Eating Disorders Post Op

Anyone have any experience with eating disorders developed Post Op? I have a fear that I have developed one, but haven't read to much on this topic. I've recognized in myself, that I still have a food addiction. Now I just think about it all the time, want to cook it, gourmet meals, desserts, feed it to others, but I don't have it. I don't want it, but I seem to get a thrill out of seeing others eating it. Down to SF desserts. I don't do these either. I'm constantly on Food NEtwork, printing out recipes. I'm trying to stop, not been going to the store, trying to stay out of the kitchen, letting Family fend for themselves, hoping I can work past this, but was wondering if anyone has any info on this topic.

i will admit to this when i was about 1 year out i was afraid to eat because i didnt want to gain any weight back..it got to the point were i swear i was getting anewrixic.. i would only drink water and suck down protien drinks i did this for 2 months then realized what i was doing..i gave up one food disorder for another..from over eating to under eating.. i decided to go to a shrink and for a year i saw him every 2 weeks about my food addiction.. now i eat as normal as can be.. i had gone down to 140 pounds thew unhealthy way started eating again gained 15 pounds back but im healthy and my labs are ok.. everyday i try to stay under 2000 calories a day.. i will eat a cookie, a few chips but i dont graze and go nuts.. if i eat soome cheese n crackers or melba rounds thats a meal not a snack.. ive learned eating the normal things and wanting pickys can be made into a meal.. why eat something i really dont want for lunch ? its a battle all the time but thank god i got it under control JoAnn

It sounds to me like you are just going through a faze that both myself and my sister went thru about 18 months post op. I didn't want to eat what I made but it gave me enjoyment to see other people eat it. My sister was baking like crazy with really complicated recipes just because she enjoyed it. This has now passed. It really doesn't sound like an eating disorder but if you are really concerned you can always see a therapist. Good luck!

The largest injustice is the fact that the medical profession (and the insurance industry) recognizes bulemia and anorexia as an eating disorder, but does not recognize that many of us who have an obesity problem also have an eating disorder - they just tell us to "diet" with no concern for the psychological issues that have helped to keep us overweight - now almost 1.5 years out I am facing this eating disorder - and I am having to face it head on before I loose control and start putting weight back on...this surgery was the best thing I have ever done - but it did not cure my eating disorder...what it did was made me more acceptable to society - but it did not cure my problem and the doctors still don't understand - we are told to "diet" after the surgery - well hello - if I could have done that my whole life I wouldn't have needed this surgery...the psychologic aspects of why we eat is necessary to get resolved...I am searching right now for the answer to deliverance from this life long plague. An alcoholic can stop drinking, a drug addict can stop taking drugs - but a food addict can't stop eating...so for those of us who are all or nothing kind of people - how do we eat just one?

For a second there, I thought I was reading from my profile! LOL I did exactly what you are doing. Food Network, recipes, cooking... I have always loved feeding my family and friends! All of our socilization has always revolved around food. I was OBSESSED!! As another person posted above, it did pass (maybe not completely) and I am somewhat back to normal. In my experience, I think that the one downfall of WLS is that I didn't really deal with the mental aspects of being obese unitl I was no longer clinically obese. I struggle with it EVERY DAY! But at least now I am physically healthy and recognize when I am not quite dealing with the emotional and mental aspects of my life. You have also recognized it and only you can make the changes. If you feel you can't do it on your own, seek help. It is funny that people are able to recognize they are not able to control obesity without intervention (WLS) but we are hesitant to seek help when we are not healthy mentally or emotionally. Good luck, Patrice

I think eating disorders are far more common postop than many people think. Since having surgery 3 1/2 years ago and reading thousands of posts on the various message boards I see a LOT of eating disordered behaviors posted. I see a lot of people who are afraid to eat, or as one person posted - living on protein shakes and water. People who are below goal and just trying to lose 10 more pounds. already underweight and trying to lose more. in denial when their Dr. dietician, personal trainers etc are telling them to eat. I saw one person post who said they went to buffets, ate to fullnes, vomited and went back for more - so they can get their moneys worth. I see people once again going back to the various diet pills, fasts, and fad diets out there that contributed to the original morbid obesity. the protein train and going back to liquids only as just 2 examples. I was not aware that over exercising was a form of bulemia until I went into therapy over my issues with eating. I wonder how many people are doing that as I was. I was working out almost every day for 2 + hours. I have cut back to a normal and reasonable level of 3-5 days and no more than an hour at a time. It took injuries to my hip joint to wake me up , even tho my therapist had been addressing it. I REALLY wish that I had been able to work on my many life issues that led me to using food as a coping mechanism many years ago. I wasted alot of years of my life. as far as the cooking - I have loved to cook since I was a kid, maybe 10 years old and taking cooking in 4H. I have always loved to cook, read recipes, collect cookbooks, grow food in my garden. When I first got a sattelite dish I watched food network endlessly, altho it gets repetive after a while and I am kind of bored with it now. I get the newsletter tho and today just printed a recipe for blue berry mufffins that I am thinking on how to reduce the sugar and modify the recipe to my needs. I also get the newsletter from www.epicurious.com and have made many recipes from that site. It is all recipes from bon appetite and gourmet magazine and various restaurants. I have always loved to feed people, kind of the food of love thing. (Emeril) I even was cook of the week once in my local newspaper and had some of my recipes published. I really do not see that as more of a problem than any other of my hobbies and interests. I have directed this interest into making things as healthy and nutrtious as possible and I credit that for helping me lose and maintain and not feel deprived, by using my skills to create beautiful meals that I don't feel like I am sacrificing flavor and enjoyment with out ballooning up my weight. It has also helped my in the quality over quantity issue. I do work to create nice desserts with out refined sugars to enjoy occasionally, because I am learning that all or nothing is the sure way to failure. I just don't make them every day and I enjoy small portions. I eat it slowly, enjoying every tiny bite and have learned to let the guilt go. It has taken time and lots of hard work to get ot this point. If I know I can do it occasionally when I want it, I don't get the cravings so bad. I think if loving to cook and loving food is an eating disorder there are a lot of chefs out there who would have a problem. I love the process of cutting, peeling etc, the artistic side of combining colors and textures to present a pretty plate. (have been known to color co-ordinate food and dishes even to make the table look nicer- could that be OCD?) therapy CAN help to take the emotions out of food. I strongly recommend everyone who is struggling with eating issues to read the book "How Much Does Your Soul Weigh?" by Dorie McCubbrey.(?spelling of her last name) that along with the body image workbook have really helped me change my ways of dealing with food. I still have my issues I am working on and it may take my whole lifetime, but you know, there is not a single soul out there in the world who doesn't have an issue. A big turning point for me was the realization that we are not so unique with having problems, issues. everybody does. Define NORMAL?