Grazing

You should be getting at least 64 oz of fluid a day.  I drink about 120 oz.  I can really feel the difference in how I feel if I drink less than that.  I make myself a full pot of spicy herbal tea in the evening.  It's about four cups that I drink slowly until bedtime.  It keeps me from grazing.

Thank you for the suggestion. I hadn't thought of adding tea to my regimen. And I thought I was doing good to get my 60 oz! I live and I learn.

I can understand your predicament because when Im home and not working I can get easily bored and working on editing I keep running to the fridge even though sometimes I don't get anything to eat...boredom creates the grazing.  However, there are other alternatives that you can do that don't require money but your TIME. Can you volunteer on a limited basis? If you are online get involved in something you love to do - chatting or mentoring a kid. Also any hobbies that you want to do that you never had a chance to do?? Keep busy!!! And those things don't cost to participate. Can you do mini walks through the day with someone..there is so much need out there - that you may be able to (depending on your limitations) get involved. Best of luck!

Thank you, Ruth, for your kind words.I tend to be a loner but its something I'm trying to change. For instance, I've thought of offering my time to tutor English as a second language for the adult education office. I spend entirely too much time alone and I'm basically starved for human interaction. Working as a tutor would serve two purposes. It would get me out amongst people and allow me to serve in some way. I've taken training classes to become a tutor but it left me feeling so overwhelmed and then an old fear of failure reared its ugly head so I found excuses not to do it. Now I'm regretting it. Right now the adult education offices are closed for the holiday but I'm thinking of calling them after the new year to try again. Wish me luck!

Start by getting the food you're most likely to graze on out of the house.  I am likely to graze on things like crackers, chips and nuts.  I don't graze on things like yogurt, chili, stuff I'd have to eat with a spoon or fork, really.  So get rid of your favorite grazing things.

Doing some volunteer work is a great idea.  It will get you away from food and occupy your mind.

If you feel your depression is causing part of the problem, talk to your doctor about that.

Thank you, and you're right about getting my favorite grazing foods out of the house. Out of sight out of mind. I always keep cheese and yogurt on hand. I need to get back to eating them instead of crackers and potato chips. And I need to bolster the courage to try meats again.

Even though my surgery was this week I understand where you are,  I went the lap band route first, seven years ago (had it converted to bypass).  I think I sabotaged myself - it got to be kind of a game, how soon would the full feeling go away so I could eat again,  This time I need to be on more of a schedule,  When I got home from the hospital my first thought was that I'd really like  a grilled cheese sandwich (my classic comfort food).  Started thinking about it and realized that I wasn't really hungry, eating and snacking has become such a habit that I will need to be on a schedule.  One thing I learned with the lap band (and applies here too) is that the early months are the best for losing.  I fooled around with the lap band too long and then, while it was restricting what I could eat, I couldn't seem to lose.

As you lose and feel better, you'll feel more confident to get back out in the world.  It's funny that so many people are obese but we still see ourselves as second class citizens, even though (sadly) we are in the majority.

Just start over right now, get the junk food out of the house (told my husband if he wanted that stuff he needs to hide it in the basement or eat it somewhere else) and get on a schedule.  You can do it........you've done the hard work already.  Just get back to it and don't look back.

Thank you so much for these wonderfully wise words of support. They mean a lot more than I can say!

Rebecca

Separated at birth? 

Counseling and OA help some people sometimes...I personally have not found either one helpful. Feeling fulfilled and engaged is our best hope, I think. Volunteering is key--but sometimes we have to be careful not to take on too much in a high moment and then fail when our energy drops.

All the advice folks have given you is like candle light: we can all use it without using it up. So ize in yr post, stealin' yr help.  (tm LOLcats)

I have actually been in and out of OA for years, as I said with mixed results hence my hesitancy about going back. They're good people, most of them, but they can be rather tiresome when they get on their soapboxes. I have a problem, I know I have a problem, and I don't need to be beat over the head with things I shouldn't be doing, y'know? As for counseling, it has done wonders for me in nearly every area of my life except my eating. Maybe I've just never hooked up with the right counselor in that respect. Anyway, glad my post and the posts of those responding did you some good as well!

Rebecca