frustrated and food crazy

One thing that has always done me in is boredom - in the past that has caused most of my grazing and out of control eating, and that is what I watch carefully now. I have to be occupied in some way or I head for the fridge. So, you might want to pay attention to that and see if that may be the cause.

If you are craving a little chocolate fix, one thing you may try, is the sugar free fudgicicles that are 40 calories each and are pretty good - I don't eat these every day because my stomach does not always welcome cold things, but they do hit the spot when something sweet is needed... I know we are not supposed to snack, but, I do have a "planned" snack daily - this is always in the form of protein, and I usually eat this when I get home from work. I eat lunch around 12:30 and dinner around 7:00, so there is a big gap in between those meals and if I don't eat something when I get home around 5:00, my brain starts to seek food! I know it is not physical hunger, but I do eat something so that I can just get over that wanting to eat and move on, but like I said I always make it a protein snack. You may also want to watch how you space your meals.. This will pass, you are still learning to manage these new habits and you will find what works for you.

Anna's got it right.  Boredom is often the culprit. Do you find that it happens only at certain times of day, or only on certain days of the week?  For me, weekends are tough. 

Evenings are more of a problem for me - week-ends I manage to get out of the house and do stuff, but evenings are tougher because I am tired and really don't want to go anywhere once I get home and then it's me and the fridge! So it does take all I got to stay focused! The good thing is that I don't have "bad" foods in the house!

Jenn - I'm 3 months out today.  I know just how you feel.  My biggest struggle (after surviving the 2 week liquid phase) has been dealing with the emotional need to eat.  I'm left with all these "raw" feelings that I used to be able to medicate with food...especially high-carb varieties.  Obviously, I never learned good coping mechanisms and now - at the age of 38, I'm having to re-train myself to deal with stuff instead of stuffing myself.  It's tough!

The others have posted some good substitutes for our old habits.  Give those a try.  I saw Dr. Keller at Weightwise last week and will continue for awhile.  I'm trying to work on "the reasons I snack" to hopefully break this cycle.  Chris, the nutritionist there, also gave me some really simple sounding advice, but it makes sense.  She suggested that when the snack urge hits - I should try doing something to distract myself.  Something as simple as coloring, painting your nails, braiding your hair or whatever can keep your mind occupied for 10 or 15 minutes might be enough to allow the eating urge to pass.

Good luck to you!  We shall both make it through this and come out better. 

Those are some good ideas, thanks I really appreciate them. I have been working on my food ways with a therapist for a few months now. I understand a lot of the emotional reasons I eat, but sometimes even understanding them doesn't matter when you go on the rampage. I am better today, everyone has been wonderful with their kind words of support!

Thanks!!

Jennifer

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. THE 2 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY ON LIQUIDS IS NOTHING BUT HELL BUT IT DOES GET BETTER. TRY "EATING" SOME CHICKEN BROTH. IT IS BETTER TO CHANGE IT UP SOME BUT IT STILL IS BAD! YOU CAN DO THIS!

Thanks for the encouragement! You are right. We can all do it!

Jennifer

When I was first out, I ate a small square of dark chocolate every day. (at least 70 percent but I like the really dark stuff).  It killed a lot of sugar cravings.  Now Russel Stover makes squares of 60 percent sugar free dark-and that works too (but honestly, I don't think it works as well-when this bag is gone I'm going back to the heavy stuff).

When I'm feeling snacky, I make one square my go-to food, and that usually does it for me, and keeps me from looking for additional sweets for the rest of the day.

Try it-and if it doesn't work or you can't stop at one square, toss the rest of them-they aren't worth it.  Also, chocolate doesn't dry out that much, so just buy a big bar and tear off the square and put it in a baggie-it's insane to pay a buck for a small bar for portion control (unless you need the portion control).

 

Another good idea! You guys are the best!

Jennifer