food addiction--how do you deal?

Hello all,

My DH and I were discussing what it would be like post op with our young, active lives.  We are 27 years old and we go out at least 3 nights a week with friends/family/work.  

I never admitted it until, like today that I am, in fact, a food-aholic.    I had a TOTAL realization today when I was planning what I wanted to do this weekend--and I was thinking about where my DH and I were going to go for our "date night" this weekend.  I. Have. A. Problem.  I've seen on more than one occassion where people post that they are "head hungry."  I think more often than not I am "head hungry."  How do you deal with that? 

What about when you go out with friends?  How do you not want to eat everything off of your friends' plates?  How long did it take you to feel like you could be "strong" and go out with people?

I've come up with some ideas on how to combat head hunger when I'm at home (such hobbies that involve hands-scrapbooking, sewing, knitting, etc).

Also, I have jealous personality--not like I'm violent or anything--but I'm wondering, was it difficult when you saw your partner going out to dinner with people in your life and you couldn't go because you felt too "weak" to go?  Would you get jealous if he/she could eat things that you couldn't? 

Does this make sense?  Lol. 

I know this is long, but I would appreciate your feedback.

 In my case, you don't get over it. You just *can't* eat that much. So overtime, the cravings cease but they definitely relapse from time to time.

Early on, you eat a few tablespoons of food which ends up being your meal. The first few weeks will probably be torturous. It will probably subside right around when you can eat a little more. You won't be able to eat a plate of food until a year or later. I'm about two years out, and I can just barely finish a smaller plate. Snacking is really the most likely way of failing, as far as I can tell. There's a few foods - slider foods - that you can still eat an almost unlimited of. Mostly chips and stuff like that you really have to worry about. But, you'll probably dump on those foods. I dumped for the first time in ages a week or so ago, and it really, really sucks.

You may get jealous, but really I think a lot of that will go away. You're going to feel stuffed after a few bites. I know for me it wasn't so much about eating as much as I could as much as it was about getting that "I'm really full" feeling.

I can't thank you enough for your input. 

Thank you very much, see ya 'round brother :) 

It's great that you already have a plan established...anything that keeps you busy, keeps your mind away from food.  Sometimes you just need to get out of the house if the cravings are too bad.  I'm a bored/emotional eater, so I have to be very careful and have structure most of the time.   Also, lately I've realized how much of my time I've wasted worrying about food.  Ugh!  Too much...so I try to just concentrate on the things that are important to me.  There's always going to be food around so we just have to tell ourselves that "This is it...this the way it is..period"  I don't want to be heavy again and if I don't take control of what I eat, then that's what's going to happen. 

Try to get in the right mindset about going out with friends to dinner.  Don't make it so much about food but rather enjoying the time and company.  It is hard, and I admit that, but after awhile it does just become a part of life that I can't eat certain things.  For example, my husband and I are celebrating our 5th anniversary tomororw (yey!) and I made reservations at a resteraunt here in town which half the menu is creamy pastas...I can't eat pasta, it comes right back up...so yes, I was bummed.  BUT, I'll make due!  I might have some prawns or salmon instead which may  not be as exciting as the cool pasta creations but oh well at least I won't spend the rest of the night with my head in the toliet.   I've never been a sweets person but literally just a bite of cake or 1 cookie is all I need anymore and all that I KNOW I can eat to not get sick.  I hate throwing up so it's a big motivator for me not to go crazy!  It's sometimes a bummer but other times its not as bad as you think. 

Good luck, you'll do great!

~Emily~

Congratulations on 5 years!  We just celebrated ours at the beginning of the month. 

You are so very right about it being about the people you're with--not the food.  You're just SO right!