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Great topic on this thread. I hadn't really processed it, but I too feel guilty if I think I'm eating too much when clearly it is such a small portion compared to my pre-op days. I get full, like I'm supposed to, but even that is a whole new experience because before full happened only after at ate half the refrigerator ( ok a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm sure y'all understand my drift) . I have yet to experience 'physical' hunger. I eat pretty much because I know i have to get the Protein in. If it wasn't for that, I'm sure I'd just graze along with a bite here and there cuz my head does say...have some if that. As for the comments on the nutritionist, that is clearly someone who has no idea who compulsive eaters are and what food/sugar/carb addiction is all about. I highly doubt she'd tell an alcoholic to have beer when their drink of choice is vodka. I know a lot of my trigger foods, and I have to be careful with some fruit cuz it triggers too. I have a whole list of " bet you can't eat just one" because I can't - sleeve or no sleeve. I have got to keep it clean, lean and mean. I've tried moderation, and that doesn't work for me. I did a lot of work with a therapist before my surgery. I was reading a study today that commented how we choose our words.... If we say we can't eat something, there is a greater chance that we will eat it. Whereas if we say I don't eat something, there is a greater chance we won't. This was a study done with a bunch of college students and the outcomes were surprising. But it makes sense. The feelings of " I can't " leave me feeling in this place of self punishment. I can't go out, I can't eat pizza, I can't drive a car.... But to say "I don't" has a different visceral response. Ok now I think of the snooty girl who looks down her nose, that sense of entitlement. I don't wear polyester, I don't eat sugar, I don't drink tap Water, I don't eat Cookies. One is like a "poor me" syndrome, while the other is a sense of self care and personal entitlement. Granted the snooty girl can be a B$$ch, but if done honestly it sets a personal boundary that someone else just can't get thru. Ya, the first dietician would tell us we could eat popcorn in week 2.... Oh, my belly hurts thinking of eating it now. She was an idiot. I have a much better on now who get it. Ultimately we have to know ourselves and be honest with ourselves. Tallyho

Sugar free jello and puddings. Bottled water and some type of cup with a lid to keep track of how much your are drinking. Canned tuna and chicken to eat. Applesauce no sugar added, protien drinks that are ready to use at first. Mini food chopper or blender I have a Ninja. Comfy pjs, a robe, slippers, stretchy pants and tee shirts. Alcohol to remove sticky tape adhesive from your arm. 90+ lbs gone since surgery. :-)

I am new to this also. I have been tossing around the idea for a few years, while continuing with one failed diet after another. I decided this year is the year. I have just been approved by my insurance company and have my pulmonary and cardio clearance left to go. I believe I will be having surgery either right before Thanksgiving or right after. I am scared too! I feel like this has all happened so fast and I don't know what to expect. I know my eating habits will drastically change, but what about my day to day life? Will the surgery affect my digestion? How about alcohol consumption? How long does it take to get back to solid food? Will my skin "sag?" I really just need someone to give me a step by step description of the process! lol

And btw.. Love the, smoke fags and drink alcohol to get pissed

I'm not sure I agree with you about tolerance and withdrawal not applying to food. Our processed foods have crazy amounts of hidden sugar in them (primarily from corn derivatives), so I definitely think that a tolerance can be built up without us even realizing it. For a person who has physiological or emotional responses to sugar intake, it makes sense to me that the person would then need to consume ever larger amounts in order to produce the effect they are seeking. Further, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence about the physical symptoms that occur when withdrawing from carbs and sugar...headaches, irritability, shakiness, etc. So, yeah...I believe that tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal can be applicable to food. When I first started this process, I was extremely concerned about determining whether or not I had a true addiction. I knew that could be the biggest challenge to being successful with WLS, so I really wanted to know if that was my problem. While I definitely enjoy sweets, other carbs like bread, Pasta, and potatoes, were my bigger concern. I ate refined carbs in some form every single day, and I love them. In addition, I drank alcohol every day. I fixed a vodka cocktail every night in a large cup, so it was probably the equivalent of 3-4 standard drinks. Even though I didn't think my drinking was compulsive, I also knew that I could be wrong about that. I knew that if I had addiction tendencies in any area, those two areas would be the most likely to be problematic. I discussed my concerns in depth during my 3 month psych eval, and I even requested some additional substance abuse assessments. All of the results indicated no substance issues. Those findings have been supported by my behavioral changes both pre- and post-op. I follow my dietary guidelines, I haven't experience much in the way of cravings, or found myself triggered by certain foods or situations. When I have wanted to taste something sweet or carby, a small taste has been satisfying and did not leave me wanting more. Over the past 4 months, I have consumed alcohol 3 times, about a half glass of wine each time. I don't miss the daily drink & it wasn't a struggle to give it up. I know I'm not very far out, so maybe some of these choices will get harder for me. I'm trying to be prepared for that possibility, and to guard against complacency. I also know that everyone is different, so what's true for me will not necessarily be true for someone else. My personal experience tells me that genuine addiction was not a factor for me, but that doesn't mean it's not a factor for someone else.

What's so hard about this addiction is that we aren't physically able to abstain. Alcoholics can avoid bars/alcohol, drug addicts can completely avoid drugs, smokers can completely cut out cigarettes.. But food addicts can't cut out food unless we are tube fed the rest of our lives. We just have to realize WHAT the issue was before surgery, and try to resolve it. Perfect example is that while you (gamer girl) have a sugar addiction and must avoid all sweets, I've never had a sweet tooth and could take it or leave it. Me on the other had, am a carb addict. I love me some Pasta or bread or mashed potatoes. Plus, my portions were outrageous. As far as the portions go, I weigh my food so I could "empty my plate" without going over. I've slowly been learning that I don't have to empty my plate, and it's ok to leave food over. It comes from my mom and I being poor when I was little, and always being taught to eat everything on my plate. As far as the carbs go, I avoid them, just like you avoid sugar. They are a trigger, and once I have one, I want them all. I'm sorry for rambling! But I think a lot of people "enable" and act supportive is because the second someone uses "tough love", they are pounced on and called "heartless" or an "internet bully", so some refrain from being blunt all together.

I have caught a lot of flack several times for saying that I do not believe I have a food addiction. As a soon-to-be-licensed therapist, I define addiction according to the DSM psychiatric criteria. I definitely believe that food addictions exist, but I also know I don't meet the criteria that define a disorder. Lack of discipline was more my problem, and that's different from an actual addiction. With the sleeve, I have the assistance I need with portion control. I basically eat what I want, I get my Protein every day, and I don't have cravings for carbs. If I do enjoy the occasional something sweet or carby, it's just a very small amount & I've been satisfied with that so far. When I have wanted something sweet, I've made an effort to make it a "smart sweet", like fruit, or a low carb/high protein ice cream substitute or cookie. I believe in moderation and balance, but I don't eat a lot of junk. I also acknowledge that I only really know my own experience, and that my approach would not work for everybody. As with everything in life, we each have to find our own path. But to answer the original question, maybe it's just that anybody with issues in a certain area (be they true addictions or not), are likely to enable other "users". Smokers minimize the slips of those trying to quit, drinkers can minimize the slips of alcoholics, and people with food issues are very likely to minimize the slips of others with food issues. In all areas of substance abuse, most enablers don't generally see their behavior as enabling...they think they're trying to be nice, or supportive, or understanding, or just patient. And if the enabler also partakes in the substance or behavior, then it's even harder to get them to stop enabling the addict.

You know what I don’t understand? We all get that you can’t urge an alcoholic to have just one drink. We wouldn’t dream of doing that. But we routinely urge self-confessed bingers, sugar-carb addicts, grazers, and cheaters to “go ahead!” because “I do that and it doesn’t hurt me”. Well maybe YOU can, but whoever posted in a panic about it clearly thinks they can’t control it and are panicked about falling off the wagon. That’s WHY they’re posting, right?? So why do we do that? Why do we tell bingers it’s okay to overeat once in a while? And that cheating on a pre-op is okay? Or that everyone should be eating everything in moderation including junk when the person is clearly saying “I’m trying not to eat junk?” I’m not trying to be confrontational, I’m really intrigued as to why we don't see this an enabling behavior. Thoughts?

I know not everyone who gets WLS is addicted to food, but as my last comment on this thread: I totally understand what you are saying Madam, but I know, in a group of alcoholics, the person who walks in with a bottle of vodka is going to be popular and the person who says, "Hey, maybe we should put that away" is going to be demonized. I'm OK with that. If my message resonates with one person, that is all that matters. To those who find me high-minded, I apologize. My comments are not related to you. But there are those out here in the forum who truly struggle with food issues and sabotaging their efforts. I wish everyone well on their own journey with VSG. God bless.

Maybe it's your turn of phrase... "Just like I wouldn't advise an alcoholic to just have a shot on a rare occasion, IMO, this is a dangerous thread." Maybe it's your overlooking this statement: "There'll be no 'Hail Mary's' or 'Our Fathers' and flagellation will NOT and should not be forthcoming" and coming forth with a statement of this nature: "Bottom line folks, I don't want to see any of y'all crying 6 months from now that the scale isn't moving, yet these same behaviors are continuing. If someone is struggling with weight loss 6 months from now, I'm going to point them to this thread.' I understand the genuine motive behind your post - and it is laudable. However, due to the primary reason this thread was composed, I found your well-intentioned post ill-placed. If people have chosen to not delve too deeply into 'why' they have chosen to consume something and 'how' it made them feel afterwards - that is their prerogative. The core tenet still remains, that it's a place where there is no judgement - rightly or wrongly - for the occasional strays they have. There is comfort in knowing you're not alone in your struggles - it is what makes us human, after all. That, I believe, is objectivity...

So, I understand this is a venting thread AND this is something done RARELY and not a habit, but remember, people only change when they make a change. Bottom line folks, I don't want to see any of y'all crying 6 months from now that the scale isn't moving, yet these same behaviors are continuing. If someone is struggling with weight loss 6 months from now, I'm going to point them to this thread. Just like I wouldn't advise an alcoholic to just have a shot on a rare occasion, IMO, this is a dangerous thread. Yeah, we don't have issues with food, do we? OK, y'all can flame me now.

Oh yeah! Alcohol!! LOL I drink hard cider, wine, beer ... I get tipsy a lot quicker though, and I learned the hard way that it's a lot easier to overindulge ...

Yes, yes, YES. It is a daily battle. I am a year out and I still struggle with this. food is an addiction unlike any other - unlike drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, you cannot separate yourself from food - you HAVE to have it to live. So we start the cycle. I think a LITTLE guilt is healthy - to an extent. But riddling yourself with guilt is not productive. For example, I am currently munching on White Castle sliders. I have eaten 1 1/2 and I am feeling insanely guilty telling myself I should have stopped at one. The guilt is not going to change the fact that I ate that other 1/2. It might stop me next time, if I listen and learn from it. But it doesn't change what has already been. A little fear is also healthy - I should be more afraid of what I eat than I actually am! It keeps you accountable and from eating what you shouldn't and eating too much of it.

Last night I downed three Oreos from the mini bar in my hotel room. Hey, it was either that or m&ms! Or the copious amounts of liquor, wine and beer....at only 2.5 months out I was afraid of the alcohol.

Maybe not so much, you could have given yourself a better chance for health. Let me elaborate. I am also military Tricare/ united health care now. I started trying to get approved originally for a gastric bypass in 2010 when I noticed that no matter what I did my weight would drastically fluctuate from 135-200 within a month. At the time I did not have as many health issues as I do now. I started the processes with Tricare for them to deny me, appeal, deny again and then switch health coverage and start all over. Long story short at the beginning of this year I was diagnosed with end stage liver disease, non-alcoholic cirrhosis stage 4. After all of the treatments, biopsy’s , and other mid-evil torture processes my transplant doctor tells me that if I would have had the bypass 2 years ago I wouldn’t be in the boat I’m in now. The gastric sleeve is my only option now due to my condition and I am currently waiting on a surgery date. Long story short, I started the processes with only having high blood pressure and due to the fast-food treatment of military medicine passing me back and forth between different PCP’s I now have hypothyroidism, diabetic, liver patient. They are still pressing the issue that I do not weight enough even though I have officially been passed over to a specialty care at KU Medical. I personally think you did the right move at being proactive at seeing to your health. If I had the capability I would have done the same thing. Try not to kick yourself in the shins for making a move for better health and not taking a NO for an answer. Personally, I salute you.

Was supposed to fast today. All was well until lunch - had a small portion of cheese and pot pie (not a lot of cheese) - anyway, after lunch I just felt blurgh! Dizzy and lighted headed - like I was nearly drunk without the alcohol! I came home from work just feeling 'sad' - no reason to either, nothing has gone wrong... anyway, I haven't stuck to the 500 cals, will do it tomo instead. I don't normally feel like this, and I am not one for tea and sympathy, I suppose I'm just having an off day! Hope everyone else is a little more upbeat!

OMG! that would be like taking an alcoholic into a liquor store!! Not sure I could do it just yet...Good for you for staying strong!

I am a recovering addict, and my drug of choice is opiates. I have over 3 years clean and in recovery, and this was a concern of mine as well. I am more concerned with taking pain medication, since I haven't taken anything for over 3 years, and will have to while in the hospital (im assuming). I am not planning on taking any narcotics home on prescription. Once i'm discharged from the hospital, that is it for the pain meds. I have a support system of people also in recovery and I still go to meetings regularly. I also attend weekly bariatric support groups. I'm not sure what makes you think it's your business to tell your friend he is or is not ready to have wls. I would be pretty annoyed if one of my friends, who is not an addict or expert in addiction, tried to tell me I am not ready for the surgery. As long as your friend is running his decisions by someone he trusts, just try to be supportive. He may actually be in a better position to deal with the long term consequences of wls, since he knows he has addictive behaviors and can take steps to deal with them. I think a lot of people get blind sided by the aftermath of wls, and realizing their relationship with food was addictive. Many of these people turn to alcohol or other substances to cope with their feelings. I am not sure exactly what I'm trying to say here, but this post really annoyed me.

I smoke it. In fact I killed a roach a few minutes ago. Do you HAVE to be DRUNK (or high) to have a good time? I can enjoy myself perfectly without zero alcohol, so I could never understand people who must drink to have fun... And, I know you said "ignore" it, but as far as "munchies" I allow myself a bite-size chocolate and I won't over do it. I do, however, eat it extra slowwwwwwly, so as to delight in it.

So happy for you, SueJersey!!!! "You look MARVELOUS!!" When's your next cruise?!? I just got home from Hawaii :-) I'm 51 weeks out & have been stalled at 70-75 lbs lost since June. But I also added alcohol & sweet tea back into my diet about that same time. It's been a great ride & a fun summer but I'm hoping to get it kick-started again soon with a 2-week liquid (Optifast) diet. But even if I don't then I'm a happy camper right here at 5'6", ~175lbs, size M/L & 14/16 !!!!!!

No one told me that having this surgery would make me younger! I have regressed to the age of TWO since I cannot control my emotions whatsoever! I am literally a walking snickers commercial today. I am sick of every poind lost opening up another pocket of angry within me that has to come out. I obviously used food to swallow my emotions and my feelings pf being used and abused because I am not taking ANYONE'S BS and I am loudly speaking my mind and voicing my emotions. I am emotional and angry and my relationship and my work are suffering. I am in counseling, but all I learned is I am co-dependent. I am a child of an alcoholic. But truthfully with how I feel I am seriously thinking the surgery is driving me to the nuthouse.... Is this normal? I am not suicidal. I am not violent. I am just fighting and screaming and stomping my feet (literally) and crying and feeling injustice against me. I have rages I cannot control. I hope it isn't like this forever...is it? Is something wrong with me?

Headache for me was caused by too few calories post surgery. I've heard a lot of people say alcohol pads under your nose helps with nausea. For me, I usually grab a SF Popsicle and it helps me,

Headache for me was caused by too few calories post surgery. I've heard a lot of people say alcohol pads under your nose helps with nausea. For me, I usually grab a SF Popsicle and it helps me,

What was your pre-op diet? Mine was low fat, normal food, sticking to around 1000 cals a day. Didn't measure cals and may have had one or two more bowls of muesli than necessary but everything I've eaten has been low fat, zero sugar and no alcohol. I had one meal out on Friday night which didn't exactly meet the low fat requirements but still avoided chips (fries), alcohol and sugar. Thinking about doing a liquid diet (Complan/Soup etc) for the next 4 days leading up to the surgery, just to make up for any deviations on the pre-op and also to cleanse my system.

What was your pre-op diet? Mine was low fat, normal food, sticking to around 1000 cals a day. Didn't measure cals and may have had one or two more bowls of muesli than necessary but everything I've eaten has been low fat, zero sugar and no alcohol. I had one meal out on Friday night which didn't exactly meet the low fat requirements but still avoided chips (fries), alcohol and sugar. Thinking about doing a liquid diet (Complan/Soup etc) for the next 4 days leading up to the surgery, just to make up for any deviations on the pre-op and also to cleanse my system.