return to work - surprisingly hard mentally

So I've been feeling fine and doing great  at home... no hunger, no pain, lots of exercise, etc.

Today I went back to work for the first time.  Got up a LOT earlier than I have been lately, did my walk/jog, had my protein shake, packed my food for the day, got into work on time (even a little earlier) and felt great!

By about 10 am, i was fighting what I'd call "cravings" (not quite urges) to chew on something, snack, eat... and eat...    I wasn't all that stressed at that point, but i think part of what was going on was that i was in a place (physically) where i used to snack a lot.  The old routine was trying to assert itself.  

The whole day was tough like that.  I had my yogurt snack in the morning, my soup (which called to me from the fridge all morning) for lunch, and the rest of my yogurt in the afternoon.  But it was really the first day that required significant willpower!

I'm surprised ... although i know i shouldn't be.  I'm also REALLY glad I "de-poisoned" my office before I left the day before surgery... removed EVERYTHING that could be snack-y and left only my healthy soups.  So there was nothing there to tempt or surprise me.  That helped!

I know that it will get better... hopefully quickly!

Karen

glad to hear you are back to work & doing great
Susan

Glad you made it through the day. Congratulations on planning ahead by taking the snacks out, and packing healthy choices. This mental part of recuperation surprises me as well. I knew to expect emotional and mental changes during this period but when I actually started to experience it for myself I was somewhat surprised how strong the feelings were. Here's to being prepared and taking it one day at a time. Wishing you continued good luck. Belinda

Glad that you made it through OK! Work is my toughest part too. I try to keep healthy snacks at my desk, nuts, dried fruit, beef jerkey "in case of emergency"

Hijack!

OMG!  I have been away soooooo long that I missed your good news!  That is wonderful, so happy for you and I did not even recognize your avatar.  You are looking great Liz, hope everything goes extremely well for you in this next phase of life!

Hugs, prayers and positive thoughts, Laureen

My workplace is hard for me, too - my job isn't very stressful or demanding and I'm pretty much locked into my cubicle/desk area since I'm the office admin. I keep good snacks here at work but I know I snack way too often for my own good. And its not really hunger - probably boredom a lot of the time, and 'head hunger', which is really harder to fight sometimes than real hunger.

Being prepared with good snacks is probably your best bet - and maybe once you're back into a good routine it will be a little easier.

I'm rooting for you cuz I know how hard it can be!!

Kathy

Work by far, is my downfall.  I still struggle with it.  Actually - I struggle with it much more now than I did earlier out.

At work we keep LOTS of food at the nurses station.  Most of it isn't healthy...and even if it is...it still leads to grazing, which is never good, carrots or otherwise!

Keep yourself to your routine and KNOW that if you over eat, you will pay for it.  And if there's anything worse than being sick - is being sick at work!

Glad you made it back ok!

Pam

thank you all for helping me see that i'm not alone in feeling this way.  I honestly thought that would be the "easy" part, because I was bringing my own food (I'm still on the restricted diet, so really have no choice) and the on-site cafeteria is really yucky.  I'm reframing that thinking!

Once I get to the point where i can have "real" food, I'm going to have to plan to have the healthy snacks available... but I also need to break myself of the mental pattern on snacking due to boredom or stress or whatever. 

Again, thank you all for your support!

Karen

Hi Karen -
Hang in there.  Sounds like you are off to a good start.  I'm an office grazer and I'm trying to kick the habit prior to surgery.  I've cleaned most of the junk out of my desk.  I think I could actually put some work related stuff in now....hahaha

Lisa

Hi Karen,

Congrats on surviving the slippery slopes of returning to what post-surgery I realized was a real food trigger place for me. . .  packing for success and not allowing ourselves to forget to eat when we are supposed to is what usually helps keep the demons away!

Best wishes as you continue your journey towards healthy living!

Laureen