Question:
Any post-ops having problems bingeing or eating for emotional reasons?

The 25 year coping mechanism of food is now not an option as a post-op. I want to eat all of time. I am not coping with these emotional changes well at all. I don't sleep at night and I think it is from anxiety from my little binges. I am eating about 1000-1200 calories a day and I have stopped losing weight. I am 7 weeks post-op. I am in therapy for the emotional issues. I also quit smoking for the surgery,and if it is a choice between smoking and bingeing, I am about to light a 10 foot long cigarette.Has anyone else been through this ? I need all the help I can get. And please,no snap judgements. I abuse myself enough and I don't need it from anyone else too.    — DONNA B. (posted on November 14, 2001)

November 14, 2001
Donna, if you were an emotional eater before surgery, don't expect it to end. I was, and am, an emotional eater. It takes alot for me to even pay attention to that, most of the time. I am rarely hungry, physically. If you are only 7 weeks post-op, and your weight has halted, it is ok. You are probably on a plateau. 1000-1200 calories is a good amount to be consuming. Your body needs the calories to help you lose the weight you need to lose, it is fuel for the body, especially if you are exercising. Plateaus are totally normal. I went through a ton of them before I reached my 150 pound loss in 12 months. I have not smoked so I cannot help you there, but try to keep yourself busy, so you do not think about these things. I too had started therapy before I even had the surgery, knowing that I am an emotional eater, and worrying about that aspect of this surgery. You have tons of support here!!!Hang in there! You are doing great!!!
   — twenc

November 14, 2001
I am right there with you Donna. Someone asked me the other day if I had the surgery reversed if I would gain the weight back and go back to eating like I used to. The answer would most definitely be yes. The desire to eat is still there, and I still use it as a crutch. Unfortunately I am one of those people who don't dump on sugar and I can eat just about anything I want, but only a small small amount. Try not to judge yourself so harshly, I believe we all got to the same place for a lot of the same reasons. And time will help you work these issues out. And you're going to therapy, good for you! Try to keep yourself in check and remember that you will suffer platuea's from time. I stopped smoking before surgery, but was back at it at about 3 weeks post-op. I think it took the place of eating and I felt like I just NEEDED something. Not the best thing to do and people will make snap judgements about "abusing our bodies" and all that. Take care and try not to worry too much. Feel free to email me if you'd like.
   — Robin O.

November 14, 2001
I can totally realte to what you are saying. However, I did not smoke before so I imagine that is really hard to quit the same time you are trying to give up food. Unfortunatly when we have this surgery it is on our stomaches not our brains. It takes time for your body to adjust....but if emotional issues get in the way you are doing the right thing by getting help. Therapy is a wonderful thing...and getting to the issues that cause you to eat emotionally and dealing with them instead of comforting yourself with food will obviously be a long hard road but will pay off in the long run. Also you are only 7 weeks out....stop beating yourself up. You didnt get overweight overnight and you will not lose the old habits or the weight overnight either. Also, maybe you can find some other hobbies that interest you other than food....do you go to the gym ...? I have really found that I love going...who knew. Get up and get moving and stop dwelling on the bad and make this surgery a positive and wonderful experience that will change the old you into something fabulous! Hang in there and keep getting the therapy that you need and try and this is really hard ....but try not to let the food control you, I have found that I do have control over food and I am trying everyday to battle the old urges...YOU can and will succeed...I know you will! Keep on going and continue to be the best "loser" you can be! You can do this!!!!!! I wish you all the best, if you feel like chatting or venting feel free to email [email protected] Good!!!! Melissa :)
   — Melissa S.

November 14, 2001
I am fixing to have the surgery on Monday. I, too, worry about the emotional eating aspect. I have found that it helps to journal and to have affirmations that I can say when I feel out of control. Even that takes discipline and sometimes I want to take the easy way out and just eat. I have to keep reminding myself that everyone says this is just a tool -- we still have to make changes. It sounds like to me that you have it covered -- you're going to therapy. You are aware of what you're doing. This is so good. We can't let fear of failure ruin our joy -- that is what sends us back on that spiral of emotional eating. You will lose on 1000 - 1200 calories a day. That is a scientific fact. I just encourage you to claim the truths in your life -- you are okay, you are going to be successful, you are doing better than you were prior to surgery. Somehow or another we have to stop self-sabotoging and I think beating up ourselves is one of the first steps in self-sabotage. Take care. Good luck. I believe in you.
   — Debbie H.

November 14, 2001
Please don't take offense, but it sounds like you could really use some help from a psychologist in controlling your anxiety. I think that may be a the root of some of your issues, i.e. binging, smoking, etc. I speak from experience, because I used to have trouble in those areas, and it has completely self-resolved since I've been on meds for anxiety. Good luck to you--
   — [Anonymous]

November 21, 2001
Donna, I am a year post op now and still have some emotional issues to deal with daily. We don't have medical insurance right now, so I can't go seek professional help yet. I am completely dependant on my support group for help in this area. You are not alone. I think at some point we go through this at times, some more than others. This "so called area" is like a taboo of the surgery that people have a tendancy to avoid. We think so much about being thin and losing the weight at first. After surgery it changes, the emotional is what gets you. One of the hard parts for me is accepting my new body. I have lost 102 lbs and feel very insecure about myself. I used to hide behind my weight and now I feel totally open and scared. I have found myself having my "little binges" here and there just to cope. I know I have a problem and have every intention of getting help, just waiting on insurance to be reinstated. I also am a smoker and quit 2 wks or so before surgery to only make it like 9 days post op to start up again. I could not deal with losing my food and my cigarettes at the same time. I know smoke more than I would like to in order to keep from eating and it helps. I know it is only a crutch, but sometimes you have to use one to get you through each moment. I also chew tons of gum!!! That really helps alot. Get help if you are having problems this early in the game. It will only get worse as time goes on. This surgery is only a tool and we have all gone through way to much for it to fail. This by far is the hardest part of all of the whole deal. I will never regret having my surgery, but it is not easy some days to deal with it. I hope my info is of some help to you in a way and can encourage you to do the right thing. Just don't let it go too far. Best of luck and big hugs of encouragement your way!!!
   — Michelle P.

January 2, 2004
Donna, I can definitely relate to your situation! I am 1 year p[ost-op on January 13, 2004 and I too am in therapy. I seeking assitance on why I overeat in the first place. depsite havignthe surgery I am an emotional eater (yes Id mit it!) So what do I do now? Soome tips - (1) Exercise more, more, more! When the emotional situation arises, ttry working out instead of eating. (2) Drink beofre eating. A bottle of carbonated water does nto taste nearly as good as a dish of isce-cream I kno. However, it will make you feel full and give you time to work the sensation of ice-cream out of your system. (3) Hug someone that loves you and will give you the encouragement you need to keep up the good fight. (4) Going off the wagon once in a while is not, NOT the end of the world. Pick yourself up and get back on! Love yourself for all, ALL the accomplishments to date and realize that more are to come! Finally, trust in your higher power (for me it is God) to see you through. He/She/It is not blessing you with new energy, renewed health and a lighter body to have you go to waste, there must be something else out there for you to conquer so allow that power to use you. You are a rmarkable person, I knwo it and you do to. Keeping you in my prayers majic212
   — Marion J.