Any food addicts here?

[acampbell1318 58]

WHOO HOO!! I am proud of myself I think for the first time in my life I turned down a donut! At work people usually bring in donuts once a week and today we had them and I did get up and go with 2 others to get one but I looked at them and told myself no...I have a Protein Bar. So now I am sitting here eating my Protein bar and not a donut...YAH ME!

[Teachamy 1,042]

My social worker at the bariatric center mentioned that because food addiction provides us something, many people switch to other addictions to provided the same comfort. She mentioned, smoking, drinking, pornography and shopping! I thought she was wrong until the mention of shopping rang a bell for me. I can't wait to buy new, cute clothes! So I have to make sure a new and harmful addiction doesn't spring up to replace the old one!

[LBD 121]

Yes, completely addicted to food. Sugar, fat and carbs were my drug of choice. I know my habits were just as if I were a drug addict attempting to hide her actions from her family. I would eat fast food when I was out & dispose of the trash before I got back to the house & even would air out the car so it didn't smell like fast food, lol. I'd buy pop tarts, Cookies, etc & I'd hide them in my car or in the house because I knew I shouldn't be eating them but would finish them off in no time... I'd eat when everyone went to bed. If that isn't a food addiction/eating disorder I don't know what is. My VSG was my self imposed intervention, and having it done after my first attempt at gastric bypass was my way of getting control of my behavior and my life.

I'm on my way to being healthy- body, mind and spirit.

[sookiee 13]

WHOO HOO!! I am proud of myself I think for the first time in my life I turned down a donut! At work people usually bring in donuts once a week and today we had them and I did get up and go with 2 others to get one but I looked at them and told myself no...I have a Protein bar. So now I am sitting here eating my Protein bar and not a donut...YAH ME!

Way to go!!

[Skinny in Here 83]

Did any of you tie a specific event with a food? For example, on days I went into the office I'd stop by McDonalds for a kids meal and some Cookies. So every time I'd get in the car to head home it became instinctive to stop by McDonalds. Same with lunch, I'd hear a particular program on the radio and say "Blizzard Time". Thankful I work from home most days or I'd be worse off than I was!!!

[clk 3,519]

Almost all of us are addicts, even if many are in denial before surgery! I was absolutely in denial about my disordered eating. I was certain that surgery was going to be my fix because my issues were completely due to insulin resistance (and type 2 diabetes), hormones and genetics.

Fast forward to reality and nope, disordered eating doesn't disappear with surgery.

My experience is that it gets much easier to deal with in the early months post op. All the way up to at least a year out, it was very easy to say no to food. Eating was a chore. I was really able to focus on changing my bad habits in for better ones.

But the sad truth is that it never goes away. We are truly like alcoholics. We don't get to start binges or poor habits again without repercussions, and possibly a downhill slide that ends with the foulest of post-WLS words: REGAIN.

I'm three years out. I was so sure somewhere in my second year that I'd beaten my addiction, that my habits were fully changed and that I was absolutely in charge. And don't get me wrong, because it's still far easier to stay on top of my habits or to break the cycle than it was with my whole stomach. But it's still a challenge sometimes.

I used to think I had a skinny girl inside me that wanted out. The truth is more that there's a really hungry fat girl inside me, and she wants to eat all the food, all the time. It doesn't matter to her if I'm physically hungry. My obesity did not stem from actual hunger! It stemmed from years of poor habits, binges, overeating and an absolute inability to walk away from the junk food.

And that, my friends, doesn't go away post op. Yes, you can replace those habits and those cravings. And yes, it's much easier to do it immediately post op. But the longer I'm around here the more I see that it's actually a rare few that chug along more than two years post op demon free. The rest of us still fight our food demons, and while it's an easier win than it was pre-op, the sad truth for some of us is that the fight doesn't end.

~Cheri

[EarthyGoalie 253]

"LBD" I would also do the EXACT same thing. I would go out alone and not let anyone tag along because I knew I wasn't just going to get some hair product at CVS, but because I knew I'd be buying all kinds of junk, sit in the car, and eat them, and hide the rest in my purse so I'd eat it later when everyone is asleep. And airing out the car? Oh yeah! I'd stop at McDonald's and stuff my face in the car, dispose of all evidence, and air the car out while going back home.

And you know, I have never admitted to any of this to anyone. So I'm really glad to be able to share this with you guys and not be judged. I did this surgery because I knew I would die this way if I didn't do anything that would keep me in control.

[EarthyGoalie 253]

"Skinny in here", YES, YES, YES, and YES. Ever since the pre-op diet, it's been so weird for me, going to work and not getting a Wendy's sandwich that is right across. Or going to school, and not getting a McDonald's Breakfast right before. And so many more habits and associations with places and activities.

[imfatpat 64]

Almost all of us are addicts' date=' even if many are in denial before surgery! I was absolutely in denial about my disordered eating. I was certain that surgery was going to be my fix because my issues were completely due to insulin resistance (and type 2 diabetes), hormones and genetics. Fast forward to reality and nope, disordered eating doesn't disappear with surgery. My experience is that it gets much easier to deal with in the early months post op. All the way up to at least a year out, it was very easy to say no to food. Eating was a chore. I was really able to focus on changing my bad habits in for better ones. But the sad truth is that it never goes away. We are truly like alcoholics. We don't get to start binges or poor habits again without repercussions, and possibly a downhill slide that ends with the foulest of post-WLS words: REGAIN. I'm three years out. I was so sure somewhere in my second year that I'd beaten my addiction, that my habits were fully changed and that I was absolutely in charge. And don't get me wrong, because it's still far easier to stay on top of my habits or to break the cycle than it was with my whole stomach. But it's still a challenge sometimes. I used to think I had a skinny girl inside me that wanted out. The truth is more that there's a really hungry fat girl inside me, and she wants to eat all the food, all the time. It doesn't matter to her if I'm physically hungry. My obesity did not stem from actual hunger! It stemmed from years of poor habits, binges, overeating and an absolute inability to walk away from the junk food. And that, my friends, doesn't go away post op. Yes, you can replace those habits and those cravings. And yes, it's much easier to do it immediately post op. But the longer I'm around here the more I see that it's actually a rare few that chug along more than two years post op demon free. The rest of us still fight our food demons, and while it's an easier win than it was pre-op, the sad truth for some of us is that the fight doesn't end. ~Cheri[/quote']

This ^ is the true story. No offense to the ones that are a couple of months out, but it's the period after the honeymoon of NOT being able to eat much that counts I want to know the real story about the long haul. Because all of us has had success short term on some diet or another.

[Fit2btied 122]

I would have to agree with Lipstick Lady. Having such a small stomach doesn't allow for you to eat as you once did. I'm only 2 weeks out so the addiction is still there but the sleeve is doing its job. Yes you do have to have will power, but it's so much easier to resist temptation. I have gone out to lunch and dinner at some of my favorite places and watched as other ate bread sticks and appetizers and it was hard. But I have made it through with no regrets.

In fact when I am done eating and feel full I still get that guilty feeling. Then I take a few minutes and remember I didn't eat anything bad for me. It's a good feeling.

[clk 3,519]

This ^ is the true story. No offense to the ones that are a couple of months out, but it's the period after the honeymoon of NOT being able to eat much that counts I want to know the real story about the long haul. Because all of us has had success short term on some diet or another.

Yes. When I was new there weren't many old timers hanging around. There was no vets board. There was no real picture of life in the 2+ years timeframe.

And I was one of "those people" that insisted that the only way to regain is if you try really hard and overeat or binge all the time. It's not true! Your body is a freaking miracle and it will adapt to ANYTHING, and that includes learning how to pack on a few pounds because you ate an extra couple hundred calories each day over the weekend. I find I have to be stricter with my intake 3+ years out. Once I'm in my window, I pretty well stick to a five pound range, IF I stick to doing a 6:1 or 5:2 method. Regain isn't an issue if I weigh daily and pick a day or two a week to hit the shakes hard and go all Protein.

But loss? Losing seven pounds is all I want, post pregnancy. And I've been trying for MONTHS. It's hard. It gets harder to lose the weight the longer you're small. It gets easier to pack pounds on the farther out you get.

This is to anyone relying wholly on their sleeve to make good choices: STOP. Start doing it yourself. Because my sleeve can hold a lot of the wrong foods. If I wanted, I could eat a slice of pizza every few hours and still pack on a few pounds. It addresses quantity, but only quantity of good choices. Do not rely on your sleeve to make those good choices for you.

I still hesitate to say I've had a regain. I got pregnant, and am having trouble losing those last stupid few pounds. But this is not the easy, effortless slide it was early out. Do not for one minute think that you'll be able to avoid regains and make good choices based upon the capacity of your sleeve alone. It takes effort, it takes a huge amount of willpower and it takes never-ending diligence to stay in your healthy weight range.

Three years out and no food is off limits. Some foods make me uncomfortable, but I can eat anything I want. And if I go sloppy on diet, I can easily fit in upwards of 2,000 calories a day, tiny sleeve be damned. I can easily eat upwards of 2 cups of food in one sitting if I choose the foods that will slide.

In the end? I have a tool. A darn good tool that I'm incredibly grateful to have. But it really boils down to me vs. the food. The sleeve only works if you work it, and that gets more tiring, more boring and harder to do the farther out from surgery you get.

We still get to succeed. I don't want to be defeatist. But don't think that it's as easy as it is that first nine months for the whole haul. It's not! Challenges are very common around one year post op, and losing regains of even ten piddly pounds can take more than half a year once you're farther out.

~Cheri

[Butterthebean 8,146]

Agreed Cheri. That's why I always say it's important to take advantage of that honeymoon period while you can. And make good eating habits part of your life sooner rather than later. I see people all the time saying I eat this and that crap food and I'm losing just fine. Good luck. For many people, you can eat cupcakes 3 meals a day and still lose in the honeymoon period.

But I'm here to tell you for most people the day comes when your appetite comes screaming back, your eating capacity doubles, your weight loss screeches to a halt because your metabolism equals out with your intake.....and it all seems to happen at once....and seemingly overnight. That will not be the time to start figuring out good eating practices. You don't want to have to go on a diet at that point.

[montague 13]

Count me in ! This is a topic I can really relate to. I feel like I should wire my mouth shut because there are times I do not have enough self control.

[Arts137 1,811]

Great thread. That's why our 'fat brain' is the key. Somehow we need to get control and KEEP in control. Our heads need to stay in the game. Period.

[No game 14,437]

I've been reading this thread for the last couple of days.... I have started to answer once or twice only to erase and say why bother.

The fact of the matter responses from people that are further out often fall on deaf ears to the newly or about to be sleeved..

They (I did too) like to here the good not the bad.

Yes I have (not had) a food addiction. I am a binge (in secret) eater so I can relate to those of you that do it in secret.

When I first talked about wanting this surgery my husband said "why? You never eat".. I have since opened up to him and told him my dirty secrets.

Ok first off the sleeve DOES NOT CURE food ADDICTION! I need to get that out there. I read lipstick lady's response about it stopping her by throwing up. And another poster two weeks out agreeing with her and assuming this is the way it's going to be for everyone. Not so.

I love you lipstick you know that! But not all of us puke. I have not puked since being in the hospital.

Also the first 6 months? You are still healing believe it or not and for some of us it's easier to stay on track.. I say some of us because more and more I read posts from people that are very early out and are already falling back into their addictive ways. I didn't only because I was scared and followed what my doctor said to do.

Ok things change after the so called "honeymoon" period eating gets easier and you get hungrier and your capacity increases all at the same time like butter said.

But let's get back to addiction. I am an addict I ate when I was not hungry I ate till there was pain. So the pain of being full is not a new sensation.I would stuff food and I would wait and eat again. Obviously my need for food was not my stomach it was my head (and my mouth that constantly watered for food and the want to chew, taste).

The sleeve did not cure this. Yes it's a great tool and I've lost some weight, But I fight my addiction everyday still. Maybe I'm just hard core messed up..more than the rest? Maybe not. I see lots and lots of people that have had surgery and lose initially only to gain it back.. So I'm going to guess I'm not the only one that's got a problem with food.

I still wake up thinking about food and a lot of times I go to bed thinking about it. I still sneak into the kitchen and stuff something in my mouth when no one is looking (yes as I said I am a sneak eater) I'm succeeding for the most part. But I am still an addict and I will be the rest of my life.

Also the fact of the matter is junk food goes down so much easier than dense Protein ( you know the stuff we are supposed to eat) so it can really play with that addicted brain that wants more and more.

My name is Laura I am addicted to food and I'm a year out from VSG surgery.

Edited October 26, 2013 by laura-ven