Words of Wisdom.

[hatters 47]

I need a little help. Back in January I went on a cruise and just a little off my diet. I say just a little b/c it was the last day and I thought I would treat myself. But ever since then I have slowly been "treating myself" more and more. Two week ago I traveled for work and I brought my food but once I got there I went crazy and now I am doing that thing were you get mad at yourself for making bad choices so you just continue to make bad choices.

I really thought I was changing the way I view food since surgery but now that I can eat a fairly large amount I am afraid I maybe going back to my old ways.

SO I want to know what do you guys tell yourself to get yourselves back on track.

[Bob2013 326]

Look for some local support groups. Being with like minded people may help get you back on track.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

This is an extremely common issue with food addicts. The "treating yourself" person inside you, sitting on your shoulder, whispering in your ear that "hey, it's okay... you've been so good. Look how much you've lost!! A little treat won't hurt" and then the cycle keeps snowballing.

You just have to stop. There's really no other way. When those "voices" start their baloney just ask them "what will REALLY happen once I do this??" I think you know the answer. WLS support is great, but battling eating addiction is another. There are too many ways to cheat, no matter which surgery you've had or how tiny your stomach is.

Good luck!

[PdxMan 4,292]

Every time I put something into my mouth, I ask, "Why am I doing this?"

If it is a treat, I ask if I have had a nutritionally balanced day so far. If the answer is "No", then I ask another question, "Am I feeling the symptoms of HALT? (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) If I am hungry and the food is what I call nutritionally relevant, then I eat it. If it isn't, then I get something that has nutritional value. If I am wanting to eat to satisfy one of the other symptoms, then I focus on that and do some root cause analysis. For me, this is when the real work to address my poor relationship with food take place. This is the reason why I was morbidly obese to begin with. I ate not to feed my body, but to feed something else.

I am a work in progress. As we say, the sleeve is but a tool. I still need to do the work.

[LRG2014 55]

Pull out pictures of yourself before surgery!!! Put them on your fridge!!! Try on clothes that no longer fit!!! Start of journal of why you had the surgery to begin with and where you would be if you hadn't of had it!! Everyone has their weak moments...But don't let it be a habit!!..Best of luck!

[Teachamy 1,042]

I try to re-frame. And pause. Why do I want the food? "Treating myself" can never mean food for me again. I am addicted to food, and that way of thinking is self-destructive. For me a treat means a massage, a manicure, time out with friends, some alone time, or "window shopping" in a catalog or online.

[hatters 47]

Thank you for your words. Sometimes you just need someone else to say it.