Frusterated with food!

[trs893]

Hello all,

Just wanted to talk about something that I'm sure a lot of people deal with.

I know it's totally normal to look at food and wish you could eat it and not worry about it getting stuck or gaining weight. But what do you do when the desire for the food becomes so overwhelming that you can't focus on anything else but food?

It happens to me all the time. Knowing that I can't physically eat something is usually a blessing, so I won't cheat, but it also depresses me.

You'd think that after losing a lot of weight, the results would be enough to make you immediately turn your head away from tempting foods, but it never got any easier for me.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to deal with a situation when you've become so upset about foods you can't eat anymore that you feel like crying? I'm sure that others on this forum feel like this sometimes...

Thanks for everything,

TRS

[mona-camille]

Yes, I DO feel like that too. Although, I have to say it has gotten a little better since being banded. I do so good during hte day when my band is tight, but then at night - forget it! I keep lots of flavored water in the house and try that when I get an urge for food. I think it is just going to take a long time to get over the food habit.

I am reading this book called the Law of Attraction. It is kind of weird, but they do have some great points in it I am trying to adhere to. I actually had a psychic tell me that I am sabotaging my own weight loss efforts by focusing on how I am not losing weight instead of focusing on how I want to look. So it sounds really kooky (The psychic and the book I mean) but I am willing to give it a try.

[Kittycat]

Hi TRS,

I too struggled with not being able to eat some of the foods I love, I ate KFC chicken once a week before banding...but since a few bites the chicken and a major PBing episode (at work no less) I can't even look at it. I am disappointed and thankful, it's crap anyway.

I am doing so much better controlling what I put in my mouth and how much. I look at every label before I buy it...I was never like that, I just grabbed what looked good.

It's alot of brain training. Not that I don't have a treat once in awhile, fries and chips are my weak spot. But it's all in moderation and if I think it's going to sabbotage my weight loss, I won't have it.

It's a lifestyle change and it takes time...I am going to live my life keeping in mind right now that I want to lose weight, but if I deprive myself completely, I will fail.

Good Luck!!

[fat2nrml]

The ladies are right, ... it's the brain re-train thing that's important. Even though I was banded in March, I'm still not re-trained. My eyes are bigger than my stomach and I'm still working on the 'head hunger' thing. I have to keep reminding myself why I did this and try to focus on that. I feel so much better already,... I don't get so winded, I can tie my shoes, shave my legs and shop alot longer. [The latter's ALWAYS a plus!! ]

My blood pressure's slowly going down to safe levels and my heart doesn't flutter anymore... that would scare the crap out of me! I guess the best thing to do is post reminders everywhere, especially the frige. That reminds me... we went to a flea market today and a guy was selling a pig that you put in your frige and every time you open the door, it oinks!! I should have gotten it!

[doinitagann]

here I am pre-op and I am having the same difficulty. I have been on the preop diet now for almost 2 weeks and am really beginning to feel deprived. As if I have not eaten enough in the last 32 years!!!! My son had a bowl of cereal this morning and all I wanted to do was grab it and wolf it down. I think to myself that the banding will stop this, but I know that this is in my head, not in my stomach. this is something that i am really worried about. I am having so many life changes right now, I hope I can remain strong. I hope that I will be able to retrain the brain and I know this forum is going to be the biggest motivation. thanks again for being there and helping me not feel alone.

[momonamission]

I do fight with the same thing from time to time. I deal with it in different ways at different times. Sometimes like a child I try to refocus my attention on something different. I might go do something fun, I might just swicth from choosing cake to a chocolate fiber or protien bar or fudge pop. I try not to completely deprive myself because I am sure to fail if I do. Today I ate a slice of apple pie and a scoop of ice cream. I did not feel bad because I have been good all week and I have excercised. I also made sure it was a very small piece and only one scoop. You know what...I did not even eat it all. Before it would have been 2 slices and 4 scoops of ice cream. I use to love this pie and I found it just so-so today and not worth the calories. This time I just stopped when I felt I had taseted enough to indulge. I also think of food as money. I learned this from weight watchers. Each calorie is a dollar. How do I want to spend my dollars? I only get 1200 to 1500 of them a day. I try to eat 1200 one day and 1400 or 1500 the next. Sometimes on the 3 days I work I might only get 700 to 1000 calories. I try to keep my calorie count different everyday. I have heard that is better and it helps your body not to platue. Who knows if it true or not? Good luck with yours. We all have to find are own way. Maybe these tips will help you. I just remember years ago at a weight watchers meeting the leader had lost over 100 pounds. She said she ate 2 snickers every week. One at the beginnig and one in the middle of the week. She said she could be good the rest of the time because she always knew a snickers was just around the corner. I guess you just have to figure out what works for you.

[GirlBarb]

I have been doing pretty good for a couple of months now, but recently we decided to move to another state and I am so freaked out about getting everything ready in that direction, that I haven't been logging my food, or execising. I don't even think about the band most of the time. A few times I really overate what I wanted and felt heart pain, that's it. I think I need a better fill, I had three fills in a 4 cc band for a total of 1.7.

I guess I need to always put the band habits that I am working to create first. Including reading and writting in this site.

Barb

[Dontondan]

I have that problem from time to time, but find that if I deprive myself it becomes an OBSESSION!!! I just get out my little plate, have a small amount of what I am craving and then put it away. I chew the hell out of it, savor the flavor and then I am done with it. If it (the craving) is too strong, I will go take a walk or visit a friend, or go to the casino and play my slot machines (I never eat when I do that) until the craving passes.

[MarinaBleu]

UGH!! It feels like since I've started this band journey all I've been doing is obsessing about food! I've tried to redirect my energy but that only lasts for so long before another food commercial, smell or thought crashes into my consciousness and then it starts all over again. I got this heavy for a reason and now I need to do daily battle with it. I'm determined to win, but it ain't easy.

I decided not to tell anyone about my banding because I didn't want people to think I took the 'easy' way out. I don't want to justify myself, debate my decision or want the "food police" watching my every morel asking if I'm supposed/allowed to have that...as far as the world knows I had my hiatal hernia taken care of (which I did) and that's the reason for my eating.

Everyone on this board knows this is defiantly not the "easy" way out. I applaud your strength and determination to choose a healthier life and LIVING IT!!

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.” ~Unknown

[Tara2sassy4u]

Hi there ,

Everytime I go on a diet I seem to obsess about food. Mostly because I know I have to be prepared, and do lots of shopping, and I always seem to be planning on what I am eating next. I hope since I am starting my pre-op diet tomorrow and breakfast and lunch is a shake, that it will take some of the food obsession away. Some of the other posts suggested doing an activity, and that does seem to help. I like to call it re-direction with either an activity that is keeping you moving or keeping your hands busy.

Hope that helps!

Tara2Sassy4u

[sparetire]

yup, Obsession is my middle name...

my latest experience: I just recently got another fill (2 cc and I am at my sweet spot!) I find that I will eat what I want, but likely can only eat one little bite. I have had chicken fingers, battered fish and all sorts of restaurant food due to being on vacation for 9 days afterwards, but have always had to leave almost all of the food on my plate (my son ate my fried, hubby ate some veggies etc). I ordered from the children's menu, and at Shari's they let me order from the over 55 menu. Really, I could not see a difference in size of order, just the price.

Anyways. the way I found to overcome my obsession...I can now eat my desired food (unless you have had a bad experience of course...Cathy, I feel bad for you!) and I find the band keeping me from overeating it. I do have a tendency for proteins being my faves... so it comes in the right order for me.

just wanted to share my latest experience...

[Sandy]

I get like that too. It's like the thing I want to eat gets bigger and bigger until I can't take it anymore. One thing I discovered that really helps me is to have a mental list of projects I would like done. My house is large and I have 4 kids, a husband and we live on a small farm so there is always something to be done. When the food wants to take over my brain again I go clean or organize something that I normally wouldn't get to. When it's done the feeling has passed (or at least it's time to go to bed ) and I feel great about what I've accomplished instead of eating. Now this only works when I decide I really want to avoid something. Sometimes I am a little kid that wants what she wants when she wants it!

In any event find something that works for you. There are lots of great suggestions on here. And realize it won't work every time. Just take it one at a time and NEVER give up.

:lb11: :lb4: