Okay, so, since I've been frequenting this virtual bariatric world, there appear to be a few issues which seem to ignite much debate and throw the most meekly devised threads into huge ego-centric 'flaming' exercises.

Not only do I, personally, find this predictably boring; it is also deeply unhelpful. We all know that this process changes or should change, how we do and view things to do with food and wider health issues, forever. As such, it takes a bit of getting used to.

The prospect of having to adapt our long-held behaviours is scary and our little food related rituals? They are tough bleedin' Cookies to break. (My apologies for mentioning the 'C' word there)

Consequently, I'm a big believer in the adage that 'skeletons in the cupboard' are no longer 'skeletons', if they are dragged out into the light of day. (Normally kicking and screaming with the neighbours looking on in horror)

So, roll-up, roll-up. Consider this an online bariatric confessional!

There'll be no 'Hail Mary's' or 'Our Fathers' and flagellation will NOT and should not be forthcoming.

I want you to tell us your 'dirty' little bariatric secrets.

What did you do? Why did you do it? (and I will refrain from asking 'with whom?' you did it!) How did it make you feel afterwards? Did you resolve to never do it again - or indeed, did you think that actually, everything in moderation is not so bad after all?

Did you chow down on that hot-sauce laden and cheese encrusted beef taco 2 days post op? (No one can tell I'm fantasizing about anything that does not constitute a 'fluid' much, can you?!!!) Did you sneak into the fridge and eat all your kids chocolate bars, happy in the knowledge that your Protein Pump Inhibitors would prevent you from getting indigestion? Did you swallow 10 vodka martini's to see if your pouch and your legs could take it?

Come on, tell Aunty Revs and lets see if we can put these beasts to bed once and for all x

As is only fair, I shall go first.. Tonight, I, 8 days post surgery, ate a fair amount of cheese frosting off the top of a red velvet cupcake (and maybe a couple of mouthfuls of the sponge, too). Why? Because it was there. Did it make any sense? No, because I have never craved sweet stuff. I'm a savoury kind of girl. What did I learn from it? That damn, I'm an emotional eater (which I never thought I was) and that shockingly, that **** went down a little bit too easily. Consequently, I learnt in that way lies grave danger...

See, if I can do it, anyone can. So, step forward and lets hear the 'worst' you've got. Everyone is welcome and all are equal here x

I'm about to eat a whole piece of pecan pie right now. Technically, I haven't eaten it yet so I'm still perfect......but not for much longer. I seriously doubt tomorrow I'll wake up at my highest weight again because of it......but that is the fear for most of us I think.

Some of the things mentioned here as cheats are part of what I eat sometimes...Salsa and chips...Tortellini, pizza, I use these as part of my day to day life.....I got this sleeve to help me deal with my food addiction and teach me how to eat to live....

I made a choice not to follow a failed program before and do without things that I like to eat....That to me is becoming another addiction ...we can't be afraid of food anymore but work through the issues of why we are where we are...Balance is so important in this area....

I feel I need a little bit of everything so I guess I cheat all the time....160lb. gone in 10 months! Seems to work for me so far!!!!

Straws are problematic at the beginning because of the trapped air, but they are fine later on. The rules tend to be a bit draconian at the beginning for good reason. Patient is healing and doctor does not want to be sued.

Here is my short list of dirty little secrets

1. Take up to 800 mg of prescribed ibuprofen for inflammation. I have taken a lot of different NSAID to deal with it from naproxen to flexor patch to voltaren gel. Still alive.

2. Drink from straws occasionally. Not too often. Only happens if there happens to be a straw sitting in a cup and I am hella thirsty after working out or feeling dehydrated. Still alive.

3. Drink the occasional SF monster or Rockstar. I like the flavor and energy. While drinking, the fleeting thoughts of carbonation goes through my head in addition to battery acid. And then they disappear. Still alive.

I do not have any real eating dirty secrets (except for the occasional binge on energy squares). My diet has always been high Protein and low carb. I stuck to plan and followed doctors orders until month 7 when weight loss phase ended. The stress from micromanaging eating details is just not for me. I used to track protein (80+ g), Water (90+ oz) and carbs (20-30 g or lower). in my head until month 7. Now I make sure to hit broad targets for those 3 items (150+ g protein, 120+ oz water, 100+ g good carbs). I tend to eat more good carbs now to fuel working out hard. Eating what i am supposed to eat is pretty much like breathing. No struggle. I had my surgery July 2nd 2012 and weight on adage 175 today with between 13-15 body fat %.

Ive been too hard on myself lol. The worst I've done is have some Chex cereal and peanut butter.

Honestly, after reading all of this I don't feel bad or guilty or dirty anymore. The fear is that one "mess-up" will lead to more and more, and it is important to stay on top of emotionally unhealthy eating behaviors don't get me wrong. But it can also be pretty unhealthy to beat oneself up over things. It's that kind of thinking which can lead to binging in me. I would have felt much better if I'd just had the slices of pizza that I wanted and not worried so much over having to eat it all since I'd already begun or to prevent eating only pizza every day for the rest of my life omg. I could have had three slices or whatever and not felt bad about it, just enjoyed it.

So I made pound cake today. I made it a couple of weeks ago and had a slice or two every day and felt guilty and like I was ruining my weight loss. Well today I planned for it and I made it and it's delicious. I've even decided to give half of it away and I've just packed it up, but not because I'm afraid I'll ruin myself but because it's good and I want to share. I don't have to feel bad at all about those slices I've already eaten. They feel darn good in my belly right now.

Ohhh I'm so glad. My teeth are sensitive to cold. Thank you for clearing that up.

I use a straw most of the time. My NUT said its ok if it helps you get in liquids. At first, the straw "ban" is about not getting as much air in the tummy. But I don't have problems with that so I use a straw.

Honestly' date=' after reading all of this I don't feel bad or guilty or dirty anymore. The fear is that one "mess-up" will lead to more and more, and it is important to stay on top of emotionally unhealthy eating behaviors don't get me wrong. But it can also be pretty unhealthy to beat oneself up over things. It's that kind of thinking which can lead to binging in me. I would have felt much better if I'd just had the slices of pizza that I wanted and not worried so much over having to eat it all since I'd already begun or to prevent eating only pizza every day for the rest of my life omg. I could have had three slices or whatever and not felt bad about it, just enjoyed it.

So I made pound cake today. I made it a couple of weeks ago and had a slice or two every day and felt guilty and like I was ruining my weight loss. Well today I planned for it and I made it and it's delicious. I've even decided to give half of it away and I've just packed it up, but not because I'm afraid I'll ruin myself but because it's good and I want to share. I don't have to feel bad at all about those slices I've already eaten. They feel darn good in my belly right now.[/quote']

I always say sharing is caring, caring for yourself as well as whom you are sharing with

I have a halloween sized Three Musketeers bar in my freezer. My husband and kids found it and commented. It's mine and I want it! Won't let them touch it......it's my emergency stash!I feel better knowing its there if I want it.

I have a halloween sized Three Musketeers bar in my freezer. My husband and kids found it and commented. It's mine and I want it! Won't let them touch it......it's my emergency stash!I feel better knowing its there if I want it.

OMG! I have three frozen Hershey kisses in my freezer; it's for what I call shark week (pms). Lmbo I kill them if they even look at my kisses!

8 days post op I licked the seasoning off some wheat thins...I think it was the sun dried tomato basil flavor. f**k it was good. My sweet dog Wrigley ate the licked crackers afterward. She was all too happy to dispose of the evidence for me.

Also.....I parked in a handicapped space at the dollar store while on my 2 week pre-op diet. I was running in real quick to get a Kit Kat which I may or may not have eaten. Honestly it disappeared so fast I'm not sure where it went.

^^^^^that is FUNNY^^^

Darn it, y'all. Am I supposed to experience guilt? I haven't felt guilty once when I have made a poor food choice. I have seen it as my trial and error plan to see what I can tolerate and what may be off limits. I don't plan to "diet" my life away but to modify my portions, my intake order and my choices. I haven't had any major over sized portion problems yet but I have thrown up several times when "I chose poorly". Buffets with family are murder for me. Even if I stay focused on better choices and tiny servings I still over do and urp as a result (yes, I have done it twice now). I don't want a life of depravation. I don't think I have to have one with my sleeve as my helper. I try to "respect the pouch" and it tries to keep me on the straight and narrow. So far, so good. Bad choices and all.

Darn it' date=' y'all. Am I supposed to experience guilt? I haven't felt guilty once when I have made a poor food choice. I have seen it as my trial and error plan to see what I can tolerate and what may be off limits. I don't plan to "diet" my life away but to modify my portions, my intake order and my choices. I haven't had any major over sized portion problems yet but I have thrown up several times when "I chose poorly". Buffets with family are murder for me. Even if I stay focused on better choices and tiny servings I still over do and urp as a result (yes, I have done it twice now). I don't want a life of depravation. I don't think I have to have one with my sleeve as my helper. I try to "respect the pouch" and it tries to keep me on the straight and narrow. So far, so good. Bad choices and all.[/quote']

A buffet would be such a waste of money for me. I used to get my monies worth but now, no dice.

I don't feel guilty for indulging either. Once every two weeks I buy a Belgium dark chocolate bar and relish and savor every last bite. Amazing....

I don't feel bad about the Coke Zero or the straw. I've been using a straw from the beginning with no problem, it's the only way I will get my fluids in. As for the Coke Zero, I know it's bad for me and I know I should drink almost anything else, but until I find something I can tolerate, it is what it is.

Crystal Light makes me gag as does tea. I can drink water after a workout but only a little. I drink it whenever I can, but if it was my only liquid, I would barely hit 16 oz a day. I do drink caffeine free Coke Zero, so that's slightly better I guess. The only other liquid I can really tolerate well is Gatorade and I don't mean of the G2 variety.

That said, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE DRINK IT.

I love Skinny Cow salted caramel and pretzel or cookie dough ice cream bars. Sooooooo good.

I don't feel bad about the Coke Zero or the straw. I've been using a straw from the beginning with no problem' date=' it's the only way I will get my fluids in. As for the Coke Zero, I know it's bad for me and I know I should drink almost anything else, but until I find something I can tolerate, it is what it is. Crystal Light makes me gag as does tea. I can drink water after a workout but only a little. I drink it whenever I can, but if it was my only liquid, I would barely hit 16 oz a day. I do drink caffeine free Coke Zero, so that's slightly better I guess. The only other liquid I can really tolerate well is Gatorade and I don't mean of the G2 variety. That said, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE DRINK IT. [/quote']

I'm afraid to try pop. Same with bread. I don't miss it much so there hasn't been a good reason to try.

Btw, Powerade Zeroes and Sobe Zeroes go down easy for me. Idk if you've tried them yet.