Daily Post--5/13/08

What do you do to change your mindset when you catch your self resorting to your old snacking habits??

I actually talk to myself and have a whole dialogue in my head. I tell myself that I am not hungry, I am bored (or tired or stressed or happy or whatever the reason is that I am eating). Then I get up and do something different -- whether it be folding laundry or reading the paper -- to keep myself occupied and to stop just automatically eating.

I try to make myself go for a walk or get on the phone with a friend or family member - anything to take my mind off of it... it doesn't always work, but the good news is that if I do give in and eat something I shouldn't, it only takes a little to curb the craving.

I look at the calories of what I'm eating and think about how much this little amount is going to cut into my total allowed caloric intake or my total fat intake for the day. That and a lot of self-talk will usually discourage me from continuing to eat the "bad stuff."

I don't keep my dangerous foods in the house for anyone. Back in the day, I could go through a whole package of Oreos. Those are not allowed in my house anymore, along with other foods I've had a hard time with over the years, like Cinnamon Life Cereal, which I could go nuts on easily. I think also the fact that I had RNY and not Lapband helps, because I'm terrified of sugar, so it makes it easier to stay away.

I have not had to change my mind about the habits, I have had to change my mind about the amounts. I have found that if I allow myself to have something I crave, it goes away, after a bite or two, so I have to tell myself that I can have it, but that I can only have a tiny bit to get the taste. So far it is working for me. Gayle

Sadly, during this battle lately I have been beating myself up saying such negative things to myself (ie your fat stop eating, only a pig would want to do that, what a stupid idiot you went through so much and look at you). Not very nice and I make myself feel so awful...

I don't keep food in the house that I can not resist. I will do something else to keep my mind off it.

I look at "old photos" of myself to remember how bad I looked!!!!!

I try to resport to exercise or I tell myself...."Why did you go through this if you are not going to stick to the program. It was part of the insurance approval and psych eval that you could make the change and stick with it. All you are doing is letting yourself down!"