off track lap bander

I'm 5 1/2 months post op and have only lost a few lbs since my surgery. I am eating around the band and still eating from stress or boredom. any emotional eaters out there who can offer advice? I'll be back at the PRH Monday meeting! Any suggestions, please.

Oh you are talking to the queen of emotional eating.  It is so hard, isn't it.  I try and talk to myself all of the time, am I really hungry, do I really want to eat that.  Sometimes just getting up from the situation and walking away has helped me.  Timing is everything though, and I had a situation today, that all I wanted to do was eat.  I started to, but then realized what I was doing, and forced myself to stop.  It is hard though. 

You need to talk to Dr. Gens about if you need a fill or not.  Also, if you are bored, you need to be aware, and realize that is why you are eating.  Keep asking yourself if you need to eat what you are about to, if you are hungry, bored, stressed.  Take a walk, read a book, go on the computer, play a game.  We must all learn to fill the void that was once food with something else.  Keep trying, and don't give up.

bamma, I've never actually thought about it the way you stated " you have to fill the void that was once food" with something else! and i haven't done that! my worst time is afternoon and evenings after work. i like to read and watch tv....but eating has always accompanied both. i'll think of different ways to spend my down time. thanks!

One way to spend your down time is to do something that doesn't allow you to eat.  For instance, I'm a knitter.  My hand are always on the needles, and I don't want to get any food on my beautiful wool, so I don't eat when I knit.  If you don't like to knit, you could try crocheting, needlework, or drawing, etc.

I've thought about knitting! There are several people at work who could teach me.....that sounds like something I would enjoy. I used to crochet so think i could pick it up fairly easily.

I had my lap band surgery around the same time as you, and I am going through the same thing.  Filling the void is a key point-  something that I have been forgetting to do.  Right after my surgery, I was so good about finding other things to do, but I have been slacking in that department.  I need to start filling my time with other options.

I've also gone back to writing everything down.  By planning my meals and snacks out ahead of time, I don't give in to that mad rush of trying to figure out what to eat (and ending up eating everythin gin sight.).  And by recording every morsel on fitday, I am less tempted to graze, because I don't feel like going to the trouble of entering that tidbit.

It's frustrating, isn't it? 

gosh, I haven't written anything down in a long time.....I'll get that started at dinner this evening. and you're right...I hate to wirte down something that I shouldn't have eaten! thanks for all the good suggestions, ladies! trish

Hi fotofem -

I just had the surgery on Dec 9th 2008 at PRH, and I had a fill at 4 wks. It's been 6 wks and I think I need another one already! I hear you about the boredom factor, I've had that issue already. One thing I've done to keep my mind busy and off of 'mindless eating' is scrapbooking. I got a scrapbook kit for X-Mas from my boyfriend and it's been great keeping my mind off things! It's a lot of fun and relaxing. I'm doing a page of me before surgery and will keep taking photos throughout till I reach my goal! Another thing I'm doing is going back to using thedailyplate.com. That was the tool that helped me reach my goal pre-op. It's great, you can go on there and put in any brand or even store brands of food and track your daily calories, etc and it's free!! It's the best thing I've ever used for tracking calories and it lets you see what you're eating and how much. Good luck, we'll all get through this and reach our goals!! :)

I haven't got anything advice to offer you that these wise women who posted before me haven't given you.  I just wanted to wish you well and tell you not to give up.  This is doable.  It might be hard and it might take time, but it is doable and we're all here to help you.