I need advice...................

Hi Everyone ! It's me, Trish and I need your encouragement and advice. I haven't written in 2 months because there has been a lot going on. I'm 4 months post-op and have lost 62 pounds yet I feel like i am slipping back into some bad habits. Two months ago I picked up a very bad viral infection from my students ( I teach severe/ profound multidisabled children) that took 6 weeks to get rid of. During this time I barely had the energy to get through the work day let alone come home and exercise. I am also in the middle of report time and I am stressed !!!!!! How I used to deal was with chocolate but I can't do that any more. I'm craving carbs more and it seems as if I can eat more food. I've stopped weighing my food ( which I know is not good) and keeping a food journal. I'm sorry that I'm rambling on but I've done soooooo well thus far and I'm a little scared that I'm feeling like this. Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated..................... Thanks, Trish

Hi Trish, I have a pretty stressful job myself, and had begun slipping into some old habits as well, snacking, comfort foods, etc... But I have discovvered another way to deal with stress at work, and at home. I get a 15 minute morning break, and a 15 minute afternoon break, and I go powerwalking during my breaks. This takes me out of a stressful atmosphere, gets me some additional exersize, and is a fantastic stress reliever. If I am SUPER STRESSED, I bring my 3 pound hand weights along for the walk, and WALK, WALK, WALK that stress away. It has done wonders for me. Also, I drink lots of herbal tea while at work. This helps reduce the munchies. Good luck, hope you find something that works for you.

Patricia, breathe! You are discovering the hard core truth of this journey and that is that the pouch is truly, really only a tool - it is not a magic cure-all. We must find different ways to deal with life than turning to food; start experimenting with what might work for you - walking, writing, finding good healthy food choices rather than the crap food that might help satisfy the need to quell anxious, or bad feelings. Food didn't work for us pre-surgery, and it won't work for us now. This is a good time in your journey to start working with a therapist, someone how can help you figure out how to navigate your life without hurting yourself with harmful food choices. None of this is easy! But you can do this! As you discover better ways to handle the stress (other than food), please share with us - we all benefit from each other's successes. Take care, be well. Maureen

When I have struggled to get the stress eating monkey off my back I have used a very basic visualization exercise. I envision what I am hoping to find in the box of Cheez-Its, or in the jar of peanut butter-- and then I promise myself that if I find it there, I can finish eating what I want. It is hokey, but it helps to force me to take that step back and consciously figure out if eating the forbidden item or amount will really help what ails me.

Hi there! OK Stop and take a deep breath. If you have notes from your pre-surgery, go back and read them again. You are a wonderful person who was given tools to be successful and you have been successful and still will be successful. Relax. Rest. See your doctor. Take your vitamins and calcium. You have to have protein to heal. Drink your water like you are supposed to. If you are in need of a chocolate fix...try myoplex lite. Even if you open one up and only have a few sips it is pretty satisfying. It is a ready to drink protein supplement that tastes really good (refrigerated). Has 190 calories in an 11 oz serving, no cholesterol, low carbs and the best thing is it has 25 g. of protein. I have one for dinner and it holds me over really well. You can get it at super stop and shop or Sam's Club. I am pre-surgery and dong pretty well. Living with the tools that Dr. Tishler gave me (Thanks Doc!) and making them work. Let me know if I can give you some words of encouragement.