Sugar Addict Worries

I was a TYPE 2 diabetic before my WLS surgery. I also had high blood pressure and high cholesterol and sleep apnea and I was morbidly obese with a bmi of over 47 and sick and tired of looking in the mirror being sick and tired. I do not miss sweets, and believe me even being a diabetic 2 I did my share of eating sweets! I go to parties I just eat little bits now, and I enjoy what I like now. Yes, even sweets. A teeny bite of something is all I need to satisfy me. I am no longer Diabetic 2. I'm terribly sorry if you got offended by what I posted. The point of my post is that my brain went through something during surgery and I have no desire to eat the things I did before. It's just that simple. And you may or may not experience those things. But I researched this surgery for over 1 decade and made darn sure I was fully prepared to do what I needed to do to get where I wanted to be. All I'm saying is if this is truly what YOU want, then nothing will stop you.

Janet, As much as we are all different, I think we fall into similiar categories, "sugar eaters" "volumn eaters" "carb eaters" and depending of the day, all of the categories. Those of us that are "sugar" junkies know the craving and hating ride. I agree with the comments from people who said you won't even want to go there for a long time. I was shocked when I realized that I no longer craved sugar. Some folks never try sweets again, while others start with a bite here and a bite there. I did, and found that I can tolorate more sugar than I ever thought I could. So, my point is, you can get back on that "sugar ride" but you may regret it. Then again, I find it's easier to regain control. You also have to watch those sneaky carbs, they turn to sugar and make you crave more sugar, in any form. I always felt that if I could just get down to a "normal" weight, dieting would be easier. I've lost 120lbs, and now only 15lbs overweight. I think I now qualify as "normal" by today's standard. The WLS tool does reigh me in, but now I eat "normally". I find the ability to "graze" as the challenge now. I am still a "stress" eater and recognize I may not eat much at a setting, but can snack every hour. I really have to monitor myself in this area. Everyone who had this surgery introduces more and different food into their diet as time goes on. They have to be taking in more calories in some form (fat, sugar) or they would keep losing weight until their skeletons. I'd persue the surgery if I were you. I wish you success.

Wow, I guess you can be brutally honest about your fears, but my opinion has to be "sugar coated"...pardon the pun. Yes, you may lose the desire for sugar and you may not...you may be able to tollerate it and you may not. But as we all have said, this WLS is not a magic bullet and it doesn't operate on your brain. Your message seemed to me to indicate that you would be miserable if you couldn't have sugar and a normal lifestyle. So, after reading this board for a while, you realize that what is normal for one is not normal for another...and what one can stomach, another can't. I also, tried to empathize by telling you that I had a great problem with sugar because I wanted to live what I thought was a normal life and it didn't work, even though I had WLS, I gained weight. I stand by what I said, when you are ready, you will know it and you will make a wise decision for your own lifestyle whether it is WLS or diet. Until you come to that place, you are not ready. We each have to or had to come to that place. You are coming to a very helpful board and you should expect to get both pros and cons of anyone that replies. Use what you find here and make your own decisions and then you will know that what you do is totally right for you. Diane

Janet I have to say that I am and will always be addicted to carbs, sugar and cooking. You name it if it dealt with food I was addict to it. I had this surgery because I had real health problems: Type 2 Diabetic, High Cholestrol, High Blood pressure and on medication for all of it. My surgery was on May 7, 2004 and I have lost about 80 pounds. Would I like to get to my personal goal? Yes, but am I happy with where I am you bet. Has my health improved? Yes, since the night before surgery I have not taken any medication at all and my labs are perfect. My PCP is so happy and proud of where I am. Do I eat sweets sometimes. I would like to say that my health is so much more important than the sweets, carb and stuff but that is not always true in my reality. With that being said most days my health wins the battle but I will be honest there are days that carbs and sugar wins. I am just like the person addicted to drinking or drugs my addiction is food and most days I can say that I win the battle but there are days when I know I don't. This surgery gave me a fighting chance to overcome my addition. Love and Prayers Patsy PS: My husband and I love to go camping and I have one or two marshmellows after eating my protein because without the protein I would feel horrible physically. So maybe you will and maybe you won't ever eat another marshmellow but I really think you will enjoy life so much more after the surgery that sugar will not mean so much to you. I wish you the very best on your journey.

Janet: I'm from Paw Paw, too! I gave up sugar 3 months before surgery and really, once I was off it, I didn't crave it. I have some sweet things like sugar free cookies etc... since I am afraid of dumping on sugar, I have never even tried any since surgery. I do have some carbs. I eat mashed potatoes to help meat go down easier, but I also count every calorie that goes into my mouth. The surgery has been a wonderful thing for me. I don't have the gnawing hunger all the time I had before surgery. If I don't chew well enough, the pouch rebels and reminds me to do it. I had surgery April 12 last year and have already lost 112 lbs. I am at my personal goal and in a size 8. I don't care about ever having sugar again. There are tons of things out there that a sugar free can take the place of. E-mail me at [email protected] and I can give you my phone #. I had Dr. Baker at MMPC and I can tell you about that, too. We do have to be responsible and willing to do the work after surgery, like everyone said, the pouch and bypass are only a tool. If you don't work the rules of the pouch, you will have short term success. Once you start losing, you may change your mind about how important carbs and sugar is to you. We also have to work at exercise, but once you start losing, you actually feel like you can do ANYTHING! Hope to hear from you! Pam R.