Question:
I need some advice and Help!

Ok, I'm 1 yr post-op. started out as a "lightweight" and have lost about 86 lbs. Problem now is that my old eating habits are back. All I think about is food lately. For example..today I made a can of hormel chili and split it in half. I ate half and put the other half in the refrig. All I kept thinking about for the next hour is that other half of chili until I finally heated it up and ate it. Don't know why I'm doing this. I need some good advice on what I can do to motivate myself again becuase I have gained 5 pounds back already.    — Peggy D. (posted on April 27, 2003)

April 27, 2003
When I find myself thinking about food and knowing that I am not hungry. I do one of two things. 1) Get a glass of water and drink,drink,drink. 2) Go for a walk and think about what a good choice I made to take a walk instead of eating when I shouldn't. I also try to keep track of my feelings and what is going on in my life when the old eating habits try to creep back. Emotional eating is very difficult habit to break. We all need to replace the emotional eating with another gratifying activity. If your a reader...read,a gardner...plant,a walker...walk., you get the picture. Best of luck. Keep up the good work. Remember we all run into set backs. It's how we handle them and move on that makes all the difference. Becky
   — perpetualuv

April 27, 2003
I have this weird popsicle habit. I leave room for a popsicle after every meal I have at home. Originally it was for thirst because we can't drink with meals, but now it puts a period at the end of my meal in much the same way a cigarette did when I was smoking. I have no idea why it is so satisfying but it is.
   — susanje

April 27, 2003
I found I have had similar problems from time to time. I think sometimes we are just more hungry than usual and we should recognize that. Also, I think you may want to look into OA (Overeaters Anonymous) I have found them to be very helpful on the emotional eating issues. You can find local chapters easily. Hope this helps you!
   — missmollyk

April 27, 2003
I learned this trick from the vitalady, Michelle Curran. Whenever I want to eat something (like the second half of the chili), I tell myself I can have it AFTER I drink a protein shake. Most of the time, the shake fills me up and I no longer want to eat anything else. The other thing I do is to only buy small containers or to package my meals in small containers. Glad makes a 1/2 cup container. I make my noodleless lasagne and put it in these cups and freeze it so that I have 1 helping of food. I also buy hormel chili in the small containers that are 1 serving. This works for me. I'm also a lightweight and am down 95 lbs in just under 7 months.
   — JoAnn B.

April 27, 2003
Peggy, i go through the same thing you do and so do many others im sure...we all have different ways of handling it but you gotta find one that works for you because you dont want to slip back into old habits and gain the weight back... I personally will throw food away YES throw it away i know its a waste of food and money but i would rather throw the food away then gain back weight or, if you can control your head hunger to at least freeze the 2nd half of ur meal then you dont have to waste the money u can save that for later but you sound alot like me, if its there its calling my name and i cant help but run for it lol...well good luck to you!
   — Deanna Wise