trading one disorder for a new one?

[DeezJeanz 1,065]

Hello all, I'm a pre sleever, still hooping it. But I've been reading nd researching so much as I'm doing the necessities prior to approval. Something that concerns me a lot is this...I realize that to some degree, many of us suffer from an eating disorder but in our case they've coined it obesity. My concerns, as I read many many posts, I read so much about how some are almost obsessing over how much food they can eat now that they've healed, how scared they are of regaining it now that they are at maintenance, how terrified they are when the scale won't budge IF they do regain a few lbs which then leads them to cut cals or do a diet of some sort or go bck to drinking their meals until the weightloss happens. To me it seems like we r exchanging one disorder for another and it seems nerve wrecking. Idk, like I said, its just different posts in different areas that I've read nd it feels like the new us is more burdensome or either equal to the stress of when they were overweight. Will anyone be willing to chime in and help me understand the difference. Hope I have made sense and not offened any1. I just want to succeed but don't want to exchange one worry for a new worry, do u know what I mean? Thx all in advance. I still want the tool just not the added worrying esp if I'm doing what I'm suppose to do and I just wanna understand how u postops feel about this:). Continued success to u all nd gl.

[Wayless 52]

I seem to have a little compulsion with on line shopping, I need to keep it in check or I'll be thin and broke.

[smjuroska 60]

I am pre too...and reading these post makes me wonder too. Like you I do not want to trade in one problem for another. It will be interesting to see the responses.

[stacechase 251]

Hi there!

You raise a great point—weight loss surgery is NOT a silver bullet, magic pill cure all. It may shrink the size of our stomachs, but it can't help with the psychological & emotional issues we have connected to food. I, personally, am a sugar freak (particularly chocolate) and a boredom eater for sure. I just finished a great book called "Feeding the Hungry Heart" by Geneen Roth that is a bunch of short stories and essays about emotional overeating...great information and lots of food for thought (pun not intended but still funny!) I recommend you check it out. The bottom line of the book is that you're feeding yourself constantly to fill another emotional void...in my case, it's lack of dating & romantic relationships. I'm also seeing a therapist, which I think is absolutely INTEGRAL to success post-surgery.

Good luck to you whatever you decide to do, but don't let being scared of developing another disorder stop you from getting a surgery that could make you healthier...if you think like that, you'll never become a better you!

[TwinsMama 483]

I can't speak as someone at goal/maintenance but I can tell you this about me...I spent years counting carbs, or calories, or meals, or steps. Now, I still do the same but I'm much healthier doing it and the weight (with the same attention to detail) will stay off.

Most of us realize this is a lifelong battle, so we resign ourselves to continue to monitor these things. I know for life I'll need to watch my weight. It's my thing. Just like some other people have to watch their spending habits, drinking, or gambling.

I do see posts where people want to diet because they've gained weight back. The one thing I've noticed is that for the most part, their "diet" is really getting back to the sleeve basics. So not really a diet, just more of a restart.

I'll let the Vets weigh in, but certainly on this side of surgery it seems people are much more purposeful with their healthy lifestyle choices.

[Jen35 283]

I am 2 months post op and I have been seeing a therapist for 7 months. I really recommend this because I have an eating disorder. food is my drug and I use it to avoid the emotional pain of my past. Realizing this was the first step, now I use that information (along with my sleeve) to make better choices. Being aware of my problem and working with an experienced therapist keeps me on track so far. I am also worried about picking up another addiction (like alcohol) so I'm very careful about those other vices.

[Rox 200]

This surgery forces mindful eating on a person. I can eat mindfully without the surgery, but I can't keep it up long enough to lose significant weight. Then, when I would get tired of mindful eating, my body and I would quickly gain the way back, and then some. For some reason, if it took 4 months to lose 20lbs, it only took 7 wks to gain 25lbs. I have resigned myself that I will have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life

[MichiganChic 3,262]

It's a known fact that there can be transfer addictions. Some people turn to alcohol, some turn to shopping. That doesn't mean it happens to everyone, but it's good to know its a risk. As far as obsessing over how much to eat, I'm not sure it's an addiction for all (could be for some, I suppose), but I think it's more about trying to get this right. There are rules we all need to live by with the sleeve, and in order to be successful, we have to change our ways. The sleeve will NOT change them for us. It takes a lot of energy and thought to do that, so it is a major topic of conversation, and you'll read here because this is where we come for support about changing our ways. I know that I will need to count calories and measure my food forever, or I will not keep the weight off. If it takes "obsession" for me to get there, I'm good with that. I hated being fat more than I knew, and I like being (almost) thin more than I ever dreamt possible. You might feel differently once you are post op. There are people here who say they don't want to ever be on a "diet" again, so they don't weight and measure, but I do believe they are mindful and purposeful in their eating habits. We are all unique, and have to find our own way. Not sure if that answers your question, but I wish you luck!

[Kellyj574 30]

This point is very valid! when I was Pre op my surgeon and his team really dug deep in this topic. They really stressed that the sleeve is a TOOL and it will HELP you achieve your goals. Not do it for you. I however had it stuck in my head "yahoo I'm gonna be skinny! I'm gonna shop in a normal store" yada yada. at this point I am only 6 months Post Op, but let me tell you, yes the sleeve does wonders, but unless you really change your life and adapt to all the aspects of what it entails, you most likely will re gain your weight back.

I'm not saying that I've been an angel with the sleeve. I still enjoy a beer every now and again and I still love sweets. But you will learn moderation.

I am also a mindless eater, I eat when I'm bored, I eat when I'm happy, i like to sit with a bowl of pretzels while I read. But I've made the decision that I don't want to weigh 300lbs the rest of my life. unfortunately with the sleeve you cant "have your cake and eat it too"

All that being said, I would highly recommend seeing a therapist of some sort and talk to someone about your vices. (I've even heard of some gals from another support group that go sit in on weight watchers meetings just to be accountable on a regular basis for what they put in their mouths, any little thing can help!) honestly we do have an eating disorder, and if you don't change the way you live, you will find something else like shopping, alcoholism, sex addict, hoarding... (NOT saying that it WILL happen, just saying were a little more prone to replace one bad habit with another).

To sleeve or not to sleeve, that is the question, If this is the main concern I'd say there are resources that you can utilize so this isn't an issue. It was the BEST decision I've ever made.

Best of luck with your journey, and your decision making. Its so worth it, especially with all of the resources we have at our fingertips!

[Kellyj574 30]

And as a side note i just read all of the feedback on here, I 100% agree with everything everyone is saying. =)

[DeezJeanz 1,065]

Thus far, I want to thank all of you whose chimmed in! I smiled whenever I saw my notification come up cuz I was hoping it'd be u guys:). Just from the few comments that I've read here, u all agree that its more mindful eating than obsession based, which looking at it from that perspective makes sense to me bc we do HAVE TO EAT, and now w the tool, we just HAVE TO BE MINDFUL of how we choose to fill it, as far as the Proteins vs slider foods. I thank u for giving me ur two cents and trust me that I'll spend it wisely, bc I'm sooo tired of being fat w comorbs and unhealthy eating. I'm rdy to be healthy! I'm rdy for my tool to help me want to make the mindful changes that it'll take to stay healthy vs just being skinny:). Ty my sweeties:) huggsss

[Bufflehead 6,358]

This is a great topic. I agree with your conclusion that this is mindful eating rather than disordered eating. If someone is on a strict monetary budget and carefully plans spending and borrowing, no one would say they have a financial disorder, right? They would say that person is smart and working to stay on track and even get ahead.

[DeezJeanz 1,065]

This is a great topic. I agree with your conclusion that this is mindful eating rather than disordered eating. If someone is on a strict monetary budget and carefully plans spending and borrowing' date=' no one would say they have a financial disorder, right? They would say that person is smart and working to stay on track and even get ahead. [/quote']

Very good analogy:) ty

[LBD 121]

As I mentioned in a thread I started the other day, this is the second time around for me. I'm meeting with a new doctor after the first doctor who operated on me in 2006 ruptured my aorta during the laparoscopy. Because it became an emergency situation I never got the gastric bypass surgery. Never thought I would try this again but even a near death experience wasn't enough to help me to stick to a plan long enough to take off the weight. food has always been my drug of choice and I see this second time around as my rock bottom, and self imposed intervention. Just realized lately that I needed it then & still do. Personally, I know that I need not to have a choice in order to succeed. For example, I had tried several times to quit smoking over the years and the only time I really did what's when I found out I was pregnant for the firs time 12 years ago. So going forward I know that this structure will be hard but I am committed to do what I need to do for a healthy life, and will get all the help I will need (medical/therapy) to make this work, because it just has to.... Grateful for an online community like this!!!!