Mindfulness Tapes

Marc had asked me about mindfulness tapes.  These are relaxation tapes and guided imagery tapes that help me get focused, centered  and relaxed in the here and now.  This is not what we are like when we are binge eating or mindlessly grazing.   The ones on weight loss are also helpful.    My counselor gave me a catalogue of resources called The Gurze 2009 Eating Disorders Resource Catalogue saying that it is the one that many professionals use because they trust the materials in it.  I have ordered several books and tapes though this and have liked them all.

The tape series I ahve been listening to that teaches us to become aware of when we are hungry and to actually enjoy eating when we do eat, stopping when we are satisfied is called "Mindful and Mindless Eatign audio CD"  by Robin Maynard-Dobbs

Looks like you can go online at bulimia.com for this.  This is an excellent resource I think.

Thanks Stephen.

I knew starting this that the part that scared me more than the actual surgery was the head game part after the surgery had done its job and it was left to me to fix the rest and make and keep good habits.

Off to spend more money. Uggh!

Marc

You know one of the things that I am coming to realize at this stage is why they had me do all that counseling and work pre-surgery.  I developed some habits (such as exercising) and some behaviors and tools that I am returning to now (like the tapes, etc...) that it is up to me to make choices that will help me use this tool that I have been given.  I am very thankful that I did this work pre-surgery right now, because I could easily spiral down hill into destructive old behaviors and not feel like I have a way out.  My work is just now beginning, but I feel great and optimistic about the future.

Stress is a real trigger for me. I find (especially if I am working from home) that when I am feeling stressed, I hit the snack cabinet. Right now I have fairly healthy snacks - soy chips, pine nuts etc, but I recognize this behavior as a mental weight around my neck. I feel the "I need to fill me up with something" feeling that I have always had. This scares me, cuz that was one of the issues I had pre-wls. I may try one of those tapes, or consider alternatives.

So you get similar feelings - head hunger as it relates to stress or situational hunger?

one of the segments on the tape (that I have not tried yet) is meant to be played when you are feeling that strong urge to binge or snack...  The ones I listen to right now are the ones that are helping me discern whether or not I am actually hungry and what I want to eat, and the one that guides you through eating mindfully.  There are several other tracks that you can play while you are riding your car (and wanting to eat-another place I snack),  feeling that urge to binge eat, etc....  Then there are some general relaxation tracks and one that deals with positive self affirmations.

Yup I get stressed I want to eat and the higher fat and carb counts the better.

Though I try not to I am not always on target. Denying my urges just makes me worse. Controlling them to levels inside of my calorie count is easier. Sort of........

Well thanks for posting this Stephan and Marc. I really appreciate you guys being open about this stuff. This is the really hard part of the weight loss journey. I am really struggling with it as well.

 Mental training is said to help give people the edge, be it in sports or any other activity. My favorites are HPP by Glauberman. Incredibly easy to go into a hypnotic state.