Ep 11: Emotions and Eating After WLS with Psychologist Georgie Beames
This post is a companion to Episode 11 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
The emotional journey after bariatric surgery often surprises people. Many clients tell me the physical side was actually the easier part. In this episode, I sat down with registered psychologist Georgie Beames — who specialises in eating and weight, including weight loss surgery — to unpack the emotional eating patterns that so many people struggle with post-surgery.
Why We Eat Emotionally
Emotional eating isn't random or weak — it's coming from our subconscious mind, which is responsible for around 90% of our eating sabotage. We use food to numb out, to escape uncomfortable feelings, or to chase a positive feeling like reward or comfort. The tricky part? We're often not aware it's happening. It's automatic.
Georgie notes that the two biggest triggers she sees in weight loss surgery patients are stress and boredom.
Area 1: Explore the Origin of Your Eating Pattern
Your night-time eating or grazing habit almost certainly didn't start after surgery. For most people, these patterns go back years — often decades — and often began in childhood as a coping strategy. Eating helped us feel safe, loved, or numb when we couldn't process big emotions.
Georgie's reflection questions: When did my pattern of eating first start? What was going on then? How did it help me? What feeling am I truly craving from my go-to food?
Area 2: Identify Your Current Triggers
What are the conditions of your eating habit right now? Is the TV on? Are you alone? Does it start once you sit down after the kids are in bed? Understanding the pattern gives you power over it.
Try this: when a craving hits, pause, place your feet on the floor, and ask — am I truly hungry, or am I trying to feel something (or avoid feeling something)?
Area 3: Connect to How You Want to Feel
So many of us are clear on what we don't want. What do you actually want to feel? Calm? Free? Present? Strong? Getting clear on this — and identifying one small thing you can do each day to feel that way — is the beginning of real change. Because when you feel calm, you don't need the fridge.
You can find Georgie at georgiebeames.com or on Instagram at @georgiebeamespsychologist.
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