For those who have binge eating disorder, how has it developed post-op?

[robocop12 1]

I would like to know from all kinds of people, any gender, any time postop, e.g. 3 months vs 3 years vs 3 days, etc.

Im heading into surgery as a 20 year old male, soon to be 21 at the end of the summer, and I am genuinely curious as to how binging interacts in your life post surgery, as it is a HUGE, if not THE biggest factor...for me, atleast.....

[Mrs.RRn 2,111]

I'm only a few weeks out-- but I have no desire to binge. I really don't feel hungry, I just eat when the clock says to. But I have to say there was ALOT of mental prep before this.

[Rastafas 6]

I am happy to see this post. I am 4 weeks post op. I had a mini-binge this afternoon for the first time. It was, indeed, mini, and I did, in fact, feel totally ooky afterwards. I recouped by having a 100 calorie, 20g Protein drink for dinner. I track my food, and I am 90 calories over my max of 800 (usually I am closer to 600). I was eating something I should not have been eating in the first place. I should have planned the binge, meaning that I should have counted out the number of, ok, the truth is that it was Cheetos Puffs (the soft kind), of Puffs in a serving, and should have just enjoyed every single one.

It wasn't anything near a binge of the pre-op kind, believe me. The good thing is that I just got back in the saddle again.

I don't usually have that kind of food in my house; this was an unusual situation because I had visitors over the weekend.

I must remember to plan my off-plan treats, make them part of the food plan so that I don't have the need to binge.

[amytug 996]

I was a binge eater. I'm 4 mos out an have only "binged" once, as in I wasn't really fully conscions and just going through the motions.

Ftr, a binge for me, sleeved, was a chocolate Protein bar and a kashi brownie bar at the same time. . Those things won't be in my house anymore. I think that "binge" was much better than the binges in the past.

[Nicolanz 1,484]

At first I didn't think about binging. 4 months out I found myself mindless eating quite a bit. I'm 8 months out now and now that you mention it, I haven't had a desire to binge or eat when not hungry for a couple weeks now. I don't know what caused the switch. Maybe my vacation. I ate so much crap and felt like crap too! For me, it took the whole 8 months for my brain to catch up with the physical inability to binge. I know the problem is probably not gone forever but that's my experience as an 8 monther!

[wasabi 57]

I'm still pre-op, but I'm a little worried about this too! I hope that I will be too scared to do it, but I know eventually I will become comfortable with my sleeve and I worry about testing my new limits....

[Snow 86]

We all have all kinds of thoughts throughout the day. That's normal. Because we have those thoughts does not mean you have to act on them!

[Evolving 973]

I would like to know from all kinds of people' date=' any gender, any time postop, e.g. 3 months vs 3 years vs 3 days, etc.

Im heading into surgery as a 20 year old male, soon to be 21 at the end of the summer, and I am genuinely curious as to how binging interacts in your life post surgery, as it is a HUGE, if not THE biggest factor...for me, atleast.....[/quote']

Hi-

The most important thing is to really know it will not be 100% gone-- i didn't know that and was disappointed-- but u can not physically binge huge amounts now-- so instead of a whole jar/box/etc--- it's a few if something the. Y feel sick and regret it lol

I went to edrefferal . Com and found a specialist in my area -- best thing ever!!! Since seeing her I feel better and am seeing the reason behind it etc been the reason I've been as successful as I have-

Good luck in your journey and do not give up or think its only an uphill battle some days will be better than others but its worth it!!

Read beyond the refrigerator by Linda- she is a therapist in Arizona and had the sleeve the best book- it's a quick thin book but powerful! And low cost!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[Jenny12 361]

I'm 6 months post op and was a severe binge eater before surgery. It's the primary reason I got the surgery, so that I could no longer binge anymore. I still want to binge sometimes, but the feeling is not as strong. This surgery took my free will away when it comes to binging, which is what I wanted. So the sleeve definitely helps. My brain still wants to sit down and eat 3000 calories in one sitting, but so thankful my tummy just doesn't allow it anymore.

[maharet111 544]

I was a binge and purge eater before surgery..most likely bordering or in denial of having an eating disorder. It is funny though because the mental preparation for the surgery and life after it have lifted those desires from me completely. I no longer want to eat a whole pizza or a bucket of chicken wings. I haven't binged once since surgery because as other's said you just physically can't. I do treat myself to things like salt and vinegar potatoe chips..but I portion them out, I don't eat the whole bag like before.

[christieouchley 55]

THis surgery will be one of the best things you will ever do for yourself. I agree you wont be able to binge anymore. Something about this surgery just takes so much of that desire/obsession/compulsion for food away. I really think it has to be the lack of the ghrelin hormone. I tried to eat 3 oreos the other night (PMS) and one bite into the third one I thought I was going to puke so I just sat down and let it pass. The thought of oreos are a definate turn off now. There are still some "trigger foods" I cant keep at the house, but even if they were in the kitchen my stomach couldn't handle a binge.

[jennyblue111 32]

I was sleeved in August. & I can relate to all I've heard so far. As for me, I got off Prozac about 2 months ago, & am trying to not medicate (all Dr. regulated). I can tell a big difference in what I call my "Oprah" eating~ emotional eating. When I feel out of control or unwanted emotions, I'm definitely leaning on food for comfort for the 1st time since surgery. I can't really binge b/c i simply can't hold that much, but i find i continually graze, & I'm definitely not using food as fuel like I should. I've lost 75lbs; these last 2 months I've gained for the 1st time. 5lbs.

The good news.. I have a place I can tell on my illness..here, my Dr., my accountability partner, family, & friends. & telling on it is HUGE for me. These days binging consists of bad food choices like 1 ice cream bar, 5 Dove chocolate squares, 2 servings healthy trail mix, 2 servings of granola, 1 serving of Kettle chips, a roll.. individually, not together, cuz my stomach only holds so much. So it's not nearly the binging sizes or bad choices it used to be! & 5lbs in 2 months.. Although that was traumatizing mentally, to gain instead of loose, I'm learning my surgery was not a life cure, it was just a do-over, & I need to use my post-surgery program, support, & common sense the rest of my life!

This surgery was the best thing that ever happened to me physically, mentally, emotionally. It's a do-over not a cure. I'm a human being; I need to give myself a break sometimes. & I need to use the tools I have gained to stay healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually..& physically. I get out of it what I put I to it.

I wish u all the best. You'll get amazing things out of it too.. as long as you do the work. & if u have small moments in time u do t feel like doing the work, don't beat yourself up. & if u have long moments, seek help.

[clk 3,519]

I think that the sleeve will be an immediate help in the early months when eating is a chore, food tastes different and you're focusing on your rapid results (we all lose best in the first four months post op, because that's when we have the most weight to shed) and really motivated.

I also think that it's pretty common to see binge behavior transition into grazing post op if you don't deal with your triggers and keep yourself in a good place emotionally. There are several older threads about this that are worth reading if you search them out.

So, for sure the sleeve is going to keep you from sitting down at the end of a rough day and consuming a liter of soda, a large pizza and a dozen wings. You'll never do that again.

But if food is how you medicate yourself during stress or rough Patches you'll find that the desire to eat during those times does not go away simply because of surgery. We are not talking about a physical desire to eat. Binges and grazing are due to emotional desires to eat, and those aren't treated with the sleeve. You don't have to be hungry to stuff your face, trust me. And you may not eat eat a whole pizza at once, but nothing is ever going to stop you from eating an entire bag of Cookies in an day if you eat them a handful at a time around the clock! Don't laugh...I've seen people post about doing these things! The obesity is caused by things going on in our heads...we use food to deal with it so we blame the food and the portions and the way we eat. And yeah, that stuff is responsible but it's not the heart of the matter, so the surgery can only do so much.

My opinion is that you can help yourself immensely by paying attention from day one to when and why you're eating and by not allowing yourself to indulge in emotional, stress or boredom eating. When eating is tough and you don't want to eat is exactly the time you should try to overcome the habits that helped with obesity in the first place.

It's not easy, and there's a vet board with plenty of us that still struggle with these things.

But it's definitely possible to improve this and the sleeve definitely helped me.

~Cheri

[AmyInOrlando 348]

I made the decision to have the surgery to stop my binge and volume eating. My plan is to use this tool to end the behavior. I know that in the beginning the fast weight loss will keep me motivated. I've already lost and regained hundreds of pounds in the past and I don't ever want to have to lose the SAME pounds again. This is a last resort for me. In the past I went from 272 to 127 with diet and exercise. I broke my foot teaching a Zumba class and that was the beginning of my weight gain (again). As I watched the scale go up 3, down 2, up 5, down 3, I slowly gained 70 pounds back over the next 7 years. I saw 200 quickly approaching and decided diet and exercise just wasn't going to do it for me again. At 60 years old, the weight doesn't fall off anymore. I didn't want to be 272 ever again. So.... before my fear became my reality I made the decision to have the surgery. I'm scheduled for Aug. 1st, and it can't come fast enough.