What do you do instead of eat? What do you like to do?

Hi all,

I seem to struggle with finding other things I like to do other than eat. I know many of us can identify with that, but it feels strange and sad to actually type that out. In my busy day I seem to get lost in all the details of organizing my life to go to work, to do my commute, to prepare my food, pay bills, run errands, exercise and so on.  

What did you discover you liked doing after having WLS? I am talking about the things that give you joy, happines and peace. How did you discover what appealed to you?

I'd love to hear your stories.

Thanks,
MsBlues

Ms. Blues,

I can relate....

I paint yard art and also small miniture Christmas village plaster pieces.  I also do word games on the computer.  I find that anything of a crafty nature, brings me pleasure and pride.  Generally I like doing things for the house, silk flower arranging etc.  Michaels is my new addiction!

Hugs,
Barb

I play computer games, watch some TV, but I don't really like TV much.  I do snack tho, on unsalted sunflower seeds.  That is the only thing that has gotten me through these last 5 months of exile in my room.  I went downstairs for Thankgiving and what did I get...4 lbs...damn that food was good tho.  I don't have many hobbies, I don't have the patience.  If I can't get something done in an hour, I can't do it.  Too hyper.

That is my story and I am sticking to it.

I play video games with the hubby or kiddo. I read, or I play a game on my phone.

If the urge is still just to bad, I leave the house I go to Target and walk around I dont always buy something. Or I walk my two miles for one of my three days a week.

Since surgery I've discovered that I still enjoy food very much but in a different way than before. I love to cook now, and because I can't eat very much I love cooking for other people. I got to cook Thanksgiving dinner for the family and it was a dream come true for me. I always wanted to do it. I like to look for recipes, shop for groceries...and instead of looking at food for QUANITY (trying to eat a lot to get full) I now look for QUALITY (what tastes good, is healthy, is enjoyable).

I've discovered that I have an inner athlete, and in that respect too food has changed for me. It's now FUEL. I eat differently when I'm training for an event. I eat to  make my body perform and have energy.

Aside from food, I just have a greater appreciation for people...being social, going out, making friends, staying in touch with people.

Love your new avatar.

I am still newbie enough that most foods that I used to chow down on makes my stomach turn. I have fun with the grandkids, read, watch TV, browse the internet, walk, run errands etc.  My friend and I joined the Red Hat Society last summer.  I was hoping for more women around my age, there are a couple but we still have so much fun with them. Last month we went to a play in Columbia and it was really cute.  Columbia is near where Joy lives, I sure hope we start hearing from her soon again. I find that since I am not hungry I don't think about food as much. I do know the real challenge begins when i am a year out though.

Two things I enjoy post op is walking and riding my bicycle.  When it is warm out there is nothing better than bike riding for fun.  I wouldn't buy an expensive one...wait and see if you like doing it...As the weight drops, riding becomes easier and easier.  If I lived in Santa Cruz I would look to the boardwalk-pier area and the UC Santa Cruz area for my walks.  The UC has some hills that could be challanging...I think it would be cool to try and take that area on during a weekend or in the summer.  Brian

Hi all,

Thanks for the ideas.  Barb, your idea of doing things for the house sounds appealing. I really dislike how cluttered my house feels. All my closets and cabinets feel like they're bursting and I really don't use the things that are causing the most bursting.

Diane, I have enjoyed some computer games and maybe I'll get into that again. I like word games and crime solving games like CSI or Law & Order.

Brian, yes, Santa Cruz has wonderful places to walk. This last summer I found out how much I liked taking long walks along the cliffs with my iPod. I'd watch the waves break as I listened to my favorite music and watched the dogs play on the beaches. Maybe I'll do that more often when it's day light savings time again.

I also played three instruments throughout high school and college. I've kept up with one. Maybe I'll play piano more often. I never really played for fun, but played because of recitals, competitions, class requirements and so on.

My challenge is having a life where I am almost never home during the week and my long commute. I am hoping to arrange my life so I can still have a career I like, but don't have to let it consume my whole life so I can find time to do things other than eat. I can eat and work and eat and drive at the same time unfortunately. If I get no other time to have fun, than eating becomes my main pleasure. I obviously don't want this to be true any longer!

Thanks again everyone.

MsBlues