Maybe a Strange Question...Pease Bear With Me

Hello Journey Mates! OK...I weigh 267 right now because I eat too much...compulsive overeater...yadda, yadda, yadda...have used food many years for escape, comfort, oblivion...and during those binges when they hit and I gave in, I could REALLY put it away...at times if I knew there was a favorite food or dessert in the fridge..I could not just let it be there, or have a normal portion....I would RAVAGE it....and due to being widowed 6 years ago..being alone I could REALLY eat...no witnesses!!! Whole cakes, pies, watching TV with a half gallon of ice cream and a spoon...true confessions but somehow I have to get this out...and who else would understand? OK...now I am going to have this surgery...God willing...and I understand the procedure and the ramifications and the small portions.... I am wondering if there was anyone out there that can relate to the above that has had the surgery...and after the honeymoon..what did you do if you got the compulsion to binge and then realized it was physically impossible with the pouch....how did you handle the loss of food as an outlet? Did any of you have an inner coniption fit..anxiety attack or anything? I am not being facetious...really wondering...did anyone go "oh God what have I done '...or were you glad you got headed off at the pass? Did you mourn your old binge foods? I am asking sincerely and also because since I decided to have this surgery my overeating compulsion IS kicking in and I feel like I have to eat all the food on earth that I won't be able to have...please don't judge me and be gentle...Anyhoo..I needed to ask the questions AND confess..thanks for reading and being there! Sher'

Hey Sher, Not a strange question at all and I don't think anyone on this CT board would ever judge anyone else. That said I wondered all the same things. For me personally, just knowing that I can't eat it is enough to get me through tough times. It was much harder for me when I could eat freely to stick with a diet because there was nothing physically to stop me. I could just eat and eat. Now I can't. Psychologically, it has been tough on a couple of different occasions. There really is a mourning period of letting go of food. But every time I get through a sticky situation it just makes stronger for the next time. I keep reminding myself of all that I had to go through to have this surgery and that helps me keep my momentum. They suggest that every time you feel like eating something have something else to do instead. I like organizing so I usually end up organizing something and the end result is less clutter and no added calories

Hey Sher, Confession is good for the soul. I must admit I was an emotional eater. I was very good at hiding what I ate also. Since my surgery a month ago, I have had to deal with certain things that were terrible habits for me.. I would binge also. On friday nights, we would watch a movie, and I would have nachos, which probably accounted for 75 of my excess lbs.Well, the first friday nite came along, and GOD I wanted nachos... NOT because I was HUNGRY, because my head told me this is what I do on Fridays. Instead I had some hot broth, then some cold lemon ice, amazingly that nite passed and I survived. I found watching commercials, I had to turn my head. AGAIN not because I was hungry. It was complete HEAD hunger.I have had the feeling a couple of times, what the heck did I do to myself?? I beleive my eyes really are bigger than my stomach, and I am always amazed at how little it takes to fill me up now! Its uncomfortable if you eat too much, You physically can't do it without vomiting. One good dumping and you won't want those hostess cupcakes EVER again. I don't thnk you ever did anything I haven't done before. It is an adjustment I will be honest with you, but I think it will become easier as the days go by. Now I am down 30 lbs in 4 weeks, I look at the rewards, and I will never look back! Hope this helps! Robin R

Hi Sher! I understand exactly what you're talking about. I'm the same way. If I ate only when I was hungry, I probably wouldn't have to eat for a week! I was worried about the same thing, and in asking around, one of the most common answers was that you'll try to over eat once maybe twice and the average person won't want to deal with the dumping syndrome, the discomfort, the vomiting, the profuse sweating, etc........I know that I hate vomiting so bad, it'll probably be what does it for me. I'm still pre-op too so tons of questions keep running through my head. Don't hesitate to ask!!! You really want to make sure you understand everything before you go ahead and do this. Take good care! Heather

Sher, I can relate to much of what you said. I binged and would hide it too. I would eat lunch early at my store, then eat again with my coworkers when I went to the main store. I would eat breakfast at home, then get snack cakes and chocolate milk on my way to work. If I had to work late, I would eat a grinder before going home, then go home and have dinner. It was ridiculous. Sometimes emotional, and sometimes meds... Either way, post-op it is not easy to sit by and watch people eat your favorite foods. If you keep those things away and really commit, you can get through it. I would reccomend a good therapist though. I go regularly and it really helps. I am still working on food issues, especially eyes bigger than pouch! It is hard to accept the 1-2oz will fill you up! It is also very hard for me to throw food away. Even if I am full, I want to finish my little serving. I have to fight myself to throw a couple bites away! I don't want to "graze" but I fight not to! The mental challenges don't go away, but you can overcome them! Carmen