Hey all. I need some advice. I'll be a month post-op wednesday and am still on mushies/semi solid foods. I feel really good and have lost 30lbs from pre-op diet and a week after in the hospital. But ever since I've been home I only lost another 3lbs or so. I'm having a hard time transitioning from mental eating to only eating when im hungry. I watch the clock to see when the next time I can eat is. it's sick, I know, but I cant help myself. Even when i'm not starving i'll eat every 2 hours. my dr said thats what i'm supposed to do, but I feel guilty because I eat even when I'm not hungry, just because theres something that I want to eat or because its just sitting in the fridge. did you guys go through this? and how did you correct it?

I use to eat by the clock as well, my thing was 9am was breakfast and 12 was lunch, 5 was dinner no matter if I was hungry or not. We all as overweight people have suffered enough and I went trough the same feelings you are having. I spoke to my Dr and he said- "EAT".....wait, what....? Eat? Yes in fact eat! You are probably going to eat 3 meals a day.....split it up into 6 meals a day. Have your breakfast @ say 9....at 10:30 have half of your lunch. @ 12-1230 finish the other half of your lunch. (this works best if you have a cold lunch ie:wrap or salad etc.) have yourself a snack (i usually pick a 100 calorie pack snack or something sensible) around 2:30 and another @ 4:30, by this point most people are getting dinner prepared and you shold be able to hold out util such time. In that gap just have your liquids. You are keeping fuel in your tank all day so to speak, you aren't eating anymore than "normal" and you are satisfying what I feel like most of us have- an Oral Fixation.....You will create and burn more energy this way according to my Dr. I feel its true because since last Feb I have lost almost 90lbs doing just that. In a month or 2 you can't undo a lifetime of bad habits. Give you body time to adjust and when the weight starts dropping because you are suddenly doing the right thing you will feel it become 2nd nature I wish you well and ask me if you have anymore questions.

I got over it by not having the extra food readily available and keeping my mind occupied so I don't have time to watch the clock.

Don't have a lot of ready to eat foods in the house except may fat free yogurt or the like.

Only cook enough for 1 serving at a time. That way you aren't picking at leftovers.

When the hunger hits, take a walk or brush your teeth. The walk will give you time to get over the hunger and nobody wants to eat right after brushing.

I got over it by not having the extra food readily available and keeping my mind occupied so I don't have time to watch the clock.

Don't have a lot of ready to eat foods in the house except may fat free yogurt or the like.

Only cook enough for 1 serving at a time. That way you aren't picking at leftovers.

When the hunger hits, take a walk or brush your teeth. The walk will give you time to get over the hunger and nobody wants to eat right after brushing.

I couldn't agree more. I have never thought about the brushing teeth, but will keep it in mind. I usually go out for a walk. you may have a hobby that you can keep handy. At work, I am able to get up and walk around and sometimes, I walk around the block. The hardest thing and still is for me is to trash left overs, but I do it so I am not tempted to pick at it when I shouldn't.

I agree! Just don't have the food around. Have you met with a dietitian yet? As for leftovers, well, i have chickens so nothing goes to waste! I knew they were good for something!

I suck at throwing out food. I hate to do it. What I do instead now is freeze leftovers into appropriate serving sizes so I can't pick at them without thawing and heating the whole meal.

Thanks everyone! i'll try brushing and walking lol :] I cant throw food away either Its terrible

I do best if I plan ahead for everything I will eat for the day. I was never a planner , always just winging it and thats one of the reasons I always ate so much. Now I have a protien shake in the morning at home, I pack 3 meals (4 oz. each) to take to work, and have a clear plan for what I will have for dinner and late snack. The timing needed in order to space out liquids, i.e. no drinking 30 minutes before or 60 minutes eating, makes it nearly impossible to eat too soon. Sometimes the day comes to an end and I realize I still have two "meals" to fit in. I try to avoid eating heavy before bed but a glass of soy or skim milk before bed dosnt hurt.