Not asking for advice, or ideas. Not even hungry Just venting.

I miss eating-some. Like tonight I made taco's for dinner (we soften the tortillas by spraying with Pam rather than frying in oil). I used to have 4-easily. Now I can barely finish 1. But I miss having two. It's like I work hard to fix food. It smells so good, and then tastes so good, that I don't want to stop eating even tho I'm full. I do stop. Otherwise I'm in pain. But it's almost like I'm mourning eating.

Any one else feel this way sometimes?

I enjoy the smell and flavor of my food--I try to Celebrate every bite, savor and enjoy. One time early in my sleeve journey, my mother-in-law watched me eat 2 shrimp for lunch (yep, that's 2 shrimp!!) and asked me, "Are you satisfied?" I realized she wasn't just asking me about my hunger; she was asking me about my head. Was I satisfied--different question from "Are you full?"

It's the difference in physical and head hunger, I think. I was satisfied. I don't really mourn food much. I eat, it's delicious usually, I enjoy it thoroughly, and I'm done. I wasn't a big emotional eater pre-sleeve, and I'm not a very sentimental person in general (food isn't tied to special events or special memories or whatever); I'm lucky in that, I guess.

Hang in there--sounds like the sleeve might have been just exactly the right choice for you. I'm not trying to be anything but helpful here, but are you seeing anyone for counseling? I did, before being sleeved, and it was really helpful in getting my head together. :-) They might have some suggestions for you so that you don't constantly feel deprived or like you're missing something. Hugs to you!

I am seeing a therapist about my food addiction/low self esteem.

After writing the above I started to think and realized what was really making me want food. Besides being bored I just received some irritating news about a current legal issue with soon-to be ex. So I think what I was really looking for was some comfort.

As of yet I haven't found something to replace food as my go to comfort item. I realize it should be exercise-but I'm not to that point yet.

Debi ~ I like your insight. Now what can you do instead of eating?

I love taco's! They are my absolute favorite, especially when I make them. I can't imagine that I will be able to stop at 1. But will have too. It will be very painful to watch my family chow down. OMG! I don't know if I could handle this. You did a great job! So proud of you!

Keep Rockin that Sleeve!

I am seeing a therapist about my food addiction/low self esteem.

After writing the above I started to think and realized what was really making me want food. Besides being bored I just received some irritating news about a current legal issue with soon-to be ex. So I think what I was really looking for was some comfort.

As of yet I haven't found something to replace food as my go to comfort item. I realize it should be exercise-but I'm not to that point yet.

I resemble that remark: haven't found a replacement for comfort. I crave bread...a rotten white ciabata roll would do the trick...for .5 seconds. Not worth it. I watch tv, go to bed early and read and look at the forums. I don't see exercise helping me at 9pm. Gotta be something else...

I haven't felt that way yet because I know I can have some later if I wanted to. However I have been fearing this on my upcoming vacation to France. I can't imagine only eating a bit of that awesome food and leaving the rest on the plate! It has been worrying me for weeks, which is terrible in itself! Aaaah!

I do feel this way, I think. I find myself getting something to drink instead of eating though. I am afraid if I give into the eating that I will pick up the habit again, so I usually just have some Crystal Light or occasionally a little prune juice or a V-8.

Cooking is kind of sad for me now, where it used to be a joy. Now it seems like a lot of work for nothing. I feel sad for my husband because I have lost my cooking joy and I just scrounge together stuff for him.

I am seeing a therapist about my food addiction/low self esteem.

After writing the above I started to think and realized what was really making me want food. Besides being bored I just received some irritating news about a current legal issue with soon-to be ex. So I think what I was really looking for was some comfort.

As of yet I haven't found something to replace food as my go to comfort item. I realize it should be exercise-but I'm not to that point yet.

Hmh. I exercise and it does help with bad feeling so it is slowly dawning on me that exercising is a good choice when I'm sad. But so far when I feel bad instead of food I have:

• Lit a pretty-smelling candle
  
• Bought myself a little treat- a new magazine, cheap piece of clothing like cute socks or a tank top
  
• Applied hand lotion and lip gloss and maybe perfume to top it off
  
• Called a friend and whined in their ear
  
• Curled up on the sofa with my blankie and cup of tea and watched something light on TV
  

Lynda

I do feel this way, I think. I find myself getting something to drink instead of eating though. I am afraid if I give into the eating that I will pick up the habit again, so I usually just have some Crystal Light or occasionally a little prune juice or a V-8.

Cooking is kind of sad for me now, where it used to be a joy. Now it seems like a lot of work for nothing. I feel sad for my husband because I have lost my cooking joy and I just scrounge together stuff for him.

I think you will enjoy cooking again in a little time. You are just a couple of months out now. I can eat considerably more now and a wider variety of foods and spices.

Lynda

I think you will enjoy cooking again in a little time. You are just a couple of months out now. I can eat considerably more now and a wider variety of foods and spices.

Lynda

I really hope so. Thanks for the optimism. I am already enjoying the spices and hot stuff, and I feel so crazy fortunate that I can tolerate everything (except avocados and my multivitamin). But all that cooking and cleanup for two or four bites. Let's not mention all the leftovers. I need to remember to just make half a recipe. I know, I am being selfish, but it is so hard to be inspired when I can't really look forward to eating any of it!

I know it's gonna sound crazy, but I get my food "fixes" by watching shows like The Chew. I previously would have hated watching yummy foods being prepared and not being able to taste it, or I would go out and get something similar or make it. Part of it is the fun they have on the show, and on occasion I do see something that I can actually have or modify. But it's mostly like watching food porn haha. I have no idea why it doesn't bother me, on the contrary it makes me feel like I get to enjoy it somehow.

With my meals now, if I am having something really yummy that I wish I could have more of, I take any leftovers so I CAN have more, just a little later for a different meal. Or I have it for days in a row, or just tell myself right then, if I am sad I can't eat more, that I will have it again soon. It seems to help. There are tons of adjusting to be done with our new sleeved life, so I understand the mourning food part. It seems to get better over time.

I really hope so. Thanks for the optimism. I am already enjoying the spices and hot stuff, and I feel so crazy fortunate that I can tolerate everything (except avocados and my multivitamin). But all that cooking and cleanup for two or four bites. Let's not mention all the leftovers. I need to remember to just make half a recipe. I know, I am being selfish, but it is so hard to be inspired when I can't really look forward to eating any of it!

Yeah. I have learned to cook things that can be made in small portions, frozen, or that I don't mind eating for a while. I can eat 3 oz. of firm Protein now and up to a cup of soft stuff like Soup or a thin chili. I make a really meaty chili and I can only eat about 1/2 cup of it.

I probably didn't start cooking much till 6 months out. Fortunately, dear hubby likes to cook and didn't miss me cooking much.

Lynda

Lynda-Even before I saw your post, I had done the call a friend and whine. Seemed to do the trick. I guess I was just feeling lonely (I just started living alone for the first time in my life a month ago), bored and as I said irritated. Luckily my sleeve did not allow me to eat so that didn't happen.

Bored because all I had done today already was read and watch tv because it was snowing too much to go out unless necessary.

I so get the whole what's the point of cooking, I only get to eat 4 bites. My daughter and her family come over for dinner most nights, and I always try and prepare enough for both her and I to have for lunch the next day. That way I do get to have seconds of my delicious cooking!! But at least having them to cook for makes it worthwhile to make the effort. Plus they do the cleanup!!

Yes, yes and yes!!!!! I went through a major depression for about the first 3 months. I wasn't quite expecting it either. I thought once my ability to overeat was taken away from me and I wasn't hungry all the time...that those 2 things would end the problem. I will say that it did get me about 75 percent of the way there. Unfortunately, there was that other part of me that just wanted the food. The act of eating, the taste...the emotional angle. This is a combined issue. A lot of it is biological, physiological...but a lot is emotional. And that truly takes time to work through. I went through a mourning period. LIke a break up. And I just missed food. But I will tell you this . Hang in there because it will pass as you work your way through it. We may always struggle on some level but it gets easier.

For me, it's like breaking a habit. The longer I was away from the act of overeating and the foods that I craved the easier it became. Once again like a breakup....it's so hard at first but as time goes on it gets easier.

I know how hard it is but I also know that with time and new habits forming it will get better!

Not asking for advice' date=' or ideas. Not even hungry Just venting.

I miss eating-some. Like tonight I made taco's for dinner (we soften the tortillas by spraying with Pam rather than frying in oil). I used to have 4-easily. Now I can barely finish 1. But I miss having two. It's like I work hard to fix food. It smells so good, and then tastes so good, that I don't want to stop eating even tho I'm full. I do stop. Otherwise I'm in pain. But it's almost like I'm mourning eating.

Any one else feel this way sometimes?[/quote']

Yes I do. It sucks