BED and ways to cope?

i'm really Struggling with the thoughts of wanting to eat stuff. I've had two slip ups that were minor but the urge is strong! I've drank to fast a few times, oh and progressed a wee to early...didn't listen to my body. It made me feel nauseous but i've yet to have a dumping situation.

i see a specialist in WLS & eating disorders in early July and i'm Looking forward to it. I let thing stress me very easily and i'm Hoping to stay out of the old state of mind.

For those that deal with BED, what things can I do in the mean time to try and brush these urges away? Any tips is appreciated.

I think it's awesome that you've got an appointment set for a therapist that specializes in WLS and eating disorders.

I'm not diagnosed with BED, but I AM an emotional and boredom eater, so take this with a grain of salt. Hopefully it might help you anyway.

To stave off emotional eating, my first action is to journal. I've kept a journal for 32 years; started it one day at age 16 after school when my dad was in a particularly assholey mood and I bore the brunt of it. It's been my savior sooo many times since then. When I'm feeling stressed out and/or overwhelmed, I take pen to paper to get the feelings out, no matter how crazy or dark. My journal knows all. Once they're out of my head and on paper, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off me. The time it takes to write it all out also gives me time to cool off/calm down/ come up with solutions if needed. It can also lead to some real epiphanies on my part as far as some issues go.

I also do a "happy place" visualization, and/or breathing exercises if the situation is away from home. My happy place exercise is closing my eyes picking a favorite place/memory, and thinking of all the aspects of that place. (Where it was, if it was outside-sunny and warm or not, the scents, the sounds, the sights, how I felt there...) Breathing exercise: My therapist taught me to close my eyes and breathe in to the count of 4, exhale to the count of 4, envisioning a square as I do so, going around the square mentally as I breathe. ( Obvies, I can't do either while driving, haha. For road rage, I listen to calming music, or more commonly...just cuss a lot. )

Boredom eating is harder for me to avoid at this point than stress eating. I have to find ways to entertain myself that make me more active, because sedentary hobbies ( like reading ) just make me want to snack while I'm doing them. I'm inherently lazy, so it's a challenge.

Thank you so much for your response and tips!

i'm going to print them up :)

I Have BED and Pre-Op I felt like I was always hungry. Rarely did I ever full except on those rare occasions where I ate all day long on holidays. Food was beyond an obsession. Always in my thoughts. The only time it wasnt in my thoughts was when I occupied my time with something. Thats the Best way to stop thinking about food.

Post OP I feel different. I almost feel like I don't have BED anymore. The cravings are gone, The obsessive thoughts are gone, When I eat a meal I actually get full.. I hope this feeling lasts. Before my surgery though I prepared by buying some 1000 piece puzzles. I have not had to bust them out yet. In the past I have also went for a walk whenever I wanted to eat when I wasn't supposed to. I have also played xbox. Anything to get you doing something that occupies your time. I have heard from some people that Brushing their teeth helps but I never tried this.