Help with Binging & Emotional Eating!!!

Hello Everyone! I am thrilled to have just found this site.  I am hoping to have my surgery in January, but still have a lot of fear that I will not be able to maintain any weight loss.  I have been able to lose large amounts of weight in the past by just dieting and exercise, but have never been able to keep it off.  I always turn to binging because I have so many emotions tied to eating (as I'm sure you all understand).  Anyway, I am looking for as much support and as many avenues to work through my emotional baggage before I have surgery so that I don't repeat my sabotaging behaviors.  Does anyone know of any support groups that meet or even an affordable counselor that specifies in this type of issue.  I'm in Salem and would appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks so much! 

Hi there.  Well, sorry to say, I don't know of any support groups, but I do know what it is to lose great amounts of weight only to gain it back.  Twice in my life I have lost 100 plus pounds and gained it back.  For me, the insurance demanded a 6 month Dr. supervised weight loss program.  I wasn't thrilled at first but it really turned out to be a good thing.  Talking with the nutritionist about my binging and learning to recognize my hunger was helpful.  I plan to continue to see her on a professional basis. As far as after surgery support groups,  my bariatric center has said they will give me a list that meets in my area.  I know it will be as valuable a tool as the surgery itself, keeping me motivated and on track.  And the folks here on the OH board are very supportive as well.  Everyone needs a helping hand once in a while.  I plan to ask if I do and hope you do the same.

Well, unfortunately, it is possible to get around the results of your surgery and gain the weight back, but right now, at 9 weeks out of surgery, I'm thinking it would be pretty hard to do.  I have trouble eating very much more than a half a cup of food at a time, so I just can't see gaining it back.  I am keeping an eye on what I eat and am careful that if I do have carbs, they are complex carbs, so I'm not packing the pounds back on.  I'd say that surgery is one of the best tools available, but it would be helpful to find a group in your area and get a jump start on your issues with eating. Best wishes! Linda

I don't know what insurance you have, but at Kaiser Sunnyside we have a support group that is open to the public that meets once a month on Saturdays. The next meeting is the 27th of October. It is a great group and at the last meeting I think there was at least 40 people there.  Recognizing your eating habits is the first step towards correcting them...Good job on that.

I have also heard of a class at providence called something like learning from the inside out. It is about learning why we eat and help with dealing with the inner issues of our weight. Brenda

There is another culprit to regaining weight that many don't realize is there. that is certain medications will cause you to regain weight. I maintained my weight for 2 yrs, but then i went on some prescribed antidepressants and before I knew it I had pcked back on 20 lbs. I had no idea what caused it until I read an article in the Oregonian about it. Antidepressants and some blood pressure meds and a few others can change your metabolism and help you pork back up. It puts you between a rock and a hard place. you get bummed so you take AD, and then get depressed when you regain weight! Arrraaaghhhh! Some days it doesn't pay to get up. lol

Legacy has a Portland support group.  A counselor is a great idea, too- The Community Counseling Center at PSU has a psychology clinic staffed by interns and they charge $15.  Not specialists, but they usually get good supervision and research the issues of their clients.  Do you have insurance?  Most pay for some counseling. Your feelings about all of this are very normal!  We are here because so much has not worked for us, and it's hard to not expect failure after a long history of gaining and losing.  Hang in there.  :) Melanie

OHSU has a WLS support group that meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Paul Kirk Conference Center on the 3rd floor of the 16-story Center for Health and Healing, 3303 SW Bond Avenue (east of Macadam) in Portland.   Underground parking is provided at the entrance on Whitaker Street, across the street from the building itself. All pre-op and post-op patients are welcome! For further information, contact the Digestive Health Center at 503-494-4373 or e-mail at [email protected].