Did anyone Grieve for Foods that they could no longer eat?

Thanks Cheryl!

Caren, I would say for me it was more of a grieving for no longer having that coping mechanism. I had used food to numb myself for so long that I didn't know how to act without it. There are some foods that I do miss....I am like a lot of the others and can have a little bit of almost anything, but when I see people sit down with a big juicy hamburger or a philly cheesesteak, I sometimes wish I could eat a whole one too. But for me that is my addiction and not only is it no longer possible physically for me to consume the whole thing, I don't want to be numb like that ever again. It's so hard to be a food addict. Food becomes everything for you, and it's painful to give it up. A lot of emotions and thoughts surface that you have buried under mountains of cake and pasta for years. At least it did for me. But I expected it and found a therapist before I even had surgery. Seeing my addiction for what it is, pulling it out into the light of day, has been the best part of this for me, even besides the weight lose. I needed a surgical intervention to give myself enough of an enforced break from my addiction, to begin to get a grip on it. Imagine if you were a heroin addict, and everywhere you went there were people shooting up. Really good herion was brought into work as reward, your mom and grandma tried to get you to have some more, people would get angry if you didn't shoot up with them....now how hard would it be to get away from your addiction? People don't realize it, but that's what being a food addict is like. You have to eat to live afterall. Even with alcohol, it's not necessary to keep you alive, and I feel alcholism is the closest addition to food. How is someone supposed to overcome an addiction to something that they have to have to function? Girl, that's the really hard part, dropping the weight is easy. Kelle

The good thing about the surgery I had is that you don't have to grieve for food lost. You can have anything. Of course the surger keeps you in order, but you don't have the restrictions you do with the RNY...

Caren...we're all different and yet in some ways, we're all alike. At about 2.5 months out I went through a bout of depression, or grieving you might call it. It seemed it finally just HIT me that I could no longer enjoy the foods I once did. My taste changed as well. My head said I want to EAT this.to savor that feeling of scrumptious food in my mouth and the high it gave me.....my body said, I don't think so and even it ya did it ain't that good(due to the taste change). I also got mad at my husband for chowin' down on a big juicy cheeseburger in front of me. I don't do that now. Lucky for him! That did not last long....Gradually as time goes by you begin to adjust to the new menu and taste and your loss is your reward for sticking to that. THAT's the good news.... The bad news for me is...For a while, I was satisfied with a bite of something I adore....but, lately...I want MORE! I'm almost 9 months out and my taste has returned almost to normal. I've learned I CAN eat more carbs, even that delicious sour dough bread that I had to do without for months and months....What's happening to me now is that I'm pushing the limits. I'm feeling a lot of pressure to stay on program...with the high protein/low carb plan. I'm in a slump or sorts. I've lost 108 lbs. but none in the last 3 weeks....BUT, I've been eating more carbs in the last 3 weeks as well so though it could be a dreaded plateau, I may be the cause of it. I'm fightin' the food addiction in the last 2 weeks....some brought on by stress of much to do with holidays/family weddings/graduations and this time of year being the most stress filled at work. WLS is truly a physical, mental and emotional journey and we if get it right, it's the bomb!! But, if we don't do it right, it might "explode" in our face. That's one reason that support groups are so important. I may not know these folks in "real life" yet...but I can read what folks go through and understand I'm not alone. I hope this helps you. You're gonna be just fine....you'll hit a bump in the road occasionally, but when it smooths out, it's a really nice ride. ;)