Changing your mindset/attitude towards food

[nolongerhere 100]

What are you doing to fill the food void now that you've had surgery?

Edited December 18, 2014 by islandsneezer

[ProjectMe 909]

Interesting question...Yoga, meditation, and targeted hypnosis are truly helping fill that void and are helping me become a more balanced person.

[Beni 1,484]

I think before surgery eating was in part due to control. You may not be able to control the world around you but you sure can control what you eat even if it seems that's out of control. Even if we think we can't control our eating the truth is we do. And let's just be honest we liked eating. We liked it so much it became our drug of choice to the point our bio feedback mechanism was to set eat more. It was killing us but we couldn't stop. The live to eat syndrome. How different is that from anorexia, drugs or alcohol. I would argue there is very little difference. But I do think some of us are more predisposed to overeating and some of us are more predisposed to alcoholism. All part of the human condition.

For me, and this is a journey by no means over, it has been about relinquishing control. Coming to an understanding that I don't have control. Throwing up because I was eating too much after surgery, in a way, was the best thing that happened to me. Mind you eating too much is eating 1/2 cup instead of 1/4 cup and two tablespoons. Not a binge but I certainly was looking for that full feeling that relaxes you. Guess what, it's not there anymore. It's, I am eating and then I fall of the cliff. A all is well goes to I have to throw up in a second flat. I have no choice regarding that. I am bound by the physical reality. My surgery is calling the shots, not me. I have very little control. Then, it became all about I don't know how to do this. I have to follow this plan very closely because I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to eat. Imagine how devastating and enlightening this can be at the same time. Once I realized this I was much happier because my choices are more sensible and I don't fight the reality. I back of from this need to eat what I want. Does this mean I won't try to push the envelop? Probably not, but I have to start somewhere. I am relearning how to eat. With 42 pounds lost I feel 100% better and this alone keeps me going. I am over the moon!

[Tori Loukas 52]

• The emotional urge to eat rarely comes anymore---note said "Rarely" not "Never!" ( Lol) . I deal with it by getting my mind on something else. I am a food addict, and part of my recovery is filling that void on a daily basis. I am 21 years in AA and I employ the 12 Steps, the literature, and AA's fellowship to deal with my sobriety. So I use the 12 Steps in regards to my eating. I am not a formal member of a facetime OA group but I do some online stuff with OA that helps me, including a daily blog from a Yahoo email loop that I found. I get my inspiration there. I have a few friends that I am accountable to with my eating who are familiar with the 1 Step program of recovery. I have no control over and am powerless over my eating. My way gained me 250 pounds so I am willing to take the direction of those who have gone before me in this regard. Recovery is a 3-legged stool: Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual. I also had to forge a personal relationship with a God of my understanding to straighten out my ass! Along with that, people to call and talk to when I get into trouble (or, preferably before I get into trouble!) and practicing a daily program is what I use, and it's worked for me. If I get the emotional urge to eat today, I "out" it. I write it out, talk it out, walk it out, whatever. Then I let it go. And, I find that more often than not, that urge to eat just passes on its own if I say a little prayer, get onto something else, and ignore the lies it's telling me, like, "You need to eat this", or "One bite won't hurt". It WILL hurt--because once I start, I don't stop. And it's a disease, with its own pathology and stages that ultimately will lead me to my demise. It is my own responsibility to be well and happy---and each day I want my choices to reflect that. GREAT topic, thanks!

[Beni 1,484]

@@Tori Loukas

Fantastic statement. Loved it!

It's a process, but one where I feel I have a fighting chance. Before surgery I did not. I failed so many times it was amazing I was even willing to try. I wish I could tell everyone with a BMI of 40 (like me) that there is a way out and you are not alone.

[Tori Loukas 52]

Thanks, Beni! You rock