Hi there-

I haven't had surgery yet but I really want to try to fix what is going on in my head before surgery so that I can be more successful with my weight loss. From what I've been reading on the board-it sounds like the mental aspect of the journey is perhaps the more difficult struggle.

I want to get to the heart of the matter. Why am I overweight? I was always a skinny kid, skinny teenager and thin young adult. I was 122 when I got married (age 25). I was about 165 after having kids (age 33). And now-at 39-I'm 207/208. I know that I use food as a reward for myself-after a long stressful day, I will often prefer to just eat out. 

I just want to delve into my issues further before surgery. I won't be able to have the surgery until beg. of 2013 due to insurance issues so now is a good time to work on fixing my head.

So are there any books that have helped you along your journey?

Thank you so much!!

Pam 

Several head books, and one big nutrition/food books.. 

Gary Tubes Why We Get Fat (best book to read for info on how foods effect our fat storage and why it's much more complex than just about excess calories.) Also Good Calories Bad Calories (longer, more scientific.. the first is a better read if you just wanting the basic gist.)

Eating Drinking & Overthinking.. some good tidbits in there.

Beck Diet Solution (thanks BL!) Don't bother with the diet portion, just the strategy/workbook parts, it's really good.

I highly recommend "The Emotional First Aid Kit" by Cynthia Alexander.  It's a small paperback written by a psychologist who counsels weight loss patients.  it's all about the head games and how to succeed over them.

I second this!

They aren't really weight loss books but I've always loved the "Eat this, Not that!" books because they teach you about what is in your food and how to make wiser food choices. There are so many gimmicks ("Fat free, sugar free", etc) that manufactors use to get you to buy their products making you think its healthy when in reality your better off with the regular products most of the time (less sugar). Is a lot of interesting facts in them.
Good luck!

Pamwellina!

I bumped this thread to the top for you, my love. 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4320664/Head-hunger-Em otional-Eating-the-tools-I-still-use-to-help/

 Thank you so much, Brandilynn!! 

I can recommend:

"Why We Get Fat & What To Do About It" by Gary Taubes.

"When Food Is Love" by Geneen Roth.

The key is finding a book that speaks to you & these two are mine.

Good luck & I think it's great you're doing your research!

 My support group suggests this one : 

The Success Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients

by Colleen M. Cook

I've read the first couple of chapers but also done an online seminar.

May I suggest  Dr. Connie Stapleton's books:

Eat it Up
 
Thriving  -  just recently was released  in May 

http://www.conniestapletonphd.com/


GOOD LUCK !!