How do you change your brain from old habits?

I did really well for about 1 year and a couple mos, then lots of stuff started to happen. Husband with huge abdomina aneurysm, he has cardiomyopathy so very sick and weak. They also thought when they did the CT scan originally for bladder stones that he had bladder cancer that had metastisized to the spine. He had the surgery in June for the aneurysm and almost died spent 5 days intubated and sedated. Then the following month he had bladder surgery and PTL no cancer. I had shoulder shoulder surgery in Feb and it froze up so no use of the arm until just recently and it is minimal. I also lost my taste and smell for 8 mos and just got it backwith the use of prednisone and that makes you hungry. I stuck to my plan but quit losing, in Aug I had a complete meltdown I call it and just threw in the towel. I have since gained just over 40lbs. It seemed as soon as I took in more then 800 cal's a day I started gaining at an alarming rate. So I did low carb under 15 carbs a day for about a month, lost one lb. So now I am eating everything and anything. I originally had a lap band in 2004 and did horrible, doctor would do fills and when I finally got him to do the fills he would over fil it only to make me drive over 200 miles back to take some out. So in 2006 I had GBS, and the doctor left the band. I believe was a wrong choice as my pouch was stretched for 2 years. It should have come out and new little pouch made. So I have a huge appetite, can't seem to get back on track. How do you make the brain work to make the right choices? How do you know what will work cause I am back to where I need to diet to take this off? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. My doctor is over a 2 hour drive hench support meeting are also. Thre has been a lot more stressful thing happen and now have daughter and grnddaughter living with us. I just can't seem to get a grip, I try it last for 2 days and I throw in the towel. I have to stop but just don't know how to. Help, any suggestions would be appreciated. Wendy/Bubbles

Wendy, First off let me start by giving you a hug, you have been through a lot and if your anything like me food is a comfort thing. You have come a long way, you can do this, we all throw in the towel sometimes, it is picking it back up and moving on. We are human, I know I have said this lots but they didn't cut open our heads just our bellies. The only suggestion I can give you to go back to the basics, water, protein and exercise. I haven't been one of the lucky ones who now love to exercise; I hate it but know that I have to do it to keep weight I want to be at. Still like food, no I still love food, but we have to control what goes in it. Some days are not as good as others, but every day is a new day with new challenges and it is a day to start over. I have two quotes on my frig that say- "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always be what you've always been." And this one is a lie lie lie but I guess it keeps me going- "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels", cause choc. Cheesecake tastes pretty darn good. But having someone tell you "your hot" or "you look stunning" is pretty darn good too so it is a toss up but the taste goes away the compliments reply in my head for weeks. LOL yes I am vain these days...sorry Hang in there, that is all you can do, try and try again- you have inside to pick up and keep going. This isn't something I just type it is something I do every day as the food evils are always at my door and sometimes I do give in, lately more times than not! But you can't give up because next thing you know that 40 pounds till be 80 and up. This is a great time of year to give yourself a gift, take care of you. Life does get in the way but you need to take care of you so you can take care of everyone else! When you start to think it is all too much tie a knot at the end of that rope and hang on for dear life, then start swinging it to get some exercise in! Or use the rope to tie the frig shut! I will there was a set thing I could say and poof you would know what to do but there isn't you have to find what works for you, DON'T GIVE UP!!! Hope it helps some, Hugs, Jenni

Jennie said it so well, you have to give yourself the gift of taking care of you. You are important , you will be better able to cope with lifes stresses when you take some control of your eating and try to get some exercise which can help with stress beside the benefits of burning calories. You will feel better physically and mentally. Get rid of simple carbs ( white bread, potatos, pasta, sweets ect.) they only make you crave them more. Eat dense protien first, then vegetables, fruit, or complex carbs. Don't drink with your meals. You can get back in control. We all can make bad choices. You need to put those behind you and start anew. Remember too few calories can put your body in starvation mode and you won't lose and too many and you won't lose. I wish you all the best and hope your family problems improve. Sher

Thank you Jenni and Sher, you are both correct. I know what I need to do and I told my husband today, the day after Christmas the junk is gone from the house and I am going to take care of me. I shelved myself for a long time and it is time to make the right choices. You are right on putting the body into starvation mode, I think that is hwat I was doing and wasn't losing and then once I started to eat more then 800 cals a day all of a sudden my body has gone into a store it mode. Never in my life have I gained weight as quickly as I amright now, it is truly scary. Anyway, thanks for your support and encouragement. It really does help, I don't have any local support group here so coming to OH is great.

Wendy I am so sorry you have had to go thru so much. Stress will make anyone over eat I think. I have been very fortunate to NOT gain any weight back yet but I do find that I have been making bad food choices myself so I am going to get a grip on that myself. Having so much BAD food in the house is so tempting and like you, After the holiday, I am getting rid of anything that is bad for me. I wish you the best of luck, I know you can do it, its not easy but know that we are here to support you in any way that we can. Happy Holidays. Carol