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Replacements for Emotional Eating?

NotDave (Howyadoin?)
on 8/2/07 7:23 am - Japan

Emotional eating and eating withdrawal is a topic that's come up quite a bit lately.

How did you deal with emotional eating post-op?

For me, it was 10 hours a week of exercise. What was different for me (and still is) was I could get something back for every bit of effort:

No longer did I have to worry about weight I'd lost coming back in the same month.

Improvements in fitness/ strength came weekly (or less) - This in itself was positive reinforcement.

I think the continuing intimacy with my wife also helped me get through that stage (all types of intimacy, not just physical).

How about others? What did you do to get through that time?

It's already Friday a.m. here.

Best Wishes,

Dave

Doug Such
on 8/2/07 8:41 am - Northern, CA
Hi Dave, First off, I am not quite through with emotional eating. I still wrestle with wanting to snack in the evening. But overall, I am resisting and my strategies are: 1) Exercise--3 days of weightlifting a week, one hour or so, and three days of walking. I am in the process of devising a new, more intense weightlifting schedule, since that activity of itself seems to have contributed significantly to positive changes in  my overall attitude. 2) Doing and enjoying more things that used to be physically and/or emotionally uncomfortable, simple things like shopping, dressing a little better, chores. 3) This one just sneaked up on me, but somehow it helps. I read men's magazines like Men's Health, Muscle & Fittness, Men's Journal, etc. I never paid much attention to these prior to WLS, but about two weeks post-op I picked a couple up to pass the time. Even when I find some of the stuff irrelevant to my stage of life, silly, or incorrect, there's something about them that reinforces my new interest in health, fitness, and moving away from the couch-potato life. So I don't analyze it. 4) I drink black half-caf coffee instead of eating and treat myself to a venti Starbucks every Sunday morning. 5) Every now and then I have a no carb no sugar yogurt or SF popsicle and enjoy being satisfied with them. So if I'm not out of the woods yet, I'm at least on the right road and enjoying the trip.

Doug

If we're treading on thin ice we might as well dance.--Jesse Winchester

Triple-Beast
on 8/2/07 9:40 am
I don't know what I do differently, besides exercise regularily now. I still spend alot of time online either gaming or scanning LiveLeak. I also like to search subjects of interest on the web like ghosts and paranormal occurances.[always been fascinated by this **** but I'm not a devil worshipper..lol]  Actually, the days have gone by very fast since surgery, so there hasn't been any issues with keeping myself occupied. I don't really miss the over-eating and having a bloated ass trying to squeeze into my pants so all's good for now.
Dx E
on 8/2/07 9:52 am - Northern, MS

I’m not sure I had that particular demon to battle. A couple of reasons I think this- I’m not sure I was what would qualify as an "Emotional Eater" prior to WLS. I was a "Habitual Eater" more accurately. I ate the way I always had- Till "Full." My definition of "Full" was what was skewed. That, and I didn’t restrain eating choices to healthy foods. I early on got in the habit of buying a Snickers bar When in line at the grocery store or at any checkout counter. I always had as far back as I can remember regularly "treated myself" at the checkout. If it happened every 3 days or twice on the same day It wasn’t something I would have even noticed. I was double the size I should have been by the time I was 3, and that proportional over-weight ratio stayed pretty constant my whole life. I wasn’t a "Binge Eater" by the standards I see out on the Boards, But "Seconds" (and even thirds) were just the norm for me. I don’t recall eating when upset, bored, angry, etc… Just over ate to a sense of ‘fullness’ that most would have considered – "Stuffed." Then, following WLS, I had a huge break from food, And even thoughts of food. Those first 3 to 4 weeks are a blur where I was mostly unconscious. The first 6 months were all about just getting healthy enough to walk and live and such. Quite a distraction from "Head-Hunger." In many ways I’m luckier than most. In computer terms- My complications caused a complete shutdown and required the installation of a whole new operating system, Rather than just a soft "re-boot." Old glitches and established patterns were wiped clean. Sort of a full out "Road-to-Damascus" total conversion. So what for many is in fact "A Journey" Hit me as one big rush, like a "jump to light-speed" moment in Star Wars. I don’t "long for" any of the old stuff. I noticed an odd "Double Negative few months back. I noticed that I hadn’t noticed –"not-wanting" a Snickers Bar at the checkout. It was an odd realization…. Noticing that –"I hadn’t noticed something…." I felt like I had missed out on some moment of realization, or missed some small victory over the attraction to a certain food…. Really, it was just becoming aware that my habits now are completely different Than my habits before, and aware that it wasn’t "a big enough deal" to notice. I know I love paradox, but what has been remarkable about my "Change" Is how "Un-Remarkable" it has been. I’m not "Perfect Body-Fat % guy," I’m not "Mr. Workout Muscle-Man," I’m not "Food Nazi-Total Health-Nut" I’m not unique in any of those things, just doing what seems to be working And going by Dr.’s orders. I have had extra energy, and that has allowed me more activity/exercise Than I’ve had in my whole life, But that’s almost "damning with faint praise." I turn 51 this month, and feel better than I have since my late 20’s. Maybe that’s how I’m "filling my time." Just enjoying life, and staying busy. Interesting thread….I hope plenty "check-in." Best Wishes- Dx

 Capricious;  Impulsive,  Semi-Predictable       

Michael B.
on 8/2/07 1:03 pm - Gilbert, AZ
OK, I have given this one some thought...I had a hard time figuring it out but now I've got it! What I reaized is that it is easier for me now because I am focused on the goal. There is more to it though because I could be focused on a goal of weight-loss before WLS and completely fail to control emotional eating - the difference is this: Now that I have "The TOOL" of RNY the way I deal with it is different. I don't find myself getting hungry as much (thanks to the tool) and when I do experience "head hunger," usually about once a day but some days not at all, I can look at my watch and guess what? It's been close to three hours since I last ate! So, it is OK - time to eat...I love this tool! Great topic - I want to hear more from the rest of the locker room on this one!

Visit My Newly Launched Blog:


FatManWalking
on 8/2/07 4:59 pm - Deep in the Heart of, TX
RNY on 12/11/06 with
Good topic, Dave. A very important issue to address, I believe, if we are to have long term success in our shared endeavor. For me it means getting professional help. Along with my surgeon, nutritionist and trainer, my psychiatrist is an integral part of my interdisciplinary team. Getting my head straight is as important to my long term health as eating healthy and exercise. Otherwise, having WLS is kind of like putting new tires on a car that is out of alignment and with worn shocks. They will look great and drive pretty well, .....for a while. However, without addressing the underlying issues that tore up the tires in the first place, you'll be back in the shop for more tires much sooner than later. (There's a Bruce Springstein song in there somewhere, lol) Not a perfect metaphor, but I'm sure you see what I mean. Not everyone needs a shrink. For some, it is simply a matter of education about general care and feeding of the body human to ensure long term success after WLS. For others, without some awareness and understanding of the behaviors and issues that caused our need for WLS it can end up a short term success, much like putting new tires on a car that is out of alignment. JMHO, individual mileage will vary. J (Driving it home with one headlight) P
(deactivated member)
on 8/2/07 11:26 pm - Houston, TX
Hey Young Dave... My obcessions have changed over the past 2 years...but they all seem to revolve around activity... 1st it was clean the house....Then Clean the garage....I had a spottless garage...tool wiped down, cords all wrapped.. then it went to yard work.....then it went to walking..... then the gym...cardio slow slow slow....then cardio balls to the wal now it seems to be weight lifting and work....I now do not have a problem picking up extra clients as far as swapping addictions I guess I could do worse Russ
(deactivated member)
on 8/2/07 11:26 pm - Houston, TX
Hey Young Dave... My obcessions have changed over the past 2 years...but they all seem to revolve around activity... 1st it was clean the house....Then Clean the garage....I had a spottless garage...tool wiped down, cords all wrapped.. then it went to yard work.....then it went to walking..... then the gym...cardio slow slow slow....then cardio balls to the wal now it seems to be weight lifting and work....I now do not have a problem picking up extra clients as far as swapping addictions I guess I could do worse Russ
(deactivated member)
on 8/3/07 12:24 am - MO
I have thought about how I am going to combat this, first I'll give up some bad habits of obesity outside the food - watching TV, playing PS late after everyone else goes to bed. I have a ranch to take care of and haven't been lately, things are running down, fences need repaired and painted, trim needs replaced, garage/barn needs cleaned out - I actually look forward to cleaning it all up and making it work. The weighlifting will be a snap to get back into, although I don't want to get possessed about it like I was when I was in my 20's and competing.  This time, I'm lifting for tone and not sheer size.  I look forward to exercising with my family, biking, walking.  I have a 9 month of Golden Retriever that I've never walked.... I have a load of people I haven't visited in my church because I didn't want to break their furniture sitting, I couldn't stand in the nursing homes (no place to sit) and I didn't want them to see my breathing difficulties....I want to be able to canoe with the church kids, be active. I want to stand in front of my church with a lapel mic and them not hearing me wheeze or breathe hard.  I want to preach and not end up a sweaty mess. And on and on....
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