I have been doing a lot of thinking about how I will need to replace food in my life. I am going to need to explore some new avenues to replace my stuffing my face all day. I get up in the morning and think about what food my day holds. I have some interests I have never delved into, and that is one thing I have thought of. My routine has been to come home from work, lie down exhausted and eat the restof the evening. Now I need to walk and then fill my life with new things. It is not like I believe that I will never enjoy food again, but my life can't revolve around it.

Does anyone identify with this, and what have you thought of to replace the obession with food.

My surgery date is April 23. Yipppeee.

I never really thought about replacing food, as I just obsess in another way. I love to cook now, I make a new recipe almost every night. So cooking I guess! And some reason cooking fills me up, the smells I guess make me feel full sometimes.

Dear Nanjo,

Like you my world revolved around food.Not until I had the lap band did I truly

realize that my eating encompassed me....Since March 26 the date of surgery I am learning that there is life beyond food .......I get up each morning , plan my meals liquid right now!!!!!!! write them down and prepare what is needed and walk away from the kitchen...I walk each morning ,shop and try to do things such as planting seeds , shopping reading that keep me occupied.I am slowly learning that theres a great world out there if I

take the time to look beyond the food....I TRY TO DO THINGS THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR MY MIND AND BODY.............i AM LEARNING A NEW APROACH TO LIVING....I NO LONGER WANT TO BE A PRISONER IN MY OWN BODY.....

yOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF ROSALYN:thumbs_up:

So true! I'm embarassed now to remember how much time I spent eating, thinking about eating, watching TV about cooking, talking with friends about food, planning meals. Yikes.

So here's what I'm doing now instead.

1. Getting out of the house with my family. We're walking and biking with the kids. Funny how much more enjoyable it is to ride my bike now that I don't run out of breath before I'm down the driveway.

2. Reading weight loss blogs and posts on this forum. Keeps me motivated. A few of my favorites are the hilarious PastaQueen at half of me (dot) com and of course the amazingly transformed Shauna at Dietgirl Com.

3. Self-pampering. Pedicures, long baths and massages are all part of this category.

4. Reading - I made myself a book list of great classics to read and I read them upstairs....far away from the fridge.

5. Shopping - now that I can buy tops in "normal" stores, I cannot be stopped.

Now here are some things I THOUGHT I would spend time doing, but have not yet found the inspiration to get started on.

1. Catch up on my scrapbooking....so many pictures - it's overwhelming.

2. Join a gym - I'm waiting to see how much weight I can lose without having to do any formal form of exercise.

3. Clean my house more often. Why did I think I would do this?

lol at clean house more often.

That definitely won't be one of mine.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about how I will need to replace food in my life. I am going to need to explore some new avenues to replace my stuffing my face all day. I get up in the morning and think about what food my day holds. I have some interests I have never delved into, and that is one thing I have thought of. My routine has been to come home from work, lie down exhausted and eat the restof the evening. Now I need to walk and then fill my life with new things. It is not like I believe that I will never enjoy food again, but my life can't revolve around it.

Does anyone identify with this, and what have you thought of to replace the obession with food.

My surgery date is April 23. Yipppeee.

i could have written this! in preparation for my surgery, i have taken up a couple of hobbies.

i just learned how to knit because i figured i need a television distraction.. y'know... other than popcorn!!

i'm also taking up scrapbooking.. what better subject than my lapband surgery!

another thing i'm doing in anticipation of a walking routine is exploring new music. i have a zune and a monthly pass to all the music i can listen to, so i am trying new bands and filling up my player. i won't want to stop walking when i have tons of new tunes to listen to!

I'm not banded yet, but I've been working on mentally and physically preparing for it. I knit (it's hard to stuff your face when your hands are occupied!), I go to the gym, visit this forum and read inspiring posts, and I have aqua aerobics. I've bellydanced for years, but I haven't found a class I like where I moved. Try something you've always wanted to- this time is about YOU. Good luck!

I am doing alot more reading, positive thinking books, organisation books, healthy living books and magazines.

Scrapbooking for me has been a good distractor when I watch TV. I've also been actively redoing our budget- trying to find the best way to invest the money I'm no longer spending on food!

My sister and I have started working out at the gym at work. That helps with nighttime munchies because the workout is so hard, I never want to do it again- therefore I don't eat so I can someday not workout that hard! lol

This forum helps too- of course, sometimes I'm reading this forum and eating ice cream... so maybe not.

I wrote a list of all the things I want to do when I lose certain goal weights (like going to Six Flags, going go karting). I try to remember those things when I feel "hungry" or when I go out to eat.

EXERCISE!!! I haven't exercised this much since my early 20s. I go to water aerobics three nights a week after work. I walk or dance in between. WOW what a difference this has made in my life. I feel fabulous. Lots of energy and my mental attitude is much more clear and positive. I'm actually HAPPY most of the time. This has even decreased my lethargy and depression. During the day, I sip water instead of eating. I actually went to the beach last weekend with my husband and read a book. (Came home horribly sunburned as the time just slipped away from me) Didn't even pack the usual snacks. And the best thing???? SEX. Since losing some weight, and not focusing on food, this is better, more comfortable and since I feel better about myself, more frequent. Can't beat that with a stick!!!

EXERCISE!!! I haven't exercised this much since my early 20s. I go to water aerobics three nights a week after work. I walk or dance in between. WOW what a difference this has made in my life. I feel fabulous. Lots of energy and my mental attitude is much more clear and positive. I'm actually HAPPY most of the time. This has even decreased my lethargy and depression. During the day, I sip water instead of eating. I actually went to the beach last weekend with my husband and read a book. (Came home horribly sunburned as the time just slipped away from me) Didn't even pack the usual snacks. And the best thing???? SEX. Since losing some weight, and not focusing on food, this is better, more comfortable and since I feel better about myself, more frequent. Can't beat that with a stick!!! :biggrin:

Going to drink more water, and excercise.

I'm not banded... but my advice would be to get a hobby. My brain needs a distraction or else all I think about is food and cigarettes. I sew daily, this keeps me from raiding the fridge. I'd have to actually stop sewing and go downstairs to raid the fridge, I don't wanna stop sewing!

What everyone else has said is good advice too.

Exercise comes to mind.

But you'll also be busy doing things with people.

Cooking, etc. There's plenty to do in this world. Start making a list of things you don't have time for now and do them later.