Question:
Why am i sabotaging my weight loss?? I have been getting my hunger back
and have been giving in to it, i am a carb freak and work in a Dr.s office where there is alot of food. I am discouraged with my plateau but continue to eat....I feel like such a failure. I have lost 105lbs since 4/8/03. I need and want to loose more, how do i get back on track, i dont know if i was ever on track though i make to many excuses, i feel like i didnt deserve this surgery.... — roxxyblue72 (posted on June 2, 2004)
June 2, 2004
We all struggle with food. I just try to think of every day as a new
beginning. If I made a mistake yesterday, I will do better today. My desk
at work is right next to the microwave and I smell people heating up there
food all day long. It drives me NUTS! Don't be so hard on yourself. We
all make mistakes, the most important thing is to recognize the mistake and
make sure it doesn't happen again. If eating right was easy for us, we
wouldn't have needed this surgery. Hang in there :)
— Peggy Boyd
June 2, 2004
Welcome to the world of carb addiction! Believe me, I know exactly what
you're going through and I fight it every day. I haven't found a
"cure", but there some things I can do that give me more control
over the cravings. Here's what works for me (the queen of the carb
addiction!): 1) If you've been eating too many carbs, do a carb detox for 3
or more days (protein only and lots of it) until you break the hold. 2)
Stay away from all refined carbs because they just make you crave more and
more and more. 3) Start all meals with dense protein, and then fill in
with veggies. 4) I limit fruits and whole grain carbs as they are a
trigger for me too (although not for everyone). I try to eat them just
once a day. 5) Have protein snacks on hand (hard boiled eggs, pistachios,
mozzerella cheese sticks, sunflower seeds) for when you get hungry. It
keeps me from reaching for that muffin that I would rather have :) 6)
Remember the no drinking w/ meal rules as it will keep you full longer.
It's a struggle, but I always TRY to make good, healthy, high protein
choices, and if I manage to succeed at least 80% of the time, I do OK.
Keep trying and you'll find what works for you. I think many of us
struggle with this issue, but you now have a weapon (tool) that you can
fight with!
— mom2jtx3
June 2, 2004
I second the previous poster: If eating were easy for us, we never would
have had this surgery! Since you work in an office where food is plentiful,
have you thought of bringing your own snacks to enjoy while others are
indulging? Something like cut up raw veggies and dip or some soy crisps or
peanut butter and apple slices? That way you get to munch and partake of
the socializing aspects eating has, but doing so on your own terms? Believe
me, it's no fun to sit back and watch everyone else eat and gossip and
laugh while you chew on the end of your pen cap! Just don't count on them
to make healthy choices for you. And maybe you allow yourself a small treat
once a week, by having a small bit of brownie or a handful of Chex mix or
just a small taste of what they're having. It'll do wonders for your sense
of normalcy. Getting on track is never easy, but is so worth it. You've
done well, losing the 105 pounds! And you can do even more to contribute to
your health. Are you getting yuor water in? First thing in the morning, I
fill a 52 oz big red cup from 7-11 up (it's a thermal cup, keeps liquids
cold all day, even when you leave it in the car on a 100 degree Louisiana
day-trust me, it's a Godsend!) and just chug as much as I can, straight off
the bat. And I try not to eat anything until I finish it. It usually takes
me a good two hours, because I have a tendencey to get sick of it halfway
through and abandon it for a bit. Anyway, once I drink all that, I feel
much better-I've almost gotten all my water in for the day, I'm not hungry,
and DEFINITELY not thirsty. (By the way, I've been reading that many times
people think they're hungry, they're actually dehydrated...just thought
that was interesting.) From there, I go on to a "brunch" (since I
usually miss breakfast.) That's usually half an apple or some sliced
strawberries. A few hours later, I have my lunch-I've been doing a lot of
tuna salad or I'll have half a sandwich on light bread. Then I'm usually
done until dinner, but I could stick a snack in there if I were hungry.
Dinner is whatever the family's having, just a small amount. My husband is
the grill king, so that usually means some sort of grilled meat, 2
different veggies, and some fruit or carb. Last night, for instance, we
grilled chicken shish kabobs, alternating the meat with pineapple chunks,
green pepper, onion, and cherry tomatoes. Hubby and son each had a generous
portion of potato salad, I waited till I finished my shish kabob before I
had any potato salad-and guess what? Two small bites and I had my fill. I'm
a huge believer in protein first (I don't suscribe to "no-carb"
but yes, protein first.), lots and lots of water, and taking a midafternoon
nap! (You might want to try it, it at least gets you through an hour
without munching...believe me, that's my gateway between lunch and dinner!)
If you exercise, keep it up. That's somewhere I'm not strong. :( Sorry if I
rambled, I just wanted to let you know what works for me because I know if
I can do it, you have a perfect shot at the same thing! And please, try to
bring something to work with you that fits in your lifestyle and see how
that works. Best of luck to you and feel free to email me anytime you need
to talk! =0)
— jenn_jenn
June 2, 2004
Carbs are like a viscious circle for most of us. While I don't subscribe
to the no-carbs, I do subscribe to the low-carbs. A couple of
suggestions: Get something nicely scented for your desk that will help
overcome the smells. If you find yourself in a viscious cycle where you
keep overindulging--go back to protein drinks for a few days to break the
carb hold on you. Try getting some high-protein snack of some kind you can
keep at your desk like beef jerky. I get beef jerky and cut it up with my
kitchen shears into bite sized pieces and keep it at my desk. Takes to
long to chew it up you won't have time to indulge. Depending upon brand,
it's 11-15 grams of protein per ounce and the calorie count isn't bad.
— Cathy S.
June 2, 2004
I am in the same boat as you and the sharks are bad foods. I go in phases
with this one all the time. I am currently 17 pounds from goal and stuck. I
love all of the suggestions people have given. Thanks! My desk drawer at
work used to resemble a convience store. Now I have stocked it with good
things. Nuts, sunflower seeds(low sodium), and sugar free low carb treats.
It has helped when the drawer starts to call my name.
— Becky F.
June 2, 2004
First off, congradulations on your success. 105 lbs..!!! good for you. you
have been given alot of choices with the food suggestions form the other
posts. As far as sabotaging yourself... do you not feel like you deserve
your success? are you being treated differantly by others?when your
fat..people dont pay you much mind unless its to remind you your
overweight. wheni was within 10lbs of my goel... going out was a whole new
ball game. men who wouldnt give me a second look would hit on me when my
boyfriend went to the mens room.while i loved the attention at first..it
made me very uncomfortable when men would send me over drinks . i was the
same person 6 months eairler just alot thiner . nat having that barrier or
shield makes one feel alot more vonerable.You do deserve to feel happy,
confiedent, sexy and turn a few more heads.may each day make you more
comfortable with the new slim you!also maybe you can take a few minutes and
go outside while all the food is out.maybe some fresh air, some deep
breaths and a pep talk can keep you on track and focused on your
success.all the best! Tracey
— traceybubbles
June 2, 2004
I would suggest getting the Atkin's book. I'm NOT saying do the diet, but
read the info on carbs. It talks about why we crave foods, why we can't
stop the eating after eating certain foods. This made a lot of sense to me
and didn't make me feel like such a failure. There are real physical
symptoms due to blood sugar etc. Best of luck!
— ZZ S.
June 2, 2004
Self sabotage is more common then we like to believe - its because we had
stomach surgery and not brain surgery - the thing that got us big in the
first place is still lurking in our brains, and we need to work to overcome
it. BTW congrats on your success!!
-Sherrie
— saderman
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