Oliver's Mom

Cheri and other vets - you all consistently give among the most detailed and thoughtful responses on VST (Others, obviously not leaving you out, but want to give special kudos here), in the vets forum. Super impressed with your thought processes around these types of struggles and the ability to offer practical solutions. It is a pleasure to read your tomes.

I think this is one of the biggest hurdles to tackle and I think any fully honest vet is going to admit this is sometimes a challenge. I don't obsess about food like I used to but if I'm having a rough day or if it's been dreary out for days on end (it affects me, too) I'll find myself wandering in and out of the kitchen, just because I can. It adds up, and quickly.
I chewed gum, a lot of gum and had never considered that it might be having the opposite effect on me, like mentioned earlier. Because I would chew gum and once the flavor was gone, I'd want more, or I'd want to chew again and there I'd go and walk into the kitchen for more gum. I was going through ridiculous amounts of gum in a month. And yeah, I can see that I was just reinforcing my desire to chew through boredom.
I do notice that the urge to snack or graze is less urgent if I'm eating lots of Protein, drinking my Water and avoiding processed carbs for the most part. It's one thing for me to eat a cookie I baked myself from scratch. Somehow, I can stop at one and go about my business. If I eat an Oreo or a Thin Mint? It's like Russian Roulette. Sometimes it's no big deal and I eat one and move along. But other times? It's on...and I'll feel the strong desire to eat half a dozen of them before stopping. It won't matter if I choose not to do it - I'll then sit and think about them until they're out of the house.
So I try to avoid Protein Bars and junk like Chex Mix or chips or Cookies. I do not think they're bad and that we should avoid them forever. But if I want chips? I fry my own. Crazy, yeah, but I can fry up one small potato, get my fix and be done. And you know what? I ain't gonna lie - knowing that I need to engage forty minutes into my chip fix before I can eat them will usually kill the urge. If I buy a bag, I'm going to eat those chips until they're gone, even if that means having them every day for a week in small portions. Even if I follow the rules and they're reasonable portions it can be an issue until they're gone.
Will I gain weight from it? Usually not. But I can't help but feel that even engaging in that behavior is setting me up for regain down the road, so while I embrace moderation, I also embrace sanity. You don't keep a crack pipe in your purse if you don't intend to use it - why would a person with food addictions keep themselves surrounded by the very junk that led them to morbid obesity in the first place?
In any case, back to the original post - I do a few things to help. I turn on music and distract my brain. If that won't work, I get up and move around (NOT in the kitchen). I do not keep Snacks other than gum anywhere else in the house but the kitchen. I do not allow myself to snack while watching television unless it's movie night (then I allow myself a portion of stove popped popcorn and a drink) and I no longer keep a stash of Snacks in my bedside drawer for when I read in bed. If I'm on my laptop, the only thing I allow on my table is a mug of coffee or tea or my bottle of Water. So I would not keep anything near my desk if I were you. I get a big glass of fruit infused water. I tell myself that if I'm still snacky in an hour I'll have a few vegetables. If all else fails a cup of green tea or black coffee will give me something to put in my hands. Sipping on it takes a while and it then suppresses my appetite.
Truth be told, this usually only gets me if I'm hormonal or if I'm really feeling stressed out. But it is a real thing, and it is important to find a way to get through it. Hopefully something someone posts here will help you out. And I'm learning that you don't have to feel any hunger to shove food in your face. Keeping snacks around me while I'm engaged in busy work - no matter how healthy - would have me snacking without even thinking.
Good luck,
~Cheri

I had a similar situation about the same time, I HAD to go out to attend a wake and didn't want to be anxious or have to race to a bathroom so I did take an Immodium and it helped and I was fine after that. Good luck.

Great topic!
I started in with sf gum, but I'm now totally regretting it. It sort of reinforced my desire to be chewing on something when I'm bored or stressed, and now i'm finding myself going through a ridiculous amount of gum and wanting something ALL the TIME. Great, now I have another bad habit to break.
At work, I try to get up for a quick walk around the office, or stretch, or take some deep breaths. I can tell some of my problem is just habit, because if I get away from my desk I have fewer snack urges (some of my work can be done at a secretarial station outside my office). I'm in the habit of eating my meals at my desk, and I''m sure that's reinforced some bad habits.
I read a tip recently from a weight loss blogger that I liked the idea of - she said every time she went to the kitchen to grab a snack she got in the habit of dropping and doing 10 or 20 pushups. Not sure how you'd incorporate that at work, though I've been known to do squats, lunges, or counter "pushups" in a restroom stall. Go ahead and laugh... but don't judge!...

Brush your teeth! That always takes my desire to eat away!

For bored eating, watching TV or reading a book is not quite enough. I need something that keeps my hands busier. I play computer games, call someone, or work on a craft. For me, training for bad food resistance is like training any other muscle. The more I do it, the easier it gets. Not easy, but easier.
Lynda

So u just have to post this because I know you will all understand. I am in desperate need of clothes for work that are not falling off me. I went to Goodwill because I can't justify spending lots of money on clothes that I will only wear for a month or so if best. I went and really didn't know what size I needed. I grabbed a couple sizes and went to the dressing room. Long story short. I fit in a 22! I was so elated! I went from a size 30 pants only 3 months ago, to a 22! And actually, I'd say a 20 in a few weeks. The 22 were not tight at all. Sorry, I just had to share because I know you will all understand! I can't remember a time that I had to go down a size, and not go up...

I'm 7.5 months post-op and am down 83 lbs! I often feel like I am one of the slow losers, especially since I was a revision from the band, but you know, a loss is a loss is a loss, and the only thing that matters is that I am consistently doing what I need to do, and if I keep that up, the weight loss will follow.
I did maintain a 50 lbs loss from my band, so I've lost a total of 133 lbs. I have 50-60 lbs to go.
Also, I have challenged myself to work out daily for a minimum of 20 min. I completed Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred first, and I've been running, walking, and doing other circuit training for the last few weeks. I've worked out 54 days in a row! The inches are coming off (12" gone), but it is stalling the scale a bit. While I wish the scale would move, I am committed to working out and making my body strong and healthy.
My advice for anyone who is reading and needs a pep talk is to just keep moving forward. The scale might not cooperate today, but it will eventually. Tomorrow is going to come anyhow, so you might as well do all you can today while it is here.

I am so happy for all my December Sleevers I see such progress in us all. Some are very fast looser's and some are slow but never the less we are all still loosing more weight with this then we ever did on our own so with that said way to go guys! Keep up the great work you are doing! DONT GIVE UP!

Before and after pic, 85 pounds lost :-)

Saw my PCP yesterday and she discontinued my last blood pressure medication AND told me to cut the only remaining medication (for cholesterol) in half. I'm having blood work done in 5 weeks and she feels confident that she'll be calling me to discontinue that medication too! I am so happy. I don't think my feet touched the floor n my way out of the office I was flying!!
The weight loss is great but the improved (read that resolved) medical issues are even better.

Saw my PCP yesterday and she discontinued my last blood pressure medication AND told me to cut the only remaining medication (for cholesterol) in half. I'm having blood work done in 5 weeks and she feels confident that she'll be calling me to discontinue that medication too! I am so happy. I don't think my feet touched the floor n my way out of the office I was flying!!
The weight loss is great but the improved (read that resolved) medical issues are even better.

Saw my PCP yesterday and she discontinued my last blood pressure medication AND told me to cut the only remaining medication (for cholesterol) in half. I'm having blood work done in 5 weeks and she feels confident that she'll be calling me to discontinue that medication too! I am so happy. I don't think my feet touched the floor n my way out of the office I was flying!!
The weight loss is great but the improved (read that resolved) medical issues are even better.

Saw my PCP yesterday and she discontinued my last blood pressure medication AND told me to cut the only remaining medication (for cholesterol) in half. I'm having blood work done in 5 weeks and she feels confident that she'll be calling me to discontinue that medication too! I am so happy. I don't think my feet touched the floor n my way out of the office I was flying!!
The weight loss is great but the improved (read that resolved) medical issues are even better.

Saw my PCP yesterday and she discontinued my last blood pressure medication AND told me to cut the only remaining medication (for cholesterol) in half. I'm having blood work done in 5 weeks and she feels confident that she'll be calling me to discontinue that medication too! I am so happy. I don't think my feet touched the floor n my way out of the office I was flying!!
The weight loss is great but the improved (read that resolved) medical issues are even better.

Ohhhhhh, both of these sound delicious. I haven't had pizza in almost 2 years, because of a gluten sensitivity. I will def have to try both. I like veggie pizza, never been a meat on pizza girl. I'm adding the ingredients to my shopping list. Thanks guys.

I was sleeved December 3rd, 2012. It's 5 months today!! I am 59 yo - and only 16 lbs from goal!! You can do it, just follow your medical team's plan. You might hit stalls, but keep to the plan and the weight comes off. Good luck

So very sorry for your loss. I am sending prayers for you. Keep us posted on your recovery (which I have no doubt will be great) remember we are here as a community for you.

I went to a wedding on Friday night (floral dress) and Father's day brunch on Sunday (polka dot dress). They are both size 12. Prior to the surgery I was in a size 22 dress. I hate to look in the mirror, but must admit looking at these pics makes me realize I HAVE lost weight.
Black dress is pre-surgery and a size 22

I went to a wedding on Friday night (floral dress) and Father's day brunch on Sunday (polka dot dress). They are both size 12. Prior to the surgery I was in a size 22 dress. I hate to look in the mirror, but must admit looking at these pics makes me realize I HAVE lost weight.
Black dress is pre-surgery and a size 22

I use it in making Protein mini muffins and protein ice cream. I got the recipes from The World According to Eggface, there's lots of recipes there.

Finally, I got to move on to the next stage: which is the puréed stage. I am so happy about it. I have videos on YouTube up and posted and it talks about my journey so far of my Gastric Sleeve Surgery. So far, I have lost almost over 80 pounds from 418 pounds last year. I am almost 330 pounds now. Anyone shedding a few pounds as well? It is awesome to be able to feel stronger.

Hahahaha!! Good one

Down 62 lbs......only 11 to go!!

I'm still waiting the 'go-ahead' to start running again from my sports medicine doc regarding my knees. I've been walking a LOT. While going to the last few classes of my C25K class - I was walking so fast that only one of the runners passed me. The others did the walk/run gradually all run sessions, but never went past me on the track. It was a 1/2 mile track.
Although I felt badly that I couldn't run, I felt pretty good that I was able to walk at such a fast speed.
I'm hoping that I get the OK soon - physical therapy continues and I feel so much stronger. It is motivating to read this thread - keeps me focused.