Boredom and head hunger

[shriner37 249]

As I've progressed post surgery I have learned that the most challenging days for me are the days when I have less activity to keep me busy. If I have an active, busy day I have found that it's very easy to stick with my program and experience little actual hunger.

The challenge, at least for me, are the days when I don't have much going on. Sitting around the house, watching TV in the evening, relaxing on the weekend. All of those end up prompting some serious head hunger. While the surgery may have helped me deal with actual hunger, it is still a battle to fight the urge to eat or snack out of boredom.

As an example, Thanksgiving itself wasn't a problem for me. I was able to eat mostly turkey breast and green Beans and did just fine. Plus I was busy cooking, cleaning and preparing for a house full of guests. However I was off work the day before and day after and both of those days were very challenging, especially with snack or finger food items all over the place from the holiday. I did fairly well but still ate some stuff I shouldn't have.

I've learned that keeping snack foods (slider type items) out of the house helps a lot as it reduces temptation. However, others in the household do occasionally bring in snack foods, so it takes a great deal of willpower to stay away from them when I'm just sitting around, watching TV, etc.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks to help fight the urge to eat out of boredom and the associated head hunger?

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Sounds like you have developed some good coping skills on your own. Things I do to keep busy, especially during tv watching time: I keep light hand weights by me on the sofa. They are 3lbs weights. During commercials I stand up and do a few reps with them, or I walked around the house holding them and swinging my arms. I'll also do a few push up against the wall. You could also try puzzle books, or even playing candy crush on your phone. If none of those work my go to Snacks are : cucumbers sliced with a splash of hot sauce & lime, a hard boiled egg or a hot cup of herbal tea. I also plan for snack and treats. Yesterday I went to a party. I planned in my food log to allow for a glass of red wine. I then planned how to meet my Protein goal working around that. I was able to social, have fun and not feel left out or deprived. Most importantly, no guilt over eating something. With the holidays upon us, I think it's important to add those things in. Better to say I will have 1 cookie than "cheat" and eat 5 then think you have to drink nothing but Protein shakes for 5 days to atone.

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]

@@shriner37 We have the same surgeon! My surgery was at the end of April this year. I hear you about the boredom eating. I have to really watch it. I had a really long stall because I was grazing on pretzels. I had to give them up and do a 5 day reset (per Tim) That worked, but I have to really watch it. I think I'll have to be conscious of this forever, to be honest. I think grazing was how I became obese in the first place. Take care!

[shriner37 249]

@@wannaBthinsoon Thanks for the information. You are right that grazing will probably be the biggest challenge I have, along with staying motivated enough to get in good exercise. I need to get back to see Tim as I'm overdue for my two month follow up.

Can you tell me at what stage you were when you did the 5-day reset? I've been in what is basically a stall for a couple of weeks. I was traveling for a 10 day period which sort of got me a little off track with too many business meals plus some alcohol, and since then (I've been back over a week) I've only dropped a couple pounds. I'll talk to Tim or Laura about it but am wondering if a reset would help me get back on track for weight loss.

[shriner37 249]

@@BLERDgirl Thanks for the good suggestions. Planning for and preparing healthy Snacks would be a big benefit, and is something I need to do. I also like your idea of using downtime to add in physical activity.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

How not to graze ...

1. Keep all food inside cabinets and never visible on kitchen bars, tables, etc. (Out of sight, out of mind.)

2. Exercise seriously every day -- this reduces your stress, your anxiety, and your boredom. For most people, this means walking at least 3 miles a day. You don't have to do it all in one full swoop. Break it up a mile at a time. Winter's here, which may bring terrible weather to your area. So if you don't have a treadmill at home, consider getting one. The exercise alone will motivate you not to replace all the calories you burned up by nibbling. Consider putting the treadmill in the room where you watch TV.

3. Find something to occupy your hands and mind. For women AND men this may be knitting, crocheting, and adult coloring books (don't laugh!).

4. Doing housework during TV commercials keeps me out of the kitchen -- laundry, vacuuming, making beds, cleaning closets, hanging up clothes, folding towels, straightening clutter, ironing, polishing shoes. You'd be surprised how much housework you can get done two or three minutes at a time.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

@@shriner37 - I find wearing a fitness tracker also helps with staying active/getting exercise. It's like a constant reminder to move, and get those steps in. At the mall, I will park further away, because I can use the steps. During tv watching time it's a nice reminder to get up and move. Especially if you set it to send an alert if you have been sitting for more than an hour so I always try to get up and move during commercials so I don't get that alert.

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]

@@shriner37 Tim had me do a 5 day reset at 6 month post op visit. He said I didn't lose as much as he had hoped. I had lost only 25, and he wanted 40 more by 6 months. I'm still losing, but at a snails pace. The 5 day reset helped a lot. It helped me get that feeling of tight restriction back. A bunch of us are doing it between holidays and again in January. Just 5 days like it was preop. And...get back in to see Tim.