Food problems

Hello:

This is my first time joining in. I had Gastric Bypass 9 months ago and am starting to get my appetite back, which they warned me about: "The Honeymoon is over"!

Before my surgery I spent a lifetime being a "food addict" and worked hard at trying to control my bingeing. Now I am scared that I will go back to my old habits and gain all the weight back.

I have not been able to attend the support groups at the hospital where I had my surgery because it is over two hours away one way. Someone suggested I try online, so here I am.

Thanks for "listening"! :)

Bonnie

Hello Bonnie!

I completely understand - I am going through the same thing, but at only 6 months out and it is both frustrating and frightening.

I still can't eat a lot at one time, but it seems I am hungry shortly after I eat, no matter what I eat.  I keep telling myself to stay the course - push protein, make wise food choices, and exercise - but I find myself wondering if my food addiction will resurface and sabotage me.  

Do you have a regular exercise routine?  Have you tried a pouch test?  I've read here about people doing it to retrain their stomach and themselves.  I don't know if it would help us, but it may be worth a shot!

I also have issues with attending the monthly support group that my surgeon's office sponsors - their timing never seems to work with my schedule.  I have found OH, and particularly the Bariatric Buddies group, to be an awesome resource for support and helpful hints.  That said, it sure would be nice to have an in-person support group in my area that meets when I am available and on a more frequent basis!

I am so happy that you posted today.  I wish you the very best and hope to hear from you again soon!  Take care!!

Kim

Dear Kim:

Thank you so much for your answer to my posting. It was sure nice to hear that someone else is having the same problem that I am. I also am hungry constantly, although my didn't start until a month or so ago and I am always graving the same foods that I craved before.

I do honestly feel that my food addiction is back in full force and it scares the heck out of me!!!! I see a therapist that I have been seeing for a couple of years before my surgery and she also feels that I am going to be batteling this addiction for the rest of my life. My fear is that if I couldn't fight it before the surgery, what hope do I have now. She is the one who suggested that I either go on-line and reach out to other surgery patients or go to Over Eater Annonymous. I would much rather talk with people that know what I am experiencing.

I try to walk every day and I do it for an hour on our local Bike/walking path. Since I live in Maine and weather can affect my walking I also use the Wii Fit Plus machine but I have found that although I can walk for an hour I can only do 30 minutes on the Wii machine.

What type of exercise routine do  you have? Is it o.k. to ask what State you live in? If this is too personal or not allowed just ignore me and forgive my newness.

What is this pouch test? I have never heard of it and would like more information so I can talk to my surgeon about it and sound like I know what I am talking about! :)

Again Kim, thanks so much for replying. Your posting made me feel so "not alone". I think this on-line support just might work. Keep trying and we will help each other as much as we can.
Food addiction is the one thing this surgery cannot control so it is up to us I guess.

Bonnie

Hi I know you 2 feel.  I started out with a local support group at Helen Keller hospital. went every month to it it was about a hours drive there.  The last time i went was in January.  It all fell apart.  The leader was 30 minutes late. wouldn't have been there then but i call him.
    So i am starting my own support group here in my town.  Maybe you two could do the same.  I start mine in April.  I am going to take the OH leaders training when it gets to were i can.
 hope all  will get better for you guys.  I am 10 months post-op.  Take care of yourself and love yourself.

Thanks so much Annie Lou for the info about starting a group. I had not thought about that, although I have found that the hospitals around me that do the surgery are very strict about groups. They would not let me join in even when my hospital, which is two hours away, one way, contacted them to let them know that I was safe and had actually had the surgery. So I am guessing that they may not like a separate group. I will look into it though.

Thanks and take care. Keep up the great work. You are one month ahead of me on surgery time. Are you having any problems with your food? Do you have an exercise routine?

Bonnie

Hello, and welcome to our group Bonnie!

I so understand how you both are feeling. I am 1 year 8 months out. My hunger returned at about 6 or 7 months, and weight loss slowed tremendously at about 10 months. It is a scarey time when you start experiencing this. The key is to stay ultra aware! Also make sure when you are eating that you take 2 bites of protein to each bite of something else. It may also be time to incorperate some healthy whole grains (but not too much), to help keep you satisfied longer.

I have to run my hubby to his calss.. back later!
Best of luck! I hope we can help you through this with ease!

Hugs!

Hi Patrece:

Thank you so much. I have started using grains, but I had not thought about the 2 bites of protein and then grain....I usually eat all my protein and then sometimes I am too full for the grains or veggies.

I have been posting about the fact that I am a food addict and have been since my early teens...and I was so hoping that it would be gone after surgery even though I was warned that it would come back. I feel so scared that since I couldn't control it before surgery how can I now?

I am still using an egg timer to try to slow down my eating time. I have a problem with eating way too fast, mostly because I hate cold food and making it last for 20 minutes means cold food.

There are honestly times that I am so tired of trying to figure out what to eat, how to eat it and then dealing with symptoms after I have eaten too fast or too much fat in it, that I wonder what the heck I have done.  I know I am being whiney and I really am happy to have lost the weight because I can walk for an hour now when I couldn't walk for five minutes before. I really have no feelings about the change in my clothes size, I guess because I am afraid that it will all come back. I can't even get rid of my large clothes because "I might need them!"

Am I the only one that feels this way? Does this ever get easier or is this "my job" for the rest of my life? Maybe if it is, than I am happy to be 61! :)

Thanks so much for listening (reading) and for all the help. I guess I will calm down now that I am hearing other peoples feelings. One can only hope.

Bonnie

I will get back to you on this after while.. I am on a training call right now, so when it is done, I will be back. Hang in there..ok?

Ok... It is getting kind of late, but I am back to reply to your post to me.
they say to focus on protein first, which is wise, especially early out. But now, at 9 months out, you are able to eat more and so it is time to work in the other items.  The 2 bites protein and one bite something else, is a very good rule of thumb to use.  This still ensures you are getting in primarily protein, but also some of the other food groups that are important for us to get in, as ong as we make sure we are using good sources of fods from them.

I very much understand your frustrations with trying to figure out what to eat too. It gets old , I know , having to think so hard about it all the time. For me, it is getting easier, but still times I am not feeling creative and get tired of the same ole things.  I finally broke down about 4 weeks ago and order a bariatric cook book, to help infuse my brain with new ideas and choices. Maybe that could be an option to help you in the meal planning department?

I too still find I have times i eat too quickly. So my husband has taken to playing a game with me. I take a bite and chew chew chew... then we have to have a verbal exchange (he says something, i say something) then i can take my next bite.. lol. Works great until we forget to use it, or if we can't think of anything to say..lol.

I hate to say this, but in a way, yes this is kind of a job for the rest of your life. but as time goes on it will get to be more habitual, and less like work. You are not being whiney. This isn't an easy journey we are on, if it was easy to live so healthfully, we'd have never needed this surgery in the first place right? Retraining ourselves is a tough job anbd takes time to accomplish. Hang in there tho. it can and will get better.

Hugs to you! Keep reaching out! and try to join us in our monday evening chat for even more support, ideas, and a fun time talking among the group of folks that are there. It is at 7 pm Eastern 4 pm Pacific and to get there you need to go to the chat link in our group area. the main chat for OH will not get you to us.

Hey Bonnie, you are at the right spot.  We all have issues with food, I am 6.5 months out from my RNY and finding that I can eat things that I should not.  I also took the OH leadership training and lead my first solo group last week.  Come back and use the bariatric buddy group for day to day support, try to find something local for monthly support, even getting together with one or several others who share your issues with food.

Hang in there Bonnie, we will get through this together.  Hugs