BariatricEating.com Health & Nutrition

Rant - Get a grip on reality!

Once we have forever altered our stomach and intestines we must face the truth that we have a responsibility to ourselves and to our surgery; we need to monitor the type and levels of nutrition that we put into our body. Sure the volume is easier but ONLY IF WE USE OUR POUCH AS A TOOL AND FILL IT so that it works for us.

First we have to own up to the behavior that put us squarely into the morbidly obese category. I didnt get to be 300 pounds by eating half a small salad with a light coating of balsamic vinaigrette. I got there because of the bacon pieces, tangle of shredded cheese, and thick blanket of Blue Cheese dressing on top of the salad, half a basket of warm rolls with butter, that went with the steak. I didnt get there from the small baked potato... I got there by virtue of thick cut french fries dipped in ketchup along with the half pound burger. Yet how many times do we stand firm that as pre-ops 'we didnt eat that much'? Why do we kid ourself? Why do we still do it?

We did eat that much! The formula then was calories in versus calories burned... period... and it still is. Sure we can have a crappy metabolism, but that only means we have to go the extra mile to raise our level of burn, to ensure we frizzle the calories that we do take in.

We have a responsibility to ourselves as the keeper of our new body to be honest with ourself. Do we take our vitamins, do we really eat the right foods, do we eat the right amounts, do we drink with our food, do we graze and not admit it, do we eat 300 calorie protein bars as snacks, do we love to hear ourselves tell everyone we work out and hide the truth? We have to work hard to change the imprinted behavior we may have had our entire life. Is it hard to change? Yes, but we have to start with convincing ourself rather than those around us.

To be long term bariatric successes, we have to get a grip on reality and understand that it is very likely that we do not face the reality of what we eat. We are used to closet eating, we are used to hiding the truth, we are used to eating small amounts repeatedly so no one notices... and if we do this as post ops, we will not be able to remain thin. We will eventually chip away at our weight loss total. It is much easier to do this wrong than to do this right. It's hard to stay straight after this surgery as we are swimming against our own current.

Pay attention to what you eat and practice what is known as MINDFUL EATING. We are mindful when we drive; we are aware of our every move in that car even when we are not really paying attention, we always know where we are between the lines. Do the same during your food day and when you pick up something to eat, THINK about it. How does it contribute to your total? Does it forward your weight loss efforts or move you away from them. What do you REALLY eat?

I talk to people all day long who kid themselves about what they consume. They eat bread, they eat candy, they dont take vitamins, they dont really watch it and the saddest part is that they are willing to settle for where they end up rather than fight for what they want.

Our surgery is the last line in the sand so we need to get a grip on reality and pay attention to our latitude and longitude or we may just find ourself in a spot we dont want to be in!

Ciao, Susan Maria