Question:
Has anyone ever had a problem with over eating after surgery?

I am 3 months post. I have lost 72 pounds, but at times I over eat. Not because I want to, but because I am an emotional eater. I have had no one to talk to sinse my surgery, and my husband does not understand. Not to mention my best friend does not believe in the surgery, wich kinda leaves me alone. So please tell me what do you do when lonliness hits you?    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 5, 2001)

October 6, 2001
You ALWAYS have us here at the site !!! We never go away!! My husband doesn't understand either and everyone of my friends and co-workers think that I am out of my ever lovin' mind for having this surgery...I have found my support and information from this site and my dear friend that went through this same surgery 3 mos before I did..Like you...sometimes I feel like they just don't get it..(and I tell my husband that...hope it makes him feel bad from the little comments that I get from him once in a while)..but I know that it is just frustration on both of our parts and it too WILL pass...Everytime I felt down or frustrated I just signed on to this site and got all of my questions and feelings out...Honestly after a while, I started apologizing right up front on my posts for asking questions so often...but I ALWAYS got a compassionate response and e mail addresses if I needed to talk further...WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE ASKED FOR....A MILLION FRIENDS HOW WONDERFUL...7 weeks post op & 58# gone forever...p.s. when I feel sorry for myself I eat a fat free graham cracker and a glass of milk...my comfort food..mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
   — Joi G.

October 6, 2001
I am 7 yrs and some days I overeat, too. Talking & eating. Eating & talking. Certain foods, or if I am interrupted mid-meal, lose that immediate full feeling and go back and start over. Duh. If I sense any loss of control, I just start putting my fork down betweeen bites again and sit 'n think. If I am comfy now, how will one more bite feel? Do I really want to have to go hurl right here in Ruby Tuesday or Applebees or McDonald's or (post restuarant) or before the next client comes? Ummmm, no. Do I want to be able to consume more food next time? GASP! NO! Do I really want the next bite? Of course, by the time I've done all that, conversed or read, I FEEL full and the desire for more has been shut off. Also, although at first it sounds contrary to good sense, I will swish a very small amount of water around my mouth to remove food particles and the flavor I think I want more OF. When the little bit of water hits, it sometimes trips the queasy swtich and that will do it, or again, just the little break gives my satis-facto-meter a chance to reach my brain. I AM a volume eater, always was, always will be. I play NUMEROUS tricks with myself to keep me at goal wt, small pouch and yet, so I do not feel deprived. Some as simple as promising myself the "rest" in 10 minutes. That one seems to work if I am stressed. OK, I yell at myself, you can HAVE IT ALL, at 12:22 (or whatever). Then my broken part is happy AND my well part is happy and the stress falls right back down to manageable.
   — vitalady

October 6, 2001
Get thee to a support group! (Or if there isn't one in your area, start your own -- I did). You need a support system in order to keep you doing the right things. Go onto yahoo and look for yahoogroups.com then do a search on OSSG (stands for Obesity Surgery Support Group). You'll find a list of a lot of different email groups that have had this surgery and have a particular need or subject (there are some for different ethnic groups, some for certain surgeons, single women, married, losing slowly, losing too much etc.). Join then you will get to talk to 50-100 different people daily about your issues. I belong to one and they are my greatest resource of support. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.