Where is your head?

 I know we often hear the phrase "they operated on our stomach not our head".  Its a very true statement,  so where does that leave our heads?  I am almost 9 months out from surgery, my appetite is back, not to the same extent as before, but I do get hungry about every five hours or so. I try to eat healthy every time but honestly I don't always.
I also have had periods where I eat for no apparent reason, just mindless eating because I happen to see the box or bag sitting there.  Also grazing, I have had days where I have grazed.

I had these same habits before surgery and was obese, am I destine to always be obese?  Can I fix my head?  I don't want to be obese again but that doesn't seem to be enough, do you have this problem also?  What do we do next to insure of life of healthy living?  Just looking for ideas or suggestion to help me secure my future as a healthy woman.

Jeannie

Jeannie - you are ONE brave woman!  Just to put these questions out here for all to see

I'm about 8 months out now and I had some of these same questions.  My pouch started making the "noises" about 2 weeks ago and in the morning when I'm getting ready I can tell I feel the sensation of hunger... yet anything heavier than yogurt churns my stomach.  Within 2 hours after I eat my yogurt I'm looking for something to eat.  Funny thing is this ONLY happens at work.  On the weekend there's no snacking going on. 

Monday I started to write down what I'm eating and the time... look like I've been eating about every 2 hours... like you I'm thinking this can't be good.  Because this means I'm grazing.  I know about head hunger and I think we all battle this daily - but I can't be winning if I'm grazing.

So how about it you "old-timers"  chime in and give us some helpful hints. 

Huggs Jeannie - thanks for asking the hard one!
Frankie

 

Well I don't know about you Frankie but I am getting scared.  Scared of myself.  I know I am an emotional eater and a food addict but am at a loss on how to "fix" it.  I see my surgery as my last hope at getting and staying healthy and if I fail at surgery I am doomed to live my life as a failure.  I want so much more out of my life.  It seem so easy to track your food,  exercise and eat healthy ......yet I can't do it consistently ugh ugh ugh. 

I just don't want to sit here in five years and say "RNY is like putting lipstick on a pig" ..no pun intended.  I would much rather be sitting here shouting from the rooftops how RNY has worked for me. 

At 4 1/2 yrs out my head is not in a very good place. I strive to do better at not making the wrong choices ( wrong foods and grazing) but alot of days I cave. Take lunch today for example. I went to Olive Garden with my family. I chose whole wheat pasta and ate very little. Wrong choice! I was in the bathroom sick after just a few bites. Thank goodness my pouch still reminds me that it is the correct tool for me. I am currently taking a class on coping skills. This is not the first class that I have taken. I know that I am not the model patient but I REFUSE to say that I am a failure. I am healthy and for the most part happy. I do feel that I have my head more on straight than I did earlier in my journey. I was so obessed with my body issues and the scale that I was driving myself and my family crazy. I tell myself every day that this journey will never be over and to do the best that I can do each day.  I love the support on this board and hope that I will continue to come here every day wether I agree with everyone or not.  Thank you for listening to me ramble. Jana

Jeannie, this must be about the typical spot in our journey that it happens to us.  I am experiencing the same things you describe.  I am 10 months out.  I had a horrible day with grazing yesterday.  Today I feel miserable.  I had a horrible night last night trying to sleep.  I know my body was rebelling because of the grazing.  I did make healthy  choices but my body just didnt want or need as much as it was taking in yesterday.

I am currently going to the leadership board to find a handout they have about grazing for my support group meeting coming up at the end of the month.

I look forward to hearing more responses and I will share information with you from the leaderboard too.

Huge hugs,
Tracy

I am right with you.  I am only 6 mos out but have started the night "grazing" again.  Last night I had 100 calorie bag of popcorn.. .not too bad until I popped the 2nd bag and grabbed some easter chocolate....   so not good.

I need to fix my head too... nights are hard for me... dh is asleep by 6pm because of work and I put my son down by 8pm... then I eat... sigh.....

Let me know if you find a solution... I need it too.....

Maybe we need a hand busy hobby.... maybe I will start crocheting....lol

This is an ongoing battle for me.  I am 3 years out and I have not found a good solution for my head, I know I eat things that I should not, and I also graze.  I wish there was a magic pill that we could take, but it does not work that way.  I am also an emotional eater.  If any one has any idea please let us know.  I am willing to try anything. 

Hugs

Peggy

This group and board just sucked me into this subject by telepathy because I am just about to get off work and am finishing up on some busy things when I decided to take 5 and come into IN and see whats going on. This happened just as I ate 2 little hershey candy bar minatures and a bullseye. There is some candy here at work and well, it doesn't usually bother me but it was calling my name louder than I could say NO! Now, that I am here reading this I realize that it is becoming a bit of a problem for me too. I am 9 months out (almost) and can pretty much munch on anything I want just not as much. Why did I eat the candy? Because it tastes sweet and delicious. What I have decided is that since I chose to eat the candy then that means I have to count it on my food journal and if that means I do nothing but drink protien for dinner, then so be it. Here lies another problem where as before (pre WLS) I would tell myself no but my mouth and hands would defy me and I would as you put it Jeannie, "CAVE". I want to be the kind of person that is normal and if I have a bad day with food then I will have 10 good days to make up. I don't want to NOT eat some foods and I know now that I CAN eat them so, I have to find the balance. That is what I struggle to do. Perhaps I should put a rubber band around my wrist and SNAP that sucker everytime chocolate calls my name

Yep.. I am 4 years out April 26th and I know where my head goes.. sometimes you can hear the POP when it comes out of my A#$. I stop and say "what the %$#9 did I just eat..." Lucky me it usually is something that will make me sick so I can remember for a while...I weighed at the hospital the other day when I took my sister and I weigh the same as I did 3 years ago... I havent gained praise God but I havent lost either.. So I KNOW there are better solutions for me.

Best of luck people... take your honeymoon time to LEARN what causes it so you can avoid it or change your reaction to it.. Food is not the answer to lifes problems or lifes happiness' Learn other ways to grieve and to celebrate..

MY opinion... because I live it daily..

Linda Kay

I don't know that there is a quick fix for grazing... For me I have to eat 6 small meals a day when I remember to eat. I still don't battle hunger too much and usually if I'm hungry it's because my sugar is low. I'm thankful that one of the meds I'm on supresses my appetite (not what it's for but it just works that way). That being said my body is almost always in starvation mode which stinks majorly because my weight loss has stalled for months and I still have a bit to get off. I say as long as your staying in your caloric range you should be fine. I was told at 9 months post op I should be getting about 1000 calories in, everyones doctor and nut is different so I suggest you find out from them where you should be. I wish I had more advice on this but I don't really.