Hardest thing i've ever done

I just hope there's help for me...lol. I might be toooo far gone for Kaiser :-p

Good for you, Alison.

I hope you find one that you connect with. Sometimes it takes a few visits to figure that out. Sometimes it takes a change in therapists to find the right one.

I saw one early on in my post op---kind of a condition of getting approval for surgery. I think it has helped. Certainly hasn't fixed things but I have a better perspective on my food issues.

Hope it helps you find  more peace (for lack of a better word) in your continuing journey.

Good for you!   It is not easy to do something that is not in our comfort zone....even if it is for our own good. :)
I feel as if your post was meant for me to read tonight.  I too have been struggling with "eating/food" issues and I think I may also benefit from therapy.
You will reach your goal and your plastics will be a wonderful reward to your hard work and perseverance.
You have done a tremendous job with your sleeve and weight loss.. your dedication is evident.  You are a success story and making sure your mind is in line with that.....is so important.
Take care and thanks for sharing!

 We are in this together!  I made my first appointment last week.  Unfortunately it's not until next month for me.  I feel like I have a handle on what I do now, but I am still having compulsive urges, and I expect those to continue to grow as I transition to maintenance.

I put off making the appointment for 2 weeks.  Why?  I don't know.  I felt relieved after, and I feel kind of excited about it now.

Hi Alison -
Last summer I went through an intense outpatient program for compulsive overeating. I did 12 weeks and spent about 15 hours a week in THERAPY! HAHAHAHA - it was mostly a group setting but I met individually with my own therapist and nutritionist.
The point of me telling you this is that it is and has been tremendously helpful for me and I really think I am a totally different person. I learne so much about myself and dealt with some issues from my past.
I wanted to tell you about a couple of books that I read during this process that I found immensely helpful
1. Eating in the Light of the Moon - Anita Johnston
2. Don't Diet, Live It Workbook
3. Letting Go of Shame - Potter-Efron

Best wishes to you! You are an inspiration!

So, I haven't been on this board very long, but I've read a lot, lot, lot of posts trying to catch up, and you are one of the most admirable women I've ever..."met"? (I'm not sure that's the right word, but it's as close as I can get.) You are a huge inspiration in so many ways, and very obviously, to so many people.

For what it's worth, I'm very very proud of you for taking this big and scary step.....you're going to blow the doors off this, too, lady, it just takes a little bit to wrap your mind around it.

Go get 'em, tiger!

I did some real "soul searching" recently because I know I have a problem with food. I eat when i am stressed. I will grab anything but mostly I will eat chocolate or ice cream. I had a really frank talk with my Dr. and discussed it with him. He asked me if it made me feel better after I ate these things and he asked me why I am even buying them. I went home and really thought about it. What I realized is that it never made me feel better but what I think I was doing was diverting my attention to the issues I was having and creating a new, familiar problem that I was used to dealing with. I have dealt with my "fatness" all my life and it is a problem that I am more comfortable dealing with. So what I did was face the issues or problems that I have head on and found that it was so much easier than I realized. I stopped craving food and felt a lot calmer. Not to say that I still don't have food issues, because I am sure that I still do, but I have been practicing thoughtful eating and not punishing myself by avoiding unpleasant situations.  I think we all need to be kind to ourselves and realize that we can accomplish anything if we really want it. Good luck to you and I hope you find someone you can be honest with and who you can connect with. You deserve it.

I fear relapse/regain, too.  Besides my intense fear of pain, it's part of why plastics would be so scary.

I am so proud of you!  I have never been to a therapist that specialized in eating disorders.  Tell me how it goes - I am so interested.  I am struggling, too.  I am feeling resentful that the hunger is back (even though it is less than before, it's definitely back) and I am battling more food thoughts that I'd like.  I want to go back to (OA) meetings, but I am reluctant because of the WLS issue and how people feel around here about it.

So seriously, if you think the therapy is useful, tell us.  I don't know if I could find anyone locally - but I might need to look.

Im so proud of you girl. You are a true inspiration! Even us "Superwomen" have to rest our capes every now and then.

Can't wait to see you in October!

Alison, I give you alot of credit for knowing you need help with this...and as others have said....we all do. That is how we got here. I recently found this book (don't even remember how I found it)...

Brain over Binge by Kathryn Hansen

I just ordered it from Amazon so I can't say how it is but it was speaking to me.
As several others have said, you are an inspiration. You were one of the very first posts that I saw when I came on here a few months ago. I thank you and wish you well.
Kathy