Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery and Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

Richard J. Strauss, MD FACS FACRS              David Buchin, MD

LIOS Newsletter Archives

March 2008  Volume 2, Issue 3

February 2008 Volume 2, Issue 2

January 2008 Volume 2, Issue 1

December 2007 Volume 1, Issue 1

SAVE THE DATE:

Support Group Meetings

· April 8th at 5:30pm

 Guest Speaker                Thomas Ferraro, Ph.D. Psychoanalyst

· May 13th at 5:30pm

Free Informational Seminars for New Patients

· April 8th at 4:30pm—Support group follows

· April 30th  at 5:30pm

· May 13th at 4:30pm

 

IN THIS ISSUE
Text Box: Emotional eating is eating that is a response to our feelings and needs—eating that is not related to a physical need for fuel but to a hunger that we feel when we are feeling something else.  It might be eating because we are bored, stressed, worried, angry or feeling helpless.  Some of us even get hungry when we’re really happy.  Emotional eating can be a major problem and a barrier to maximizing your success with weight loss surgery.  The “M&Ms question” is one of the most common questions I hear.  I believe it has been asked in every emotional eating group I have ever led. “I’m not even hungry and I don’t want to eat them--but they call to me.  And then I’m eating them.  I can’t stop.  What do I do about the blasted M&Ms?” Here are three things you can do to avoid the M&M emotional eating trap.  The bonus of these alternatives is that they all build skills that can help you take charge of emotional eating in the future. Identify it and say it Don’t allow any part of you to be on auto-pilot.  Don’t allow any part of yourself to deny what you know until “afterwards”.  If you do, the M&Ms will win and you’ll end up feeling guilty and disappointed in yourself.  Say it out loud, in a nonjudgmental way.  “I’m not physically hungry and I’m dying for those M&Ms.  I am experiencing something that is triggering me to think about eating even though I don’t need fuel right now."  Don’t skip this step.  If you are sitting in your cubicle at work and you are embarrassed to say it out loud, pull out a pad of paper and write it down.  While you are at it . . . Explore it Without judgment, try to be a detective and see if you can identify what this “M&M attack” is really about.  Pull out a journal or type on your computer for a few minutes.  If you can, you might want to go for a short walk while you think.  Why is the candy suddenly so important?  What was happening before you were thinking of it?  What would you be thinking of if you weren’t thinking about the chocolate?  What makes this hour different from one when the candy wasn’t calling quite so loudly or at all?  If you figure anything out, be direct with yourself and say that out loud too.  “I’m not hungry but I’m focusing on eating candy.  I just realized it’s because I’m really stressed out about this report I need to get done and I’m worried about how people will respond when I turn in the report.”  If you hit pay dirt here, you’ll now find you have a different problem.  The problem isn’t really about M&Ms, it’s figuring out how to take care of yourself and the feelings or issues you identified. Start a List Take the information you gathered in step two and start a list NOW of everything you can think of that you could do to take care of that feeling in addition to eating M&Ms.  Put it in your wallet or by your bed where you can add ideas as you think of them.  Don’t censor your ideas for being unrealistic or impossible.  Write down every possible thing (big or small) you can think of to do in response to worry or anxiety or tiredness or boredom (or whatever you have identified).  Make a commitment to try two of those things, this week when the candy craving hits.  Carry the list with you.  Keep adding and experimenting. Recovery from emotional eating is a process.  It takes time, and it takes the right tools.  If you allow yourself to stop, identify that emotional eating is happening, and explore the situation and your needs, you will find your way out of the M&M trap.   Author bio: Melissa McCreery, Ph.D. is a Psychologist and Life and Wellness Coach who helps her clients create and live the life they crave.  She is also the creator of the Emotional Eating Toolbox (TM), Tools for Taking Control and Moving Beyond Dieting.  visit her website: http://www.enduringchange.com

APRIL  2008

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4

L.I.O.S. - SUPPORT THROUGH THE JOURNEY

WWW.LIOBESITYSURGEY.COM

Helping you on Your Journey to a healthier and happier life

Emotional Eating Recovery Guide:  Three things to do instead of eating the M&Ms by Melissa McCreery, Ph.D.

 


by Katie Jay, MSW, CTA Certified Life Coach, Director, National Association for Weight Loss Surgery
Text Box: Our guest speaker this month was Nicolette Pace, Dietitian/ Nutritionist. She spoke about the importance of the way in which we perceive food. Her talk was open mike where attendees had the opportunity to ask questions. She addressed the importance of vitamins and minerals and the importance of adequate protein and fluid consumption. She also addressed some myths associated with eating protein and suggested alternatives to protein shakes. During the remainder of the evening, everyone had the opportunity to socialize, catch up and new attendees asked questions. It was indeed an evening well spent - with a lot of useful information and tips. We look forward to seeing you all at our next meeting. You may also post questions and comment on the ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP—Support Group Rundown on our website. Next meeting: Tues. April 8th, 2008 at 5:30pm at 1999 Marcus Ave. Suite 106C— Guest Speaker: Thomas Ferraro, Ph.D., Psychoanalyst New and lightly used clothing available—FREE Text Box: TIP OF THE MONTH: EXERCISE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES EVERY DAY Regular physical activity will keep your weight loss going, reduce stress and make you feel good about yourself. It will also help you maintain your weight loss in the long run because it helps to rebuild muscle which has a positive affect on metabolism. 

Emotional Eating Recovery Guide

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March   Support Group Minutes

2

Tip of the Month:

Exercise

2

Recipe Of The Month: Avocado Shrimp  Salad

 

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