Is this normal?

Every since I had my decision visit and found out that Dr. Mann's office sent in my paperwork for approval from my insurance, I have been eating all the time. I mean ALL the time. It's like I can't get enough food. Everytime I eat too much I always say to myself, ok this is not going to happen again. This is the last time. But then I do it all over again. I am so scared because if I am doing this now, what is going to happen when I have to do the 2 week atkins diet before my surgery day. I really do have a theory as to why I am doing this. It may sound dumb but I honestly do believe that the reason why I am doing this is because I know that after I have the surgery, food will not be my best friend anymore. I won't be able to eat like I can now and I think subconciously I am trying to eat as much as possible before I have gastric bypass. The bad thing is I told my surgeon that I would try to start doing the atkins diet now since I weigh over 400 pounds and he said that was a good idea. Now, I feel so guilty about it and what happens when I feel guilty? I eat of course. So is there anyone who can give me some ideas as to how to get over this. I really want to stop doing this. I want to lose some weight before I have the surgery. Is doing this normal? Please someone help me!!

                                                            Emelinda

stress or emotional eating is what got a lot of us here in the first place..... at least you KNOW why, now you've got to get a handle on it.... if you need to get some professional help for it now instead of after surgery.....

Good Luck!

Hi thanks for the reply. Right now I am actually seeing a therapist and she is a gastric bypass patient herself and she looks awesome. Thanks for the encouragement though. I greatly appreciate it!!

                                                                      Emelinda

Hi,

Like you, right after my surgical consult on Halloween day, I found myself having daily "last suppers".  I did that for about 3 weeks until I got scared that the doctor would refuse to do the surgery if I gained a whole bunch of weight before I saw him again [in January]...that was enough to motivate me to go on a diet -  and it was a diet with a beginning middle and end - not a lifestyle plan.

Like you also, I have been in counseling - and continue in counseling - looking at eating and other life issues.  So I say this in all truth as one who has been there:  insight is nice but  it only takes you so far:   STOP. THESE BEHAVIORS TODAY.  NOW.  make a plan.  read the Atkins book if you haven't done that yet.  Get rid of foods you don't need in your home.  Decide when you want to start and just start.  COMMIT TO NO SECONDS and if you are like me and like to read or watch TV while eating.  Stop doing it  [this was the hardest part for me -still is LOL].  When you just concentrate on eating, and slow up a bit - you allow your stomach time to signal its full before you've gobbled down another helping.  Its hard the first few days, but then it really, really gets easier.

With  Atkins generally speaking you can eat your fill on it and you might be missing this or that carb - but you won't be hungry.

Partial fasts had worked for me in the past so I did a slim fast diet - couldn't afford optifast - I drank two meals and ate one high protein meal a day.   I told myself my new life started now - not the surgery moment. I believe this made it much easier for me to do the pre-op liquid diet 

The best way to assauge your guilt is to start your eating plan. Please don't take my comments as critcal they are not meant to be so - I've been there and done all of what you are talking about.  I tried to think my way around the problem, I tried to understand it - and all of that is good - but you have to take the next step.  Action..

Hang in there - you can do this - if only for one day at a time.

Peace,

Rhonda

Well I thought before surgery " for a while" well I'd better eat it now won't be able to later. My Nut said that was normal and to STOP it and I did. Just say to your self well you shouldn't be eating it at all before or after surgery. Emotional and head hunger will NOT go away after surgery. You will have to deal with it.

If everyhting you do seems to lead you down an endless road-find an overeaters anontmous in your area and get a pal you can call every time you pick up a fork or pass by a drive thru. I went thru that for an entire 2 weeks and finally found a friend for a soudning board. Now, I talk instead of eat! Thankfully she has a sprint phone and we can talk free because I spent 900 minutes on the phone with her the first week. Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE UP!