Question:
How long will it take to get through

I am 7 weeks out of surgery and until this past week have had no problems really with food. Then it suddenly hit me that everything food-wise has suddenly changed. Food used to be an "occasion" and/or something deeply satisfying. Now, most food just doesn't taste the same to me anymore. When it does, 3-4 bites later and I'm full. Going to dinner out isn't fun anymore because I end up wasting so much food and I'm SO SICK of waitresses asking me why I didn't eat more. This surgery has sucked the life right out of food and eating - which I know it was supposed to do BUT right now, I'm having a hard time coping with it. Has anyone else felt this way? And How long does it take to get thru feeling this way? Don't get me wrong...I'm thrilled with my weight loss and don't regret the surgery at all. I guess I'm feeling sorry for myself and want these feelings to be gone. Any suggestions? Thanks!    — Leah H. (posted on May 27, 2002)

May 27, 2002
Hi Leah,<p>I am less than 2 weeks post-op and am feeling the same way. Its very depressing for me, and I have cried on many occasions as my family enjoyed all these wonderful foods and I was stuck with my yogurt or protein shake. I miss food!<p>Sorry I am not far enough along to give you advice on the matter, but I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone and that I will be praying for you.<p>All the best,<p> Anna<p>
   — Anna M.

May 27, 2002
Well, I am almost one year post op and -162 pounds. I also went thru what you describe. We still do celebrate everything with food. We have a huge family, lots of birthdays, etc. At this point, my stomach holds what appears to be a "light meal" by NORMAL eaters standards. The waitress's no longer comment. Sometimes I bring my food out in a box, then pitch it. Yep. Waste it. Why? Because I can! I never could leave a morsel of food before. It is still difficult to send it out with the waiter still on my plate, but to put it in a box and compliment the chef? Yes. If dh does not want it, in the trash it goes. Better that than on my body! The mourning of food will pass. I can eat almost anything now. I choose to never return to bread, pizzas, pastas, sugar, rice, wheat. I choose to only eat real foods, and avoid processed foods. I choose to increase my veggies and fruits *always protein first tho :-) Yesterday, I bought two size ten dresses, petite 10's! I recall when the largest size in the plus size store was too small, my starting wt. was 321 lbs. Today, at 159, I look pretty darn good.
   — Barbara B.

May 27, 2002
Early on, I remember going to a huge Christmas party and eating 2 wings and 1/2 of a meatball. I kinda felt like you at first cause food has been the center of every event in my life. The next day when I weighed I was thrilled. I guess it just gets easier, and you know, for me, some 8 months later down 90+ & wearing a size 10 ~nothing~. . . I mean NOTHING tastes as good as thin feels!!!! Hang in there =)
   — Denise W.

May 27, 2002
It stopped bothering me as much when I'd lost a significant amount of weight - for me about 30 pounds. I also started adjusting to a different style of eating. I have brothy soup when I eat out. I also tend to eat fresh fruit and broiled fish at restaurants. I buy the more expensive items (such as appetizers) because I don't need very much to fill up. 3 1/2 months out, 50 pounds down! And I eat out regularly.
   — Kathy J.

May 27, 2002
I don't know if this will help or not. I am still pre-op, but when I saw Carnie Wilson speak, she gave us this advice. She said her psychologist told her to mourn food like you have lost a friend. I mean, food has been a best friend to a lot of us for a long time, and it does really need a grieving process like any other big loss. She said she really cried about it and mourned it for a few days, and that it really helped her cope with the loss. Hope this helps a little.
   — Jennifer Y.

May 27, 2002
Wow, you described me perfectly. I am one month post-op and I was thinking the exact same things tonight when I went to my grandparents house for a big Memorial Day dinner. I used to center my whole life on what my next food fix would be, and when I was able to have it, all seemed right with the world. Food was seriously a drug for me and I feel like now I am going through withdrawal. I try to get that "high" feeling that I used to get when I eat, but it is not there anymore and I feel a little lost now that I have to find happiness in something else. The crazy thing is, food never made me happy...it was all an illusion that diguised my sadness only while I ate. As soon as I would get done eating, reality would set in and I'd become depressed as I watched everyone else do things that I couldn't do being so overweight. Right now, everything seems so gross to me and I miss how much "fun" eating used to be, but I'm sure things will eventually get better and we'll be wishing that things tasted gross again. You can email me if you would like!
   — Kelly M.