Re: Hi! New here, need support...

[Guest guest]

,

I am 6 weeks post -op and still have the urge to eat when I

do not need to. Luckily I cannot get much in, and do not tolerate too

many foods. I have a few things to help me when I need to put

something in my mouth. I have strong gum (Altoids). The flavor lasts

a good while, satifies my urge to chew, and makes other food taste

less appealing afterwards. I also have Dentyne Fire - my favorite. I

also eat a dill pickle, slowly. It is filling, and adds no fat and

little carbs. For snacking purposes, I have soy nuts, which have

protein. I pour myself about 1 - 1 1/2 oz, and that satifies my urge

to munch.

I try to keep myself busy doing other things: I cannot eat while on

the computer (house rule), and I cannot eat at the dining room table

when a game is in progress ( I have taught my kids poker, so we do

that often ). Once I get back to work, I am going to have to FIND

time to eat.

The OA suggestion sounds like a good one, but I myself cannot find

a good support group in my area. I have other strategies:

1. Drink water - can't ever seem to get enough of that in me!

2. Go for a walk, or drive.

3. Make a phone call or write a letter to a long distance friend.

4. Put photos in an album.

5. Sort through clothes to give to Goodwill.

6. Play a computer game. Jigzone has jigsaw puzzles and Segplay has

paint by number.

7. Start or work on your webpage.

8. Go to craft/hobby store to take up knitting, etc.

Make yourself rules, like I did prior to surgery: I cannot eat in the

car. I cannot eat while I am on the computer. If I watch TV while I

eat, I must march in place. An alcoholic drink IS dessert.

Hope something here helps! Janet

[Guest guest]

Hi Janet!

Thanks so much for all those great tips! SOme of them I do (I love

dentyne cinnamon gum!) and others I will try (love the idea of

making " rules " for myself!LOL!!!).

I am going to try to do OA, I think they is a meeting kind of near my

house. It's just hard as I work full time and am a single mom. But

I know that I am a compulsive overeater and that OA is probably the

best thing to help support my behaviors!

thanks again,

it helps!!!

karen