How does one deal with the love of food in this process?

Thanks so much for sharing, Alfonso.  You have spoken multitudes, and honestly, about your feelings.  And, certainly, volume with quality is a major plus; definitely not too much.

You are right, we are all different in terms of how long it takes to adjust and to react to the process both physically and emotionally/spiritually.  However, we are all the same in our motivations that caused us to turn to food as our refuge and comfort.  I know I have used food to fill a void in areas of my life... loneliness, hurt and pain, anger, stress...  and I know it doesn't deliver me from any of these.  It just hurts me more in the physical sense and the issue still remains.  The eating is just a symptom of my issues. 

And then there is the true enjoyment of food.  I truly enjoy a much varied array of foods and I will miss enjoying the tastes of so many of them.  I will probably be more easily adjusted to reduced quantities than I will to the absence of some of my favorites.

Putting myself and my health as priority above my wanting to enjoy food and using it as a refuge is what I will have to focus on.

Kathy, My apologies for mistaking your name... I saw Alfonso on your avatar and assumed that was your name.  Then I went to the discussion board and saw your intro.  Please forgive me!

No worries I have been called worse!

Hi. I made up my mind that no food in the world tastes good enough to be worth going through what obesity put me through. I work hard to get to the root of what I am trying to "fill or feed" with food, and fix the real problem with a real solution, rather than drwoning it away with food. How long does the food really sooth us anyways? A few moments? Yet it has a devastating long term affect on us. There is a ton of "head work" we must do in conjunction with this surgery. They alter our physical body, not our minds. That part is up to us to fix. If needed we must be willing to seek help to get it under control.

Its like i told Kathy whe we were vacationing together a few days back. We really need to view ourselves as "recovering obese" just as former alcoholics are recovering alcoholics. It takes a lot of discipline and head work and we must always be watchful of our choices. BUT WE CAN DO IT!

Thanks, Patrece.  You're totally right.  We are food addicts.  Overeaters Anonymous will also be a line of help and support I will be using on this journey.  Those 12 steps apply to any addiction, not just alcoholism.  I am not terminally unique in my issues, nor is this symptom of overeatting and obesity unique.  I admit to being powerless over my food addiction and that's why I'm taking two primary courses of action... the surgery and prayer.  Plus, OH and OA.  The obesity and my food addiction are a symptom of my issues, they are not my issues.  I know I have to understand why I turn to food and address the motivation(s) to be free of the symptom.  I consider it heart and soul work along with the head work... I have to be aware in my head of my motivation for turning to food at that moment before I can resolve what's in my heart and soul.  My higher power (God) will see me through this journey.

You are welcome! Good for you in taking a good approach to dealing with the demons of the food issues! Best of luck!