I've always been a stress eater and unfortunately getting banded doesn't take away all the stressful situations life brings.

What I'm looking for are ways to deal with this issue of wanting to eat when I am stressed, angry or bored.

Tonight I got really angry at a situation that I have absolutely zero control over and found myself with a bag of oreo's and glass of whole milk. Thankfully, I have the band, but I was able to consume almost 500 calories:cursing: before I stopped myself. I could have easily downed another 500 had I not said to myself...it's not worth it.

How do I keep from getting myself into this in the first place?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You first have to find a way to control the anger! You are hurting yourself when you don't.

Now, forgive yourself for eating all those Cookies and start again. You can do it.

I TOTALLY understand stress/anger/bored eating. I have only recently stopped eating before going to sleep. Part of my hunger before bed was head hunger (usually stress) but part of the problem was because I didn't get enough Protein that day. I have since changed my eating habits and keep healthy Snacks in the house for times when I haven't eaten enough protein.

But, for me, the most helpful thing I did to stop stress/anger/bored eating was to continue therapy with my obesity specialist. When I looked into getting the lapband I decided that I would start seeing a therapist to be certain that I was doing this for the right reasons. Also, knowing that I am an emotional eater I wanted a therapist to help me manage that problem before I had the surgery. My therapist has been a BIG help. Just having someone to talk to about what I'm going through with changing my eating habits has been invaluable. It is also helpful seeing a therapist because instead of eating over my frustrations, I can talk to my therapist. She even invites me to call in between appointments if I find myself overwhelmed and unable to manage my eating. If you don't want to go into therapy you might try writing about your emotions before picking up that cookie. I know it doesn't sound like it will work and, in fact, at that moment it might not, but when you read it later it can help you stop yourself the next time.

I hope this is helpful in some way. You know what they say "different strokes for different folks".

Good luck!

Thanks guys, I am going to the support group meeting tomorrow and the therapist I had to meet with prior to having the lapband done will be there. I think I will ask some questions and see about having a few sessions with her.

I threw away the bag of oreo's ...Now that's progress!

I also decided that I need to use my fridge as a reminder of my healthy habits I'm trying to establish.

I'm working on making a sheet that has a list of healthy Snacks and also in big letters a reminder to eat when I am hungry...something like..."Are you hungry, or are you eating for another reason?"

My night time eating is the worst, I do great during the day, mainly because my band is TIGHT in the morning and loose at night. Grrr, it's so frustrating because I work out and then come home and RUIN everything I just did in the gym.

Unfortunately the band won't stop stress, anger etc eating. I fight it every day, but at least now the band is like seeing a big old stop signs for me. I realize that eating in that state of mind will only hurt me and I am able to control it.

When I am feeling especially stressed I try to make sure I plan something to do to keep me out of the kitchen! I find that keeping busy helps. The only Snacks I keep at work are a few Protein bars, a small jar of Peanut Butter and a box of reduced fat Wheat Thins.

unfortunately, there is never gonna be away to stop stress, hormonal eating and the things that trigger them. But you did a great job stopping yourself. That is a success and you handled it properly. Just like eating in certain social situations like birthdays and weddings stress eating situations are going to happen. Even our girlfriends that have been thin life long crave chocolate when they PMS or wanna eat ice cream when they fight with their boyfriends.

When this happens to me i generally indulge but only to a certain extent. I have 2 or 3 oreos instead of the 12 i previously would have had. one of the things i love about the band. Even when i screw up the band only lets me screw up to a certain extent. I have a 1/2 cup of ice cream instead of a half gallon now. part of my general approach to this has been not making any food forbidden. for me telling myself i cant have a cookie is a sure way to make sure i end up eating half the bag before the nights over. but i also have a rule now that anything i eat over today im gonna make myself work off in the next few days.

my best advice to a slip up is be over and done with it after it happens. I don't let mondays Cookies be the reason i feel so bad i eat chips on tuesday anymore. realistically slip ups are always gonna happen from time to time. Its just a matter of now a binge is 500 calories instead of the 2500 or so it probably used to be.

Tonight I got really angry at a situation that I have absolutely zero control over and found myself with a bag of oreo's and glass of whole milk. Thankfully, I have the band, but I was able to consume almost 500 calories:cursing: before I stopped myself. I could have easily downed another 500 had I not said to myself...it's not worth it.

How do I keep from getting myself into this in the first place?

Get rid of the oreos. Clean out your cupboards and get rid of the 'junk'. Spouses and children don't 'need' the junk either so no excuse there.

I don't know if it will help you, but when I'm stressed, I clean. Helps with both the mental and physical aspects of stress/anger.

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I don't knwo if you are a writer but I write and exercise to help relive the stress. I am an emotional eater as well. I eat when I am happy, sad, stressed, depressed....the list is endless. I can't keep oreos in the house because like you I could consume the whole pack easily! Just hang in there and try not to have those high calorie stress foods around. i find that if I have to drive to get the food I'm less likely to indulge. Notice I said less, because I have been known to do a late night ice cream stress run. I wish you continued success.