Talk with Tara, MFT

Hello!

My name is Tara and I am a Licensed Psychotherapist and Life Coach specializing in bariatric surgery and weight loss.  Beginning next week, I will be starting a "Talk with Tara" series that will include helpful tips and information for those considering weight loss surgery and those who have already undergone a surgical procedure.

However, I'd love to hear from you first!   Please feel free to respond to this post and share any topic ideas that you'd be interested in.  For example:

 

·         Maintaining motivation

·         Stress reduction tips

·         Emotional eating strategies

·         Relationships & WLS

 

I look forward to hearing from you and joining you along your weight loss journey!

 

Tara Griffith, MA, MFT

Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco

WLS Support Services

 

Hey Tara, welcome to the board.

Since it's still a little too early for me to think really hard; I'm just gonna run with the subjects you provided above.

Maintaining motivation - Besides thinking of myself first; I also have to think of my family, and other loved ones.  These are things that keep me motivated.
Stress reduction tips - I can't speak for anyone else, but I like to head to the gun range to fire off a few hundred rounds.  Well it's either that, or just take off on an extra long walk/jog.
Emotional eating strategies - Whenever I catch myself wanting to eat too much, I just throw it away.  It doesn't matter how much I paid for it; it goes right in the trash.
Relationships & WLS - ummmmmmm....still working on this one.

I hope this helps you out with your series.

JaviC

Transfer Addictions! 

I quit smoking 20 months ago.  Have not and will not pick it up again.  This is a hand to mouth activity.

I quit drinking diet pepsi and have not had any caffeine in 1 year 2 days.  I was drinking 18 - 20 cans a day.  Again, a hand to mouth activity.

I had RNY 1 year and 2 days ago.  Lost 145#.  prior to surgery food was a definate rewarding hand to mouth activity.

Recently tho..........taken to snacking.  Grazing.  I get something in my head that my mouth wants and I gotta go get it.  If it's in the house, it's fair game.  Once I figured out I can eat just about anything, my dam brain took over. I'm not even hungry and I'm trolling for snackies

So, now I'm working on finding a new hand to mouth activity.  Water just ain't cutting it.  SoBe Lean is good.  But I need something with CRUNCH.  Sunflower seeds?

This is a good subject matter.  Thanks for posting!

Hi Tara....

To echo what Maureen already mentioned, I think there's a lack of support/discussion dedicated to the emotional/mental transofrmation that takes place after WLS.

 It often leads to addiction transfer. It shows up in many forms the most common being alcoholism but it also shows up in sexual promiscuity, compulsive shopping, and sometimes depression.

I think there's a belief that once someone loses the extra weight that other life issues will also be resolved and that's not always the case.

I look forward to hearing from you & welcome to the board!

Hi Tara and to the others who posted, I can relate to Maureen relative to the grazing and snacking.  I know that grazing is eating all day long with no planning and that snacking is more of a planned eating period.  I know I control my hands, but they do not know how to say no to grazing and this has been going on for a couple of months.
I am a support group leader and talk to my members about grazing, snacking and the do's and don'ts I am not even following my own advice.  What is up with this?!
I can relate to Monica's post because people really do expect everything to be okay and/or perfect once they have WLS; however, the WLS is just the tool to help you get where you want to be.  It is stressful trying to live up to the expectations of others who have not had WLS and/or do not understand the process.  Now I am rambling so I will close and wish you all a great weekend!
Terry

 Hi Tara!

I have yet to have WLS though have been pursuing it for the past 3 years--frustrated with insurance denials versus other obstacles.

Emotional eating is my biggest issue and I am an emotional person--I don't really want to change that fact but I would like to respond more positively to my emotions.

Mindful eating is an area I continue to explore--since I have a distorted relationship with food focusing my attention to what I am doing will help me tremendously.

Looking forward to "Talk with Tara"

Best Wishes,
Cristi