Hello All. I'm planning to be sleeved in December and one of my biggest concerns is how I'll deal with my emotional eating. I eat for comfort, for celebration, when I'm sad or stressed, or happy and optimistic...for just about any emotion. It's how I cope. I know this is a problem for many of us with weight issues. I know I need to use this time before surgery to practice some other coping mechanisms and change my relationship with food. I guess I've leapt the first hurdle by identifying the problem, but I'm at a loss as to how to deal with it. How did you deal with all of these emotions after you couldn't use food? Any concrete examples of ways you managed your emotional eating? Thanks for your help!

When you figure it out, let me know... I need help too

I know that it sounds cliche' but I am going to journal, journal, journal. I also have a friend who is having surgery (along with her daughter) just a few weeks after me so I feel like I have a built in support system too. I'm not sure how it is all going to work but I know it is.

Journaling is a great tool.

I know it's not everybody's cup of tea, but I found a great therapist to help me.

I used to be a compulsive binge eater - food was how I coped with my feelings and emotions, and I had eaten myself up to 370 pounds by the time I was 21.

It took a while to find a good therapist, but she completely changed my life. She used a workbook called "Don't Diet, Live It" (it's on Amazon). I would fill out the workbook chapters and then we would use that as a starting point for our sessions. When I started seeing her, I was suicidal, had social anxiety so bad that I was afraid to leave my house alone, and I was terrified of other people (especially men). Afterwards, zero anxiety, virtually no more fear, reduced depression and I've barely felt suicidal since (as opposed to every single day prior to getting help). It completely changed my life and my outlook.

If anyone has any questions about it, they can message me. OP, I wish you the best, I know how frustrating it is. Good luck!

supbanana, thanks. I just purchased the workbook and will give it a try. I'm open to anything at this point. While on Amazon, I also found a book titled, "50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food" which seems like it might be helpful.

I'm also going to try journaling. Thanks

Im right there with you. I'm 3 months post-op and am struggling with this so much. Very depressed and lots of anxiety.

When I had my psych eval she gave me a book called, the Beck Diet Solution, train your brain to think like a thin person. By Judith S. Beck, PhD. I've found it helpful.