Eating Out of the Trash Can....

I have a friend who had her WL surgery about 4 months after me.  She has lost 125lbs and is starting to regain what she lost.  She like so many of us is struggling to get back on track and stay on track.  She has started to pick up weight and asked me for advice and wanted hints as to what I was doing.  I know before the surgery she was a McDonald's, Pizza and junk food eater.  

She invited me to her house and as I was looking around I told her she needed to get rid of the chips, the candy, the ice cream in the fridge, and the cake she had on the counter which was almost gone.  She gave the chips, and the bag of bite size milky ways to her neighbors kids.  The cake was in a Ziploc storage bag which she took outside and threw in the trash; most of the cake was gone anyway and she decided she didn't need it.  We sat down discussed what she was eating, her need to exercise and to just remember where she had been and just how far she had come. 

About two or three hours after I got home, she called me and said, "I ate it."  I said you ate what? She says I went out to the trash can and took the cake out and ate it.  I told her she needs to see a psychiatrist or a nutritionist or just contact her doctor.  I can't help because her desire for food is more than I can advise her on.  What would you suggest!

You did the right thing as true friend.  I am honestly not surprised in her response.  If we go through surgery to help with this problem, it is a serious one.  I am not fully impressed that surgeons look into this adequately before surgery.

You did the right thing.

I would add thoughthat you praise her for telling you that she got the cake out of the trash.  Accountability alwasy helps, and if we get into secret eating it si a downward spirial.

Your friend obviously feels she can trust you - is there a way you can set up more accountability for her?  Suggest next time she  calls you BEFORE she reaches for the trash (or anythign esle she knows she shouldn't be)? 

As we all know, it will be a process of taking small steps for her - the first was to ask you to help, the second in phoning you and addmitting to what she had done.  Encourage her that she is doing all the right things and to keep going down this road.

You have proved yourself to be a great and faithful friend - you supported her and didn't just get on her case telling her what a bad job she is doing - critisising etc.  The world needs more people like you...

Ruth, very well said.  We are fortunate in life to have such friends, and even more fortunate to be able to be such a friend.

I will run water over foods just to make sure there's no way I can go back and eat it.  I learned this trick after a birthday party.  There was some leftover cake on plates in the sink and I was tempted to have 'just a bite'.  Instead I grabbed the faucet and drenched it all.  Problem solved!  You might share this tactic with your friend, though I think her problem may run deeper and require professional intervention.  I shudder to think of eating something out of the trash!  

I do the same thing. I either toss it in the toilet or make it really gross with water or something, or shove it down the disposal...but I never throw a good peice of junk food all neatly wrapped into the garbage as I've been known in the past to take it out of the garbage unwrap my neatly wrapped piece of junk food and eat it...feeling horrible, guilty, and mentally sick for doing such a thing!! So as soon as I decide I'm not going to eat something, I destroy it..cause Iknow before the day is over I'll be wanting it back! 

I haven't done this since my surgery, but I have done this in the past, I'm ashamed to admit.  you might want to direct her to Overeater's Anonymous.  I've had much, much therapy/counseling, and it did nothing for me.  You did the right thing ... She needs professional help.  I feel for her though ... Addiction is such a horrible thing.

Hugs,
Annette

Wow, food addiction is powerful. I have too run things underwater so I stop eating them. It's crazy but your advice was right on. This addiction is powerful and not fully understood by most of us.

Heidi

Hi,

I don't understand how she is able to eat sweets.  I can't tolerate anything with sugar.  Is this just me or is everyone like this.  If she is  able to ignore the feeling that she gets from eating things with too much sugar, then she definitely has a problem and needs help.  I pray that she can solve this problem and get back on track.

60% of RNYers do not dump-- and that number only increases over time.