Tips to change an over eating habit
Most of us pre-op had a habit of over-eating and a fixation on food as a ‘fix’. Sometimes we ate out of boredom, sometimes for comfort, often just ‘because’ and frequently because others were doing it.
But post-op we need to change an over eating habit otherwise they threaten to sabotage our efforts at weight-loss and maintenance.
Eating when hungry is fine but eating out of habit is not. So what can you do to break the habit – well trying to do something different is a great start. Here are some ideas that might just inspire you:
- Go for a walk. Clip on a pedometer and see if you can add to that 10,000 steps a day goal. When this becomes easier break into a jog!
- Go swimming.
- Read a book – or better still listen to an audio book while you exercise or do your chores.
- Take a bike ride, alone or with a friend.
- Take up a class like yoga, dance, martial arts or Zumba.
- Clean out your wardrobe or drawers of ill-fitting or too large clothes.
- Check in to see a film at the cinema – take your own treats if required rather than succumb to the in-house popcorn.
- Indulge in a crafting hobby – needlework, knitting, making cards, quilting or framing your before and after pics.
- Visit the library and check out the latest low fat and low sugar recipes for your new eating regime.
- Consider a part-time job or volunteering for a charitable cause.
- Clean out the garage and perhaps organise a garage sale or car boot sale for those unwanted items you unearth.
- Stretch the mind with a jigsaw, sudoko, chess or other puzzle.
- Start a new or revamp your current garden.
- Plan a much needed or always-wanted holiday for when funds permit.
- Update some furniture with a new coat of paint or reupholster a much loved but weary-looking chair.
- Take up a new evening or day class or move up to a more challenging level of a current favourite.
- Plan a family or old-school reunion so that you can reintroduce the ‘new’ you.
