A little hope for those that struggle with compulsive food thoughts

 I am a compulsive eater in general.

So it goes without saying my adjustment to post-op life involved adjusting to constantly thinking about food but not always being able to eat it. 

And to someone who has never struggled with eating this may not sound like such a big thing but to those of us who do, we know it is maddening. There were times in my early post-op life that I would have given my oldest child just to have an hour of mental peace. And there were darker times when those obsessive thoughts, quite frankly, made me wish to go to sleep and not wake up.

The first thing I want to say is this is NOT abnormal. Many of us go through the obsessive food thoughts which can manifest in several ways:

-liking to watch others eat
-thinking about your next meal as soon as you've finished your last meal
-wanting to "just be around food"
-watching Food Network obsessively (and simply watching the channel isn't the same. Some of us watch it obsesively)

Those are just a few things off the top of my head. But I think there's some hope. The last year or so I've seemed to turn a corner. While I have days where the head demons take over, I can identify it pretty quickly. But most days if I eat an adequate amount I can think about other things in peace. I don't obsess over my next meal. I eat on a pretty defined schedule so I think that helps. But also I think it comes with adjustment.

So that's not a big honking YOU WILL BE CURED but it is a big thing for me. And I hope you find the same thing. That as you adjust to this lifestyle, obsessive food thoughts will lessen and you'll be able to enjoy your life and newfound health.

:)

I have been thinking about this a lot today. For whatever reason, this week I have NOT been obsessing about what i'm eating, when, where, how, etc. And as a result, I've noticed myself 'mindlessly' snacking more, or grabbing 'just a chip' from the break room, etc.

Now work sucks right now and I'm under a ton of stress, and I know that isn't helping. But in the past I have been able to make good choices regardless. I'm terrified now.

Awesome post, Nik! Thanks for the hope and encouragement this brings! I got some really bad news about my health insurance plan at work and for the past week have really been struggling with compulsive eating and thoughts. This gives me help!

I obsess about planning meals that "I can eat".....finding recipes and new ways to cook things that are friendly to me....I do this A LOT. Sometimes I fear not being able to eat on my schedule.
I am trying to find balance with this.....it is hard.

I live on MFP. Literally. I plan my meals, replan them and adjust them throughout the day. Sometimes I aim to get all the food I can within my calorie allowances.... sometimes I end the day the way I planned.
I am a massively compulsive eater, and once I start I can't find my stop button. I go through these phases of major struggles and small victories - at a struggle point now. I know what to do and how to do it, just have to beat myself into the submission to do it.

sorry for the vent

 Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post! 

One of the reasons I find myself on here more often post-op is that I find it too difficult to discuss thoughts like this with the supportive people arond me. They haven't done anything wrong. I just fear judgement from them. 

I will keep my eye on the light at the end of the tunnel!

Wow, thanks for sharing, Nik!  This is good news for me.  I have gotten to the point where I feel more like my normal old self, so now I think more about the foods that I am pretty sure I could eat if I allowed myself to. 

What is helping me most right now is tracking every bite I put in my mouth.  Sometimes, if I am craving something, I will put it into myfitnesspal and look at the cost.  So far, I have always deleted the entry and decided it wasn't worth it.  I have told myself I can have any treat I want as long as I get at least 90 grams of protein that day and stay under 1200 calories (including the treat).  As much as I would love to eat a Little Debbie cake, I haven't done it yet.

The other thing that helps is that I have completely given up watching cooking and other food-related shows.  Not that there aren't some healthy ones out there, but even those mess with my head.

I would totally kill for a bag of chips right now at 2wks out.  I'm so sick of thinking about eating, drinking, taking vitamins .  I know it's in my head, but it's hard.  Thanks Nik!

Thank you!! I have been thinking about this too! For me the big one is cookbooks and recipe websites. I will find myself searching page by page in the many cookbooks I have or online for what...I still don't know! I just look at the damn recipes, not that I am even going to make them - lol. I was also going to the library and checking out more cookbooks!
It has gotten so much better, I haven't opened a cookbook in several weeks now (unless I was really looking for something to make.)
And yes, I think I searched every damn recipe on your site!!LOL!

I didn't know there was anything else but food to think about. I wake up thinking about it and close my eyes thinking and dreaming about it.

Lyn