Advice on strategies for when you want to binge and can't

[jenontheband 0]

Here is a quote of mine from one of the other forums:

I fight with [the binging] urge every time something emotional happens...loneliness, anger, frustration...you name it I eat.

I remember getting into a fight with my husband over something dumb many years ago and we were sitting in a car in front of a cafe and I told him that this fight was making me want to walk right over to the cafe and buy a pumpkin pie and eat the whole thing right there. It was at that moment that I realized what an emotional issue this was for me.

So I am wondering from some of you more experienced post lap band surgery patients out there...what do you do now when you feel that urge to emotionally binge and you can't anymore?

[Humming Bird 275]

I clean house.

When I was a child and my mom was mad about something, she cleaned house. We knew that we also better clean house when she was mad. She didn't have to say a word. It was just understood that when mom was pissed, we better grab a broom or dust rag and clean clean clean!

[vlp1968 83]

To stop turning to food when in an emotional state is a tough one to stop. I see a counselor and that helps a lot. Highly reccomend it. Try to get to the source of your feelings and find a productive way to handle it. Food only comforts for so long. For example, if your lonely, call someone on the phone. Don't be afraid to express your feelings to those around you. Talk can be great therapy! Best wishes!

[Morgan from OR 0]

Here is a suggestion.... I keep a basket of hard sugar free candies in my pantry... when I get the "emotional rush" to eat - I grab one of those hard candies and then use it as a "timer" to go do "something".... clean something, pull weeds, trim flowers, go through the mail - etc. Usually takes about 10 minutes for that candy to disolve. It really seems to help me!

[Shay7997 0]

I go play a video game, pickup a book, or I jump on my cannondale and go for a ride with itunes blaring in my ears!

[JoJo1 0]

I just sit down, close my eyes and remember why I got the band in the first place, so I would not be able to give in to those times. Usually fixes it for me!!! Hugs!!!

[btrieger 21]

Brush your teeth. Nobody wants to eat immediately after brushing.

[Merrywood 0]

I let myself go through the emotions, then slowly try to come down from the desire to eat. I try not to suppress what I'm feeling, but to look at it and understand the place from where it comes. It's meditation, in a way, and it's helpful.

[jenontheband 0]

Thanks everyone! Great info!