Just starting here...

HI-- I'm looking for some major help and support... looking to get sugery by summer.... and struggling ... floundering.. right now.... love to make some friends. Also-- right now- what do you do to control your eating now and after...?

Hi.  One of the best things you can do right now to control your eeating and prepare for surgery (regardless of wht type of surgery you are planning to have), is to drink more water (or Crystal Light, etc.) and to decrease your portion sizes.  If you have RNY or Lap Band, you will be amazed at how little food it takes to fill you up (and it gives most of us a different perspective on how MUCH we were eating in our pre-op meals). One of the keys, though, is to figure out what the emotional components of your eating habits are and try to address those (through counseling or behavior changes on your own), because the surgery will limit how much you can eat (and how much gets absorbed, if you are RNY , DS, etc.) but it will only change the PHYSICAL component of the problem... it will NOT change the emotional/psychological components.  It will HELP with those, but in order to be truly successful, you will need to adress those other ways, too.  If your surgeon's office offers support groups that are open to pre-ops as well as post-ops, as mine does, starting to attend those would probably be a good idea -- it will give you a good idea of what to expect post-op and may also help you address some of your food triggers, etc. Lora

Thanks-- I did go to the Clev Clinic's support group meeting which are once a month at night... I liked them but when I was turned down by medicaid my first go 'round, I was so disheartened and figured no point in going if I can't get the surgery. I do have a couple appointments on the 18th this month to update a couple thing before submitting to my new insurance- so I will definitely get a new schedule of those and start back at it.... we have OA near us too-- I'm going to see if there are any meetings while my kids are at school. And GOSH I am so aware of how much bigger my quantity of food is compared to after surgery-- I figure I each at least 3 times what a normal eater does now. Oh and RNY is what I plan to get. Thanks Lora. Becca

Welcome,  What are your main struggles??? Sweet, Carbs, Grazing, Late night eating?? I'm addicted to food so for me it's a struggle EVERY DAY to make the RIGHT choices.  Some days are better than others.   My pouch is still in comtrol of what I can and can't eat. I still DUMP if I eat the wrong things for me.  Tell us a little more so we can support you better.  Robin

Well- too often I feel hungry all the time and feel like there are days where I just each one thing after another. Fast food is a downfall for me-- fried stuff, carbs definitely-- I eat waaaaay too many. I each too much sweets when I eat them but don't eat them all the time. Late night is hard too because a few hrs after dinner I feel hungry again.  I desperately want to start changing habits now and get a handle on my hunger and my choices of what I eat. It is so hard... and I feel like I have no discipline or will power anymore.... but I have to find some! thanks

Hi Becca!

Fast food was my downfall too.  And, I was a volume eater who ate mostly at night.  I'm still all of those things.  That's why I chose to have the DS.  I don't absorb the fat in the fried foods and my restriction has stopped my volume eating.  I still eat late at night though...but no worries as I'm down 50lbs at 9 weeks post op (only 50 more to go to goal! ) .  I would personally like to invite you to visit the duodenal switch forum here on OH so you can investigate the post op life for yourself before you solidify your decision. It's always good to investigate all your options.  I really remember feeling exactly what you wrote...it was like reading my own words.  So, I really do understand exactly what you're feeling now.  Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!