I wanna eat!!!!!

Hello friends.  This past week has been a rough one for me emotionally.  I have been so homesick for NC and there are a lot of other things going on right now that are totally stressing me out!!!  This is such a busy time of year for me and I'm not where I want to be financially so it's even more difficult this year trying to get stuff for Christmas and all.   I just want to eat everything that isn't nailed down!!!  I am feeling like such a failure right now!!!  I know that sounds silly but I can't help it.  I still see a fat woman when I look in the mirror and some days it feels like I'll never get to where I want to be.  Anybody got any advice for me???? Thanks, Donna

Take each day as it comes... and definately dont be down on yourself. There is NO reason to feel like a failure - food addiction is something we dont wake up post-op and are 'cured' of... its something that takes time to learn how to control and get over. For years and years many of us turned to food to 'fix' what was wrong with us - you are in a time of stress and are wanting to go back to what you know best... eating. I  know I still deal with this now and then. Yesterday I had a horrible day and all I wanted to do was eat a junky dinner... fast food... pizza... I sat and thought about that allllllll day... but when it came down to actucally doing so I knew that I just wanted junk because I felt crappy and opted to take a long hot bath with a magazine instead.  Work on finding something else besides eating that will make you feel better - I know you mentioned finances but my first thoughts are a pedicure, go shopping (even if you dont buy)... call a friend you havent talked to in a while and catch up - the other night I talked to one of my best friends from HS for almost 2 hours... I felt great after I got off the phone. Exercise! Rent a good girlie movie and cuddle up on the sofa and watch it... whatever you can think of that normally makes you relax and feel better :-) As for sometimes seeing the fat person.. that takes time. Our bodies move so quickly that our minds cant keep up. Even as far out as I am sometimes I look in the mirror and think I look so skinny, othertimes I focus on my problem areas and still feel so fat. As more time passes it does get better thou!!

I could not have put it any better than Jennifer has ... wise beyond her young years!

I too have been having "I want to eat" feelings ... Like Jennifer said, I think it's going to take time, work and practice to teach ourselves how to handle the stressors in our lives.

Remember, when something "bad for you" is calling your name, that it isn't your friend. Even if it feels like it will comfort you, in the end it won't. So as Jennifer so eloqently put it, do something for yourself, take a hot bath, call a friend, do something that will make you feel great and something that you'll feel great about when it's all said and done. This is such a learning experience for us. We need to be both gentle with ourselves and strong.

You have done this and you can do this. The fact that you are reaching out, is HUGE!!! Bet that would not have happened this time last year! Pat yourself on the back.

If you've seen some of latest posts, you'll notice that I too am fighting the fat girl deamons! Even with everyone commenting about how "beautiful" I look, I still see a rather frumpy, chubby lady. I think as Jennifer said, it really takes time to reset how we see ourselves.

Keep posting, be gentle and strong with yourself.

Hugs,

Barb

BARB! woman you are looking HOT! woooooooo - what an amazing transformation youve had!!! I love you keep your avatar updated - always like to see the latest photos of people... amazing I say!

Jennifer -

Thanks so much! You are really a sweetheart.

Barb

Donna, please don't be so hard on yourself.  This is a very stressful time of year for a lot of people.  And trust me I know what it means to not be where you need to be finanacially.  And as Jennifer stated.....we don't wake up post op and food is just not our best friend anymore.  Food has always been a comfort and never fails us.  You are smart and have worked soooooo hard to get where you are.  You will get out of this rut.  I wish you could see yourself the way we see you, all the progress you have made.  As far as Christmas.......I love homemade goodies.  I don't know who you need to shop for or what they like, but baked goodies are good.  Or, do dollar gifts.  It is the thought that counts.  I feel like I am no help at all to you, but please know you are a beautiful, great person.  It will get better!

Oh Donna!  Don't be so hard on yourself!  We are all food ADDICTS.  Our WLS just made it physically harder for us to gorge ourselves on food.  The surgery did not solve the head issues we all have with eating.  We talked about that at our support group last night.  Don't feel like you are alone in wanting to eat.  There are days I would KILL for a Snickers Bar.  Prayer and meditation works for me.  Also, any time I get that urge to eat something illegal I just get up and do something.   And whew.. Christmas.. I don't think anyone is "where they want to be" financially wise.  Our money is just flying out of the bank right now.  It sickens me at times.  Focus on the positive.  You have come so far!  One day we will look in that mirror and see the slimmer version of us!  (I still see fat Jennifer too..) Love ya girl!  Merry Christmas!  If you need to talk, just PM me!

You're right...we are all food Addicts!  It's just a matter of finding alternatives.  Sometimes the alternatives are exercise, talking to a friend, shopping, etc (as mentioned above), but for that Snickers Bar calling, I have a suggestion.  Have you tried the Snickers Marathon bars?  I tried one a few days ago and it was fabulous!  I know they have low carb versions, but the one I tried was the Energy - Chewy Chocolate Peanut.  It was as close to a Snickers bar as I'm willing to get!  The whole bar has 15 grams of sugar, but I can't eat the whole thing at once anyway.  I can only eat 1/3 to 1/2 in a sitting.  It's probably not something I'd have every day, but when you're really jonesing for a Snickers, give it a try! 

I might try those.. My NUT only wants me to have 8 or less g of sugar at a time..  so I will have to check out the sugar content.  But.. GIRL!  You need to post pics!  I bet you are looking svelte!!!

Give it a try, just stick to 1/2 of the bar, and you'll be within your 8 grams of sugar. I am starting to hear lots of "Wow, you're looking great" comments.  :)  It's very cool!  Unfortunately, I have lost my camera.  :(  I keep waiting for it to pop up, but it hasn't happened yet.  If I don't find it or get a new one for Christmas, I'll buy one afterward.  Gotta keep up with the changes!  :)