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I am pre-op but have been actively working on coping skills. food will always be the preferred way so it takes a lot of intention for me to choose another coping strategy instead.

Walking is the most effective for me but it can take some power of will to get myself out the door some days, especially if the weather isn't nice. Some "easier" back ups I have are:

  • Listen/watch ASMR videos
  • True crime podcasts while doing some tidying / laundry folding
  • Some pampering (give myself a pedicure/manicure, hair mask, face mask, etc)

If the stressor is something that I am really struggling with and want to vent, I journal on my private Tumblr page.

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This may sound and even look to some like I am crazy but when I am stressed or anxious the last thing I want to do is a change of clothes to “work out” so I cleared a path from one end of my house to the other and I will just walk back and forth inside in the air conditioning so that I don’t get all sweaty and need a shower and change of clothes. I also do this when I am on the phone and when I am thinking about food to distract myself and according to Apple Watch I get like 45 minutes to an hour of exercise without really even trying.

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I tidy things up. I started having a woman come clean my apartment every few weeks recently, and it has made me really happy because it used to bother me how gross it was, but I couldn't get myself to "deep clean". Now I actually enjoy keeping it tidy and it makes me happy to have a beautiful home. But you might find actually cleaning to be a good way to distract yourself - many people do. I just found it frustrating, although I love putting things away.

I like looking at cute animal pictures and videos online.

I like reading junky books or watching trashy TV (although I avoid anything with commercials because they're always about junk food).

I like throwing things out or donating things - it feels like I'm losing metaphorical weight, the weight of unwanted objects. I joined a Buy Nothing Project on Facebook and I've given so much away on there.

Crafting is great, but can be expensive if there's a lot of supplies to buy. But it can keep your hands busy and away from food!

I will call up a friend to see if they want to go for a walk.

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I like to clean and organize stuff. I also like doing anything creative, like crafts. My favorite thing is painting my nails and doing nail art. And one thing I live for is a nice hot bath. It always relieves my stress!

Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

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I go for a walk or a car ride with my dog.

I go to this website every day. Sometimes to comment but a lot of times I just like to read what others have to say.

I do crosswords. Watch YouTube videos. Listen to music. Read books.

Now that it is finally getting hot, I will be spending a lot of time in my parents pool. They only live 10 minutes away.

I love to organize, label, clean out closets, etc. My hubby doesn't like it when I do it because I am always getting rid of stuff. LOL

For 2 months I raked my entire yard and burned leaves. I have an acre of land and did it all myself. It was very hard work, but I loved it. It kept me busy, gave me exercise and now my yard looks awesome. Now I can to start decorating outside.

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I pet my cats, play with them. I go outside & talk to my plants. Play a lively song & dance to it, watch something interesting, or get out of the house, walk outside. Talk to the neighbors.

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I'm not going to suggest a craft, exercise, or activity, if you have hobbies or exercise clothes or equipment - you already know things you could just do.....

Stop. First you need to get to the why. Sit with the feeling, examine what body sensations or thoughts you are having, or had just BEFORE this urge to run to food popped up. You don't want food, you need something. You might be tired. You might need a hug or to talk to the person you are mad at, you might need to go pay a bill, quit your job, cry, or stop procrastinating in making a decision, or putting off an unpleasant task. You might be being too hard on yourself.

Figure that out. THEN find the activity that will best address the CAUSE.

Bored - the hobbies. Tired - either a nap, or short walk. Lonely - call a friend, get out of the house. Anger - vigorous exercise, then solving it. Hating on yourself - a bath, a spa treatment, etc. Try on some cute outfits. Anxiety - yoga or massage.

And I can't advocate enough about therapy....

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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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