New and question about emotional eating

Hi All!

I have been researching getting the Lap band or Realize band for most of this year.  I went to a seminar in September of Dr. Gornichec's and am scheduled to visit with the coordinator on the 13th of November.  I have fought a weight problem my ENTIRE life.  Only after I had my son almost 7 years ago I became morbidly obese.  I have tried diet after diet, tried having a personal trainer, which did help, but as soon as I couldn't afford that anymore the weight came back plus a whole lot more.  However, I really want to have this done before I start really getting the problems associated with being so obese.  I'm 37 and am having problems with insulin resistance, I have lower back pain sometimes that is terrible.  My hips are even starting to hurt.  But, I am a little nervous because, of course, like a lot of others, I'm afraid I will fail with the band too.  I know I am an emotional eater and have wondered how any of you have combated this after getting the lap band.  I know I Have been guilty many times of eating when I'm not really hungry and have tried to figure out why I do this.  So, this is the reason I am scared about having this done.  Any advice, please share because I really need some.

Thank you so much

Hi.
I am up for the VSG surgery, so I can't address your question, but I just wanted to say "welcome," and I know there are several bandsters on this forum who will reply. Also, you could visit the lap band forum: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/a,messageboard/boa rd_id,5359/
I think we can all empathize with emotional eating, to one extent or the other. No WLS will address that, as the surgeries help more with portion control. I think it's important to analyze why you eat instead of dealing with life's issues. To do that, you may need to consider therapy with someone who is qualified to deal with those with eating disorders, etc.
There is a great book on the subject of emotional eating and how to stop it, called Life Is Hard; Food Is Easy, by Linda Spangle. I recommend that, to get you started.
Good luck on your journey to getting WLS. It's a good start.
Blessings,
Mary

I agree with Mary, no matter which surgery you have, you need to get your head around the emotional eating. I too was an emotional eater. I could find any excuse why I needed the food to make me feel better. When I decided to have surgery I knew it was the first thing I needed to get under control or I would fail, just as I had at every diet I tried. You can eat around any of the surgeries, and I knew that. On the way home from the seminar my husband asked me why I was doing this and who I was doing it for. I told him I was doing it for ME because I wanted my life back. I remind myself of that statement often.
I had the VSG on 7/7/08. I have had several times since starting the pre-op diet phase where I could have gone back to my habit of emotional eating but that statement helped me each time.
Good luck, and you have come to the right place for support. Attend support groups as well. They also help to keep me on track.

I, too, agree with the other ladies that you need to be careful with the emotional eating, no matter with WLS you choose.  I had the RNY over 4 years ago myself and I was definitely an emotional eater prior to my WLS.  I had to get it under control or I never would have lost my weight, but I did it for me and I did it for my future.  I wanted to live a long and happy life and to have a chance at a family and now I have that.  Just set goals and that can help immensely.  Congrats on taking the first step and scheduling the seminar~  WLS is a wonderful tool and has helped so many of us.  I look forward to knowing you better!

I would be surprised if there is one here that isn't an emotional eater, and eating when you are not hungry.  I would do that and eat until I could hardly breath.  Hunger had nothing to do with it.  We have to find something to replace that, and the sooner you deal with it, and find your "something else", the better you will be.  You don't want to wait to deal with this until after surgery.  Before surgery, I had to go through withdrawals from the sugar, carbs, etc and also some depression trying to figure out what the heck to do because I was determined not to turn to food.  Maybe going out for a walk would help.  Do all you can to work on changing your thought patterns now.  Still have the old patterns come up alot, but I have to try and remember to deal with them differently. It's hard, but do-able.  Good luck in your quest and congratulations on doing something for you.  Michael

Michael,

I just saw your slinky comment on your signature!
OMG!  I didn't realize you knew my ex-husband!
LOL!!!!

Diana :o)

Thank you all so very much.  I have always LOVED the taste of the wrong kinds of foods.  Other than that, I am not sure if there is another reason for it.  My husband is a muscular man with a bit of a tummy, and he also has loved to eat.  But he knows how miserable I am and depressed.  Of course, I just lost my mother in August and never got the chance to tell her I was going for WLS.  She had brought it up to me about 3 years ago, because my aunt (who has also now passed) and my cousin had it done.  I, at that time, felt I could do it on my own.  But now I am seeing I NEED HELP.  I did fantastically in 2000 after I quit smoking and joined a gym and had a personal trainer, I lost a great deal of weight, but after marrying and having my son in 2001 I gained over 50 pounds during the pregnancy and lost 25 right after only to gain 30 to 40 more back.  So, I am well over 100 pounds heavier than I was before I had him.  I was found to be hypothyroid back in February.  I guess I can blame my obesity on that, but I know it just isn't the truth.  Sure, it probably helped me gain so quickly, but my love for the taste of the food is more of the problem.  I tried We***t  W*****rs twice and was so hungry all the time.  The first time I lost 17 pounds in 5 weeks.  The next time I was on it for 5 months and only lost 13.  So, I know these things just don't work. 

Thank you all so very, very much for responding to me.  I wasn't sure if I was in the wrong place or not.  I'm new at maneuvering around the board.  :)

Paulette

Paulette,

We all have to deal with the emotional eating I think.  The mind is just as important as the body with WLS.  Early post-op I had a few times I sat and cried because I couldn't eat when my emotions got the best of me.  The problem is that as you progress you find that you can tolerate more than you could initially so you have to figure out the emotional eating part very quickly.  I chew gum like a maniac, I exercise, I talk to my hubby, I clean, I listen to music, I pray....anything to burn off that emotional energy that I used to burn off crunching on chips and stuff.  It is not easy but it is possible!!!  Like the alcoholic takes one day at a time, I think maybe we have to take one day at a time until the new good habits are well developed. 

Some things that absolutely were your downfall before WLS may not be a problem after...you can always hope for that.  I cannot eat ANY fried food...no french fries....nothing...all I taste is the grease and I want to hurl.  It is the most wonderful thing!!! 

I wish you the best of luck!!  Never be afraid to ask your questions...there is always someone or several someones who will answer as best they can!!

Diana

Welcome!  You will love Dr. G and Kim, who is the coordinator and his wife. 

I think that most of us are emotional eaters.  I've found since having surgery a couple of months ago that I'm much more aware of what I'm eating and why I'm eating it.  For one thing, if you eat too much, it's VERY uncomfortable. That's not to say that it's easy but it sure is easier than before the band.

Good luck and feel free to ask any questions,
Lori

 

Thank you Diana and Lori!! You guys made me feel so much better!! When I went to the seminar for Dr. G, my husband and I both really liked him a lot.  Kim was really great too.  He was late getting into the seminar and his wife had to do a lot of it.  He was in surgery and told them that he would be there as quick as he could.   I went to a seminar prior for a doctor in Norman and for some reason something kept telling me to go to Dr. G.  So, here I am getting ready to get all that started with him and am so looking forward to it. 

You all will be seeing more of me here.  I usually go to lapbandtalk, but I never find many people from Oklahoma on there.  So, I decided to try here. 

I have had many surgeries before, so the initial surgery itself doesn't really scare me.  What does scare me, oddly enough, is the ansthesia.  I remember when I was 9, I had to have a surgery on my hip and the anesthesia they gave me was intravenous and I could SMELL and TASTE it,.  It was very nauseating, and I am more apprehensive about that than anything.  What type of anesthesia did they give you and could you share your journey with me?  Like from the time you saw the bariatric coordinator did you get your psych eval, nutrition and surgery?  I am trying to figure out how long all this will take?  If it is possible to be able to have it done before January. 

Thank you all so very, very much.  I really do feel much, much more comfortable and at ease about it.  :)

Paulette