When The Going Has Always Been Tough

[Sally85 1]

I have always been an emotional eater, it was passed down to me from my mother and to her by her mother and so on, it is how I learned to "cope." Two days before I started my liquid diet, my husband attempted suicide and we had to have him enter a therapy program. I wasn't sure if I should go through with surgery following such a traumatic event, but everyone (including my husband) encouraged me that I should go through with it, that I had come too close and they would provide as much help and support as possible, so I did.

I ended up moving in with my parents so that we could work on ourselves separately and so they could help me with my son and recovery. I had the surgery on February 1, 2016. I was released from the hospital on Tuesday and that Thursday my grandfather, who I was very close to was admitted into the hospital where he would be in and out until he passed away on April 5. Before he passed my parents had to move in with my grandparents but let me stay at their house until I was ready to go home (I moved back in May). Since my surgery eight months ago I have lost an aunt, two co workers and my husbands grandfather. On top of this I am continuously working to mend my marriage, balance life with a stressful job and raise a young child.

The truth is, I am so happy I had the surgery. I have lost over 50 pounds and I feel wonderful, but this whole time I know I have been emotionally eating more than I should. I want so badly to stay committed to my health but it is so hard when I am stressed out and trying to cope with grief and anxiety. I have hit a stall for the last two months and worry I am ruining my second chance. Is there anyone out there who can relate to a really rough start? Can anyone offer me any words of advice?

[shedo82773 1,236]

Hi Sally85

I am so sorry for your loss. It really seems like you have been thru HE** for sure. I commend you for still trying to move forward. You know the problem with our WLS'S, is sure they tell us that it will be hard but they don't ( well maybe they touch on it but...) tell us is our mental problems will NOT be fixed with surgery!! When we eat to cope or use food as a pacifier our surgery is just a tool!! A TOOL> We still have to find other measure's that help us cope. For myself having Facebook BaratricPal has helped me so much!! I also have found that because I don't eat when I'm reading this helps me not turn to the food. I try to find things that keep my hands full, coloring, reading, Facebook. I also have found that if I get out of the house and go for a walk it helps me. I call my walks an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! If I go outside and take my walk it kind of clears my head and it keeps me on my program. I don't want to make a bad choice that turns into a all day bad choice or even a week's bad choice. Our TOOL gives us the ability to eat less and make the right choice's most of the time!! Now I'm not an expert no way or shape, and I also have my failures to deal with. BUT each of us can find something that will help us on our way!! The MIND HUNGER is the worse thing that I deal with because even after my 3 years I have no physical hunger but MAN O MIGHTY my mind has its wants!! If you would like to chat with me or just need a shoulder I am here. Good Luck I know you have it in you to be successful you already are you reconize what your eating habits are so in my book YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL!! Keep on keeping on!!

[KristenLe 5,979]

@@Sally85 Sorry for everything you are going through. I hope your husband is emotionally stable at this time. I encourage therapy for you - with someone who has experience in emotional eating. I can't imagine how difficult it is for you. Take care!

[James Marusek 5,244]

The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight.

Weight loss is achieved after surgery through volume control. You begin at 2 ounces (1/4 cup) per meal and gradually over the next year and a half increase the volume to 1 cup per meal. With this minuscule amount of food, it is next to impossible to meet your Protein daily requirements by food alone, so therefore you need to rely on supplements such as Protein shakes.

One thing to do at the stage you are at now is to assess your protein intake. Your protein requirement is met by a combination of the protein from your meals combined with the protein from your supplements (protein shakes, protein bars). Since your meal volume is beginning to increase, that also means that the amount of protein from meals is increasing, especially if you concentrate on consuming high protein meals. Therefore you could be able to reduce your reliance on supplements and the calories they contain. I went from 3 Protein Shakes a day, down to 2, then 1 and finally zero when my meal volume increased to 1 cup per meal at a year and a half. That is how I broke my stalls.

[Rosey posey 176]

Glad I wandered in here ,you just covered the questions in my minds back chamber. Thanx

Sent from my S55 using the BariatricPal App

[skinnylatte 5]

Go to counseling or anxiety support groups and get on medication for depression anxiety it will be so much easier

[skinnylatte 5]

Good job with the shakes [emoji106][emoji123]

[skinnylatte 5]

U will always need supplements bc u never absorb the nutrients from ur food that's definitely true

[skinnylatte 5]

That's why u keep losing weight but u still can't eat bad things all the time like hardly ever sugar makes u dump and dense breads stop ur system up for a week eating very small meals like bites of things here and there is the answer to keep blood sugars balanced u will always be eating still