Old Habits Die Hard

Hello All! I am struggling with old eating habits. I do great all day. Kashi Go Lean for breakfast every day, a small lunch, sometimes an afternoon snack, and even a sensible dinner. But, after dinner, oh boy! My old nemesis! Night time eating. I end up eating way more than I should or need to. It's like this terrible compulsion. I am not even hungry. I usually don't eat dinner until after 7:30 or 8:00 p.m., so there's only 3 hours till bedtime, but I feel compelled to just keep stuffing things in my mouth. It's a terrible cycle! Then I eat Tums because my stomach feels sick. STUPID! But, while I'm doing it, I can't seem to stop or convince myself I shouldn't. HELP! Any ideas? I sure don't want this surgery to be in vain! I do fear gaining, rupturing staple line, pouch stretching, etc., but that doesn't seem to stop me either. Also, I find I eat more often than I used to, even though the amounts are smaller. I can't seem to find time to exercise - I'm serious! I have lost about 104 lbs thus far, but have been on a plateau for months! Is anyone else going through the same thing, or have you gone through it and made it out the other side? Donna

Hi Donna, I certainly don't have a solution for you, but I can offer a few ideas. I found that if I removed myself from the food, put it all away and out of sight it helped. Also, I found something else to keep my hands busy. That way they couldn't keep putting stuff in my mouth. If I do have a snack, i try for pretzels or fruit. nothing overly heavy and small amounts still. at ten months out, I still need to remind myself. Marianne

Try my "Three-hour rule". Or, since you eat so late, you might make it a "Two-hour rule". You must wait that two or three hours AFTER having dinner BEFORE having a snack. I just keep telling myself that I CAN have a snack, and I am GOING to have a snack, I just have to wait another ____hours or minutes. It works for me.

Donna, I am having EXACTLY the same problem, except for me it's when I'm at work. There is always lots of candy and other goodies at work and I am thoroughly bored with my job, so I find myself eating the entire time I'm at work. I do fine at other times. I am soon going to be changing jobs and will be working in a hospital where I won't have time to think about food. I think it's the only solution for me. I am so saddened that my compulsion to eat junk has not changed one bit--at least I can't eat as much of it as I used to. Wish I had words of wisdom for you, but maybe it will help that you are not alone. Last time I went to a support meeting, one of the "old timers" was asked what was best and worst about the surgery. Her response--"I have lost most of my excess weight and that's good. The worst is that I still have an eating disorder." I knew exactly what she meant. Linda

i can totaly relate. I'm not hungry but I don't feel satisfied and look for something to munch. I try to make my munchy stuff healthy; fruit; nuts; a protein drink. but I find that I'm experimenting more with no sugar chocolate. I did find a recipe for chocolate covered blueberries; which uses no sugar chocolate and splenda. We can't punish ourselves; by dening ourselves food we want. We need to find some subsititute. I know in the past (before surgery); I would deny myself something I wanted and then I would end up eating 10 times more that I orginially wanted. As we have seen posted before they operated on the stomach; not the brain; and yes old habits die hard; but we must change our eating habits to healthy ones of no fat; low sugar; and exercise. With those 3 things foremost in the plan I feel we will all be successfull. hugs to all mark g.

Me too! I tell you the hardest part of the day is the evening! I eat a yogurt for breakfast, cottage cheese for lunch, and then dinner around 5 p.m- I go to the gym at 6:00 and then after the gym 8-9ish I snack. I try to make a good choice but I'm not eating because I'm hungry- although I just may be hungry- who knows! But some days I eat a little here, a little there, and I feel out of control. Hey- I remind myself I am human and then work out the nest day REAL hard! Hope this helps! Celeste 303/158/140goal

Wow! I am new to this sight and I was reading your posting. I am havign the same problem. I can really eat. In fact I have posted this same thing. You put it in better words than I eveer could but the same thign is with me. I am a closet eater and an emotional one. I can really keep pounding things into my mouth. If you get any suggestions please share them with me. I have lost 78 pounds in this past 10 months and I really expected more than that. Last week I had a 5 pound wieght gain. I am really scared and all I seem to be doing tonight is crying about it. I have not cried so much in such a long time. I am failing