Introduction and thanks . . .

I just started listening to this audiobook today and had planned to come home and ask on OH if anyone was following the system. Imagine my delight to find this group! I haven't really listened to enough of it yet to have a good grip on what the system is like, but I do know that I've got to get a grip NOW on my cravings. I'm just six months out, so I haven't had to deal with any gains yet, but I am having a hard time resisting eating too much granola and too many wasabi-dusted almonds. I really need a system, and having a support group to go along with it will be fabulous! I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you!

Pat

 Hi Pat -  I'm answering your msg to me here because I couldn't figure out how to respond the other way.  I read Beck's book a couple of yrs ago, I guess, and it was the only thing that was helpful for me.  Obviously, it didn't work for long because I ended up having surgery, but I have been meaning to go back and re-read it for a while because I felt it would be an excellent tool to use now that I can actually stick to a food plan (with the help of my sleeve).   I'm a therapist, working in addiction, and her method makes total sense.  To deal with any addiction, you have to get to the point where using the drug is not an option.  No one has the will power to fight that "will I, won't I" for very long.  Once overeating becomes as unthinkable as eating rat poison, then it becomes easy.  Her premise that "hunger is not an emergency"  was also very helpful for me.  I can survive cravings and hunger and I won't die if I don't eat this minute. (That's way easier now since the surgery.)

BTW, I have an addiction to wasabi coated anything - finally had to let go of it - at least for now. 

Yes...when I read the part that 'hunger is not an emergency" that resonated with me too. I spend the bulk of my time scheming and planning what to eat when to eat..obessessed. My whole life has been this way and it frigtens me to change.

Some days I repeat my mantra (Hunger does not = an emergency) about 100 times, other days it doesn't even cross my mind.  I've never known anyone to fall over dead because they did not give into a craving, but people fall over dead a lot because they gave in to their cravings and became morbidly obese.  Our problem is about .01% physical and 99.99% mental/emotional.  We also need to remember we are humans, humans aren't perfect, humans make mistakes, and humans can correct their mistakes - not tomorrow, not Monday, not the 1st of the month, but the very next meal.  You can do it (if I can do it, ANYONE can do it)!  I believe in you.

What I've been listening to so far has made a lot of sense to me, too. And what I really love is that it's not the same old stuff I've been hearing for years and years. This truly is a new way to approach an eating plan and a new perspective on how to manage it. Girls, I'm so excited!!