Hi everyone!

I'm new to the forum but wanted to provide a little help with coping strategies in getting through this process. I was sleeved 5/20 at Stanford hospital in Palo Alto, Ca. I was a band to sleeve revision. Band was placed in 2010 and I suffered for two years not losing much weight. During my time with the band i sought therapy and even had to go into treatment for an eating disorder. I felt hopeless since losing almost no weight and spiraled out of control with binging and purging and diet pills. I Decided to have my band removed in 2012 and start personal training. Trained for 6mos lost 10-12lbs and some body fat and decided after suffering from depression and medical complications i would move forward with another procedure. So here I am 15 days post op

My doc cleared me to began a regular diet after losing 12lbs post-op and 5 pre-op so 17lbs as of 11 days post op. (keep in mind he's a world renown surgeon) he was concern about my weight loss moving to fast as I don't have a huge amount to lose. Pre-op 213 Surgery Day- 208 CW- 194....so here my thoughts. Although I have been cleared to eat I'm not ready so I'm working slowly on getting in my Protein and Water. I decided to purchase a few books on the importance of clean eating, obesity related medical problems, and a journal. As I began feeling "cravings" I started reading and journaling more and more. And this has been a HUGE help!!

Learning about what I have done to my old body and the seeing how I have the opportunity to start over now helps me in managing how I will eat with this new tummy I also journal everything I'm feeling, physical changes I'm experiencing, etc. I actually bought the journal before surgery and began to keep notes the weekend before. I wrote down the hospital name, doctor, time, date, etc. the next day I wrote who was present during my surgery (husband/family) why I choose to have the surgery and what I was feeling. I plan to use the journal as a reminder for myself, even years from now, of my painful/life changing journey.

I work in mental health and provide counseling services on a daily basis but it wasn't until I began to use the coping strategies that I teach to my clients for myself that I was able to see things differently. food is no longer an option for coping! It's prayer, god, and reading that is my strength. Hope this helps as I know it's a I difficult process as I too am struggling with it all but remind yourself why you sought the change in the first place.

Oops it's suppose to say food is only the solution to hunger-nothing else.

I like this. Hunger is the only problem that food can solve. Every other problem you try to solve with food, it just makes the problem worse. It means you still have the problem, and you have a weight issue to stress about.

Knowing this and keeping it in mind when I need it are two different things!