Where to get help with carb addiction
My story is very similar to yours...I had a lap band for just under 3 years. The first year I lost about 65 lbs, but then complications set in and I spent the next nearly 2 years regaining almost all of that weight.
With my band, I would experience random tightening when I was unable to eat solid foods and sometimes even couldn't keep liquids down. There were many days when only slider foods (specifically kit kats and M&Ms) were the only thing I could get down. I had several unfills in attempts to be able to eat real food, but the random tightening would always catch up with me. Eventually, I had to have the band completely unfilled.
Anyway, during this time I pretty much became full-out addicted to sugar. I would vary which grocery stores I would go, eat in secret, lie about eating, etc. etc. and it was always sugary things I would binge on.
I think there are several reasons why the sleeve has worked for me thus far.
The first is that, for some reason, I became disgusted with sweet tasting things in my post-op diet. Most full liquids and protein drinks were way to sweet for me and all the sugar free stuff was incredibly sweet. By the time I was progressed to soft foods and actual foods, I was desperate to avoid anything sweet.
Secondly, I followed the protein first rule. I really tried to get as much of my protein in from food as possible. This left no room for anything else for several months. I think really sticking to that ultra low carb diet helped reduce my carb cravings.
The third is that I began to see a psychologist. One who specialized in addiction and is very well known in the bariatric community. I felt this was very helpful in helping me realize why I was overeating. I'm not sure I really gained any new coping skills, but that may be because I stopped going too early. I may need to revisit that in the future. I do feel that I learned a lot about myself and that was a big help.
I also read some books recommended to me by another VSGer who seemed to successfully battle similar demons. They were The Thin Commandments and Shrink Yourself. I have also heard people recommend Anatomy of a Food Addiction, but I haven't read this myself yet.
Well, sorry my post got so long, but I do think for me it was kind of a shotgun approach that has kept me successful thus far.
Best of luck, come visit us on the VSG board.
Lindsey
Edited for typos
I got abstinent from my trigger foods (cake/cookies/ice cream/candy/baked goods) on that day, and by the grace of God, I remain abstinent.
I had to surrender and go 'cold turkey' for a few days to get rid of the cravings --- after that, daily meditation and prayer help me to focus my intention for the day (to remain abstinent).
www.oa.org and www.therecoverygroup.org were critical to my involvement.
Best of luck to you -- it is a life-long struggle for many of us.
For me -- it is better/easier to say 'that is not my food' than to try to eat those things in moderation.
My body does not know how to handle moderation once I begin eating that stuff.
