While I giggle at the visual- I get the reality. In fact-- I first knew I was coming down with something when I tried to eat some peanut butter from a spoon and it didn't taste right.

Hopefully this cold has spoiled me from the evil habit.

I probably should give up PB but I don't or won't actually

PB is a problem for me. I can eat about 5-6 tablespoons worth at a time. the problem is it doesn't make me dumb because sugars are low, so it is easy to binge on.

Sweets were virtually irresistible to me for a long time. especially, but not limited to, ice cream. I could plow through a gallon of ice cream in no time flat, spooning it right out of the tub. And then start on another! Now that is an out of control image! I have never even once binged on broccoli or green beans! But sugar messed me up. Also, to a lesser degree, mayonnaise. I really liked chicken salads and tuna salads, made with tons of mayo. But my biggest screw-ups have always involved sugar. I just have to say no, because I also don't know how to be moderate with the stuff. It's a lot easier never to start than to attempt moderation for me. Thank God I am able to have a fresh start! What an incredible relief!

"I could plow through a gallon of ice cream in no time flat, spooning it right out of the tub."

-I was like this pre-surgery, but then I became a dumper and the sweats, racing heart, shakes and wanting to vomit (but only dry heaving with foamies) quickly trained me out of that.

But I hear you on the mayo. I love full fat mayo too and tuna and chicken salads too! I think we could probably have lunch together time. Are you a deviled egg fan?

Lunch together time sounds like a blast! Yes, I have always liked deviled eggs very much! However, I haven't yet tried eggs post-op. I bought a half dozen and boiled them, but just wasn't feeling them once they were cooked, and they languished in the fridge. A few weeks later, I purchased another half-dozen. But after a few days I realized I still wasn't feeling them, and ended up giving them to my neighbor. I'll try again sometime soon, i'm sure!

I also like pickled eggs. I stick peeled hard-boiled eggs in a container (a mason jar is good), then cover them with apple cider vinegar and a little beet juice. The egg whites turn a ridiculously festive, in-your-face purple. They are really quite tasty!

I really am almost thinking that there is a link to BED and RNY patients. There have been so many I have heard struggling. I'm 19 months out. I didn't consider myself to have an eating disorder before surgery. I ate TOO much of certain foods, but never was 'sick' or barfing.

thoughts?

Funny, when I was skinny in grad school, I was in a study that used anti-anxiety medicine to treat BED.

I had BED by their clinical definition and when the going Gets tough, skinny wants cheetos or popcorn. Which is not sane. FOod addicted akin to an alcoholic?

Anyway, it was a double blind trial-maybe I had the placebo, maybe I didnt BUT I didnt notice relief from whatever pill I was taking.

The main component of BED is a loss of control feeling. Post-op, many studies (several which aren't currently published yet) highlight that it tends to magnify.

You can also have an eating disorder NOS, too and still have many of the criteria.

As for the anxiety stuff, we have found out that we need stimulants. BED is ultimately an impulsive and compulsive addiction to control. The food is just a means to an end. It's nothing about food. It's all about reestablishing control and equilibrium. anti-anxiety meds do not often help with the pathology as much, sadly.

The reason stimulants help us is not appetite suppression. Rather, it helps reduce our impulsive and compulsive tendencies. We have, thankfully, drastically changed the knowledge about it.

ADHD is also highly comorbid with bulimia, which many clinicians are not taught; I only know because of my own work and experience. It's likely that it also is comorbid with BED, which is fascinating given how they are both treated!

I think that was probably true of me. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the term "eating disorder", but hey, if the shoe fits...