for me the head work is and was the emotional eating and to prepare for the new life. even though I was already in therapy I wouldn't of survived this long without my therapist being there and im 2.5 yrs out.

my first program had us meet with the nut several times and she had us on a healthy eating plan monitored with a food journal. Your program should guide you as to its requirements

All the emotions, memories, and issues that surface as we go through our journey are the head work. We all have those whether we admit it or not!

I know we were talking about this on private message... but I'd suggest getting smaller plates, bowls etc... I went to goodwill and bought some pretty little dishes. I started using them before surgery to get me geared to the smaller portions. After surgery, there is no way we can eat a plate of food like we use to! Want to practice eating slow too.... And chewing tons... no drinking before and after meals for awhile (whatever guidelines given by your nut)

best of luck!

My "Head work" prior to surgery was admitting to myslef that I ate too much food. I sat back one day and realized that I was eating all day, but I had trained my head to say "If no one saw me eat it then it didn't happen!" Once I realized that I was a closet eater, I had to change that way of thinking before going forward with surgery. I'm now 14 months post op, I feel fantatic but I have to remind myself everyday of where I came from and how far I've made it and that those old habits are a thing of the past. I still have to deal with food demonds but the surgery has helped me to deal with them.
Best of luck to you!
Shelley

Head stuff to me is unearthing the reasons that drove me to overeat. Why as an 11 year old girl, did I eat leftovers as I did the dishes, and why did I try to hide it?? Why did I think a thin person was bitchy, sharp edged, not cuddly, mean, etc when I thought people who were round were kind and nurturing? There are lots of questions- to which I have answers now, and am still learning. I also buried a traumatic ordeal which happened when I was at my lowest weight as a 21 yr old adult. Twenty years later I remembered it. That ordeal set me up to act out inappropriately, so that I hated myself. I have had to forgive myself as well as other people. I basically ate to nurture myself. It didn't work! Now I am learning other ways. This is the head stuff for me.

I use to not think I was an emotional eater... till I relized right before sugery how much I really was. I would also eat large portions.... and had... and still have to fight the... if its still on my plate I have to eat it.... why? Answering those questions and realizing those along with other things emotionally got me to 360pounds.