I'm out of control...

Every since I've been approved for surgery I've been binge eating like a ravenous dog. I'm scared because I can't seem to stop myself.  I've lost 22 lbs. since the first of the year, but now I'm back into my old habits. How do I cure this behavior so I don't sacrifice my surgery to uncontrollable gluttony? DD 

DD: Last supper eating is not unusual pre-surgery. I indulged myself; thinking I would never again be able to "eat" like I wanted "again" Relax if you can..... remind yourself that this is pefectly normal.... you will stop when you are ready...  Are you ready ? only you can answer Keep the faith.. Kev-

DD, I did the same thing. I'm pre-op and getting a lap band in 2 weeks. I've been on Optifast diet for 1 week and lost 8 pounds (although yesterday was my B-Day and the diet went to hell: I may have gained 1 or 2 back). Couple of weeks prior to that I gained about 10 pounds on food binge. I ordered everything I used to with a "for the last time" mentality. I know it's not the last time I will eat most of them, but I know it's the last time I'll get them in such large portions. I don't know if the Optifast is also detoxing my body, but I don't sweat as easily, and don't get as winded as fast as 2 weeks ago. 8 pounds can't already be making that much difference can it? Anyways, try to control the urges, but don't get sick over them either, if you feel really bad, talk to your doctor and see what he has to say. Mine said it was a normal reaction. Good luck to you, and meet you on the loser's bench soon. Regards, Marcel

D^2, ,That "Last Meal" mentality is tough to break. But don’t believe it for a moment. I had steak this weekend with a baked potato.

Pretty much able to eat Everything nowadays, And it tastes better from the Narrow-Side of the Booth- I Swear! All I can think to help is stock-up on Low-Carb/ Low-Cal stuff. Get any "Bad Choices" Out of the House! Keep some "Rabbit-Food" like lettuce/salad, celery, carrot sticks, Lots of SF Popsicles and such and when you have a craving- Pig-out on that- First….. Most "Cravings" only last around 5 to 10 minutes. If you can distract yourself past that 10 minutes By then your attention has usually moved on to something else. Best Drastic Measure I’ve heard of yet? Would work with what ever food you might have in the house, but- But for example- If it’s Ice Cream? Go, get the ice Cream out of the fridge RIGHT NOW! Carry it outside and **** in it! That’ll cure the desire for ice cream for a while…. Bet it does wonders for a bag of Doritos Too! It’s just a "Mental Challenge" that most deal with prior to surgery. A good bit "going around"- http://obesityhelp.com/forums/men/a,messageboard/action,repl ies/board_id,5479/cat_id,5079/topic_id,3234283/

Hang in there! Best Wishes- Dx

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It's ok man. I ate chinese food like 5 nights in a row before my surgery and probably 10 times within 2 weeks of it.

DD,  Yep, right there with you, man! Before surgery, I thought I needed to eat enough for the rest of my life because I wouldn't be able to post-op. My problem pre-op wasn't snacking or sweets, it was overeating at mealtime. A typical meal was a dinner salad, 16 ounce steak, large baked potato, as much bread as possible, and three large glasses of sweet iced tea. Somehow, I was baffled as to why I was/am obese. Diets were impossible to stay on because I couldn't eat 2 lbs. of food at a time while on them. WLS took away the ability to kill myself, and gave me the ability to make smart choices.  Take Dx's advice and get some better foods in the house, and the bad foods out. After all, you can't eat what is not there.  You've lost 22 lbs. since the first of the year? That's a FART right there! Keep up the great work your doing. Don't let your old habits creep back in and take away what you've worked hard to accomplish so far. Remember, the pre-op diet is the hardest part of the whole thing.   We are all pulling for you.  Ronnie

Thanks fellas.  Like any addiction, half the battles mental. It's nice to know I'm not alone. Food has always been an indulgence I've allowed myself. A crutch. My best friend and my worst enemy. I quess I'm just having a hard time saying "good-bye" to it.  Thanks for the tips. My biggest problem is keeping food in the house. It's much easier to eat out, and there's a buffet less than 10 minutes away in any direction. Thanks again for letting me unload on y'all- and picking me up when I fall. It's nice to know help's just a "mouse ride" away. DD 

DD,  Before surgery I didn't have to deal with a pre-op diet. It left me to deal with getting rid of my addiction, and get over having surgery, at the same time. I shed many a tear over my addiction. Imagine me, a 6'3" tall 351 lb man, crying on my poor little tiny 135 lb wife's shoulder because I could no longer gorge myself. It was pathetic! The guys in this locker room helped me so much during that time and I'm forever grateful. That's why I like to drop by to lend a hand for those just starting out. Down the road a little, you'll be dishing out goodwill to the next guy, and so on....and so on...I've never been around such a great group of people in my life.  Welcome to the Locker Room!

Ronnie, I've been slobbering up my petite princess, pretty good myself. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my mind around what's happening to me. Mama's never been heavy. She gains a pound and she's putting in that excercise video and  hopping around like the carpets on fire. She's not much help. Frankly, she has no sympathy for my predicimint. She's real good at "tough love". Denial and destructive behavior have been my "drinking buddies" for quite awhile. It's kind of hard to cut 'em loose and walk the straight and narrow. I kinda get that lonely feeling.  But, I guess that's what big boys do. We grow up, and hopefully grow wiser.  Good luck on your quest. Thanks for helping me on mine. It can be a rocky road. DD

Denial & Destructive Behavior? I think I know those guys. We used to hang out all the time. Not so much anymore. I'm telling you that the surgery makes it very easy to re-learn good habits. Just look at the success stories in the locker room. Do you think that these guys, myself included, would have lost 100's of pounds without the aid of WLS. I think not. It's a tool, that's a fact, but it gives you the advantage. Think of it as a diet that actually works. It's really no secret. You eat less, and exercise more. But now you have built in will power to help out. It sure makes it easier to kick ol' Denial and Destructive Behavior to the curb.  My wife was the most supportive person in the world before and after surgery. We grew so much closer because of it. I didn't think that was possible after 16 years of marriage. As far as burning up the carpet, not my Dawn. She's as lazy as they come. Eats craploads of sugar, deep fried everything, monster drinks with 100 grams of sugar. You name it, she eats it. And never ever gains a pound. We sure got the short end of the stick!  Ronnie