Why are the negative stimuli (getting painfully stuck, sliming, feeling sick, being riddled with guilt for having eaten *insert sinful, guilt inducing food choice here*, feeling bloated and over-full, hating yourself) never enough to make us stop eating when we feel full? Or, more importantly, why don't they stop us from STARTING in the first place? I mean...if you reach out and touch an electric fence and you get a big shock...chances are, you're not gonna touch that electric fence again. Right? Shouldn't it work the same with eating? Does this make any sense? Any psychiatrists in the audience want to take a crack at this?
(PS: I would also accept chiming in from armchair psychiatrists on this one)
You have to eat to survive. You don't have to do a whole lot else. Breathe. Sleep a little. You can't avoid eating. It sucks.
ReplyDeleteBecause eating is a pleasure. I love food, I have very developed taste buds and when I eat something tasty, all I can think about is how amazing it is.. I know it is wrong, I know I will hate myself, but it tastes so good.
ReplyDeleteIf the electric fence gave a pleasurable experience, we would probably touch it a 2nd time, even if it gave a slight burn each time.
I don't have an answer as I have slipped up a few times over the last 3 months.. but for me, it comes down to motivation and how bad I want something. When I am focused and motivated, it increases my will power which reduces the chance I will slip up.
I so know what you mean!
ReplyDeleteI have had Maccas three times this week even though my band is so tight. I just ate the patty, cheese and sauce out of a cheeseburger, taking really small bites. I know it is bad for me, I know my band doesn't like it, but I really wanted that McDonalds flavour in my mouth. I haven't had it for over a year since I got my band and once I had it the first time, I found myself back again. I suppose it is like an alcoholic falling off the wagon. I need to get me a 12 step program!
Good luck with staying on the wagon. V.
You must find out why you eat when you are NOT hungry. That is the bottom line. You are eating things you know you should not be. You are doing this for a reason, you must find that reason.
ReplyDeleteNOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS!
Eat to live do not live to eat. Do not use food as a reward anymore use or find something else.
Wait a minute. Isn't this the day before those liquid shakes. Hmmmm. I remember. The brain thinks it will never be fed again. I do believe food in any shape or form is an addictive behaviour. Just like alcoholics, drug addicts, sex addicts... Reason doesn't come into the picture. Maybe you could get one of the electric mosquitos swatters and everytime you overeat, put that on your tongue. Maybe it would be like the electric fence. But I doubt it. We'd probably start enjoying the pain.
ReplyDeleteHope you get over this hump soon. Go read the Superstar blog and see that even those had blips on the way down.
Ok, in my case.. its food addiction. or let's just say addiction period.
ReplyDeleteI am addicted to food, shopping, and sex.. what else is there to do on cold days, eat, shop and you know what.
I'm with Sandy-- whenever I think I'm going to NOT be able to eat what I like, I immediately react with eating too much or the wrong things.
ReplyDeleteI do think it is physiological also.
Long ago, people who were driven to eat were the survivors, ya know!
I suppose one good answer would be to reconsider such a restrictive shake diet and do something a little less drastic?
Do whatever you think is best...
What Sandy said, with props to Kristin.
ReplyDeleteAnd instead of a fly swatter, how about using a freakin 9 Volt battery. lol Do you remember putting that on your tongue when you were a kid? Oh, was that only me? Nevermind...
P.S. Hilarious that in Canada it's called a Mosquito swatter. We have fly swatters here in the US. lol You must have big mosquitoes.
I liken it very much to the dozens of times I swore, whilst worshiping the porcelain god in the wee morning hours of a weekend, that I would never, EVER drink again... ;)
ReplyDeleteNew reader. Not a lap-bander but someone who has lost a significant amount of weight and maintained it for 4 yrs after going down the same disordered eating road for 38 years. I was a chronic over-eater, food-obsessed and binge-prone so I know the feeling. I do have close friends who've had other types of WLS and each of them had to do several months of pre-operative psychological counseling to help them identify their food issues and to give them a way to deal with those feelings post-surgery. Is that not part of the prep for band surgery?
We are addicts plain and simple and we don't learn. Eventually, it sinks in and we will eventually associate the bad ramifications with the eating we know is not good for us, but we need to eat to live, so it makes it harder on us. One of these days it will sink in...At least I am hoping :)
ReplyDelete