I have been wanting to write this but have been a bit embarressed. I have lost a total of 20lbs since Jan. 2005 when I had the surgery. I have been at this weight for 3-4 months. I think I have good restriction, but I eat sweets that add up to about 400 cal day or more..... Sugar has always been an issue for me and I want to get off it so bad, but seem to fail at it each time I try.

Any ideas? Typical menu

B- 1c oatmeal with fruit and two sausage links

L-salad with fruit

D-meat with 1c vegies

S- chick fillet soft serve cone, couple of skinny cows, maybe a frappacino lite and maybe some chips...

I eat healthy for the most part but I graze.....

Today

B- almost c of oatmeal with raisns, milk and honey, grapefruit juice

S-coconut milk and coconut (all of it) I am in Mexico and the fruit is great

L- small piece chicken breast

S-mango slushie

D-1/2 small fillet minion with few bites lettace and dressing, one margeritta and a mango popsickle with chilli in it (no fat)

S about 12 small m&ms

Eating more Protein, and less carbs should help with the cravings.

Try having oatmeal and a slice of cheese instead of the raisins and honey. Protein keeps you fuller longer and may help you stop with the grazing inbetween.

Coconut milk and coconut is extremely high in calories and fat, try eating a fruit thats less sugary like strawberries / cantelope / berries.

chicken breast is GOOD !!!

Again, slushie, bet it has alot of calories/sugar in it, empty calories.

Margeritta and M&M's high empty caloires.

There's a great website called Fitday.com its free and you can track your calories/carbs in it. I would suggest tracking everything you put in your mouth for 1 week, sit back and you'll be amazed.

Hope this helps. I know its not easy but some times we just don't realize what we are doing until we have a few pairs of eyes helping us along.

HUGS !!!!

Dear Alice,

My DH And I tried to do Atkins once, he went gang-busters but I couldn't seem to do it. When his sugar cravings disappeared mine seemed to get worse, I felt very discouraged:( . Months later I discovered that my gut was all out of balance from taking antibiotics - in other words I had too much yeast in my tummy:eek . Now apparently the yeast feeds on sugar and carbs, so when you stop eating that stuff they 'kinda freak out' (thats the medical term for it) and make you feel worse. I found that once I started to get rid of the yeast my sugar cravings diminished:cheeky . I dont know if this helps much but it might be worth looking into - if you find that you do have a problem with yeast I found the best product to be a probiotic called ThreeLac (and I tried lots of things - including anti-fungal medication from the doctor) - I can only get it online (in Australia), if you want more info check out: www.candidasupport.org

i check out fitday.com. it's a cool site. very useful! thanks eileen.

Geez, with only one eye he is so darn smart! I love your postings Jack. Always good to read.

Hey.... look over here..........................................now here......................wait, here...................................no,here I am!.....................moved again....

peek a boo!..

Hee hee, too much fun making a guy with one eye chase me around...... ARRRRRRRR! hee hee hee (sorry everyone, I just HAD to do it! so mischievious)

The one thing that helps me is write everything down with the calories. I mean every little bite of everything. It's the only way I know I am staying within my 1000 calories a day. I also think if you are able to eat all of that in a day you really might not have the right restriction. Have you been back to the doctor? I second the eat more protien, I focus all my meals around protien first then a fruit or a veggie. I only snack once a day and that's in the afternoon and it's useally a low fat string cheese or unsweetened applesauce or SF Jello or Pudding. Hope this helps some...I know it's hard but being accountable for everything I put in my mouth really helps me.

I have no advice or help for you but wanted to add I could have written your post nearly word for word. Weight has stayed the same for a long time, sugar cravings, too much chocolate blah blah. I guess I should just try something like sewing my mouth together, maybe that will help

i check out fitday.com. it's a cool site. very useful! thanks eileen.

Your welcome its addictive too.

Don't be embarassed! I also had my surgery in January & I am only down 30 lbs. & 10 of that was in this last month. I too am a sugar/chocolate addict. I think one of the things that has made a difference in this last 10 lbs is that I discovered Well's Blue Bunnies fat free, sugar free, white chocolate & almond icecream bars. They are so good & don't really taste diet! Keep your chin up! I think the weight loss is just a little slower for some of us. I look at it this way - At least I'm losing!! Keep up the good work!