Oh yes! My relationship with food is better but I think that I will struggle with it for the rest of my life. I've managed to devise some RNY friendly treats (protein brownies, homemade yogurt with protein powder, cottage cheese mixed with sugar free jello powder) that take the edge off for the most part. I have really overeaten a handful of time and paid for it.

I feel like I have much more of a sweet tooth now than I ever did before. I try to be proactive with feeding the sweet tooth. One of my favorite desserts is 14 grams of Nestle's Dark Chocolate Chips with 14 grams of roasted, salted nuts...salty, sweet, crunchy, and creamy.

My menstrual cycle is all out of whack but I still suffer from cravings and extra hunger around the time that I am/should be ovulating. It scares me that I can eat more volume than I think that I should at certain times. In reality, I find that I am often under-eating but my perception of a normal portion is completely turned around from before.

Protein Brownies
16 servings

100 grams prunes
237 grams beans, Eden Organic Black Soybeans (1 can drained and rinsed)
2 tsp vanilla
2 each eggs, large, room temperature
113 grams chocolate, Baker’s 66% Bittersweet Baking Bar (1 bar)
124 grams protein powder Syntrax Matrix Perfect Chocolate (4 scoops)
1 packet coffee, Copper Moon Instant Vanilla Probiotic
6 grams baking powder (a little more than a teaspoon)

Move oven rack to the bottom third of the oven. Preheat to 350 degrees F. Line an 8” x 8” pan with foil and grease lightly.

In a food processor, process prunes until they start to break down. Add the eggs one at a time and blend well until mixture starts to become lighter in color and fluffier (1-2 minutes). Add vanilla and beans and continue to process on low speed while completing the remaining steps.
Break chocolate bar into pieces and microwave in 30 second intervals until melted. Allow to cool slightly while completing the next step.

Combine remaining dry ingredients in a bowl.

While processor is running, add melted chocolate to the wet mixture. Stop processor and scrape down sides. Re-start the processor on a low speed and add the dry ingredients a spoon at a time allowing to combine. Once all dry ingredients are added, scrape sides again, then blend for about 30 more seconds on high.

Spread evenly into pan. Wet or grease spatula slightly to aid in spreading. Cover with foil. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven, take off cover foil, and allow to cool before cutting.

Refrigerate in airtight container. Tastiest when they’ve been allowed to rest in the refrigerator several hours or overnight.

Add-Ins (optional)
56 grams chocolate, Nestle Semi-Sweet Mini Chips
56 grams walnuts, chopped (best if sprinkled on top)
Spices add up to 3 tsp of cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, chile powder, etc.

Notes
Fruit: Other moist, dried fruit can be substituted for the prunes—dates, apricots, etc.—at the same amounts. I find that dates, unless you can find fresh Medjool, make the mixture drier and you may need to soak them in hot water before starting and reduce cooking time. Apricots give a bit more fruitiness.

Coffee: The instant coffee can be skipped but it does help enhance the chocolate flavor.

Beans: Any other canned bean can be substituted. No salt added versions will give the best result. Soybeans have a higher protein to carbohydrate ratio.

Chocolate: Anything less than 65% cacao will negatively impact the intensity of the chocolate. Higher cacao levels may require the addition of some sweetener.

Serving Suggestion: Heat in microwave, with a smear of peanut butter, for 10-20 seconds

Nutritional Breakdown (1/16 of recipe as written; no add-ins)
Calories: 127
Fat: 5 grams
Carbohydrates: 12 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Sugar: 7 grams
Protein: 9 grams

Nutritional Breakdown (1/9 of recipe as written; no add-ins)
Calories: 225
Fat: 9 grams
Carbohydrates: 21 grams
Fiber: 5 grams
Sugar: 12 grams
Protein: 15 grams

I still get the stress eating thing. I TRY HARD to make choices that will stick to my guidelines. Many times I fail, and I'm OK with that. I am still battling the binge/purge curse, but it is so much easier to manage now. I'm learning to not beat myself up, and to get right back on track, or to go work it off in the next day or so. I'm exercising a whole lot, and I think it throws my body off. Some days I can eat almost nothing, and others I am a ravenous beast. The trick is to TRY to have "Best choice" foods close by, and to not bring junk into the house/office.

The mental game is the toughest part of this new way of life. Well, I guess it's always been the toughest part, since that set me on this path.

CynthiaGuinn50 wrote: »

Thank you Jen. I've got the PB2 and sometimes use in shakes. I've always done a protein type shake in the morning. I just can't have slider foods whether its pb crackers or saltine etc. I belong to BE group on FB and their protein powder/believe drinks. I know what to do, just need to be accountable, so that's why I've gone back to logging here. I had surgery for my health, both my parents died at 60 & 64 and was told I was headed for an early death too. Now I have 2 precious granddaughters, and need to be around for them.

I tend to binge from time to time too--though a calling it a binge now compared to what I used to do is laughable! When I've been running a lot of miles, my appetite and snackiness get out of control. During these periods, I have a rule that I can have what I want so long as I eat a handful of sugar snap peas first. They are crunchy and a little sweet, require a good amount of chewing, and are moderately filling...it is usually enough that I will only eat a reasonable portion of whatever it is that I'm craving.

I have been very focused since the end of September, but as usual, a little time out I revert into my old ways (not logging food immediately, etc). I have been really trying to plan my meals, especially dinner, and have it prepared even the day before or pack my lunch the night before too. The more I feel in control and know that I am going to have a good meal, the less the pantry calls to me. For snacks I have been buying beef jerky and putting it in snack bags (keep a couple in the car) also, I have made my own baked snack garbanzo beans and just sprinkle some of the flavors that they have for popcorn (bbq, buffalo wing, even kettle corn) that way I get that crunchy satisfied with protein since that is what I usually am light on. Love the pill bottle with the 10 almonds idea too @akindofmagick !!

Thank you for this! I have been back to old bad habits stress eating and have gained for the first time in a year and a half. I have to CONSTANTLY remind myself that fast food is not for me. I don't NEED treats, I don't NEED to crunch food and stuff myself til it hurts to relieve my stress. This is going to be a life long battle.

I've had a couple of moments where I "stress eat." It wasn't really a problem until the kids came home and filled two giant bowls with their Halloween candy. I know it's there in the kitchen and it's hard to resist. The only other time I can really think of was when my wife brought home a slice of caramel covered cheesecake. I tried a small teaspoon sized bite off of it and it instantly sent my stomach into spasms.

Whenever I feel the need to crunch on something, I usually just grab two Doritos out of the bag and eat those. Literally two seems to satiate that craving and I just try to take my mind off of whatever is stressing me out.