First off, I am very blessed and I am almost at 60 lost, which I would never have done without the sleeve. Secondly, no need to bash me after this, as I know, that I'm not doing all that I can do to lose weight. I am not asking to be told what to do or not to do.......Just reaching out for some ideas when others have been in this spot as I am sure I am not the only one.

With that being said, how do you combat old habits? I can eat anything, I have no issues, and I'm starting to slowly work my way into my cracker habit, my not drinking Water etc. For those who really seem to have a handle on this. Do you have anything that you do that seems to help you through those old habit times?

Right now, instead of munching I'm walking around the building at work. I'm hoping that helps distract my mind. I can't seem to quite get the system down.

This was a life changing surgery, and an expensive one. I can't imagine how I'll feel if I cannot grasp a hold on this and make it work.

My heart is in the race, my mind isn't. It's like I'm on a road, and I know how to get to where I need to go. I know which path to take, and yet I choose the wrong one...

Do any of you see a counselor on a regular basis to help with getting your head in the game?

Good luck with this. I am pre-sleeve and am worried about the head-hunger issue too. I plan on seeing a therapist to help me through those moments of salty-crunchy cravings.

Good for you for identifying the problem, putting it out there and seeking solutions. I am just a baby in this process, 2 weeks postop, but I know when I go back to work, my issues are going to raise their ugly heads. My plan is to make an appt with the bari shrink when/if that happens. Are there any triggers you can identify going on? Do you need something you are not getting?

Today I am doing what I am thinking of as a "reset routine". Going back to my shake and Water for the day, trying to center myself.

Im 1 month and two weeks post op and i have been seeing a counsellor since two weeks prior to surgery and i am also attending Overeaters Anonomous every week which is very very helpful!

I understand how you are feeling. I myself have gotten into the crackers BUT i load them up with tuna or salmon in order to get my Protein in and to ensure that i get full faster because i know if i eat straight crackers i will eat and eat and eat and never get full.

I think a lot of issues with are past behaviors of eating stem from are emotions and feelings from back when we were kids. I know as a kid i felt very deprived because my parents werent rich and junk food like chocolate and pastries were not a common occurance. I also had a mother who had an eating disorder and her feelings about me getting fat controlled what she fed me.(she was anorexic) Point is: i struggled with bingeing and closet eating and anxiety eating and starving myself too..i wanted to control my eating and that led to a lot of uncontrolled bingeing and eating because it became too hard to constantly control for the unknown. Anyway..thats my thoughts. Maybe counselling would help you or journalling along with a food diary..but if there is one thing ive learned..i need to let go of this dieting mentality..this control..and just let the sleeve work and write down what i eat and the calories too and use my knowledgeof whats healthy and un healthy and make the best choices for me..to go low carb or low fat or no fat or whatever else..just leads to me getting frustrated and then i dont lose weight due to over stressing.

Hope this helps a little

I can completely relate. This past weekend I had a cheesy bacon potato skin Friday, a chicken finger Saturday and part of a gyro Sunday. Stomach tolerated it all fine but I felt gross because of all the grease, and disappointed in myself for going back to foods I used to eat. Monday was reset day for me and since I haven't had anything but lean meats and Greek yogurt. On one hand it's really nice that my food options are increasing but on the other hand it's making it so much harder to avoid temptations.

Im 1 month and two weeks post op and i have been seeing a counsellor since two weeks prior to surgery and i am also attending Overeaters Anonomous every week which is very very helpful!

I understand how you are feeling. I myself have gotten into the crackers BUT i load them up with tuna or salmon in order to get my Protein in and to ensure that i get full faster because i know if i eat straight crackers i will eat and eat and eat and never get full.

I think a lot of issues with are past behaviors of eating stem from are emotions and feelings from back when we were kids. I know as a kid i felt very deprived because my parents werent rich and junk food like chocolate and pastries were not a common occurance. I also had a mother who had an eating disorder and her feelings about me getting fat controlled what she fed me.(she was anorexic) Point is: i struggled with bingeing and closet eating and anxiety eating and starving myself too..i wanted to control my eating and that led to a lot of uncontrolled bingeing and eating because it became too hard to constantly control for the unknown. Anyway..thats my thoughts. Maybe counselling would help you or journalling along with a food diary..but if there is one thing ive learned..i need to let go of this dieting mentality..this control..and just let the sleeve work and write down what i eat and the calories too and use my knowledgeof whats healthy and un healthy and make the best choices for me..to go low carb or low fat or no fat or whatever else..just leads to me getting frustrated and then i dont lose weight due to over stressing.

Hope this helps a little

I am very impressed...Well said!

I started to see a therapist months before I even thought about surgery. It was the best decision I ever made. I am being sleeved in less than a week. But the hard work I did with the therapist has prepared me mentally. I have been able to implement all the NUT recommendations prior to surgery. Even though I am not in your situation seeing a therapist might be beneficial. I wish you all the best

First off, don't be disappointed in yourself and congratulate yourself for recognizing some bad habits. I think a lot of us look at the whole journey instead of a few foot paths to make it to the end. Life is like the saying, "how do you eat an elephant.... one bite at a time." My wife and I where sleeved one week apart, and the other day I walked into the kitchen she was starting to take a bite of left over lunch. She stopped immediately and gave a sheepish grin and replied , "I didn't even realize what I was doing until you walked into the kitchen." As much as we want our bad habits to stop tomorrow, they won't. How any people do you know stopped smoking only to start again? This what we face. You recognized when you are bored you eat so you walked the building. Congratulate yourself, you should be proud you recognized it. Rome wasn't built or fall in a day and neither do our habits. So instead of hanging your head in shame; raise your head held high and tell yourself I found a problem and I corrected it.

Thanks guys, truly. It is helpful! I just took a long break at work, walked to the store and bought veggie munchies, so I'll stay away from the crackers at work. I'm also going to call around for a Nut and counselor. My surgeon is wonderful, he truly is, but I've never met with a Nut and I think that may help me to. Who knows! Thanks again all of you.

Thank you for your honesty, I am struggling with the same problems. I'm scheduled to see Bari psych later this week & nut the week after. Keep in touch, maybe we can share ideas/insight as we go along.

I know this might not be what you are looking for, but do you think maybe you could just change what and how you are eating. Like instead of Water, try to find a really good Crystal light flavor that you love. My favorite is peach tea with lemonade. I mx it in my huge 52 oz cup at home and have to finish it before going to bed. I also keep 32 oz cup of lemonade -Crystal light - on my desk at work which I have to finish before going home and a 16 oz bottle of water in my car. I drink all day. Also my Snacks have tons of Protein. My favorite is a slice of low fat sandwich meat wrapped around a stick of cheese. Or a cup of chicken salad made with chicken breast, salad dressing and pecans. Oh and I also keep devil led eggs on hand as a quick tasty snack.

I'll admit I don't write anything down or count calories -- to much work - I jut stick to high protein with a few veges thrown in but I've lost about 35 pounds since Sept 9. And I eat whenever I want. Even late at night.

Wait. I don't eat the whole cup of chicken salad at once, I just have it available in a container to munch on whenever I feel the need for a bite if something.

I am also a salty, crunchy addict, and I found it helpful to keep a cup of crunchy vegetables with salt and some fresh lemon squeezed over them. Really helps me with those cravings.

Thanks guys' date=' truly. It is helpful! I just took a long break at work, walked to the store and bought veggie munchies, so I'll stay away from the crackers at work. I'm also going to call around for a Nut and counselor. My surgeon is wonderful, he truly is, but I've never met with a Nut and I think that may help me to. Who knows! Thanks again all of you.[/quote']

Hi Lia congrats on the weight loss. I'm still preop. But if you need a crunchy snack you can try going to whole foods or trader joes if you have one near you and they have do many healthier alternative. Kale chips, seaweed chips etc. Is sounds gross but I munch on them now and it helps SOMETIMES. Good luck.