4th Fill, NSVs and Compulsive Eating

I'm riding the ferry back from my 4th fill appointment and have some time to reflect on what's been going on this last two weeks. 

First, a couple of NSVs (non-scale victories). 

• I'm getting the hang of smaller bites, slower eating and stopping eating without needing that "full feeling".  I found it I don't wait until I'm ravenously hungry, I can manage these new eating techniques, which, with continued practice will become my usual eating habits.

• I have a couple of tops and dresses that are getting big.  Or, am I getting smaller? 
• Significantly less knee pain and stiffness. 

Second, the 4th fill:  The fill technician predicted I'm likely getting close to the "sweet spot" that might hold me for the next 6-8 months.  I'll still need to check in monthly, but I may not need as many fills in the next several months as these first three months.  In the last two weeks, I certainly did feel hungrier sooner (1.5-2 hours instead of 3-4 hours) after eating.  I found myself ruminating and over-planning meals last week as well..a near-certain precursor to compulsive eating.  And, a little sugar craving has popped up between meals, especially towards the end of the day.  Game plan:  After these next two days of liquids (always mandatory after a fill to allow the stomach to heal and settle), I'm going to increase protein in the afternoons with some really great fiber (almonds, apples) to see if I can kick the sugar cravings in the evenings.

Third, and speaking of compulsive eating, I was trading stories with the fill technician about our greatest feats of compulsive eating.  We both agreed that sometimes, for whatever reason, one's brain is wired to just EAT.  Whatever and whenever, with no signals or guidance from other parts of the body.  Silly brain.  So competent in some areas and so defective in others.  It will likely always be this way.  Just like managing a disease or a birth defect.  There are work-arounds and scripts and practices that can help make up for the deficit.  It reminds me of advice adult Aspergian John Robison gives to parents of young children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome:  "Give them the social scripts they need to be successful in the world.  It doesn't matter if you don't understand why you need to look someone in the eye and say hello when you enter a room.  You just do it and it makes life easier for you."  So I suppose the script for us compulsive eaters is:  "Slow down, taste your food, stop when you feel just barely full but in no way stuffed.  Take little bites.  Eat small meals and make sure they are nutritionally dense so you'll stay satisfied for 3-4 hours.  Deal with stress and feel emotions instead of smothering them with anesthetizing food.  It doesn't matter if you don't understand why.  Just do it.  Your life will be easier".