Ok I want to know how do you ladies deal with the need to eat. Well not the actual need to eat but the idea of wanting to eat. You see I was always an emotional eater, well to be more clear an anxiety and depression eater.
Now ever since I got my sleeve I can't eat big portions and since I am scaredy cat I won't eat outside the recommended hours my doctor said even if it kills me.
My problem is that it's been a few days I am both depressed and anxious because it seems my personal life is going to the pixies. I am struggling all the time not to eat anything sweet or go into binge mode, and so far I was a very good sport but guess what... I lost my uplifting fix.
Now I keep feeling more and more horrible as days pass by and don't know how to deal with it. So if any of you ladies went through the same, what did you do to feel better? A low budget solution would be gladly taken since I am on a very low pay, so can't really afford much things right now.
I had honestly not realized how much anxiety was an issue for me until I started to seriously loose the weight... the lack of eating to cope, and for me, the fact that I had always 'hid' behind the weight, made it a big double whammy for me that I'm still sorting out.
For me, taking a Vitamin B complex, and 5http at night, has -drastically- helped my anxiety. Also I'm a big fan of trying to force myself to do something else when the need to eat becomes overwhelming.. taking a walk or hitting the gym has become a favorite, but really any activity where eating is not possibly the focus helps.
Anxiety is really the -worst-. For me it took a couple weeks (I started on the 5-http first and then, later added the Super-B Complex) for each substance to noticablely be working but they've made a massive difference to me. I just take them according to the bottle directions.
I'm not sure how the sleeve interacts with pills, so I'm not sure if that would be an issue or not.
Good luck. You can handle this, and get through it and you'll find healthier ways of coping than eating, you will.
KO is smart, as always. busy fingers can't put food in your mouth!!!! i discovered - the HARD way that SOMETHING has to keep busy. either my mind or my body. and yes, I'm the one tapping my foot in boring meetings.
and exercise is really good for you. honest. <as i sit here typing on a beautiful day!>
- getting physical - Walk, bike, sit ups...even jog when I get really anxious...getting myself to do it is the challenge but when I'm finished exercising, I always feel better if not fabulous.
- journaling - I have to say, actually writing with a pencil and paper then ritually burning the page has been my greatest journaling practice. Anxiety is better expressed on paper then running around and around the head. Much better!
- counseling - finding someone I trusted outside my family and friends and just talking about those things that made me want to eat was INVALUABLE!
- ART - as important to me as counseling was painting! You don't have talent, you have to have PAINT! Paper or canvas is helpful or you walls will be very colorful indeed! It is the most emotionally pleasing activity even if I hated the end result, the process of say...beating the daylights out of a canvas panel when angry...helped take my emotions out of my head! Hey, I even sold several of those emotional pieces! AND if you hate it, you paint over it next time your anxious! hehehe it's all good!
x put on some music and sing (even if you don't think you can, the deep breathing and focus helps center you!)
x put on some music and push the furniture around to try and find a new arrangement, sometimes ending up back where I started
x get involved with a TV series totally unrelated to your life for the evenings when you're winding down before bed, which is usually when the snack cravings hit me! I love LOST
x come here and surf around, and get excited about your biggest 'home improvement' project: YOU!!
oooooooo I love to dance and sing around the house or dress up in my finest and dance in the Bar where my boyfriend works! Great exercise and fun to boot! And yes, it's country dance too so you CAN wear your boots! hehehe
Some great ideas here!! Currently am following the better living through pharmaceuticals philosophy!! But, once these pounds start sliding off, I will be up and moving more. Cleaning is a must!!!
While under a weight loss program, I did not starve myself in order to achieve my goal. I had 6 small meals everyday instead of having 3 regular meals. It works perfectly for me so I guess you better that one as well.
Last edited by shairawilliams; 03-17-2010 at 02:04 PM.
How do you deal with anxiety?
It is the most emotionally pleasing activity even if I hated the end result, the process of say...beating the daylights out of a canvas panel when angry...helped take my emotions out of my head! Hey, I even sold several of those emotional pieces! AND if you hate it, you paint over it next time your anxious! hehehe it's all good!
