OK, I am 8 weeks POST op, and down 57 Pounds. I started working out 2 weeks ago and it’s going well.

Here is my issues(S) during the normal work week I have a shake in the morning for Breakfast and a shake at lunch. Then I get home and go right to the fridge and stare. I munch whatever I can get my hands on until I almost feel sick… I then chill out until dinner. .

During the weekend, or days off I find myself standing in front of the fridge all day long or about every 20 minutes, or just after the last little bit of food drops into my new stomach. I think I need help.

• I am NOT hungry!

• I munch on whatever I can find

• I know that I don’t want it or need it

• The weekends are killing me

• It’s 100% mental

• Can I chain my fridge shut?

• It’s boredom

• I’m getting kinda scared about not being in control.

Can someone please offer some advice?

Thanks, Todd

I struggle with the same issues but, I would say get rid of all the junk food in the house. It's much easier to resist if it's not there. Ask your family to support you on this issue. Keep healthy Snacks around. cheeses, nuts, boiled eggs, sf popsicles... Keep your hands busy. This helped me alot when I quit smoking. I would make myself to wash dishes by hand if nothing else. There's no way you can smoke with wet hands. LOL

Google a list of things to do instead of eating. Take a bath, read a book, take a walk, scrapbook, play cards.... Usually if you can get your mind off of it, the urges will usually pass. One more thing that helps me a lot is having a planned a high Protein afternoon snack so, I'm not starving when I get home before dinner.

Good luck!

Plan your meals right to the snack with the times you will eat each meal/snack. Do this for the following day each night before you go to bed. Be diligent and militant until the "head hunger" gets under control. If it wasn't planned, don't eat it.

While this doesn't sound fun it can be very freeing to not have to think about food. I use this technique for week or two anytime I need to get my head out of the game. Bill Phillips (workout guru) says, "Fail to plan; plan to fail." That little mantra keeps me focused.

I hope this helps!

Amanda

Steady eating throughout the day. The hunger monster builds through the day if you're not feeding it, so by the time dinner comes, you're ravenous. Eat something for breakfast. Have a "protein drink power up" (1/2 of a protein drink) mid morning. Eat lunch. Protein drink power up in the afternoon. Then eat dinner. Don't let your appetite (physical OR mental) build up to an out of control point by the evening. Just a suggestion.

If all I had was a shake for breakfast and a shake for lunch, I would be doing the same thing. Why aren't you eating real food? I eat 5 or 6 times a day and only one shake as a snack.

First of all, you're doing great with the weight loss.

Isn't it frustrating how much of a mental battle this is? A couple books have helped me - The End to Overeating, written by the former head of the fda and Women, food and God. Even if you're not a woman, give it a shot.

And I agree with the others - two shakes hardly seems satisfying and I would binge too. Also planning/having the right foods available helps. I've also been going to therapy which is a great tool for processing all this change.

Thank you everyone... I appreciate the help... Everyday is a new day!