Question:
Anyone ever gone to overeaters anonymous post op

Has any one gone to overeaters anonymous post op to help with the food issues. I am 5 months post op and lost 111 pounds. I feel like I am out of control lately. I don't have the money to go to counseling, our support group is very new but I want the help. I don't need to hear " the surgery was on our stomach, not our brain" one more time. I realize this but I am having a really hard time with controlling my snacking. I do fine with my meals, but as soon as the evening rolls around I am eating alot. Chocolate especially. I don't really dump other than getting really light headed for a while, this hasn't even been enough to deter me. I don't want to get bashed for saying this I just want help. Thank you.    — tulagirl (posted on January 2, 2003)

January 2, 2003
Yes, I was an OA-goer before my surgery, it's been about 4 years and I went back about a week ago (I am almost 6 months post-op) -70 pounds. I still have about 60 to go, but I find now I am able to "graze" and it is mostly from boredom. I definitely recommend OA to anyone who is a food addict (and if we have the WLS, we probably are!)Feel free to write me, good luck to you.
   — missmollyk

January 2, 2003
Hello, I have never gone to OA post Op because I won't be Post-Op until Jan.10th, but I have gone pre-Op and it has been a very great help to me. In fact I have been quite a food addict most of my life. Becasue of what I learned in OA, I can say that I have learned how to get and have control. My problem is that I don't always choose to apply it all the time. I am still very grateful that I have gone to OA, and when things get really rough, I fall back on what I learned there. I know that when my food issues come up after surgery, I will go back to OA when I need support. I have not been able to get my weight off through OA though:( Going there for me wasn't about weight or fat, it was about being out of control. The best thing I ever learned there was that "Freedom is not the license to do what you want, it's the power to do what you ought." Also, the serenity prayer(God grant me the serenity, to accept the things I can not change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.)I hope this helps a little. Hang in there....I know it is scarey and hard when you feel out of control :|
   — Patricia W.

January 2, 2003
I completely understand how you feel. I've never been to OA, but I don't think it's a bad idea. I've also heard of people going to Weight Watchers post-op as well if they get off track. I just recently had emergency surgery b/c they found a hole in my stomach- had a marginal ulcer. (I am 7months LAP RNY post-op) Now that I am able to eat again, and its the holidays, I have been eating junk- cookies, chocolate, chips, whatever. I keep telling myself it's b/c I don't feel good, but I'm scared it will become habit. The only advice I can give is that you shouldn't deny yourself treats-b/c that makes u want them more, i've learned that fom traditional diets. We had this surgery to live normal lives and lose weight, not to be on a "diet" forever. If you crave chocolate, have a mini hershey bar, but try and stop there. I know it's easier said than done, but I'm going to try it myself. I dump, but on larger quantities of sugar, like 15 grams or more. if you want chips, try getting baked lays since they are better for us. If you want icecream, try frozen yogurt. Just make a few switches if you can. Don't feel guilty, you have come along way and are doing great. It's especially hard around the holidays, but you know you have been treating yourself too much, and that's the first step in stopping it! Goodluck to you, we all fall of course sometimes, we're only human. If you'd like to talk, e-mail me anytime!
   — Lezlie Y.

January 3, 2003
Tammi, I think you are smart to recognize that you have a problem and are seeking some help in conquering it. That takes courage and no one should bash you for it. I think that many on here can relate to you. I, too, tend to eat too many snacks, especially sweets, and especially at night, so when I gained 3 pounds over the holidays, I decided to do something about it. For now, OA and counseling is not on my list, but certainly good options. I'm trying a few things, that may work for you..since the snacking is mostly at night, I am getting on the treadmill at about 6-7 pm. Then making a protein shake right after. This helps to curb the appetite and boost protein. Then having dinner at 9 pm or so, then trying to get into bed by 10 or so, when I am still full. Even tho I stay up and watch tv or read, I'm not down on the couch, which is where the snacking occurs. Have only been doing this for a week now, but I lost the 3 pounds I gained. So its working...Something else I'm trying is upping the water during the day, and changing the snacks. Try popcorn or peanut butter crackers instead of chocolate, and try the mini-chocolate chip cookies instead of regular sized cookies. I don't agree with eliminating all snacks or all chocolate, but fooling the brain by eating smaller amounts, helps. Good luck to you.
   — Cindy R.

January 3, 2003
I have a couple of friends who are posties and who go to O.A. they have said that it has been a very good experience and extremely helpful. Re-arranging our gutz is really just the smallest part of weight loss surgery. The head and heart take much longer to heal. Good Luck, and give O.A. a shot. It sure can't hurt!
   — Cara F.

January 3, 2003
I am 3 months post op and I joined weight watchers about 3 weeks ago. I helps me to see my continued weight loss success weekly. Also, I like the support and encouragement of a group. I joined because I feel like I needed to be accountable to myself more often than my monthly trips to my dietician.
   — aprilbaree

January 3, 2003
I'm not post-op, in fact I'm currently appealing a denial. But I can talk to you about O.A., having gone to weekly meetings for three years and only missing maybe 3 or 4 meetings in that whole time. I quit going over a year ago, but I intend to go back again after my surgery, because I feel it offers good support. But let's get down to the nitty-gritty about OA. It's not for everybody. At one time, it wasn't for me. I tried joining OA about 15 years ago. The first meeting I went to turned out to be a group of mostly lesbians (not that there's anything wrong with that!), but they seemed extremely "cold" to me. Nobody spoke to me, or made me feel welcome, or asked me if I had any questions, or ANYTHING. I went to that group 3 or 4 times before giving it up. People I talked to who had experience with 12-step programs encouraged me to try a few different groups/meetings -- they said, "You have to 'shop around' until you find the 'right' group, one you feel comfortable with." So, I tried going to ANOTHER group. THIS one was the exact OPPOSITE of the first group -- all these people came up to me and asked me if I'd "like a hug" (uh, no, I don't know you!) and were almost TOO friendly! And then, there was all the "God stuff"! Having been raised in a non-religious home (not "atheist", but I guess just sort of "agnostic"), the "God stuff" really put me off. So, I gave up on OA. Fifteen years later, and many more pounds heavier, I decided to give it another try. This time, I told myself to "just keep an open mind" and "just keep going back". I found a WONDERFUL group that I felt VERY comfortable with -- the people were friendly but not "gushingly" so. At first, it seemed like a LOT of "ritual" and I didn't understand all the "repetitiveness" of a lot of what takes place at each meeting. But, I kept an open mind and I kept going back. And you know what? This time I "got it"! I didn't lose any weight with OA, but I found tremendous support, and was able to "work through" a lot of my "issues". I found peace and serenity. (Which is -- a lot of times -- what we're looking for when we overeat, isn't it?) OA is a "spiritual" program, but notice that I said "spiritual", not "religious", and think about what the difference is between those two concepts. One of my sisters is also a "compulsive overeater" and she and I have often said that when we overeat, it's as if there is a "black hole" in the pit of our stomachs that we're trying to "fill" -- only it never is filled. I finally came to believe that that "black hole" was a "spiritual" hole, and OA helped me to begin to learn how to fill it. Give it a try. But remember that if the first group you go to doesn't "feel right" -- find another one! And, keep an open mind. And, keep going back. Also -- purchase some of the books that they have available at meetings and READ them! WORK the program! It might not be immediately apparent to you just how to DO that, but don't give up! Eventually you'll get brave and you'll be able to ASK somebody! Good luck!
   — Allison S.

January 3, 2003
Thank you to all of your great suggestions. Today was a much better day. I did have a couple mini chocolate bars, but that was it. I am feeling much better. Next week our support group starts back up and I did find an OA group not too far from me. I may go, May chicken out too, but I still love all the support from people on here. Take care
   — tulagirl