Question:
I can't be the only post op who is totally obsessed with food, can I?

I'm about 2 months post op RNY, and for the last 3 weeks or so, I think of almost nothing but what to eat next. I've been successfully battling the urges to graze, but don't feel too hopeful right now that I will have the will to keep denying myself. I don't see many posts from others with this problem. I see so many posts about post ops who don't use food as a crutch anymore; how they forget(!) to eat sometimes; food isn't important in their lives anymore, it doesn't taste good anymore, etc., etc. Just because we have had the surgery and physically can't eat the quantities we did before, how can this possibly change our thought processes? Let's face it, the vast majority of us had this surgery because we were obsessed with food, preoccupied with food, addicted to food, whatever you want to call it. To those of you who are no longer a slave to the food (and it seems like most of you), please explain how a surgery has changed your brain. I want food just as much as I did pre op - maybe more now that I can't just satisfy the urge whenever I want to like I did before. Thanks.    — [Anonymous] (posted on February 20, 2001)

February 20, 2001
I'm preop and would love to know the answer to this one myself! How will the surgery change what's upstairs? Please help!!!
   — Sharon R.

February 20, 2001
I am almost 4 months post op and I have walked in your shoes and often continue to walk in them!!!! Surgery did not change my brain either. Most days I can keep food in perspective although some days I feel that it still owns me. What I do try to do at the end of every day is get a calorie total of what I've eaten today (and yes, I know, they tell us not to count calories but I know myself well enough to know that I MUST keep track or this will get away from me) and I ALWAYS find that I'm well within "normal" range. I've NEVER once forgotten to eat and food still tastes delicious. I'm not one of those who has to force myself to get in at least 600 calories a day. I am, however, pretty realistic about this whole process. If I want to ultimately weigh 130 pounds and I eat 1200 calories a day I'll be there within a year. I've lost 55 pounds in less than 4 months. I'm pretty proud of that. The weight is coming off slower now but, by gosh, it's coming off. I don't make myself insane over a piece of candy - if a piece of hard candy will give me peace of mind then I eat it - it only has 23 calories!!! If it takes 25 pieces of candy to give me peace of mind then I work on my attitude. :) I'm trying to find a balance and think I'm doing ok with it. I don't want to be perfect - I just want to be normal and for me 600 calories a day isn't normal - forgetting to eat isn't normal - not liking food any more isn't normal. I just think it's important to find a balance - give yourself a break. You're a winner just for being brave enough to have this surgery. Indulging a craving can be healthy if you keep it in the proper perspective. It's a daily thing for me and I can honestly say it gets better every day - the difference between 2 months post op and 4 months post op is incredible. Hang in there. I think you'll be fine and somehow we'll all find our own personal "normal". We'll always be "addicted" to food to a degree - this weight loss journey is a daily learning experience. Don't give up!!!
   — ronascott

February 20, 2001
e-groups has a group expecially for people like us. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ossg-hungry The description follows: This is a place for people who have had some form of obesity surgery,and are not finding post-op life as effortless as others describe it to be. We don't "forget to eat", we still crave (and eat) sweets, or the old habits of compulsive eating are still with us, trying to surface. We are concerned about how hungry we are, how much we are eating, and how much we ate. We fear that we will be the ones for whom this surgery does not work---that we will "fail the surgery." This list will be a place to confess,lament, and just otherwise talk freely to others who know exactly what we're feeling. Support, creative suggestions, and empathy is welcomed.
   — kaydeeb16

February 21, 2001
A question to ask yourself: WHY am I obsessed with food? If a truthful answer doesn't readily come to mind then perhaps it's time to delve deeper for an answer(s). What's going on at home, at work, inside your head? Exercise, physician's assistance, support groups and therapy can help diminish the fears once you face them.
   — [Anonymous]

February 21, 2001
H there, For me, I have lost most of my interest in food. The most dramatic thing is that I cannot stand red meats any more, which was the mainstay of my former eating life. On the other hand, I have gained a strong desire for some fruits. Go figure, but the surgery (RNY) really changed my ability to eat fats without getting sick. Good luck and hang in there.
   — KG B.

February 22, 2001
Boy, oh boy, do I know how you feel! I'm a little over 2 months post-op from RNY surgery and have been craving everything in site. I've noticed that I'm especially having a difficult time staying away from pizza and cheese. I also have the urge to steal a sip or two of my fiance's pop every now & then just to cure that craving. I don't know what happened. I was doing really well for the first month and a half and then all of a sudden I became hungry for bad stuff again. I'm thinking about checking into that website that Kandy Bruno recommended for people who have food obsessions. I wish you luck & hope that we can get through this with not too much trouble.
   — Andrea H.