Good Morning. Up way too early!

Dang! I woke up at 3AM and couldn't go back to sleep. Isn't Daylight Savings Time almost over? Ugh...will have to try to stay up later in the evenings. 

Having more restriction lately...not sure if it's mental or physical. Thinking it's a combo of nerves/stress, which tightens up my stomach. And, then it's just a vicious circle. Stress about eating creates the tight sleeve and a tight sleeve creates more stress. [sigh]  I would really like to get a handle on this, and no, I'm not going to go see a therapist about this. lol  I think what I'm going to do is go back to tiny bowls and plates. If it's a visual thing that overwhelms me at times, maybe the smaller bowls and plates will help. 

Anybody got any tricks that helps them deal with crazy eating issues?

--gina
  

    

Good Morning!!  Good luck staying up late when you're awake at 3am...talk about a vicious cyle. lol.  I think the smaller bowls and plates might be a good idea.  I do that sometimes, especially if I feel like my portions are getting too big.  It's all so overwhelming at times.  But I thank God for it all nonetheless.  I have lots of friends who do therapy for a number of issues and I say good for them.  But I don't think its for me and really think it would cause me more stress if that makes sense??  Anyway, hang in there...this too shall pass.

(((hugs)))

Julie

p.s.  loved the mental picture of your rain walking ensemble...very cute!!!!!

((hugs)) backatcha, Julie. I love seeing you post.  You have a gift in the way you write your heartfelt messages.

--gina

No tips, but your up way to early and I am up way to late!  Still not tired though.  The joys of being a night shifter:)

Hi Gina, sorry you're up so early :(  How are you feeling overall though? Healing well? 

I know what you mean about the stress circle. I think your idea of going to tiny bowls and plates is excellent. I think I have lost focus of that too so I think I'll join you on that venture. :) 

Well, gotta go get ready for work but wanted to pop in and say HI and hope you are feeling better!! 

Doing pretty well, thanks. I used a small bowl and had shrimp scampi without pasta last night. It worked very well. Stayed up later and slept a little later this AM too. Better!

I stayed up too late last nigh****ched Brothers and Sisters, then started texting with ex-BF (gotta stop doing that)... then I just laid there - wide awake... I ended up getting up and drinking a glass of milk and taking 1/2 of a sleepy tylenol pill (also had a headache) and that helped me get to sleep.  Of course I didn't want to wake up. (surprise!).. and that darn cat!  I feel I'm being nice letting her sleep with me, well, she just wants to annoy me - I think she really does!! LOL

Crazy eating issues?  No help here - I've got mine to deal with too.  I have done very well with the grazing carbs (for the most part).  I think I need to start measuring/weighing my food again.  I really have no idea how much I'm eating....   So, I'm laying awake trying to figure out how to get to sleep - and I think "oh, I've got hash browns in the fridge, they're carbs and will make me sleepy"... Ummmm.... not a good idea!  So I refrained, the glass of milk won. 

My nose pretty much only runs now when I take my vitamins (go figure).  Not when I'm full like it used too....

Good Morning,

Sorry you were up so early Gina.  Yesterday I read from 3am - 5:30 am then went back to sleep.  Last night I took 5mg of Elavil which puts me back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night.  I started taking them a few years ago, then quit but I'm back to it now because I don't sleep more than 5 hours without them.  The doc said I could take them for life with no adverse effects and I wake up rested, unlike Tylenol PM or other over the counter remedies.  Elavil is used at high doses for depression and very low doses for sleep problems.  Love it!

I'm only 8 months post-op and still eat on very small plates, bowls, tiny European silveware that belonged to my mom.  I weigh and measure everything that I eat.  I do it without judgement, but need it for myfitnesspal so that I have an accurate measure of what I'm actually eating.  That allows me to look at what works and what doesn't.   I think I'm coming to the conclusion that I just need more carbs than most VSGers.  When I up the carbs I lose.  When I stay very low I stall.  Go figure eh? 

Today is my 17 year anniversary at work.  I guess I'm getting to be stable.  :)

 Yes, when you up the carbs a bit when working out hard...your body allows you to lose because it is not worried that it is starving...it's just that we used to eat so many carbs that our bodies did not have to get into the reserve fat...now if you are stalling you can up the carbs a bit...even slow down the work outs and then start up again and you will work out harder....better and you will lose...Our bodies are very simple machines and they don't know the difference between dieting and starving..
European silverware sounds wonderful..SEAVIEW

Hey Gina,

Must be in the air.  I was awake at 4:15 and couldn't get back to sleep.  Usually I will toss and turn but this time I logged in to work and got about 1-1/2 hours worth of work done so I will have a shorter day actually in the office.  I imagine I will crash around 3:00 p.m. but that's when I will take my walk.  

My doctor gave me Klonopin when I got my CPAP because I was fighting that thing all night.  It has helped a lot and I don't notice side effects.

I've been trying the eating with a baby spoon, too and I think that helps.

So glad we are all on this journey together... it really helps.

Katrina