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What To Do Instead of Overeating



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Whether you are trying to lose weight in order to be approved for surgery, on your pre-op diet, recovering from surgery, or in maintenance, it can really help to find things to do to keep you from overeating. Here is an nice article with some great ideas. What are your favorites? Are there any that you would add?

http://toomuchonherplate.com/25-ways-for-better-care-instead-of-eating/

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That is a long list of stuff to basically say, "love yourself".

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I was expecting a variation on the now-tedious lists of "Things to do to keep from boredom and other emotional eating." It contains many that came as a surprise because they aren't specific tasks and obvious time-fillers. They have potential to be freeing if one stops rolling one's eyes long enough. If I ever again hear or read, "Take a bath" or "Rearrange a drawer," I'll scream.

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I was expecting a variation on the now-tedious lists of "Things to do to keep from boredom and other emotional eating." It contains many that came as a surprise because they aren't specific tasks and obvious time-fillers. They have potential to be freeing if one stops rolling one's eyes long enough. If I ever again hear or read, "Take a bath" or "Rearrange a drawer," I'll scream.

Or "paint your nails". LOL

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# 1 has always been my biggest problem, I have definitely learned to say NO since the surgery, at first I felt guilt now It feels friggin great!!

I also have a problem with # 24 , when someone compliments me I say thank you then give them a list of things I still need to change. I'm getting better thou everyday.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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Or "paint your nails". LOL

Would you believe that nail-painting is a new one for me? Thanks a whole heap for a new, instantaneous cliché. Keep watching over your shoulder.

I do what I can ::bows:: :)

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Thanks for this!!!

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I liked this! I was expecting the usual busy-work like knitting and painting, cleaning, etc. It's so true, many of the things are women/people-pleaser time-suckers where we are on the bottom of the priority list. I'm struggling with this with two toddlers and a FT job. I got a mani/pedi and took the day off to just do -- whatever -- not rushing -- and it was AMAZING!

I flog myself, don't need to let others lay more work on me. I'm going to the library to take out some books to read when I can. I used to love to read, and I honestly can't remember how many years it has been since I had a block of time to read an actual book.

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Hugs and making physical contact with other humans every day. I like you people on this site, but I need the human touch. (Or you can go with Jim Valvonos recipe for a great life: "Everyday, Laugh, Cry and Think. Great speech...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoVM9nm42E)

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@@Inner Surfer Girl

Thanks for posting this! They are all really good, but #12 really resonates with me:

Give yourself the same compassion, respect, and kindness that you’d give a close friend or family member. It’s time to stop being harder on yourself than you’d be on someone else. Guilt and self-blame fuel emotional eating.

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I was expecting a variation on the now-tedious lists of "Things to do to keep from boredom and other emotional eating." It contains many that came as a surprise because they aren't specific tasks and obvious time-fillers. They have potential to be freeing if one stops rolling one's eyes long enough. If I ever again hear or read, "Take a bath" or "Rearrange a drawer," I'll scream.

Or "paint your nails". LOL

How about paint your TOEnails. I bet many of us had a hard tie reaching their toe before surgery.

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Or "paint your nails". LOL

"write into your journal"

"knit a scarf"

"call a friend" (yes friend, try calling me on a work day at 11:30 pm to stop you from emotional eating)

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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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