Looking for food addicts...

Hi all - I am concurrently working through WLS preparation steps (practice diet) through the Wish Center in Seattle, as well as wanting to address food addiction. Anyone addressed food addiction concurrently with WLS? Heather

I am definitely a food addict. I used food for all of the same reasons that an alcoholic uses alcohol or a drug addict uses drugs. I used it to not feel, to comfort me, to take away pain, to celebrate, to __________ (fill in the blank). When I had surgery (5/3/05) it was (to me) like taking a heroin addict cold turkey. I went through withdrawls - I felt like a junkie wanting a fix - I just wanted a BIG BITE of SOMETHING! I didn't care what it was. I cried over food, I mourned food, I felt like I lost my best friend. Then one day I got over my (what I dubbed) temper tantrum. I just realized that there is so much more to life than food. Food is now something to nourish my body - to give me energy. Not a comfort (that's what God and hubby are for), not to take away pain (that's what crying is for), etc. I'm finding different ways of dealing with my emotions - like (gasp) actually feeling them. I have noticed that my feelings are much more on the surface than they used to be and that's okay. I still have days that I'm wanting food just for food's sake and it is still a struggle - but not like it was. Michelle 340/261/175