Unfortunately, having surgery does not mean that you’ll no longer experience the cravings or feelings associated with overeating in the past. Binge eating is often triggered by feelings of stress, tension, anxiety, depression, anger, boredom, loneliness, frustration or sadness. Learn to identify what causes your binging so you can develop a plan to manage your emotions. Recognize that it is frequently an emotion, not hunger, that is triggering the binge.

The goal is to break the connection between emotions and food. It’s not easy, but cravings and binging can be controlled. When a craving hits, try distracting yourself for 10 minutes. Leave the house and go for a brisk walk, call a friend or read a good book. After 10 minutes, the craving should disappear or at least become manageable. Keep unhealthy foods out of the house. If you still feel out of control, ask your support group or bariatric team for help.