Do you ever feel like you are going to fail? - ThinnerTimes

Casinocat74 · 03-10-2007, 09:10 PM

I have had this terrible feeling since my surgery that I am not going to loose any weight. I feel like my surgeon made a mistake and didn't make my tummy small enough...sounds crazy right? Sometimes I feel like I could eat eat eat! But I don't because I am afraid I will throw up or somethiing. My post-op instructions were to have the three meals a day at 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food depending on the texture, and I was just changed to pureed food. But I still feel hungry after I eat. I find myself munching on dry Cheerios all day. Am I the only one who has gone through this? It is weighing on my mind BIG time. And I want this to work for me. Thanks for any support.

catherine333 · 03-11-2007, 09:40 AM

I had similar thougths on mine. I remember thinking right after surgery how confusing it all was and not understanding hunger. You should have hunger, just be sure it is hunger and not being full.
I kept thinking I would be the one in a million who failed to lose weight from the surgery. With every plateau, I thought it was over and the stress of not seeing the scale move made me nuts (and want to graze). You have got to lose the mindset of the "what ifs". The surgery WILL work for you, but will be slower if you add in stress and "grazing". When I was at your stage I ate more often. I typically ate every 2 hours. That is when I learned to eat until satisfied, but not full. Full felt bad and can counteract all you have worked to accomplish. By doing this, I never got to being starving, but as soon as I felt an empty/hunger pang, I ate. This time frame was when I was the hungriest because food was either strained or pureed. As soon as I had the O.K. to eat solids, thats when it changes. My doctor forbids snacks. The rule is 3 meals a day period. I of course do not always stick to this if I get an urge at night or in the afternoon before dinner, but the thought behind his rule is to STOP "grazing" all day and break the oral fixation habit of snacking constantly. And it works!
Another couple tips he gives his patients is one you likely have heard around in all the posts is to avoid alot of carbs (they don't stay with you). His office has a bypasser working there who has gained back most of her weight from grazing on goldfish crackers all day, she never broke the habit and figured this whole thing is based on quantity, she was never "full" or stuffed so figurred it was fine. The whole thing is really is balance of quality and quantity of food.
The other tip was about anything with Aspertame (equal-nutrasweet). The theory of Nutra-sweet is it stimulates hunger. I find this deffinitly true with me. I had a day where I was constantly looking for something to put in my mouth, and snack all day. It was the first time it had happenned since the surgery. Then I rememberred the aspertame-nutrasweet rule and checked out my drink only to discoverred my drink that I thought had Splena actually had both Splenda and aspertame (no more of them).
It looks like you are doing really well so far and I can't stress enough the effect stress has. Relax a bit, listen to your body and say a prayer for strength, not to lose weight but to get to a place where you can not freak out when the scale doesn't move. Enjoy the ride and experience the new you as it emerges. You are in control from here. It does work, it is working for you and It will continue to work.

Rachel · 03-11-2007, 09:42 AM

You had your surgery just a week before me, I often feel like this isn't going to work. Like this is just one more thing I tried and it failed. I am on pureed foods as well. I don't ever feel hungry but my head tells me all the time that I do. I have to really think about it. Snacking this early isn't a good idea even if it is just Cheerios. My mind tells me that I need to snack and that I am hungry, when I feel like that I grab a SF popsicle and that seems to work (plus I am getting more fluids).

Everyone said that there would be this battle with your mind and that a lot of soul searching would take place. This is true. I have found that I am a boredom snacker, an emotional eater and a basket case

Follow word for word what your surgeon has told you and then do your best to start making that changes you need to make so that this will work. YOU/WE CAN DO THIS!!! HUGS!!!!!!!!!!

Blaqfyah · 03-11-2007, 10:21 AM

Hey Teresa,

We had the surgery the same day and I fully understand your fears. I have been plagued by them myself. I am hungrey. I might be just my mind but it really feels phyical also. It seems that every time I watch TV there is an ad about food. And usually its some of my favorite. I miss the oral sensation of eating. I miss being able to have a little of this and a little of that. The worse part is easter is coming up and I am going home. This a time when my mother cooks all my favorites...that I now can not enjoy. I haven't been weight myself, so I have no idea what I've lost. The last time I went to the DR he said that I lost 9 pounds and my next appt is on Wed. But to tell you the truth I am doubting my decision daily. I didn't realize how strong a connection I had with food. I miss it.

LisaBoston · 03-11-2007, 12:20 PM

The feelings of failure are very common and many of us, if not all go through it. It takes time, but you WILL see results.

Now, kick in the pants to you.......GET RID OF THE CHEERIOS! You are probably thirsty, not hungry and you need to learn good habits now and no grazing all day on crap! Try drinking hot tea, cold stuff or do something other than eat. The first 6 months is about re-training yourself to eat differently and not wanting to pick up bad habits.

We are here for ya

Dyann · 03-11-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaBoston

The feelings of failure are very common and many of us, if not all go through it. It takes time, but you WILL see results.

Now, kick in the pants to you.......GET RID OF THE CHEERIOS! You are probably thirsty, not hungry and you need to learn good habits now and no grazing all day on crap! Try drinking hot tea, cold stuff or do something other than eat. The first 6 months is about re-training yourself to eat differently and not wanting to pick up bad habits.

We are here for ya

DITTO!!!! You will not fail, but break those old habits now. When you need to do more of the work and pouch does less, you will thank yourself. Retrain your Brain!!!

Casinocat74 · 03-11-2007, 07:06 PM

Thank you everyone! I guess I really have to do some soul searching and remember why I did this in the first place. Thanks again for all your support. I should also clerify that I wasn't eating Cheerios all day long. It was mostly after dinner when we relax on the couch and he has his popcorn, and I the Cheerios. Still, point taken-I will cut the crap! LOL

Hunnyblonde · 03-11-2007, 08:30 PM

Double-ditto on cutting out the grazing and snacking on Cheerios! Like Lisa said, you're probably thirsty if you feel hungry and you're not scheduled to eat again. I find that I'm just not hungry until I stop drinking during my 30 minute-before-eating period. By the time that 30 minutes is up I'm ready to eat and think that I could eat a full size portion again...but, I measure out my protein and veggies and when I'm done I'm usually full. If not, I'll go have a teaspoon or two of lf sf pudding, or unsweetened applesauce to round out my meal.

How long are you taking to eat? During this stage, pureed, your pouch is emptying pretty fast so if you're taking too long, you'll never achieve a full sensation. Once you get on more solid foods, you really need to think about what you're eating and how your pouch feels. The last couple of bites or spoons should be taken slowly so you have time to analyze how your pouch feels.

Persevere and you will learn how to use your tool! Good luck!

LisaM · 03-12-2007, 08:36 AM

Just so you know, your capacity to eat will continue to change and grow. Right here at nearly a year and a half out, I've had a sudden growth in the amount I can eat, and it scares me! I'm keeping a very close eye on my weight, making sure I don't go higher than my bounce range, which I've set at 146-150 pounds...

newlife4me · 03-12-2007, 10:55 AM

If you feel you gotta have something, drink, crystal light or coffee or tea anything no-cal with flavor, not soda. Marty's hot chocolate is my salvation...I used to think I had screwed up royally. What the heck did I do to myself. It wasn't unti about 4 months and about 80lb loss that I finally accepted that I could live like this....No regrets since.....