Possible major life change

bludurango2

I haven't posted anything on here in a minute but something has been on my mind the last couple days. I went to my doctor for an annual check up (healthy as a horse as she put it) but the number one issue I've had is my weight. No diabetes, no high BP, no high cholesterol. Nada-just morbidly obese. I know why I've gotten so large. I'm an emotiona/ bingel eater. The only times I won't eat is if I'm really really angry or really really horny. Other than that, the slightest event will trigger me to eat. It's Tuesday and I'm off-what am I gonna eat? Stuff like that has helped me balloon up to my current weight. I also do laps from my kitchen to my bedroom scurrying for food every few mins or hours even if I've already eaten and am not hungry.

I mention this because my doctor has noticed my weight skyrocket over the years and the other day she mentioned that maybe I should get gastric bypass. I'm gonna be honest and say it made me a little sad to hear that from her, but more sad that I'm actually at that point where I may have to consider surgery all because I can't stop eating. I know which exercises to do to lose weight. Do I do them? Yes and no. I have a gym membership and have been flaky with going this year. I LOVE working out but can't commit to going as often as I need. I continue to shove unhealthy foods into my mouth, telling myself I shouldn't eat it and then do it anyway.

More than likely I'd be paying out of pocket for the surgery but I need some advice on how to just start and keep going. It's not as simple as to stop eating. Any fat person can tell you this. Something chemically happens to me when I eat and it's kind of a high that takes over me. I have no other way to explain it. Any advice on how to take back my life would be wonderful. Thanks in advance.

Tintin13

I emotionally eat until I feel sick. Drinking water does not fill me up. I find journaling helps me. I try key word try to have healthy snacks around so that I can make smarter choices. I pre portion something's like trail mix, almonds, or cereal. Many times I eat more than one pack but I think about it. What has been working for me is acknowledging I worked out today and I feel proud. I also feel better when I can say I only ate one bag. Or I will eat half and save the rest
For later. Hope this helps

sheldonklein

With all respect, this site is full of formerly fat people who lost weight by simply making the decision to eat less and move more. I've been fat virtually my entire life. A year ago I had several "last straw" experiences more or less simultaneously. I lost 70 lbs. in about 8 months by counting calories, period. I didn't try to tame my demons, of which I have many. It hasn't made my life better, except in the obvious ways. I'm just a thinner version of the screwed up person I've always been. Perhaps it's more complicated for some people, but consider trying it the simple way.

gaelicstorm26

I think there are a few key things to remember.

The first is that this journey is just one day at a time.

Only make changes you can see yourself maintaining for the long-haul.

Eat things in moderation and don't give up the foods you love.

Learn how to portion your food (weigh out a portion of chips and then put the bag back in the pantry, buy individual servings of food, etc). This is personally how I handle ice cream. I now only buy ice cream bars because they are already packaged into servings for me. I take one, close the freezer, and that's that.

Invest in a food scale and weigh what you eat. It helps to see where your calories are going.

Remember that going over calories one day isn't going to wreck your new way of eating.

Be active! You can earn a few more calories for the day (if you choose to eat some exercise calories).

Work your "treats" into your day. That way, you don't feel badly about them! I make sure I have room for either ice cream or popcorn EVERY night. Doing it like this, I never feel deprived.

Embrace this as a lifestyle change.

I am also an emotional eater. I once was to the point that I would eat entire boxes of things and then hide the evidence. Unfortunately it took some health scares to get me to this journey. I'm doing this because I want to see my boys get their licenses, graduate from high school, get married, and have children. I want to be able to do things when I retire. If I don't take back control of my life now, I might not get those things.

Feel free to add me as a friend! It sounds like we both have past issues with emotional eating. We could support each other through this journey!

SeriouslySta

Little changes add up to big changes!

Try small things... Keep the ones that work for you, then add new ones. Revisit things you've rejected a while down the road. Before you know it, you'll have a new lifestyle, a new outlook, a new you!

Not to be a downer, but surgery really isn't a weight loss miracle: It just forces you to do all of the things you already know you should be doing to lose weight! Granted, it does that at great cost and at risk of seriously unpleasant consequences for non-compliance - but even after surgery it's still down to you to not put too much into your body.

Either way, I know it's hard - but it's worth it.
Wishing you the best!