Are You Obsessing About Food?
How I Stopped Obsessing About Food…and How You Can Also
Advice from a Fellow Bariatric Patient
It started about two years after my weight loss surgery. My mind was consumed with thoughts of food. It was particularly bad when I was hungry or doing certain things.
My weight was slowly increasing, and my self-esteem was in the toilet. I was so frustrated. Why was I so weak when it came to food? What was going on? I had to figure it out, so I did these 2 things first.
- I identified times when I was most consumed with thoughts of food: Late afternoon and after dinner were times of trouble. In addition, if I got hungry my thoughts would wander towards food, especially “bad” foods.
- I determined what increased my obsession: If I ate carbs, I would think about having more carbs. It was a vicious cycle that I struggled to break.
Over time, and with some experimenting, I learned four things that work well for me:
- I drink protein shakes at critical times, typically in the late afternoon or evening. UNJURY is my go-to. It keeps me from getting too hungry and redirects my thoughts away from food. It seems to work better than anything else for reducing my cravings.
- I drink lots of sugar free, decaf liquids to fill my stomach. I never eat two foods “back-to-back.” I wait 30 minutes after eating and then have a drink. If I’m still hungry, I’ll have a shake, Bonjoy gelato, or a Chocolate Peanut Butter Mighty-Bite.
- I don’t eat foods that I have no control over (chips, cake, etc.) By eliminating them from my life, I no longer think about them. I know complete elimination is not for everyone, but it works for me.
- I keep a list of things to do instead of eating. It might be a walk, gardening, doing Sudoku, or talking to a friend. Anything to keep my mind (and hands) off food.
I thought my food obsession would disappear after weight loss surgery. Sadly, that did not happen. My food choices affect my mind; in fact, they can consume it. I need tools to help me, and UNJURY is one of them.
Learn More About Why UNJURY is Helpful for Weight Loss Patients