Am I setting myself up to fail?

I miss eating A LOT so I found a way to get the taste of food but none of the side affects. I chew whatever it is to get the taste and then spit it out. I know it sounds gross! Am I setting myself up for future failure?


HELP!

I miss eating a lot too and I am constantly challenged to not go back to my old habits of munching throughout the day. Like you, I have found certain strategies to deal with this so I don't ruin my weight loss success, but these stop gap measures really don't address the heart of the matter.  I believe I am a food addict and that I use food to deal with boredom, stress, and use it as a way to relax. If I don't address those issues, I won't lose more weight or keep off the weight I've lost.

I do use stop gap measures like sucking on sugar free candy, but I also journal when I want to eat or bang out a message about what i am really feeling. I don't do this enough, but most of the time it works for me.

I think more exploration into why you feel the need to always be chewing something is a good place to start.

MsBlues

I think MsBlues makes a good point. Your strategy is avoiding a bigger issue and that's how you use food to get thru life. 

I remember a few weeks after surgery (I may have still been in the soft food phase) and I was driving around in my car when I suddenly wanted fried chicken.  It wasn't like a passing whim, it was a full on strong craving...I HAD TO HAVE IT. I couldn't even have solid food yet and it became a really stressful moment for me. I was on the verge of tears.

I likened it to telling a 2-year old they couldn't have a toy and I was throwing a tantrum. Up until that point in my life I was used to indulging my cravings. If I wanted food, I got it. I came from a family that fed everything. If it was crying, feed it. If it's happy, feed it. If it's stressed out, depressed, angry....feed it.

This wasn't going to work anymore and now because I had chosen to have this surgery I was now forced to find a new way to get thru life.  Even now, two plus years after surgery I'm still going thru this process of finding a new life. Therapy helped me a lot, I went for about 2 months. The psychological transformation was bigger and more significant than what my body has gone thru.

You are so fortunate to be going thru this. It might be uncomfortable, unpleasant, worrisome...but now you have the opportunity to free yourself from the prison that food has kept you in. If possible I would suggest asking your surgeon's office or local support group leader if they can recommend someone for you to talk to.  

I think the 2 answers you already got said it all, but I do think that chewing and spitting out is an eating disorder with a name and it isn't a good idea.  So please don't do it and take the advice of these girls and find other ways and get to the root of the issue.  
Basically I just wanted to give you huggs and say congrats on your success so far and keep up the good work sweetie!!!
bigg huggs, Becky

Thanks for all the words of help and encouragement. I am looking for a theropist. and a support group as well.

:)