Ugh, I've been doing so good and then my mind tries to destroy it. On Saturday night, my fiancé and I ordered Mexican. That's not a big deal, I get just chicken and veggies and eat like 1/16th of it. But I was mad that I couldn't eat more. I kept waiting every 30mins and taking more bites. It got ridiculous. I realized it was ridiculous. I know this is all a mind game and my mind is just catching up and realizing my new stomach can't do what it wants. But I fear if I do not get this under control, I may stretch my pouch out. Does anyone have any issues similar with mentally wanting to binge? How do you cope? I wasn't even that hungry, but it was almost like I was sad I couldn't watch tv and binge like in the past. I did it again last night, I kept wanting to eat more food. Thankfully my food choices are not bad, but if I'm already fighting this, I worry about the future.

6 minutes ago, MissLindseyR said:

For me the good thing is when I'm at work, the only food I allow myself is what I bring and it's very in sync with what I should be eating, but at night, if I have "extra" time, extra as in, I'm not walking or cleaning, I can watch tv and get it in my head I need a snack. Night time gets me.

Have you tried brushing your teeth earlier in the evening? Most foods don't taste good after toothpaste.

4 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

See I'm good by night time. I may have a planned bedtime snack, but it's usually 4-6 bing cherries and 6 almonds. LOL. (Those damn almonds again...)

But I have a witching hour(s) between 3:30-7:00 (dinner time) where I habitually snacked from the time I was in grade school to adulthood. The power is great within those hours. The beast lives on and tries hard to take command of the ship. I work from home.

See mine would be after dinner time (6ish) until sleep time (9sih). That's my witching hours. I'm going to start calling it that! Haha.

1 minute ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

Have you tried brushing your teeth earlier in the evening? Most foods don't taste good after toothpaste.

I have not, this is a good idea. I will try this!

10 minutes ago, MissLindseyR said:

It is just a tool! I enjoyed food too. I think that's my problem, I looked at food and eating almost as an event instead of fuel. How have you overcome some of these mental struggles? I will say I am proud I am realizing what I am doing now and not in denial over it.

You should absolutely be proud of yourself for coming to these realizations.

Honestly, I had to change my relationship with food. I had to think of food as a means to an end. I don't allow myself things that are super yummy (if I do, its rare). As an example, I bought these protein muffins months ago.... and still haven't brought myself to eat them. They aren't bad, in fact, the sell them on the store here. BUT, I know in my heart... they may taste too *good* for me and it could lend way to other things. I also have replaced food with other forms of enjoyment or distraction. I kept a clean house prior to surgery. But my house is immaculate now. I'm always getting up and doing something to keep my mind off things.

Its about knowing you have a problem, and fighting that problem every day. Sometimes you lose, more often than not you win. But eventually it becomes normal. Your thought process changes, and its not such an up hill battle.

7 minutes ago, AshAsh1 said:

You should absolutely be proud of yourself for coming to these realizations.

Honestly, I had to change my relationship with food. I had to think of food as a means to an end. I don't allow myself things that are super yummy (if I do, its rare). As an example, I bought these Protein muffins months ago.... and still haven't brought myself to eat them. They aren't bad, in fact, the sell them on the store here. BUT, I know in my heart... they may taste too *good* for me and it could lend way to other things. I also have replaced food with other forms of enjoyment or distraction. I kept a clean house prior to surgery. But my house is immaculate now. I'm always getting up and doing something to keep my mind off things.

Its about knowing you have a problem, and fighting that problem every day. Sometimes you lose, more often than not you win. But eventually it becomes normal. Your thought process changes, and its not such an up hill battle.

It is hard. It is so hard! I'm going to work on this. I understand about the muffins. In my mind, I would say hey they are good and eat way more than I should, or have one everyday and it would make things worse. Dang the food! Well, I am thankful for my tool and don't want to mess this up. I'm going to work on thinking of more things to do in the evening. I need to also break my idea of tv and food as one.

5 hours ago, MissLindseyR said:

Yes it is a good idea. Do you just try to keep within your calories?

Yes, I try to stay under 1200 but usually fall between 1000 to 1100 most days.

My best advice that I use, is when I am eating at home, I put out what I can eat and no more. For instance I bulk make a lot of my meals. I like mince so I do a lot of chilli and I do a lot of meatballs with sauce, that kind of thing. I know I can only eat three meatballs so I split it into those quantities, any more and I am constantly trying to get rid of the water/foam in my mouth from overeating.

Same with the chilli or anything else I bulk make like stews etc, I just portion it into what I can eat and no more, I can tell by sight now, how much to put into a tupperware for later. It works for me but its a lot harder when you are out in the real world and haven't brought something with you, hence me trying to eat a full sausage sandwich this morning when my stomach only fits a third!

No I didn't grow up in the Great Depression but my parents did . And they,over- fed me like a foie de gras turkey , and 72 years late I'm having to,perl off the layers of fat, and it isn't coming off as fast as they put it on me. Remember in the 40s it was Chubby Babies are Healthy Babies and Cuddly is Cute! Dimples might look cute on a toddler, but on a full grown woman, it is pitifully ludicrous. Nobody,is looking for a 300 pound Teddy ?Bear to cuddle even if I tie a Big Pink Bow around my neck. Besides I perspire,so the bow is soon going to be soggy and unappealing! Not with a box ? of goodies is anyone going to pick ME off my perch! Here I sit and SNIFF? I'm getting a tad dusty.?

I know for me that my sleeve is just a part of my strategy for being successful. I’m definitely an emotional eater, and while everyone has their own journey in reaching their weight loss goals, mine includes therapy to deal with the issues of why I over eat in the first place. I wish us all strength & good luck!

I bought a dozen little glass 3 oz spice dishes from AMAZON and that’s my serving. Works great. No matter what we are having once I eat that serving I’m done.

I am sorry you’re going through this. I too have gotten angry about not being able to eat the whole way through a movie, or eat while others are eating or not being able to finish my meals at a restaurant.

lucky me, I tried to binge & got sick. I just feel gross afterwards if I try to eat more. That or I pay for it in the bathroom. I try to divide all my food up first if I am out. Or if I am somewhere where there is lots of food to choose from, like family gatherings or potlucks, I legit take my time and decide what is best for me to try. If it’s something I have tasted before, I won’t even try it, and I probably get a half a tablespoon of everything else I want to try.

It’s hard, hang in there

Boy, the mind is so powerful.
We’re all here going or have gone through this. It’s a learning process. You’ll be happy one minute and hell bent the next. From my own experience, learning to chew and savor your bites really does help. And that only comes from practice. I’ve spent a lifetime mindlessly eating or feeling like conquering the plate to be satisfied. I’ve gone through frustration, depression and just being pissed off. To me this is the worst addition because you HAVE to eat, so you are temped everyday, multiple times. This tool forces me to change and it is a huge change. Deciding to have surgery means I’ve needed help to stop the madness. It’s all a withdrawal/learning experience that will make you come out a healthy winner. Just chalk this up as one of those times and find a routine before it gets out of control. Everyone is here for you with great advice and tips. You got this!

On ‎8‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 3:24 PM, Neversaynever said:

Yes, I try to stay under 1200 but usually fall between 1000 to 1100 most days.

My best advice that I use, is when I am eating at home, I put out what I can eat and no more. For instance I bulk make a lot of my meals. I like mince so I do a lot of chilli and I do a lot of meatballs with sauce, that kind of thing. I know I can only eat three meatballs so I split it into those quantities, any more and I am constantly trying to get rid of the water/foam in my mouth from overeating.

Same with the chilli or anything else I bulk make like stews etc, I just portion it into what I can eat and no more, I can tell by sight now, how much to put into a tupperware for later. It works for me but its a lot harder when you are out in the real world and haven't brought something with you, hence me trying to eat a full sausage sandwich this morning when my stomach only fits a third!

I am two months out and stay anywhere between 600 and 800 calories. I am staying away from carbs and sugars. I've done better through the week though and I've added in working out this week. What kind of meat do you use in your chili?

On ‎8‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 9:53 PM, Bryn910 said:

I am sorry you’re going through this. I too have gotten angry about not being able to eat the whole way through a movie, or eat while others are eating or not being able to finish my meals at a restaurant.

lucky me, I tried to binge & got sick. I just feel gross afterwards if I try to eat more. That or I pay for it in the bathroom. I try to divide all my food up first if I am out. Or if I am somewhere where there is lots of food to choose from, like family gatherings or potlucks, I legit take my time and decide what is best for me to try. If it’s something I have tasted before, I won’t even try it, and I probably get a half a tablespoon of everything else I want to try.

It’s hard, hang in there

I pay for it too, we went out to the mall last night to pick up our wedding bands, and I ate chipotle without any rice. I ate slow and one I felt that full feeling, I stopped. I did bring left overs for lunch today and I even have enough for dinner again tonight. I've learned if I eat past that full feeling I feel horrible and sick.

On ‎8‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 10:11 PM, 3nuthut said:

Boy, the mind is so powerful.
We’re all here going or have gone through this. It’s a learning process. You’ll be happy one minute and hell bent the next. From my own experience, learning to chew and savor your bites really does help. And that only comes from practice. I’ve spent a lifetime mindlessly eating or feeling like conquering the plate to be satisfied. I’ve gone through frustration, depression and just being pissed off. To me this is the worst addition because you HAVE to eat, so you are temped everyday, multiple times. This tool forces me to change and it is a huge change. Deciding to have surgery means I’ve needed help to stop the madness. It’s all a withdrawal/learning experience that will make you come out a healthy winner. Just chalk this up as one of those times and find a routine before it gets out of control. Everyone is here for you with great advice and tips. You got this!

Thank you! I haven't had any more issues with it this week, but I did add in working out to my evenings to help fill those 'witching hours." Haha. I'm also still trying to learn my full feeling. But it is definitely a mind game. It's a hard one too. Thank you for your kind words.

24 minutes ago, MissLindseyR said:

Thank you! I haven't had any more issues with it this week, but I did add in working out to my evenings to help fill those 'witching hours." Haha. I'm also still trying to learn my full feeling. But it is definitely a mind game. It's a hard one too. Thank you for your kind words.

Gosh it will probably always be a mind game for us. It's pretty much about "being in recovery." You can't wave a magic wand or scalpel and have all of the old programs, tapes, behaviors, emotions, thinking, history that contributed to our attendance at the obesity ball just disappear into a stardust poof of unicorn glitter. LOL. I honestly believe that once we're fat, we're always gonna be fat. So we have to use super smart hacks and strategies to outwit our fatheads. You know?

I just accept that today and for today only, I'm choosing to live in recovery. Tomorrow I will wake up and have to make the same commitment to a new day and a new day of healthy eating choices. And that does take constant attendance to be present and aware of food that I choose to put down my gullet. The good news though, is that the more your do it, the more "secondary" it becomes, so the new tapes and programs can run one step down in your subconscious. So it isn't as much of a daily grind.

There are people here who will argue with me about this "fact" -- that the rules don't apply to them. That they are somehow different and just cuz they got their gut operated on, they can now live "in moderation" lol. *snort* Sorry. But only time will tell all. And in 3 or 5 years, it will be interesting to see how the "living in moderation" folks are fairing with weight maintenance.