I can't stop eating.

I am a pre-op patient who met with my surgeon 3 weeks ago for the first time.  Before I met with the surgeon I had been following a food plan to obtain the weight loss that was required before surgery, but now that I am officially in the process I can't stop eating.  My eating is more compulsive now than before and I don't know what to do to break the cycle.  I am so focused on losing my crutch that I am freaking out.  Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

Thanks,
Mark

I'm pre-op as well but I'm months out.. I'm losing weight trying to eat the way I'm going to eat after surgery - protein first and I drink a lot of protein shakes.

You might want to blog too - that always makes me look at WHY I'm eating, looking at my thinking and emotional crap surrounding food really helped me.

Trust the process...

Peace,
Binda

You are probably nervous. Have you considered getting counseling. It will probably help. Good Luck.

This sounds like last supper eating. Everytime I was on the verge of going on a diet, I would do last supper eating thinking I'd never get to eat foods I love again. I also didn't know what type of person I would be without my crutch. I was worried I'd be filled with so much anxiety I'd go crazy or I'd be so cranky everyone in the world would hate me. I've belonged to a support group for many years for people with eating disorders. I talked about my fears with this group as well as on this board. That helped a lot. My eating disorders group reminded me of my progress and that my fears were overblown and I was thinking of myself before I had no clue on how or why I used food as a crutch. That calmed me down a lot. If you have someone to speak with like a therapist or the bariatric coodinator, they might have good ideas too.

This journey has mostly been great for me. I am a year out of sugery and it's getting tougher for me to resist overeating and many people have similar experiences, but I think finding support here and with in person support groups makes a huge difference.

Good luck!!

MsBlues

Thanks MsBlues for your reply to my post.  I really relate to the fear of going crazy without my crutch and not being able to eat some of the foods that I really love.  I have been going to twice monthly WLS support groups at Kaiser, am seeing a Life Coach/Energy Worker which has helped me get to the point of considering the surgery and have recently gone back to OA, but I feel that this is not enough support.  I will look for a Eating Disorders support group also.  Thanks for your support.

Mark

It's not unknown for us to become worried about never eating our favorite foods again, or being forced to desist from eating altogether.  That's why "diet" is such a bad word.

This is not a diet.  It is a total change in your way of life.  Yes, you'll have to do liquids and then gradually get back to food again, but it's not forever. 

I'd like to suggest that you start eating protein-based meals;  maybe even do the protein shakes, just to try different ones.  You can get samples at bjsbariatrics.com or bariatriceating.com or vitalady.com (I think).  Don't get big packages of a particular one because it's no unheard of for our tastes to totally change and then you'll be stuck with something you might not care for.  (That happened to me!)

I think you'll find that as you increase your protein and totally eliminate refined white carbs (potatoes, bread, rice, pasta) that your urges to eat will diminish.

The first few days of "no white foods" can be a challenge, which is why you need to be sure to eat something that is protein-first.  Cottage cheese, refried beans w/cheddar cheese and salsa, beef jerky, tuna salad, GOOD deli meats with slices of cheese rolled up in a romaine lettuce leaf w/mustard, pot roast!  Anything that focuses on protein.

I know it's scary, but you can do it.

Best wishes,
 

Lynn, thanks for the reminder of eliminating refined white carbs.  I  have know others who have had great success at this.   

Thanks,
Mark

Mark,

I can't say much more than the great advice from the great folks who have posted above.  Just maybe an added suggestion or two.  You might start practicing the 75% protein eating now, 3 bites of protein (remember this type of food with sustain you and give you fuel) and 1 bite of carb and 1 bite of vege/fruit.  Personally for me, carbs give me the feeling of immediate fullness but burn off very fast and I am left hungry again.  I try to be mindful of this, sometimes it very hard as I seek that fullness feeling I had right after surgery and it changes over time and I'm a year and a half out.

We have a Nor Cal "Losers" group which I want to make sure you know about.  We meet once each month for lunch or outings.  We are not a formal support group, but a group of friends who share a common bond of losing weight and keeping it off.  We are in various stages of the journey, pre ops, post ops and no ops.  You can see the post further on down the Cali Forum page.  You most certainly won't be the only man there, as normally my husband Ron and Nancy's husband Lon come.  We usually have 2 or 3 more men and hope in time it will grow.  Lots of camaraderie and support and a great place to not feel alone on this journey.  We sure hope you will join us, we're lots of fun.

I wish you well on your journey.  I used to live in Fairfax too for a time in the 70's on Cascade Dr.  Not too sure if you're the same Mark (as the families got out of touch) but that sure would be a hoot wouldn't it?  Heaven's know we all change appearance wise in 40 years!  LOL.

Welcome to the Cali Forum,
Barb

Barb, thanks for the suggestion of the NorCal Losers group. I will try to look for it on the Cal Forum page.

I am sorry to say that I am not the same Mark you knew in Fairfax in the 70s,  I have only lived here for 6 years.

Thanks
Mark

You will be able to eat again post-WLS! You'll be able to eat just about everything! This may be last-supper syndrome.

Lean protein first... complex carbs second. If you need pasta... go 100% whole wheat... or better yet, spaghetti squash is wonderful! Drink plenty of H2O... and do what you can with exercise. I began with a ten minute walk... everything hurt... I switched to an indoor bike and my pool.

It will come... baby steps all the way... and don't beat yourself up. Heck, you're like the rest of us... human! Do work with your doctor and nutritionist... they do know best as they're professionals. We can give tips/tricks which helped us along the way... but always check with the pros first as they know our medical history.

My best to you!
Kim