Why

Ok I am sharing here. I have fallen off the wagon and it has rolled out of sight. I have no idea were or how to get back on. All I want to do is eat.... I had two weddings and two funerals in the past two weeks. The weddings set me off with the Viennese Hour and the ****tails and the funerals just made me sad. I don't know what to do. I have gain some weight back and the upsets me. How do I stop myself. I am going for a full on the 29th and I know that will help but what do I do until then. You know how it is we can gain 20lbs in 10 minutes.... HELP PLEASE

I strongly suggest that you get a copy of the Beck'sDiet Solution Workbook.  There's also a hardcover version, but I think that post-ops only need the workbook.  I suggest that you write your responses in a regular notebook.  I've been using common spiral bound notebooks.  You also have to record your food intake.  You can do that online or just write it out.  I do mine longhand and look up the caloric and protein values of my food.  I strongly urge you to record everything that you put into your mouth.

The Beck's Diet Solution is not a diet.  Rather it is a book about behavioral changes that enable us to follow any nutritional diet.  I suggest that we follow our post-op diet.  Or, you can follow a specialized diet if deemed necessary by your doctor.  I try to follow a food addict's diet.

One thing I try to stress is to accept yourself with all or any of your imperfections.  The primary technique used throughout the book is to use cognitive therapy by asking what sabotaging thoughts am I having and then to come up with helpful responses.  The author eventually notes several common thinking errors.  Perhaps the most common is all or nothing thinking ( which is closely related to thought that we must be perfect).  In all or nothing thinking, we see everything as either good or bad or in black and white.  We fail to see the shades of gray.  For example, you may think that you can't stop yourself, but upon reflection, you know that you have stopped yourself from both impulsive and compulsive eating in the past.  This is going to require work on your part. 

I now realize that it's going to take a lot of work on my part to relearn how to eat correctly.  I had a honeymoon phase when I first started using Beck's in mid Jan and I was perfectly clean from using addictive food from 01-29-09 through mid May.  I weighed 391 on 01-29 and was down to 341 by 06-22-09.  But, then I started to struggle.  I still read from the book every day.  I'm off only a little on my projected caloric goals daily.  But, I have a reference to help me with my problems.

The author sets the book up as a 6 week course where, after you read the first 4 chapters, you start doing a lesson a day.  In reality, you can take as long as you need on any given lesson.  However, on your first time using the book, you should do the lessons in successive order.  I assume that you know yourself and what has and hasn't worked with you in the past.  That may affect how you follow the book.

For example, she has chapters where you write up a daily schedule so you can find time to work on the Beck's Diet Solution.  I didn't need that since I haven't worked since July 1992 due to manic-depression.  I have virtually no responsibilities.  I can't multi-task at all and I have all day fo do just about anything.  So, I didn't nee to schedule time for dieting nor for exercise.

Another example comes in writing down what you are going to eat.  I know that this is the backbone for many successful dieters, but I also know that I've failed every time I've tried to do it.  There's absolutely no sense in my trying to do something which I know will fail (some may think that in itself is a sabotaging thought, but I've had this problem for over 40 years and have been under psychiatric care for about 30years),     Rather, I plan what portion of what types of food I will have at my succeeding meals.  This makes it easier on my wife also since she prepares our dinners and usually doesn't know until the morning what she will cook that night.

Overall, the book has transformed my life.  I now have a sense of purpose.  I can be happy even while I am manic-depressive.  I can continue to lose weight even while not following my diet perfectly.  I try to avoid addictive foods, but I don't bash myself in or condem myself if I slip and have something I shouldn't.  I'm a compulsive eater but I now realize that I must think about eating--that it's not a compulsive action.  I'm still a white carb and sugar addict and a junk food junkie, so I try to avoid having them.  But, I do forgive myself when I slip and make a mistake in eating.  Dr Beck does not believe in saying that we cheat.  Look at my Latest Posts to read my extensive writings about the Beck's Diet Solution.  Bob

WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OF THE BECKS DIET SOLUTION WORKBOOK? I HAVE  A PROBLEM WITH STRESS/EMOTIONAL EATING. I HAD MY LAB BAND IN MAY AND LOST 30LBS TOTAL FROM  MY HIGHEST WEIGHT .  I HAVE SLIPPED BACK INTO MY OLD WAYS.  I AM GOING TO LOOK FOR THE FOOD ADDICTIOIN  BOOK BY KAY SHEPPARD. HOPE THAT HELPS.  THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.  LIBBY

I got my copy from Amazon.com.  You can also get a bundled package of the CDs+CD-ROM, the Hardcover version, and the workbook.  I didn't realize you didn't need the hardcover and workbook so I got the bundle.  In the introduction to the workbook, the author, Dr Judith Beck herself says that you don't need both books.  Personally, I find the CDs a waste of money.  I know of at least one person who had it downloaded and enjoys it.  From my reading, I think the hardcover is better for people not already on a diet because it contains more detailed info.  The workbook is fine for people already on a pre-op or post-op diet.  If you are already following a diet, do not suspend it for 14 days to learn basic dieting skills.

Butteryfly, how are you doing?  Much better, I hope. 

Yes I went for my 5th fill and now I feel in total control. Thank you so much for asking.