Tmac,
You are to be commended for your research and decisions about surgery. I went in with all intentions to not tell anyone about my surgery- didn't happen in my case. but, if I could have kept it to myself, I would have. I am not embarassed by my decision, its just, as you said, was "my" decision.
I can also relate to your eating due to work situations. Although trained as an educator, after marriage I "inherited" 3 convenience stores when my husband decided to open a different business."Lucky Me"
How much "healthy" food do you find in a "Stop and Shop?" Although overweight most of my life, being on a 24 hour call basis and never home at regular hours, I started picking and grabbing my meals. I am the cook, and do cook healthy- I just was never home " to " cook.
You sound like you have your priorities in order and your questions and concerns about issues in the future are valid. Getting over "head" hunger and realizing the difference between "it" and "real" hunger is a long battle, but is something that is do- able. You work on it every day and start to realize different ways to indentify which is which.
I will say that healthy food taste better to me now than "junk". It takes a little more planning to keep snacks with you, but, it is worth it to make a solid and full effort towards surgery success. Sorry about the mugging and the travel hassles- no fun, I am sure.
Best of luck to you..
Amy H