Help Me Please

I feel that I am falling back into my old eating habbits and I am so confused. I was always a emational eater. I have found myself doing the same thing again. How do you get away from it. Thanks Brooke

This is so really really hard. I am right here with you. I have sought out psychological therapy to deal with the head issues because I know that this is the only way I will be able to deal with it. The surgery was only a tool, as we are remindered over and over again. We have to make it work, becasue it does not do it on it's own. I think it worked by itself the first few months but this far out you really have to PUSH to make it work. I had no idea that it would be this hard this early out. I know that I need to find another outlet for my emotions. I have been trying to do something else if I have the urge to eat. Sort of delay the eating. Usually I forget about it then. If I really wander into the kitchen I insist that I drink a big glass of water from the fridge before I do anything. By then I am usually full and I move on. Other times I end up munching. Becareful of what you have in the house or environment, If it is not there you can't eat it. This way when I want a chip and salty taste and I prowl for one in the cupboard, all I come up with is wholegrain crackers. Healthy substitute. I am too lazy to drive to the store for it. I have taken to chewing gum in the grocery to distract me while I shop. I also avoid certain aisles. (I shop 4-5 times a week for work so I need all the tactics I can muster). Dealing with emotions has to be done seperate from your eating. Food has no emotions. It is just a pancea for pain that we are feeling. The best thing you can do for yourself is to find someone to talk to regularilly. On-line, at home, on the phone, or as a professional in their office. It would be money well spent. My pdoc has been teaching me new techniques and ideas that I had never heard before. I really have a hard time on the weeks that I can't talk with him. The surgery only worked on part of our problem. Dealing with the mental issues is the bigger part of the problem. At least for me it is. (((((((Brooke))))))

I too am an emotional eater. I have trained myself to pop a tic tac when i have that urge. find something you can use as a comfort food that won't stick to your butt in the end. I try to keep bad foods out of the house. As a matter of fact, next month is down to business month here. Everyone is doing the no carb thing here. Sugar free pudding and sugar free jello will be stocked here, no soda and no bad foods. My dad was told to lose 30 lbs by the doctor, so everyone here is gonna get the losing treatment. We are making it into a contest. So far i am know as the nazi here because of it, but i want to rid myself of these last 20 lbs.

Brooke, You have probably opened a big can or worms, as we are all dealing with the Head Hunger trying to come back. We all deal with it differently, some of even have a hard time dealing with it, like I do. I have been fighting the last 50 lbs for a while now. I have to kick myself in the Butt to get back on track as well. I have been buying that junk food that I wasn't even touching for so long. I am cleaning my cupboards today & going back to the basics as of now. I am starting a new job in a week & I no that will help my head a little ,but, I have to do the rest. I wish I could give you better advise, but, all I can say is go for a walk, try to find out what is triggeging the bad habits to coming back. I am also taking drugs for some of the depression issues & it does help. I was going crazy without them. We are all here for you if you need to talk. This board has been a lifesaver many times. Hang in There! Drink a glass of water when you get these urges. That helps too!! Marilyn, the Bearlady

I too am right there along with you all trying to find the thing that works to fight the head hunger. I did the tic tacs until I found myself eating the whole little plastic cantainer of them! Sure they are less than a calorie for each one but you add up those little suckers and there you go you've got alot more calories than you think! I drive all day for a living so its easy to do the muncing between stops. I have always packed a nice healthy lunch and snacks. I found that all of a sudden the food I packed wasn't enough to last the day. I weigh & count everything so I knew that what I was getting for protein, calories, fats, all that stuff. It was alittle low on things so I was able to add to it somewhat. Then I had to take a look at was I hungry or just craving. The craving will get you everytime. So I put the lunch box in the backseat. I've got to stop and get out of the car to eat. Which is good. It was something I had to do to slow me down.There are some days I eat more than others those are the days that I'm usually busier. I must be buring up the calories those days. All of us need to listen to our bodies now. And use that tool the right way. I can't remember who said it in these posts but we need to get rid of the stuff that we shouldn't eat in the house. Listen to her cause she's right when she said we can't eat it if its not there! Keep those things that are ok around. Like the sugar free jello thats nice and sweet and very low calories. Each of us knows how to do this we just need to do it.