I'm FREAKING OUT!

Hi to All: I know that if there is any place I can find help, it is here. I am almost 8 months post op and I have lost 174 lbs. It seems that lately, I have been eating a little more and snacking a little more and I am terrified that I am going to go back where I came from. I maintain a very healthy diet but as of late I have been trying things I haven't tried since surgery (pretzels, crackers, chowder, etc) and find that I can tolerate these things with no problem. I still do not eat sugar and do not intend to do so. I just find myself reaching for something when I'm bored or when I'm stressed. I need to find help (professional or otherwise) to help me understand this and stop this behavior. I haven't gained any weight but I am afraid I am leading myself to a terrible downward spiral. All advice is welcome. Thanks everyone.

If it helps, what you're experiencing isn't at all uncommon. These same feelings, and anxietie**** me at around 7 months. Finally, after white-knuckling it for several weeks, I decided that I needed to talk to a professional to try to discren if I was secretly trying to undermine my success, simply incapable of severing my unhealthy relationship with food or just nuts. Fortunately, I discovered that none of my fears were really warranted-- but that I did need to appreciate that changing a lifetime of bad behavior with food would take a tad longer than 7 months. Fortunately, having a professional to guide me through helped me to learn to keep myself in line (without feeling as if I was sacrificing anything). Good luck.

Do you go to support group meetings? If not I would find one. There is one at Yale the 1st Tuesday of every month. It does not matter who your Dr. is EVERYONE is welcome. You have done an awesome job and now you just need a little support. You have come to the right place. I know I am newly post op but I would love to help you any way I can. You need a good support sustem as we all do. Have you thought about some 1 on 1 therapy? Let me know if I can help in anyway. Chryssie

hery donna how are you i have the same concern sometimes and i havent even had the surgery yet ......... but i know with prayers and support from my family i will be fine. I will have you in my prayers for strength and you are doing a good job but look for support groups around your area and youll see youll be fine .......... by the way where in middletown are you? im in Washington St . its good to know there are more losers ( weight ) in middletown and i definetly want to be one too .......... Good luck!!!!!!!!! Victor

You are no different then any of us out here. It is impossible to avoid the foods that got all into trouble, and you should be able to occasionally eat the things you enjoyed in the past. You should though eat these foods in moderation. Your new stomach should actually force you to eat them in moderation. To do this set up a time once a week or once every two weeks where you can enjoy some of the foods you enjoyed in the past. Another way to prevent yourself for eating these foods and snacks to is to eat six-seven small meals a day. Calculate your daily caloric intake needs and split them into those meals for the day. By eating six times a day and staying within your caloric needs for your goals you not only speed your metabolism you are less likely to eat the things you want to avoid. But do not deprive yourself of things you enjoy. Set aside a meal a week or every two where you can in moderation eat something you crave. Another suggestion is if you have not done so already, initiate an excercise program. Join a gym and dedicate three hours or so a week to work out. Working out will speed your metabolism as well as allow you to occasionally eat some of those high calorie foods without having weight gain....

Donna --- I didn't even read your post before I wrote mine this morning. Great minds think (and eat!) alike. I'm struggling with the ability to stuff plenty of foods into my mouth. Unlike you, I have discovered sugar, my greatest weekness my whole life. You are smart to stay away from it! I've decided I need to seek help myself. I think it's the only way I'm going to have a good shot at beating back the feelings without food. Good luck to you!! Let me know if you think of anything great. Kathy F.

Have you found anyone that specializes in eating disorders? That is really what I am interested in finding. Let me know. I don't mind the travel if they are good.

Hi Donna, Your fear is my fear also. Although I am only a little less than 3 weeks out, I worry constantly about regaining the weight once I lose it. I do know of a clinical social worker named Mark Gaynor, who practices in New Haven area and specializes in counseling individuals who have had gastric bypass. Mark has also had the surgery himself. He is 4 yrs out in fact. I wish I had his number, but I'm sure he is listed. Also there is the Yale Center for Eating Disorders. I used them for my psych eval pre op and they were awesome. I plan on getting counseling soon, so I don't start taking back "old" habits, once I've lost. Good luck, and let us know if we can help. JA PS I agree with others, the support group is absolutely necessary!