Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Lets Speak Up............There Is Always A Way



Recommended Posts

How would you cope, if you created an environment to support your weight loss?

It can only be of assistance. Lets set our environment up to make it as difficult as possible to avoid

hurting our neck just for one little taste :)

You may like to consider applying some of the following suggestions to assist your journey.



  1. Have fewer temptations of either a sweet or savoury base in the house
  2. Keep temptations out of sight, hidden in a non see through box
  3. Keep temptations out of reach, encased in a box located in the highest kitchen cupboard possible
  4. Creating space to present your exercise gear and equipment, ready to be used
  5. Have you even considered sleeping in your t-shirt and track suit, with your runners at the base of your bed to easily slip on as soon as you wake up, ready for your walk
  6. Slowly reducing sweet drinks and sugars even artificial sweeteners in your hot drinks
  7. Slowly retrain your taste buds to not desire sweets and fats as much, by reducing the frequency slowly. It only takes two weeks for your taste buds to change and not enjoy the old flavours as much.

This is just a start of some baby steps to help you SPEAK UP to yourself and find a way to create an environment to support you. There is always a way.

You would most likely have heard of Carnie Wilsons long battle with her weight. Her story is ever so inspiring as she SPOKE OUT and found her way out by forming a strong support team around her for success with the Lap Band.

Carnie Wilson is an example of how important it is to accept the personal responsibility required to slowly adjust one's lifestyle to control self sabotaging behaviors such as emotional and habitual eating.

When one's relationship with food supports a non-dieting approach, cravings are reduced and the ability to eat with more control enables the environment to be set up for success and maintained. Rather than getting in the car and travelling to buy food to graze on. This is just one example.

Repeated history of difficulty in losing weight can sabotage one's self confidence.

This is why I encouraged you SPEAK OUT and grasp onto who and what you need to help you manage your weight and health with your Lap Band.

Additional options to reach out and find your way could include:

  1. Surgical review regarding the band adjustments
  2. Psychologist to help manage emotional eating. There are 2 books I encourage you read if you like; If not Dieting Then What or The Happiness Trap
  3. Dietitian to help eat the ideal foods with the lap band
  4. Exercise group. I encourage EFM and STEP INTO LIFE as they offer group personal training at a reasonable cost
  5. Forums for contact such as where we are. (Nothing like stating the obvious hey!)
  6. Support group meetings face to face or online
  7. Commit socially with a group of people to participate in a fun run/walk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's a shame that the photo you chose to illustrate your thoughts here just enforces the stereotype of the fat stupid female--indeed, she looks almost mentally-impaired-- powerless over food. I personally find this offensive, especially used in an article which is targetted towards people who might be sensitive to this stereotype.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I do agree. It's when we feel overwhelmed that it may appear all too much. In these situations making small changes and gaining small wins will help get us out of the rut/situation. It takes time and commitment.

If it is important to you, you'll find a way.
If not, you'll find an excuse !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I can see and understand your view point. To offend, was not my intention at all. I chose this article leaning towards a humorous angle trying to illustrate that we cope better when we create an environment which makes it harder to fail and easier to move forward, hence all the practical tips in the article. Having overcome a history of distorted eating myself, this has shaped my practice at focussing on behaviour changes principles to get my clients to stop dieting and eat a little of everything guilt free. I am certainly very mindful of one's possible sensitivities surrounding weight loss. I try with my articles and information provided to always evoke a thought or feeling towards self reflection, in this case to call out for some help to who ever that may be.

It's a shame that the photo you chose to illustrate your thoughts here just enforces the stereotype of the fat stupid female--indeed, she looks almost mentally-impaired-- powerless over food. I personally find this offensive, especially used in an article which is targetted towards people who might be sensitive to this stereotype.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have to respectfully disagree with #5. sleeping in your exercise gear sounds obsessive and mildly dysfunctional on a psychological level. If you did that, and did not get up to exercise, there is likely to be an increased amount of shame, anxiety, or guilt over not following through right away. Seems like that would push you back into the "What's the point?" mentality a lot of us have had in the past when we "fail."

To be honest, the biggest thing anyone can do to help them during this process is to speak to a therapist about their eating issues. As much as we would not like to admit it, none of us got to where we are because we have a healthy, non-dysfunctional relationship with food. Short term changes are relatively easy, but the long-term changes we need to make are extremely difficult without professional support.

The second most important thing is to stop putting moral labels on food. No food is "clean" or "good" or "bad." It just is. By putting those labels on different foods, you are giving the food the power to dictate how you will view yourself for the day. If you didn't "eat clean" does that make you a dirty person? You may not say it to yourself outright, but I'll bet anything you'll be thinking that in some form. When food stops being a moral choice, and simply a nutritional choice, we stop giving food control over our lives and start controlling the food.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree with @@LumpySpacePrincess, assigning labels to food only serves to complicate things for dieters. Food is either nutritious or its not, we choose which ones we eat. By assigning a label to the food, it then labels us and with the struggles we already face, being labeled is the last thing we need. I was not offended by the picture but I was offended by the statement that Parisshel made that the woman looked mentally impaired, again another unnecessary label The woman is obviously obese and carries a lot of her weight in her face, by no fault of her own. The photo was tongue in cheek...She had chips on both her shoulders, temptation whichever way she turns. I agreed with some of the items on the list and disagreed with others but all in all a good article.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×