tips on coping with moments of weakness or relapse?

I am an emotional eater and totally understand where you are coming from.

I always carry a chocolate protein bar with me in case I crave something sweet, and tell myself that this is as good as Mars or Snickers......

Last week I had a very very tough day at work and I would have normally eaten everything in plain sight (I do work at a Tourist Attraction) starting with Ice Cream, Chocolate Bars and topping it all with Chips....

So I was sitting at my desk and thinking of getting some ice cream and thanks god it dawned on me, that if I gave in, this would just be the beginning..... Then I thought: What will change if I do eat ice cream? Will my problem go away? NO! Well I feel better: Hell NO! So there is really no point in eating if it does not solve the problem? YES

The hardest part is to understand that surgery is not the solution, but a tool you need to use every day.

I just found a nice quote online: If hunger is not the problem - then eating is not the solution!

Good Luck!

Have you tried Clif Builder bars? I think they are as good as Mars or Snickers. ;)

What helps me stay on track fairly well is total, complete immersion in the post-op WLS lifestyle never dreaming off-track days would exist.  Even though living a healthier lifestyle with good food choices has become preferred instead of forced, bad days pop up out of the blue.  I believe there are a small group of WLSers that have gone on with their life with no need for things like support groups or tracking.  Then, I believe there are WLSers that need to spend each and every day saying to themselves "one day at a time."  The last group, is possibly a majority of WLSers that are somewhere in between the first two mentioned. I am in the "one day at a time" group:  support groups, emailing, reading, practicing behaviors, frequent doctor appointments, video watching, journaling, therapy... 

...adding a comment about the "bad days."  I practice and work at ridding the whole emotional eating habit the most. I think the days out of the blue are when I foolishly feel eating addictions have been conquered; like "food demons" lay waiting to strike at the right moment when smartie-pants here thinks she's home-free.  Wishing you a smooth fix to your obesity through WLS and being the one that hardly ever needs or wants to look back.

Just following...it's hard on liquids. Yesterday I was starving and I wanted so bad to just have a sandwich for lunch instead of a dang shake. I'm struggling at dinner time the most. I'm really hungry then and I have to fix food for my family. It's really hard not to pick and graze. Having a mug of broth helps. That fills me up more than Popsicles or jello.