some rambings on emotional eating with the band

I've been tossing around some ideas in my head with regards to how the band impacts on emotional eating, which, lets face it, is likely a problem for most people who go down the surgery path.

my take on it is to compare it with a heroin addiction treatment, where by they use Naltrexone to block the effects of opiates. If you are taking Naltrexone and you use heroin, it doesnt have the same impact. you just dont get that feeling. Well, for me, the band is similar, sure I can technically eat for emotional reasons, but it doesnt have the same impact (or payoff) as my pre-band binges. (which i my case was a nice long sugar/food coma)

If you take away the feeling you get from mis-using food, then, the desire to use it in a negative way slowly goes away too (well for me anyway) And in a weird way, the feeling I get from using food in a negative way now is so vastly different to the feeling I got from my pre-band binges, that it doesnt work. I know that sounds a bit mumbo jumbo, but in my case (and i think mabey for alot of people) I was addicted to the way overeating made me feel and to being obese, not the actual act of overeating. I'd have to work really hard now to get in enough calories to one sitting to give me that 'sugar coma' feeling and not leave me feeling so full that it hurts. And, happily, I dont want to do that work:-)

oh, plus, i see a physcologist as well, that helps alot with the food/emotional issues. If your surgeon hasnt recommended seeing one, I suggest you think about it. especially if you can find someone that specialises in food issues. its worth every penny!

convenience food review: TastyBite Bombay Potatoes

TastyBite Bombay Potatoes
serving: 285 grams
Calories 202
Total Fat: 8.0 g
Total Carbohydrates 25.9 g
Protein 10.0 g

Taste: yummy yummy yummy, fabulous curry flavour with abit of spice
Texture: Nice soft potatoes, chickpeas with a bit of texture still, a bit on the soupy/saucy side, but they do recommend serving it with rice. i actaully like my curries a bit saucy, and i skipped the rice and quite enjoyed it.
Filling: yes, good serve size, just right
I will definately get these again, this one came from wollies, but i have bought these before form the indian grocery and they are slightly cheaper and have a better reange of flavours

convenience food review: heinz tortellini, tomato and bacon

Serving size: 350 grams
Calories: 291 ( Kilojoules 1208 )
Fat: 8.0 g 12%
Carbohydrates: 38.5 g 13%
Protein 11.5 g

Taste: not bad at all, nice slightly spicy tomatoey taste, without a heavy 'packaged meat' taste from the bacon
Texture: better than canned pasta products I had one tried (so squishy) the 'bacon' pieces, were kind of dried in texture, but not evil
Filling: yes, and long term, i wasnt hungry till dinner
would i buy it again: yes i would

Convenience Foods Review: St Dalfour, Tuna and Pasta

Serving size: 175 grams
Calories: 170
Fat: 6.5
Carbohydrates: 12.6
Protein 15 g

Taste: well, like tuna and soft vegies, a bit bland, but ok, especially if you have some lemon juice to squeeze over
Texture: soft pasta and vegies, nice chunks of tuna. if you can get past the squisy pasta, its ok, and its a good ratio of pasta/vegies/tuna.
Filling: yes, a good smaller sized portion for days when your feeling a bit 'light'
would i buy it again: mabey, i'm leaning on the side of yes, could be better from the fridge

Convenience Foods

Now, I've flirted with the occasional frozen dinner, but never before have I ventured into the 'store it on the shelf, meal in a box/pouch/can' concept. and meat in a box/couch/can oh my god, (tinned tuna salmon of course, is an exception). But, in my quest to make good decisions when faced without a packed lunch at work, I have ventured into an area of the supermarket I have previously avoided. The processed/packed meals sections. Take a deep breathe girl, it probably wont kill you, probably. So I picked up a bunch of meals, suitable for lunch that dont require refridgeration. some of them even contain meat. I am trying not to think about Spam. So, in an attempt to share any good/bad/ugly discoveries, I will post an entry on each one as I eat it. Everything I got, I made sure was under $4 and 400 calories tops!

well I finally did it, I spewed, I feel like a moron

well, after weeks and weeks of trouble free eating/swallowing, I've done it. After my little incident only 2 nights ago when I ate a bit of sandwich too fast, and was in a bit of short lived pain, you'd think I had learned. But no, I need to learn things the hard way. the vomitting way. this morning, I ate a small piece of vegemite scroll, which I have done before since banding, no worries, but I guess after the second fill, bready products like that may be off my menu permanantly. I dont eat them often at all, so it wont be a huge loss and I do not want to repeat this morning. I actually spewed. at my desk. it was gross. only a small amount thank god, and I had a container handy. but not an event to be repeated. note to self - no more squishy bread!

so THATS what happens when I swallow too fast ...

Well so far I havn't really experienced any of the problems people talk about after they are banded, I've had no problems swallowing, no food coming up, the worst was an uncomfortable tight feeling after eating too much once or twice. Having said that, I am very conscious of chewing my food really well. Well last night as I was rushing from Spanish class to a gig, I was eating the sandwich I had in my bag (i thought i was being prepared, knowing there would be no time to stop for dinner in between class and the gig) so I'm eating the sandwich while talking a mile a minute to my friend about how fabulous the class was, when suddenly, it felt like I had swallowed a brick. Not a nice feeling, after some careful deep breathing and relaxing for a couple of minutes, it passed, no vomiting required:-) but OH MY it was not a good feeling. Note to self. Chew. Repeat if necessary.

Look, it's got nothing to do with my Lap Band . . .

. . . But Leonard Cohen is a genius. Just in case you didn't know that already :)

presenting: the one egg omlette

So in my quest to control my portions a bit more, i bought this nifty tiny tiny non quick fry pan, it's mabey 8cm wide. Perfect for a single fried egg, or, as i made this morning, a one egg omlette. I beat the egg up with some low fat cottage cheese, then added in 2 smoked semi dried tomato's and a little boccocini cheese and some basil. Yum yum yum. I did have two of them, but no bread, so a pretty good portion controlled brekkie and delicious!