GMA---sat am

Today on Good Morning America (for those who have NOT seen it) they featured 2 women who had Gastric Bypass and a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist said that about 30% of Gastric Bypass patients have been found to develop alcoholism, shopping addiction or gambling addictions. He stressed that the key cause of this is that people are not getting at the root cause of their food issues, and when their drug of choice is taken (food) they find other drugs of choice to avoid dealing with the issue.

Count me in! Yep, I'm part of the 30% statistics!! I confess...I'm addicted to..... SHOPPING! But then, who could blame me?!? I spent over 43 years of not being able to fit into anything that didn't have an 'X' or 4, purchased in the 'Women's' section, or had the word 'chubby' after the size. I can buy off the rack now in the normal-size department...you know, where the cute clothes are instead of the tents found in most departments for the obese sized women. I can now go into Victoria Secret's and KNOW I can find something that fits me! I can put on a pair of jeans and like the way my butt looks instead of looking at how big my belly & hips look. I don't think shopping should have been included in the 'addictions'. Most of us now shop because we finally have a desire to..that and as quick as we go out of clothes, we have the need to. I also shop way more for exercise equipment, healthy food, and gardening supplies (because I finally feel like working in my yard). The only addiction I have heard of becoming more prevalent in post-ops is alcohol. At one time, on another site, all you read about was post-ops on there and their love of wine. A post-op who is very near & dear to me has gotten to quite enjoying rum & diet coke. Chances are great that those people enjoyed their wine or rum & coke before. Post-op however, our bodies are so much more different than they once were. More easily dependant on alcohol? Wouldn't surprise me. Especially when some people get a kick out of getting a buzz so much quicker. Let's face it, we are cheap drunks! What post-ops need to remember is (1) alcohol is nothing but empty calories and (2) putting ANYTHING into our bodies should be done in moderation and within the guidelines of our nut & surgeon. And yes, I am concerned about my rum & diet coke love one. Gambling....hmmmm...can't say alot there since there is ALOT of us who enjoy Vegas from this site! LOL! But with us, when we say 'Momma needs a new pair of shoes', we MEAN it! Hmmm...I'd like to know the statistics on non-gastric bypass/non-obese people who have an addiction to alcohol, gambling, or shopping. For a combination of all three of those issues, 30% may be a national norm for everyone, and not such an abnormal percentage for post-ops. I know my mom sure has a shopping issue! Come to think of it, I know more non-overweight people who have a problem with one or more of those issues than I do post-ops. It really does aggrevate me when shows state statistics for one group or another like it so out of proportion without stating what the national average for people who aren't of that group. It would be about like the town of Clinton, IN yelling discrimanation when 99.9% of the people in their jails are white...and yet, the town itself is 99.9% white. Now if the town was 40% white, they'd have a point. Sorry...just the analytical part of me showing through... Sherri

Hey Sherri I am with you all the way on this one! Shoot I have always been a shopper and now I am turning more and more to in store than thru the catalog as they are now readily available and I might say cheaper than ordering off the internet or thru catalogs! I think people just thing they can look at any situation and make something out of it.....I do think it is kinda funny that they have not linked us up with any kind of sexual addiction...lol Do you see that is the only one they really left out! As for gambling...well I think we all were gambling pretty heavy before with our weight affecting our lives and made the right decision for us to stop and have this surgery. As for alcohol, Some people are more prone to this addiction than others but to say it is from surgery..come on people...life is life and we choose our own paths. I can honestly say that yes I shop too much..I always have and I don't intend to give it up either! I like looking good and I intend to! So call me an addict! At least I look good...I feel good...and it does not impare my driving abilites!! lol You all have a super fantastic day and stay cool! HUGS! Marianne

Well I was hoping someone would take this seriously. I think its a real problem for me. I have been a shopping addict for yrs. When I was in college it would be nothing for me to go out and charge up an outfit that would cost over 1000.00. I cant tell u how indebt I was when I graduated from college. It took alot of hard work to get it all paid off. Ive been afraid of charge cards every since. Over the past 10 yrs I havent been spending on clothes Ive been eating and getting fatter than the local cows grazing on the corn fields. Im really afraid that now that Im losing wt that I'll pick up another bad habit or get that shopping one back. I really try hard to stay out of the stores right now...but on the other hand I cant wait to get back down in the single digets and shop for hot clothes. Is this ever covered in any of the support groups? Just wondering....Am I the only one afraid of this??/

Mariah, It's not that I don't take addictions seriously. I do. I do not however believe all the 'statistics' they put out on TV. I'm sorry that you missed my point on that. So called 'professionals' like to make blanket statements to try to get their point across..and often, their point gives one a 100% false impression. Did weight loss surgery CAUSE your shopping addiction? Nope! You had it years before you even heard of WLS! But these 'professionals' would have one to believe that if you have WLS, you have a 30% greater chance of becoming an addict (alcohol, gambling, or shopping). They are using people like you who have long had this addiction to try to prove their point. THAT, I feel is wrong. They are also using people like me whose credit card debt has increased since WLS to try to prove their point...although, over 50% of my credit card debt is due to me trying to help loved ones out of tight spots. Remember our psyche evals? He was a 'professional' who puts his input into their little studies. According to him, 1-2 WINE COOLERS per WEEK (pre-op) was a "drinking problem". I hope you can start to understand why I have NO faith in what the so-called professionals state when they try to quote 'statistics'. I'm a scientist by trade Mariah. I deal with data and statistics every day. I would get fired very quickly if I ever tried to make such a fact bending statement as what was made on GMA! Addictions? A very serious problem? Yes. All of them due to WLS? No way! And no, I don't believe this is something that is discussed in group. That is something you should probably seek a shoppers anonymous support group for, not WLS. That, or therapy...because quite honestly, if you have such an addictive behaviors that food replaced shopping and so you are concerned that shopping would replace food, if shopping wasn't an issue, something else probably would be. So my advise, seek some one on one counseling with a good therapist before you buy a $1000 outfit ($1000??? I refuse to spend more than $100 on an outfit!). Sherri

Mariah, I can understand the shopping addiction. My girlfriend developed one after the death of her newborn son. She ran up $10,000 in credit card bills. It was her way of coping with her loss. Luckily for her, she got pregnant again 5 months later and once Jared was born without complications, she was able to get her shopping addiction under control. You are going to have to look at shopping the same way you are learning to look at food. Make healthy choices: shop at consignment shops or Goodwill. There is a little place near me at Thompson & McFarland called the Clothes Rack. They carry a pretty good selection of plus size clothes and tons of smaller stuff (as you need it). I'm sure if you start looking, you will find one near you. Also, look at why you are buying - is it because of a need (i.e. smaller size) or an emotion? Buying because of an emotion isn't necessarily wrong, it beats the heck out of eating, but set yourself a dollar limit and stick to it just like you will stick to your eating goals. This whole journey is about learning how to treat yourself better. To not use food, or other things, as a comfort instead of dealing with the issues that cause the discomfort. Work on the issues and you won't have to be afraid to shop. You will be able to enjoy it! If you are really concerned about this, talk to the psych doctor. That is what he/she is there for, to help us learn to help ourselves rather than to sabatoge ourselves. You have made a momentus choice to better yourself. Now take advantage of all the tools placed before you in this bariatric program. I have faith in you. Cindy

Mariah, I wouldn't worry..Don't put much stock in what professional have to say. They also say you would have a ton of complications, but you didn't!! So go with the flow on this, and know you are a strong person. You know right from wrong, and you've been there and done that when it comes to the shopping addiction. You have to find it within yourself not to allow it happen. You are doing good on the food addiction,, now you have to find another something to enthrall you, something you won't overdue,, and if you overdue, so what,, it's not the end of the world!! Ie. Scrapbooking, reading books, working out, going back to school, whatever peaks your interest!! Good luck and no worries.. They say if you allow the bad to begin, it hard for it to stop.. So don't allow it to begin!! Plus you have us to to talk too!!!