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Reclaiming food time?



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My band procedure is less than 36 hours away! nervous.gif

This week I have been thinking a lot about all of the things I can do to replace the time that food (eating it, obsessing it, gorging on it) has always taken up in my life.

<o =""></o>I have a few ideas – all those things I have put off for too long - the projects that sit in the bottom of the wardrobe, my gym membership and losing the TV remote. But I am very interested to hear what others have replaced food with.

<o =""></o>I have no doubt that I will still obsess but it would be interesting to know how you have distracted or redirected yourselves.

Counting down…

Kristen

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I have to admit- after being banded on 6/15 I have had some hunger- so I have done laundry, given myself a manicure, talked on the phone, obsessively read this forum!!, gone out for a leisurely cup of broth with one of my buddies, and sometimes just gone to bed early!

I keep reminding myself it's for me- there is no real reward food provides for me anymore- I'm down 19-20 since my band and I'm treating myself to a pedicure today. Also- when those emotions crop up (mad, sad, happy, etc) it's not food time anymore and that can be a challenge- I'm learning that- sometimes the hard way- snapping at my spouse.....not a good idea- I have to actually think about what's wrong and deal with it.

Stay strong. You'll do great.

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Actually, I have reclaimed food-time in a different way. I find I am so much more mindful of time I spend on food. Before I was banded, food wasn't something that I frequently thought about, I was more like a shark--an eating machine. I didn't eat my food so much as inhale it, A big food-hoover (insert sucking sound).

Because I have to be mindfull of what I eat, I spend more time perpareing it. I spend more time eating it, because I have to chew. Oh gawd, I've gotta chew otherwise well, it isn't pretty and you know what I'm talking about.

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Kristen, I'm two days out from being banded and I just wanted to say YAY YOU!!! This is a crazy experience. Let's share stories as we recover!!

I liked your question.....what to do with time spent thinking about food. It's a good question.....I'm going to have to think about it.

For me right now, I'm thinking A LOT about what I'm sipping because I'm finding that if my tummy is growling it makes my pain worse.

I'm SO ready to be recovered and see what this band is all about.

Yay!

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I have replaced food with coming here to LBT

I have replaced food with lots of Water

I have replaced food with more reading

I have replaced food with cleaning out cupboards, drawers & closets

I have replaced food with going out and doing more things with my kids & husband

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Very cool question. I will have to really think about this. Thursday will be here very soon. Monday even sooner! Arent you excited!!! I am excited for you.

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      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
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