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Emotional eating and dealing with stress



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I knew before surgery that I was an emotional eater, but I never realized how deep it went until recently. Without using food to cope, I'm now seeing that I have no idea how to deal with stress before letting it get out of control.

Now that you're post op. what are some things you do to get a grip on your emotions or handle the stress in your life?

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I try to do something active. My biggest stress reliever is playing soccer. I play two nights a week. My other stress reliever is biting my nails. I have been doing it since I was a little girl and just can not stop.

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I know how you feel! Had some hectic emotional bumps after surgery because of this. Dont really have aby advice other than just stick it out, when things get too heavy, take a step back, realise nothing is really as bad as you make it in your head and be grateful for all the good things after surgery.

And start going to the gym!

That helps a lot, believe me! Took me 5 months to work up the courage to go and now that i have taken this step I am sorry I didnt start earlier!

Exercises realise endorphines that equip you to better deal with emotional upheavels ;-) good luck, sister!

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I also am a emotional eater. I've struggled with this especially with stress hitting me hard. I've have to turn to walking or exercising. I also try to make sure I always have things like sugar free Popsicles on hand or something I can use as a healthy "treat" it's truly not easy but I know this is something I may always struggle with. Good luck!!

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I am a emotional eater as well.... I find that exercise is a wonder stress reliever, just doing something.. anything physical is good. Yoga is amazing too and if you MUST eat... as ajustice said above have lots of fat free, sugar free munchies around. Try to find something other than food when stressed.

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I try to do something active. My biggest stress reliever is playing soccer. I play two nights a week. My other stress reliever is biting my nails. I have been doing it since I was a little girl and just can not stop.

Now I don't feel so bad, I've been a nail biter since I was a little girl and have tried everything to stop, to even fake nails (didn't bite them, but nail bed became very thin like paper so had to quit the fake nails :( ). I notice I bite when I'm watching TV or when my hands aren't busy. Think it started as I use to be a worry wart. Now it has become a very bad habit. Hate it.

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I'm an emotional eater too it's a challenge but we have to find a way to cope without food because it we turn to food we will eventually gain weight. I'm trying exercise too ;)

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Now I don't feel so bad' date=' I've been a nail biter since I was a little girl and have tried everything to stop, to even fake nails (didn't bite them, but nail bed became very thin like paper so had to quit the fake nails <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> ). I notice I bite when I'm watching TV or when my hands aren't busy. Think it started as I use to be a worry wart. Now it has become a very bad habit. Hate it.[/quote']

When people tell me that nail biting is such a bad habit. I say true but at least I am not smoking or drinking. No one ever died from biting their nails!

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When people tell me that nail biting is such a bad habit. I say true but at least I am not smoking or drinking. No one ever died from biting their nails!

I'll second that. Also when I'm biting those nails I'm not sticking food in my mouth. :D

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Thanks for the great suggestions. I think I'm going to try to take up running and see if that helps with the stress level.

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Part of my prep for surgery includes finding an alternative to eating when stressed. So my dietician wanted me to find a hobby to keep my hands busy and keep my mind off food. I started loom knitting. Its easy, doesn't take too much thought and I can do it while spending time with my kids without eating their Snacks. :-) I also have to take walks on my breaks at work to help with work stress.

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Thanks for the great suggestions. I think I'm going to try to take up running and see if that helps with the stress level.

Just a warning I started running and have become almost addicted to it. I think it is because I used to think people were nuts to enjoy running when I was pre op. now I understand completely! Going to try and run my first 5k in December!

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Just a warning I started running and have become almost addicted to it. I think it is because I used to think people were nuts to enjoy running when I was pre op. now I understand completely! Going to try and run my first 5k in December!

I just completed my first 5k last Saturday. It was an amazing accomplishment. I've lost 76 pounds and its amazing the things I can now do that I never would have tried 76 pounds ago!

Good luck on your 5k!

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I just completed my first 5k last Saturday. It was an amazing accomplishment. I've lost 76 pounds and its amazing the things I can now do that I never would have tried 76 pounds ago!

Good luck on your 5k!

Thanks I am really excited to run it!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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