Musings 20 months out

Thank you for posting this Pam. All us pre-ops need to get this hammered in our heads. This operation will not make us thin for the rest of our days...it only gives us an opportunity to get our **** together (pardon the language).

I have been attending Therapy in hoping I will be able to get control of the demons that cause me to eat like a crazy person....get my head into what i am doing and why...

I appreciate you sharing this!

Jo

Because you are doing that you will be successful. Know yourself is really what it is about.

You go girl, that's the attitude! I'm soaking in all that you said. tx for sharing

Terri

Thank you everyone for sharing.  This is why I love the OH website.

Pat, the eating out of boredom in the evening was a killer for me at first too.  I had to change my habits so I wouldn't eat at night.  I can say that now almost 8 years later, it seldom happens.  I started eating dinner closer to 7 every night.  Then wait the usual 30 mins or longer before we can drink so I'd clean up the kitchen and then it was almost time to drink.  I started a habit of making a large pot of herbal tea every night and would start drinking that as soon as my mandatory waiting time was up. I kept a basket of light weights beside the sofa and if I wanted to watch TV, I had to sit through the commercials and do some weights since I usually got up during the commercials to graze the kitchen. It kept me in the living room but busy.  I turned the light off in the kitchen and it was basically closed.  I kept my pot of tea on the dining room table and would only go that far.  I only allowed myself in the kitchen to ge****er or boil more water for the tea.  It took a few weeks to get over not going to the kitchen to graze but now many many years later, I don't even think of eating after dinner.  I also picked up my knitting needles again to keep my hands busy.  Finding something else to do has been key for me and it sounds like you have a few things that you plan on doing to distract yourself.  I hope after a few weeks that it hits you like it hit me that it just doesn't interest me to eat at night any longer.

Thanks Tracy. Knowing that after 8 years you are still able to conquer the night demons is very encouraging. I like your ideas. I have been trying tea at night. Seems to help a little so guess it is something I should make a habit of

Thanks for these tips, Tracey!  I'm struggling with mindless night eating right now too, so these tips are great.

Thanks so much for posting this, Pat.  It is so timely for me - at one year out, I'm finding more and more that I'm slipping back to old habits (particularly night and stress eating).  I am a few pounds up from my lowest weight and want to nip my bad habits in the bud!  I would love to take on this challenge with you and anyone else who is struggling.  Maybe we can start separate thread each night to post about ways we are going to avoid nighttime snacking? 

And like Kelly, I cannot believe you are 62 years old!  You are so active and look much younger than that.  Amazing!

That sounds like a good idea. I am always up for a challenge these days. Kind of miss the cross Canada challenge that was going last year.

I think that continuing to  keep in touch on this board and at the support groups really helps too.  Those of us in the first year have to be mindful of looking ahead and establishing habits that will continue in the future.  Being aware of your concerns as well as suggested solutions is important.  Thanks for posting

Karol