Eating Out of the Trash Can....

Hi Jupiter6,

I just want to say you have done a wonderful job.  Also we share the same exact surgiversary day. 7/16/07.  We both live in NJ.  Maybe we can celebrate next year together!!!  You go girl!!!

You handled things very well. Food addiction is such a strong thing to conquer and like an above poster said, I don't think surgeons spend enough time focusing on therapy for food addiction. Most of us need more help than just have a pysch consult. I couldn't eat of the trash or pick something up that had been in the sink b/c the thoughts of it make me physically ill, but I know alot of people do it so I hope your friend does realize that she's not alone in her struggle.

What, hasn't everyone eaten cake out of the trash? LOL-before surgery, I threw bad stuff away several times, only to fi**** out of the garbage later and devour it. The only way to make yourself not eat it is to pour water or something gross on top-not seal it away in a ziplock bag because then it's still good. Obviously, I had a problem...

You are SUCH a good friend-good for you for giving her a pep talk and helping her get rid of the temptations in her house! I had to do the same thing for myself a while ago; once I really started looking at what was around, I couldn't believe how many bad things had crept back in! Now my kitchen is free of sweets and bad carbs-I have set up my environment for success, as Dr Phil would say. I hope your friend is able to conquer her demons-it's terrifying to regain, and she's probably scared to death about it. But the fact is, we are in control of our bodies-whether we gain or lose is up to us.

Thank you all for your words of encouragement.  I have talked to her since the incident and she is kicking herself for telling me.  I have encouraged her to seek professional help, and I also told her that acknowledging that she has a problem is the first step to recovery with anything.  Food is an addiction.  This is the same friend who after 3 weeks of post-op took her daughter to McDonald's and tried to eat a chicken mcnugget after I warned her of the consequences she would have to face.

It's disheartening to see what she is going through, but it's also making me take a deeper look at myself and the choices I'm making with my eating.

You are a true friend, and she knows what she is doing incorrectly. 

It has to be her choice, and only hers, what she puts in her face.  If someone else is the cop, then it's all too easy to get back into that old way of thinking we all used to have:

If no one sees me eat, it doesn't count..

I wish her all the luck in the world.

First and foremost you are a wonderful friend and said all the right stuff. Your friend has a problem and she is reaching out to you for help, telling someone that you ate out of a garbage can has GOT to be difficult, I can't even fathom that!  Is there a support group in your area or can you call the hospital where she had surgery and see if they have a suggestion about a support group or a therapist?  She is suffering from more then a "need to feed" hers is a psychological problem. Stay strong and know that you both are in my thoughts and prayers. ANDI