Pre-op Binge eating

[The Candidate 3,215]

@@livingstone That has to be one of the most intelligent, logical, and compassionate posts I've ever read on this site. Thank you for making such an eloquent statement.

It is definitely a personal decision and in no way marks the individual as ready or not ready to undertake such a serious and life/body altering step. No one can attest to the moral conviction of another.

Yes, in a perfect world we would all chose to follow the pre op plan/diet without wavering. But another pre op requirement for WLS is admitting that you, me, and everyone else here, is less than perfect. Berating someone who has yet to be given that "tool" we're all seeking, is in my opinion, an unfair fight. Failing diets is our collective history, and I for one, hope to never forget the awful struggle of it all after I have my own surgery.

For my insurance I'm required to lose 10 percent, and I've done that, but it's a constant struggle. Especially when I'm being made to maintain that loss over an 8 to 9 month period. I may slip tomorrow, and then again I may not. But realistically it could happen anytime, right up until I'm wheeled through those operating room doors. There are no certainties in this endeavor. Not pre-op. Not post-op either.

One day at a time, a little mutual support, and a desire to change your life, are the mainstays. I think every one deserves a chance at a new life. Everyone is living in a glass house in this community. There should be no stones allowed.

[Babbs 14,681]

I think these "fitness junkies" shouldn't be commenting on posts that don't necessarily pertain to them.

What do you mean by "fitness junkies"? People who follow the program and exercise on a regular basis?

How DARE them.

[Casey235 83]

@@livingstone thank you so much! I know each pound I gain now is just another pound I have to lose later, and, I too am ok with that! I am in a game with my mind right now! Trying to prepare myself mentally, because in MY case... Head hunger is 80% of my problem! Like I see on this site all of the time, the Dr. Operates on your stomach, not your mind. ????

[Casey235 83]

@@Babbs yes, how dare them put down someone who isn't physically able to exercise all the time, AND is just getting started in this life change!!!

I've seen that on this site numerous times.

If it doesn't pertain to you.... Why give your two cents?

Just move on along....

[Casey235 83]

@theCandidate I totally agree with you!!! ????

[Babbs 14,681]

I'm not arguing your point. I had a few food funerals too, and I think I'm doing well 7 months post op. I am a stickler to my program. I, like you, don't think it has much to do with how successful you'll be post op. Just like you don't want to be judged on a public forum for what you do, you shouldn't judge the people who may have taken the opportunity to decide to start making life changes before their surgery. I don't think that makes them any better than anyone else, but it also doesn't make them "fitness junkies". They just got into the correct mindset sooner than the rest of us.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery.

[OneDollarBill 371]

While I wouldn't call it pre-op binge eating there where certain items I wanted to have before surgery. The week before my 2 week liquid diet I allowed myself to have those foods. After that I made a committed choice for myself to do all I could pre-op that my surgeon asked me to do.

I'm sure at some point in the future I will be able to have some of the foods I once loved again. However this time it will be in much smaller portions.

[alwaysvegas 702]

... Is that not how we all got fat? ...Sometimes I think these "fitness junkies" shouldn't be commenting on posts that don't necessarily pertain to them. Just because it's easy for one person doesn't mean it's going to be easy for another!

You start off by asking if we all got fat by eating too much? I'd say yes. WE got fat by eating too much. I'm gonna take a guess and say that's true.

But then you talk about the "fitness junkies." These are the same WE who got fat by eating too much, but chose to incorporate exercise.

So who are the WE?

Some of the WE had food funerals...some didn't...some overate a little...some overate alot.

Some of the WE didn't cheat on our pre-op...some did.

Some of the WE decided against surgery at the last minute...some went through the surgery.

Some of the WE didn't follow an exercise regimen...some did.

Some of the WE lost weight slowly...some lost quickly.

Some of the WE gain back alot of weight...some gained back some...some haven't gained back.

Some of the WE support people through tough love...some support with velvet gloves.

Some of the WE want to hear all angles...some just want to hear others agree...some just want to start fights...some want to keep fights going.

Some of the WE think they have the right attitude...some thing they have the wrong attitude...some think others have the right attitude...some think others have the wrong attitude.

On these boards here I kinda like to think we're doing it for WE...but I can really TRULY only do my journey for me and you for you.

Binge-it pre-op, don't bing-eat pre-op. It's not on WE. It's on you.

Best of luck to all on your journey!

Edited March 30, 2015 by AlwaysVegas

[MyNewLife28 9]

I'm in the process of having surgery. I had to have 6 months of losing weight... At least 1 pound a month. You would think, oh, 1 pound isn't much. It will be a piece of (delicious) cake haha... BUT it has been an emotional roller coaster. It has brought out the worst binger in me! I've been an emotional and binge eater throughout my life and I've been having 6 months of on and off food funeral. It's been tough! I'm so afraid if I don't lose the one pound, then I have to start all over again. My scale and the doctors scale is never the same. I'm always trying to guess whether I've lost enough to move on. On Thursday, it's my 6th month. I'm practically eating nothing because I'm fearful I won't get down that pound. Yes, I want this surgery with all my heart! I can not wait to start my weight loss journey! So I can commiserate with you. I can empathize. I, too, am having difficulties. Does it make me less worthy to have the surgery? I don't think so. I'm a work in progress. We all have our baggage or we wouldn't be where we are... Keep your head up high. The first step is knowing what your doing and putting it out for the world to see! You will overcome!

[The Candidate 3,215]

@@MyNewLife28 You made a lot of good points in your post and I agree completely with everything you've said. Good luck on your journey!

[gal friday 176]

I had some food funerals. I had no pre-op diet because my BMI was right on the edge of insurance saying no to the surgery. After the surgery, I discovered something wonderful - there are almost no foods I am unable to eat. I'm just unable to eat large (or even normal) amounts of them! I didn't have to say goodbye to bagel's from Goldbergs - I just had to say goodbye to two at a time! (I can currently eat 1/2 a bagel, I have it about every 10 days or so). Sushi, even with rice? Yeah, I can have that! I mostly eat sashimi, but I have nigiri every so often. What can't I eat?

Grapes: I can only have a few at a time, the grape skins irritate my stomach and I am not peeling grapes!

Grape tomatoes: see above

Ice cream, whole and 2% milk, full fat yogurt: I've been low fat for 4 months now, so any high fat food in rapidly absorbable form (dairy), and I get REALLY REALLY sick. I had 'real' ice cream for the first time last week (it was my birthday, I got Ben and Jerry's even though I'm not much of an ice cream person) and holy f*ing sh*t I was so sick after 1/3 of a serving. My nutritionist says my body is just not used to that much fat that quickly and freaks out when it gets it.

That's it. I only put on a few pounds with food funerals, but it turns out I didn't even need to have them! And as for the high fat dairy foods - after getting sick the two times I had them (I had 2% milk at my mom's house and got sick then too) - I don't even WANT them. The container of ice cream is in my freezer right now (hubby is slowly working on it) and I had to hide it in the back because even looking at it makes me queasy.

[samuelsmom 670]

My surgeon only had one requirement and that was that you couldn't be heavier on the day of surgery than you were when you started the program. Their focus was also on learning strategies for eating well not on the scale. So during the 3 month pre-op I was careful about what I ate, and once a week I had whatever i wanted but not to excess.

I think there are a few important points which following the guidance did for me

1) following a plan 6 days, having an off day, and then going back on helped me to realize that I was capable of making changes

2) Even on my "off" day I followed the strategies I had been taught: chewing slowly, stopping when full, and drinking plenty of Water

3) I lost 27 pounds by the day of surgery which made for 27 less pounds I had to lose after surgery!

4) I have literally been overweight all of my life. My earliest memories are around 3 or 4 years old and I was overweight then. By the time it came to making a decision about surgery you can believe that I didn't feel there was much hope for me. Being successful during the pre-op period helped me start to realize that I too could be successful.

My suggestions regarding food funerals:

DO enjoy 1 or 2 slices of pizza or a nice dinner out before the pre-op liquids start.

DON'T eat massive quantities and sabotage yourself.

Good Luck on your journey.

[The Candidate 3,215]

Loved your suggestions @samuelsmom. And as someone who has also been overweight since I was a child we have a lot in common.

[chunkyloverlovesyou 197]

There is a lot of negative comments about this subject for sure. You see entire threads where people state how wonderful and perfect they were on their pre op diet, but cheated once and had one almond and felt horrible. I kind of call BS on this, one almond fatty? Its forced compliance after surgery, you will just be better off if you learn good habits first. I ate like a total fat a$$ up until the day before surgery. Night before I took an Ambien and ate 2 candy bars from the mini fridge in my sleep haze...my shame. Just glad those suckers had digested when they cut me open 10 hours later.

[LauraVSGinNZ 10]

It is SUCH a relief to read some refreshing honesty. I am not having my surgery until August and the food funerals for me have already began! Some of the opinions and advice of the people in these forums suggest that if I'm not already eating as though I have the sleeve, then I am probably not ready to under go the surgery! I am finally feeling a little more "normal" about my eating habits / desperate eating.

I am preparing myself in setting up a good exercise routine by adopting that already... One less thing to think about post op I guess.