:'( EMOTIONAL SABOTAGE

i FOUND A WAY TO GET AROUND GETTING SICK. I JUST EAT A LIL HERE AND THEN A LIL 1HR FROM THEN AND THEN AGAIN. i HATE IT!!! I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL EATER AND NOW I CAN'T STOP EATING I PUNISH MYSELF WITH FOOD AS WELL AS REWARD MYSELF.I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY AND I WAS HOPING THE SURGERY WOULD PREVENT ME FROM DESTROYING MY DREAM. WHICH IS TO BE THINNER AND HEALTHY. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EMOTIONAL EATING?

Hi Rebecca, Don't be so hard on yourself, I think we ALL suffer from that emotional eating!!! The surgery is on a small part of the process and it's not always easy....but it IS worth it....so don't give up.....you are worth it and you deserve to be thinner and healthy! Set goals for yourself and keep busy that always helps. Don't think about it too much. Remember some days are easier/better than others. You should also try to get to the root of WHY you are an emotional eater.....what is really bothering you???? Or is it just a Bad habit??? Most important...be positive....every day......and wonderful results will follow. Good luck and email me anytime [email protected]

Remember this... the surgeon did not operate on your brain... He operated on your belly. You have to rebuild your thought processes about eating. The experts say the once you have done something regular for 30 days it becomes a habit. Keep working hard and remember we are all fighting the same battles.. we are here to help. God bless!

That's a bad habit to get into, eating a little here and then a little 1 hour later, then again, etc. Right now it probably isn't hurting you, because you can't eat that much. But think what it will be like 10 months from now or a year from now...... This was the one thing I was most afraid of, this head hunger (or as you call it, emotional hunger, which I really like) versus real hunger. I had a very bad habit of "grazing" throughout the day. Or grabbing something to eat when I was angry, happy, sad, disappointed, joyful -- in other words, in response to any emotion! LOL. When I first had my surgery though, I read tons of people's journals on this site, and I was impressed with the people who are 1,2, or more years out who talk about this as a tool. I decided that I was going to use this time when I'm not able to eat much to break those thin-destroying habits. The best thing I can advise is to set up regular times for eating, and just don't allow yourself to eat between meals. On days where eating makes me sick I either have a protein shake or have more meals that day, but smaller. The point is, it has to be a meal, not just grabbing something. So far I'm 9 weeks out and have gotten much better at it. I'm hoping that when the "honeymoon" they talk about is over I will have established this as a permanent eating pattern. That eating between meals can kill us!!! Here's a trick I use to determine if it is emotional hunger or real hunger -- I keep a supply of hard boiled eggs on hand because they're high protein, easy to eat, etc. Since my surgery, though, I don't seem to like hard boiled eggs as much as I used to. So when I'm debating if a feeling is real hunger or head hunger I tell myself that I'll eat one of the eggs. If I decide not to, then I know it was just head hunger. LOL. Whatever works, right? The surgery will help you to lose weight, that's all. Like the previous person said so well, they operated on our stomachs, not our brains. This is the smartest decision we ever made, though, and we can do it. You can do it. WE CAN DO IT!! YOU CAN DO IT!! OK, I'm putting down my megaphone now. LOL.

Hi Rebecca, I don't have much more to add. The emotional hunger is hard for a lot of us...myself included. Just remember that the 'honeymoon period' is the time for us to learn new habits. But we are learning. We won't be good at it at first. But take it moment by moment. Follow a bad choice with a good. Also, make sure you are in a support group. I love mine. If you really feel like you can't get past it, you my want to get psyc help. I went for years and it is the best thing I ever did for myself. Good luck to you! Rachel

You should really stop punishing yourself. This is not something that developed after the surgery but something that carried over. Now that you've had the surgery, you're on your way to a healthier you physically. Now take the time to get healthier mentally. I would recommend finding someone, a counselor, pastor, friend, who you can talk to that can help you get to the root of the problem. Emotional eating is a symptom. Something is causing you to do it. Maybe low self-esteem, maybe childhood trauma, but something. I also agree with the previous people that you should set a schedule for your self to stick with on when you eat. I am able to eat very little at a time, so I chose the 6 meals a day instead of 3. Here's a typical day for me: 830 protein shake (Atkins Chocolate Delight is great) 1030 string cheese 1200 lunch (usually one ounce of chicken with a few veggies) 230 string cheese 500 protein shake 700 dinner (chicken baked or grilled) It's hard for me to stick with that on weekends when I'm not working but I try. Just don't give up. You can get through this. Diana

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE. I WENT OT A SUPPORT MEETING LAST NIGHT AND IT DID HELP. I WILL DO MY BEST NOT TO PUNISH MYSELF BUT IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING THING I'VE DONE FOR YRS. MAYBE I WILL SEE A HEAD DR. IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT.

My surgeon actually told me to eat something every 2 hours. Grazing is actually a healthier way to eat than 3 meals a day--- as long as you're making smart choices in foods.

You need to figure out why you are a emotional eater and just remember that you have been given a gift from God. I have been a emotional eater in the past and now when I am upset/depressed/happy I stay away from the kitchen. Go for a walk or buy yourself something new to wear. good luck