Post surgery Food Addiction/Binge Eating Disorder

[awillaweigh328 8]

I am 10 Days post op. Yesterday I had a major melt down about watching my family eat what they want in front of me. Before this point, I had a food addiction, and having surgery doesn't fix that. I live in the south, and food has always been apart of my life as an interest and an unhealthy obsession. I did this to physically limit myself because my will power isn't enough. I'm using it as a tool and a motivator. Has anyone else faced emotional issues concerning their eating problems? How do you combat it? Does it get better?

[provenzee 262]

I had a similar issue happen to me when I was about a week out. I was still on liquids, and my family decided to have a huge party. The food looked and smelled amazing....I had to sip broth. I cried in my bedroom alone and was miserable. Everyone was eating and having a great time.

I promise, it gets easier once you can actually eat. I am currently five months out, and not too long ago my family had the same type of get together with all the same foods. Everyone was complimenting how good I looked because I lost so much weight. I ate what I could of the foods that looked the most appealing to me (I had a meatball, 1/4 of a burger with no bun, and a few slices of cheese). You will feel so full once you start solids, you will not want anymore to eat once you've reached your cap.

I still get cravings, and I still fail and give into them occasionally. The best advice I can give to help is if you are craving something to the point where you think you might break, go eat four ounces of dense Protein immediately. Find chicken, tuna, ham, whatever you have and eat it. You'll be full, and feel satisfied, and there will be no room for the stuff you wanted.

Good luck!!

[KristenLe 5,979]

I recommend therapy with a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders and bariatric surgery. Good luck.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I agree with the other posters.

It does get better once you are able to eat more solid foods. Also, right now, due to the fact that you are healing from major surgery and that your hormones are in flux from rapid fat loss, your hormones are wacky.

A good therapist can be invaluable, especially if you are in the habit of using food to manage your stress, feelings, and emotions.

Another great resource is a recovery group like Overeaters Anonymous. You can find meeting lists and other resources like podcasts online at OA.org.

There are also many books you may find helpful. One I like that was recommended to me by my therapist is Eat it Up! by Connie Stapleton. She works with WLS patients.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I am 10 Days post op. Yesterday I had a major melt down about watching my family eat what they want in front of me. Before this point, I had a food addiction, and having surgery doesn't fix that. I live in the south, and food has always been apart of my life as an interest and an unhealthy obsession. I did this to physically limit myself because my will power isn't enough. I'm using it as a tool and a motivator. Has anyone else faced emotional issues concerning their eating problems? How do you combat it? Does it get better?

There are several things about your post that make me think you deserve the benefit of a good therapist who can help you address your eating issues now. It's not altogether about "will power." But it does require you to have some different go-to habits and perspectives that can keep you from overeating whenever the mood or the food or the occasion or the company or your mama's recipe or the emotion or the stress-of-the-day prompt you to overeat. You don't have to be the prisoner of those things anymore. But only you can free yourself from that prison.

And for those who are in the throes of Post-Op Honeymoon Heaven, please know that your brand-new restriction won't always prevent you from over-eating. Yes it will discourage you. But your restriction a year from now or two or three or four or five years from now will discourage you a lot less than it does now. It's not because your stomach will "stretch," but you'll experience WLS fatigue and, if you're determined to do so, learn to eat around your sleeve.

I won't bore you with all the ways you can do that.

But boy, can you!

[aaaparker 0]

I'm two weeks out and im experiencing the same thing. I feel depressed. All I think about is food.

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[armywife1020 0]

I'm only 4 days post and I'm having the issue it scares me because I don't want to fail

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[SunshyneRN 4]

I'm 5 days out and all I want is a bacon cheeseburger- I'm on all liquids and even that hurts at times - the smells from July 4th BBQs were just too much

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