always seem to really sweat and work my muscles using body weight in these hot yoga sessions. I hope it will help me burn calories better at rest like a naturally thin person along with the cross fit and running I do week over week. I really do not want to be looking over my shoulder for life for carb this and fat that. Maybe others know? I am slowly but surely getting my calories up my eating more good carbs and protein. Fueling my body all the time with food now it seems. Lol. Maintaining while eating peleo stuff more and more ( every hour?) and increasing fitness ( cardio and strength).

How are they feeling on your runs?

Heh, you beat the censor system. Again. Way to go! You need a prize for breaking the software. how about a free IPad? Wait a few days and I bet you will not be able to do it again. Hope Alex is reading this. Seriously I think it is because the AI behind the censoring does not know how to conjugate or analyze per slang and urban lexicons. Something like that. by the way, did you get the answer(s) you were looking for / hoping for as the OP? I think there is a lot of good information In this thread. We should all get honorary psych degrees from a university for our in depth psychoanalysis and introspection. Who needs to pay for therapy when you can get it for free on VST!

That is wonderful news! Good luck on it and all the best.

As for longer term event goals ( next year?), I have been thinking more and more about ultra marathon trail runs. Have anyone of you done these before? I think it is possible in my future because I have a pretty good endurance and stamina when running hills and distance with my training so far. Getting better every day as I push my fitness levels in new ways. I have hiked 50 miles in a day before when younger ( high school). I would like to get out there and run a huge distance over the ups and down of a trail like the PCT between Stevens and snoqualmi pass. I've seen runners do this before when out back packing the trail. It is 72 miles from end to end and goes up and down between 4000 and 7500 feet. I think it could be done in a day with the right training and preparation. I am very familiar with the trail as hiked it many times. The biggest unknown to me is how one would fuel and drink along the way, especial since it will be an isolated run. Another trail to run would be wonderland around mount Rainer. However, I am not familiar with it so well. I would prefer to pick a trail that I can easily visualize from end to end in order to systematically prepare both physically and mentally. I have already read the popular ultra marathon books that are usually recommended. I would also want to work regular shorter day trail runs into my training like mount si ( 8 miles round, +- 4000 feet) or a slightly longer one like tiger mountain from I18 to I90, 22 miles round) to start out with. Need to research this more to determine how to train for a trail ultra marathon.

Heh, that's awesome. Running in a wet suit gets you the title "scuba man" in the papers. I like to run shirtless because I usually sweat up a flood anyways.