Question:
Help! Am I going from one addiction to another?

Hello, I am currently almost 14 months post op and I've lost over 130lbs. Before surgery, I was addicted to ice cream, I would have some every night. Now I'm post op, I can't stand ice cream (it's too rich and it makes me dump), but for some reason for the past month, I've been eating chocolate and soda on a daily basis. Could this be the start of a lapse to my old habits, or could it be a nutritional issue? Is anyone going through this? Am I lacking a certain ingredient that soda and chocolate replenish, or is it just in my head?    — Christine F. (posted on February 12, 2004)

February 12, 2004
I've heard of people craving things because of nutritional deficiencies but I hope I never develop a craving for chocolate and soda. Those two seem like huge RED FLAGS to me and for me, it would definitely be a lapse into the old habits. I guess maybe it depends on how much you're eating and if you can leave it alone if you decide to. If you can't leave it alone or can't stop after a couple of bites, I'd say run like crazy the other way.
   —  SCbabe B.

February 12, 2004
I doubt if it's a nutritional issue, though I sometimes wonder if it's hormonal. Regardless of the cause, there are quite a few post-ops who just can't handle processed sugars, not just in the sense of dumping, but in the sense of addiction and weight gain being triggered by them. You may be one of that (un)lucky club. No choice but to quit cold turkey, for "moderation" may not be an option for those of us who turn out to be hard-core sugar-addict types.
   — Suzy C.

February 12, 2004
Unless you are one of those who cannot control your addictions-in other words, one bite of chocolate leads to 30, there is nothing wrong with eating chocolate and soda on a daily basis. Are you maintaining your weight loss, or continuing to lose if that is your goal? Are you eating healthy meals and getting in enough protein? Maybe you are eating chocolate and drinking soda because you like it!! I eat chocolate EVERY day and enjoy it thoroughly, and not that sugar free crap. Sorry, I can't stand the sugar free stuff, in my opinion, its a waste of good calories...It IS a part of my daily diet, along with good protein meals, water, exercise, vitamins etc. As long as I can maintain my weight loss and do NOT go wild and eat the 1 pound bag of M&Ms in one sitting, I'm OK with it....
   — Cindy R.

February 12, 2004
If you're eating regular sugary soda and real chocolate on a daily basis, and you are concerned enough about the behavior to post a question here about it, my hunch is that it could very well be the start of a little backsliding. But, the fact that you are trying to figure out what is causing this behavior is a great predictor that you will soon control it. You see, unlike some people who had the surgery so that they wouldn't ever need to go on a diet, I had the surgery knowing that it was the first part of a life-time re-orientation of my relationship with food. Certainly, I sometimes think that it would fun to eat something and find some pleasure in it-- but, I also know how finding that pleasure in food brought me to 500 pounds. Today I would much rather steer clear of my old trigger foods rather than contend with the feelings of guilt that would certainly arise if I didn't stick with the program. And, now that I am enjoying being my lightest since college (and at a very comfortable, healthy and sustainable weight), I don't find it a sacrifice to not have the cookies, candies and icecream that controlled me before. But, we're all different and can only speak to what has worked for us. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

February 12, 2004
To me, it sounds emotion/behavioral... since you asked. <br> I would ask WHY you are having these cravings, and what prompts them, what triggers them. And what you can do to stop them. I don't think it is so much the specific things you are choosing- it is WHY you are choosing them. Do you have enough support around you?<br> Can you do more with yourself or others at the time of the night that you are eating these things that you know you shouldn't be eating? I am not trying to make you feel bad, but you wouldn't have posted if you felt good about what you are doing... once you start doing this after WLS other things just start to happen. <br> Is some light therapy a possibilty?<br> Only the best wishes for you,<br> Shelli
   — kultgirl