Breaking up is hard to do (X Post)

Today is the end of a relationship for me.  I’ve broken up with people before, but this one takes the cake.  (unintended food reference).  I have had a 35 year relationship with this one.  We’ve been together for better and worse, through good times and bad.  We were together at college graduation, more birthdays than I can remember, for the birth of my children and the death of my step father.  We’ve been together through the thick and the thin – literally.  
 

Ever since I can remember – I have eaten to celebrate, eaten to mourn.  I have eaten from boredom and eaten from stress.  Food and I have been together for 35 years, and tomorrow is the end  of this relationship, and I am terrified.
 
Tomorrow is my last day with food as I know it.  Thursday I start my pre-op liquid diet, and Tuesday I have RNY Bypass surgery.    I am so excited about the possibilities that surgery brings, but I am terrified about life alone.  Well, not alone – but I need to have a new relationship with food – and that means leaving this one behind.  

Breaking up is hard to do.  The doubt and uncertainty are SCREAMING in my ear.  Food has been there – we’ve gotten you through the hard times.  How are you going to do this without me?  

I’m guessing this is what it feels like to bungee jump.  The nerves and adrenaline are pouring thru my veins.  I know at the end of this journey I’ll feel exhilarated and will never look back.  But right now, I kind of just want to throw up! 

I'm holding my breath and jumping off this cliff.  Wish me luck!

Denise

Denise, very well thought out and put. Just keep this in mind about your future life as a PO - having WLS is not punishment for the rest of your life in the food department. I know you did not say that but sometimes people think that a person having WLS has to eat weeds and twigs for the rest of their lives. You will be able to have some of your favorite foods again but not in the quantities as before. I see this a lot on the main forum with persons mourning food as many do not realize that they will be able to have pizza, chips, popcorn, mashed potatoes, fried shrimp or chicken etc the list goes on depending on what your favorite foods are. You see so many threads that ask - Can I have this to eat? You will have a physical control on the amounts that you can eat. I will guarantee you that you there will be head hunger. The doctor will change the plumbing and you will need to change the head.  I give this little talk to pre ops and to the curious on lookers that ask what I can and cannot eat. I also speak at pre op seminars. Most are in total amazement when I tell them when I was cleared to eat any food as tolerated at my 3 month appointment they look in total shock at me. Now, I did not use this as license to eat willy nilly all the junk again. My husband and I both had RNY and we enjoy food to the fullest. We just get to eat the left overs several times more! We did not have any children and we have always gone out to eat all the years we have been married (coming up on 34). Our mothers were both great cooks, but we both inherited some nasty fat genes from them. Our bodies became efficient in storing the #s.  Christine ps good to see you on the board. We will be looking forward to hearing from you after you get home from the hospital.

Chris,

Thank you for that wonderful post!!!  Okay,  I understand protien, water, low suger.  Some peoples problem is not what they ate, but the amount they ate!  Since my journey, I have NEVER felt deprived of food.  Okay, maybe on day 5 of post op.  But come on!  Last night we went to pizza hut to celebrate Maddie reading over 300 min a month since school started.  Before surgery I would eat 5-6 pieces before I started to get full.  Last night I ate one piece and was completley satisfied.  Plus,  I have not snacked since the surgery.  Just because you have WLS doesn't mean you have to eat from another menu or lose the love for food.  You have totally made my day reading your post!  I can't wait to see you and Dave on Saturday!

Hi Denise, you now feel the way I felt just a week ago. I'm only one week post op and I am so happy I did this. I already feel better about myself.  While I'm on this restricted eating pattern it has given me plenty of time to see where I got into trouble eating and adding the pounds on. Before I ate just because I was in the kitchen, it was in front of my face, we were celebrating, a food commercial came on the tv, etc. Now I'm seeing that I can eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full and be totally satisfied. Good luck with your decision to get healthy. We will be here to support you after you take your flying leap off the cliff. Good luck and keep us posted.  

I love your post and I understand how you feel. You are correct.......you will never have the same relationship with food again, but hopefully, you will get a better, healthier relationship out of the deal. Chris is right.  Depending on tolerence, no food will be completely forbidden forever.  You will just have to make wiser choices to be sure that what you put into your pouch is worthy. We will all be waiting to catch you at the bottom of the cliff!

Thank you all for your support!!!  I can't wait to join you on the losers bench next week! Denise