Question:
Who of you were HORRIBLY ADDICTED to food pre-op, then weren't addicted post-op.

I am having doubts about how well I will be able to follow the post-op requirements and I really need to hear from people who were as addicted to food as I am now (pre-op). I am always thinking about my next meal and what I will be eating. I live on fast food, junk food, and fried foods (After being parted with these unhealthy foods while I was on many different diets, I tend to consume them as much as possible now), and I am scared that I will be in constant torture post-op when I can't eat these things like I do now. I want this surgery to work so bad, and I guess I just need to hear some words of encouragement from those who have gone through this and were able to overcome it. Thank you : ) — Kelly M. (posted on March 11, 2002)

Post your answer to this question Post your own question

March 10, 2002
Well, I don't think I was 'horribly' addicted to food, but I was always thinking about what I would eat next, and I'll admit that I 'hid' eating sometimes. Most of us wouldn't be at this point if there wasn't some sort of addiction. The great thing about the surgery is that it MAKES me stay on the up and up. Too much quantity, too much fat, or too much sugar gives me a tummy ache (I haven't 'dumped' like many have, I just feel lousy). After a few times of that, I find myself not reaching for that kind of food anymore. The hardest thing will probalby the the convenience-factor of fast food. I have over-come that by eating lean cuisines- about the right size (I leave a few bites behind usually) and they are SO quick. I choose the ones that have 20+ grams of protein. I am also finding substitutes for other favorites... a s/f pudding pop instead of a bowl of icecream, a couple of cups of fresh salted popcorn instead of a whole bag of Chips, a small cup of Chilli instead of a hamburger. I don't believe that this surgery should ruin eating for me- I think I actually ENJOY it more now. I'm just broadening my horizons, and savoring every bite. Maybe going to a support group or a councelor could help you with this. You DO need to be prepared for the changes, but you can do it!! Be committed to your healthy life! My shrinking waistline is completely worth my lack of McDonalds. Good Luck!
— Angela B.

March 10, 2002
My daughter and I are 2 years post-op, and were talking the other day about how different our lives are now, in terms of our eating habits and the foods that we eat. We were able to laugh about the level of "denial" that existed pre-op....we couldn't have laughed about it then, or even admitted it! We were grazers, we were bingers, but most of all, we were "secret eaters". Neither one of us ever ate breakfast, ate little or nothing for lunch, but "secretly" ate little snacks all through the day, and then ate everything in sight from the time we got off from work until we went to bed. Based on what our friends and co-workers actually SAW us eat, they were probably amazed that we were obese and continued to become even more obese. High-calorie, high-fat junk food and drive-thru foods were certainly a weakness for us. On the way home, we might stop at as many as three "favorite" drive-thrus, eating in the car all the way home. Then, after a brief "rest" we would have dinner, and always either clean-up the left-overs or make another snack before bedtime. We would eat entire bags or cookies or chips, then hide the empty wrappers deep in the bottom of the trash so that other family members wouldn't find "the evidence", or get up in the middle of the night to eat while everyone else was asleep. Now, we remember those days, and are openly able to talk about them, with shock and dismay. Our RNY surgery has completely and miraculously changed our lives. We eat three meals a day, have only occasional snacks, and never feel deprived in any way. All those high-fat, high-sugar, high-calorie foods that I thought I couldn't live without,don't appeal to me at all.....and strangely, all those fresh vegetables & fresh fruits that I found disgusting in my "previous life" are now the things that I absolutely crave. I do experience "dumping", with both refined sugars and fats, so it was easy to give up those things. My daughter, however, does not dump with sugar at all, and hasn't had her favorite....ice cream....since her surgery 26 months ago....she simply has no desire for it anymore. The other wonderful thing about the surgery is that the size of the RNY pouch absolutely prevents any gorging or binging, even if you were inclined to do it. I only rarely experience sensations that I can identify as "hunger", and I still can only eat approximately one cup of anything at one sitting. The surgery has "cured" my food addictions, and has liberated me from my dependence on food.....what a miraculous gift that has been. Best wishes to you!
— Diana T.

March 10, 2002
Just an additional note to my last message: my daughter and I are both at goal. I just had my tummy tuck and armlift in November, and she is expecting her first baby in July. Life is SO good!
— Diana T.

March 10, 2002
This is not brain surgery. You need to go to a counselor and work out your emotional issues. The reasons why you are a food addict. Why you feel the need to eat like you do now. Because when you literally can't after surgery, you'll be facing those demons head on. A counselor can help you identify them before hand so that when they rear their ugly heads, you'll be prepared to recognize them and cope in a healthier way. Good luck and God Bless!
— Kimberly L.

March 10, 2002
Hi Kelly, I'm 5 days post-op from the Lap gastric bypass. Even when I was in the hospital I was dreaming about food. Kicking myself for not going on one last binge before going in for surgery. Before I had my surgery I lost 50lbs on my own, so I started feeling really good and got the motivation. Food really is an addiction, but you can over come it. A taste of something only lasts a few seconds but your health and fitting into those size 5 jeans will last forever! You just need to get motivated and tell yourself food is not the most important thing. Right before I went in for surgery I hated food, I was so sick of it. I knew it was the enemy. I didn't even pig out the night before surgery. I know I will be able to enjoy my favorite foods again, in moderation. Good Luck!
— Angie B.

March 10, 2002
I had surgery 2-months-ago this coming Sunday and I was concerned about this too. So far, I've been ok. I feel great with losing weight and don't feel deprived at all. You just have less. I do get the urge to sit in front of the tv with a bag a Cheese Doodles every now and then but it passes. I know if I had a handful...I wouldn't want more. I felt like a slave to food before and now I feel in control 95% of the time. Good luck to you. This is a good thing.
— Janice P.

March 10, 2002
Sorry I didn't mean to post that anon.
— Kimberly L.

March 10, 2002
I think all obese people are addicted to food somewhat. Otherwise, we wouldn't be obese! I was a self-described food addict pre-op. I am now 1 year post-op and have lost 166 lbs. Am I still addicted to food? Hmmm ... that's a hard one. I can say I actually ENJOY eating more now than before, because I know I can't eat that much in one sitting, so I really try to choose those items that I know will be most satisfying. I still think about food, but eating isn't the pastime it once was. I used to get home from work at 6:00 or so and eat literally until I went to bed. Now that's just not possible, so I eat from 6-6:30 or so and then find something else to do with the rest of my evening. In some ways, it's incredibly liberating. I have kind of replaced compulsive eating with exercise. I do this 4 nights per week now. I am definitely not perfect. I still eat things I shouldn't, like a few pieces of chocolate or a ginger ale, but I definitely wouldn't say that I'm mindlessly eating anymore. It's just not possible. On occasion, I am consciously choosing to eat a sugary food for pleasure, rather than just downing a bag of chocolate out of habit. I guess you just look at food differently and are more aware of what you're putting in your body. Do I recommend this surgery for serious overeaters who are binging on a regular basis? Hmm ... that's hard to say. I guess it would depend on the severity of your addiction. If you think you would be capable of overeating even though it would hurt, then I think this surgery wouldn't be right for you ... but if you're the type who has successfully lost weight in the past but can't seem to keep it off, this surgery is a Godsend.
— Terissa R.

March 10, 2002
You are describing me (and most of us) as a pre-op "to a t" One of the very best parts of having my WLS is that it has helped me break my obsession with food. For the first few months I couldn't eat most fast foods, desserts or junky snacks. Vomitting and dumping are mighty unpleasant and they help modify your behaviour real quick! At 6 months since surgery I can eat a wonderful variety of foods. I still very much enjoy food! However, I'm not obsessed with it. Since I know I can only eat a small amount, I make sure that it is delicious and healthy. I enjoy every bite rather than just mindlessly shoving in as much as possible. If I occasionally encounter something that I really want but know is a poor choice,I take 1 small bite and hold it in my mouth a good long time to enjoy the taste. This satisfies my longing without causing any damage. Believe me, it is so liberating to not be contolled by food that you will not miss the so called good old days of mindlessly shoving in junk.
— Bobbie B.

March 10, 2002
I am a stay at home mom, and I would eat ALL the time before surgery.. at 3 months post op though, most of the things I found appealing before... aren't.. I would sit at night and eat a box of little debbies, after having eatten a huge dinner, two sometimes three sandwhiches for lunch, with chips... two whoppers or a double whopper and king sized french fries... and ok.. here's the thing, head hunger IS bad.. so many days I think about being able to eat a "meal" again and then realize that the "meal" I ate before could have fed 4 or so of us post ops.. I have "tried" things when I craved them.. The fast food, has entirely too much greese.. the little debbies... entirely too sweet... I have even switched to soy meats and when I do crave sweets there are so many sugar free varieties that I don't miss the "real" stuff.. and it takes just that, only a taste to cure the craving.. Right now if you look at it, once you eat something you have the craving for, usually the craving goes away, well same deal after surgery, you just eat a lot less of it.. Good luck to you on your journey!
— Elizabeth D.

March 11, 2002
Well, we ALL are addicted to food, no matter how we "wear" it in the end. In the same way we must have water & air, we must have food. But for some of us, even a little is worn on our exterior and yet a ton is never enough. We're broken. I thought I was hopeless, and figured the life of daily vomiting that I saw in my VBG buddies was how it worked. I was very surprised to see that my "eating disorder", whatever it was, sort of vanished. I was like you, I actually spent all my time thinking about what I was NOT going to eat. It was horrible, filled my brain space 24/7. Now, I suddenly remember, it's time! What a relief! But I do a lot of protein supp shakes, so that keeps the hunger/desire for food running in the background, so I don't have the fight on my hands any more. I have hungry moments and munchies days, but they are very few & far between. I think I have fewer of them than my normie friends, actually.
— vitalady

March 11, 2002
Hello, you asked who was horribly addicted to food, and my answer is ME!!!!!!!. I loved to eat, and was an emotional eater too and basically, although I denied it, that's all I did. Now 7 months post op, over 130 lbs lost, I have to force myself to eat. Yes at first I mourned food, but after losing the weight and realizing what my addiction had really done to me and my body, I have no desire to eat all day, as before. Now sure occasionally I crave sweets, but I just find something I can have , rather then going on a sugar binge. But seriously, if anyone thought that I could not stick to the post op diet , it was me. I worried about it a lot, and I've done fine. Your tastes, in my case, change. I've had people, my ENTIRE family, eat junk and stuff I used to woof with them, in front of me, and even taking a taste of it was a turn off. It just wasn't the same. In my case I think that the volume of food I would enjoy was more satisfying then the taste. Now that I can't eat the volume I just don't want any of it. If you like e-mail me. Carey
— Carey N.

March 11, 2002
i was just like you were before surgery...i ate at every fast food place you could think of...i am a week post-op and i do not want anything. It makes you sick to look at food. About twice a day i will just be hungry and i will eat but thats just a small amount. You will be fine, Trust me if i did it anyone can.
— Amanda G.

March 11, 2002
I wouldn't classify it as an "addiction" to food. But, pre-surg, I was ate constantly. I constantly carved carbs; so, I was always munching on cookies, candies, chips, pretzels etc. I also drank a lot of juices and sodas throughout the day. I opted for rny for that reason and I'm glad I did. My cravings for sweets and other carbs vanished. It's hard to explain, but, for the first time in my life, I can walk through the bakery section of my supermarket and not feel the "need" to buy something. Sure, I "want" a brownie. But, post surg, I "know" it's not good for me and I can pass right by with out feeling deprived or angry. It's amazing. I envision that this is how "normal" people feel.
— margaret N.

March 11, 2002
I also spent lots of time thinking about the next meal and eating stuff in between when I couldn't make it til then. I think that (rny, anyway) resets your palate and your habits. After a couple of days eating NOTHING then 2 weeks of liquids, ANYTHING tasted good. I was careful to eat good food then because I knew that I could only eat just a little bit and didn't want to miss out on protein and other good stuff that my body needed. Consequently I didn't have much fatigue. Also, I was forced to eat on a schedule--hungry or not (and I wasn't hungry for 4 months)--which made food seem more like fuel than entertainment. I notice that now I am pickier about what I eat because I can eat so little of it. If it doesn't taste good, forget it. I am not going to waste my little tummy space. Before I would have eaten it anyway and then searched for something that tasted better and eaten that too. Lots of things taste different now that I thought would be hard to give up--soda, cheeseburgers, pizza, even valentine candy. I eat a couple bites and think, you know, this doesn't taste that good. And I have all but given up sliced bread and sandwiches so there went the butter and mayo I used to be so hooked on. My new comfort food is Dinty Moore chicken and dumplings. It has 12 g protein and tastes really chickeny. If I feel the need for comfort food, one minute in the microwave does it for me! I think you will find that wls will help you overcome some of it. But there is certainly nothing wrong with getting help dealing with head hunger. After all, the surgery is on your tummy, not your head! Good luck.
— ctyst

March 11, 2002
I won't lie to you. The road ahead is hard, but you can do it. Instead of eating to live, I use to live to eat. I planned every event around food. I loved all the wrong foods. I'm almost 9 months out and down 115 pounds. I feel great, and my whole attitude about food has changed. I still enjoy a good meal, but I no longer let food dictate my life. The first couple of weeks are the toughest, but as the weight begin to drop and the energy level rises, you'll soon let go of your obsession with food. Good Luck!
— Tammy W.

March 11, 2002
I am 3 months post op. I am still addicted to food. especially sweets!! Everyday I still eat something sweet. Sometimes 1/2 a bananna, 1/2 C grapes, handfull of M&M's, choc. raisins, and now jelly beans. I know this is soooo Baaaad for me. however.... this is much better than my old life. I would have eaten 1/2 pound of M&M's and raisins. So i say I just eat like a "normal" person, normal people don't eats pounds of candy/sweets! just a little.
— Cindee A.

March 12, 2002
Hi, Kellie. Well, I think I would qualify as addicted to food post-op. I seemed to eat all the time, if I was happy, sad, bored, tired, wide-awake...I'd eat to pass time, whatever. I had my surgery last May. For me, the initial 8 weeks, when I went from liquid to mainly pureed foods, got me off this food addiction. I just didn't feel the same way about food anymore. I'm not going to say I won't occasionally grab something when I'm feeling stressed, but it's not like it was before. And usually I choose a non-food way to deal with emotions. For me, the restrictions the initial post-op phase put on what I could eat, etc., reallly worked. Almost like going "cold turkey," I guess! In fact, for the first few weeks, I hated eating; I followed the nutritionist's eating schedule, but food seemed medicinal rather than pleasurable. Now it's different since I can eat relatively normally (say, a child's size portion of food). But again, the long-term effects have stayed and I no longer feel compelled by food. That's been my experience anyway. Good luck!
— Mary Ellen W.

October 10, 2003
Heck yeah I was addicted to food! Probably still am. In just two short weeks I will hit the one year out mark, on 10/28/03. In the previous 11 months, I have lost a whopping 231 pounds. I started at 401, and I sit at 170 today. I'm 5'8", so I don't have a long way to go. I have probably 20 pounds at least of hanging skin to deal with now, but that's a whole nothing issue! Food became a drug for most all of us. We used it to heal all our perceived hurts. We used it to soothe our pain in every possible way. Someone asked me the other day what the largest amount of food was I ate in one sitting. You mean there's more than one sitting? It's not just a continuous food fest???? But the answer I gave was spaghetti. I cooked an entire one pound package of spaghetti, and put it in a large mixing bowl. Then on top of that, I piled about two inches worth of sauce, mozzerella cheese, parm cheese, and mushrooms. And inside of 20 minutes, I ate the entire bowl. Suddenly, it was like a fog lifted. I felt almost like I was coming out of a trance. I looked at the kitchen, which looked like teenagers had been having a food fight, all the dishes and pans were everywhere. And all I felt was guilty, stuffed to the point of pain, and felt even worse about myself. But you know what I did while I was standing there surveying all the damage? I opened the freezer and got a pint of ice cream. Yes, I did. And I ate it. My stomach must have been the size of a watermelon by the time they stapled off my pouch. We are all so used to using food as a drug, it's hard to break the cycle. Those of us who can't have this wonderful tool in the Bariatric Surgery. By the time you get to where you can eat most foods again, you aren't in that same destructive mode you were in that got you so heavy. I won't lie to you, when I see an Arby's commercial for a sandwich dripping with swiss cheese, I nearly pass out. But I don't go buy one. Not worth it. I miss pizza, but I have learned to make my own with good ingredients, fresh mozzerella cheese and home made sauce. That way you get no hidden sugar that makes you dump. I basically eat the topping off, and maybe one bite of the crust, which is usually an English muffin. It feels sinful to eat pizza, and I eat one little quarter of it. So one half of an English muffin lasts four meals. It's amazing. Now, I work through the pain. I deal with it as it comes. There are days that I cry all day. I don't know why, I just do. Nobody knows, nobody HAS to know. It's me, working through the feelings of being visible again. It's me, working through the feelings of men noticing me again. Very scary stuff. It's looking down and seeing that scale says something that starts with a one instead of a four. It's just dealing with life in general, instead of stuffing it down with food so you don't have to feel anything. I wish you peace and deliverance from the addiction, it's a hard one to overcome. I almost wish I had been addicted to some chemical, like cocaine. They have rehab centers for that!! Anyone can email me at any time. I had a wonderful doctor, great insurance, and have been one of her most successful patients. Only one other patient has lost more weight than I have, and she has lost 245 to date. You guys can do this!!! And when you do? Wow. You'll be amazed. email: [email protected]
— Gail N.

January 18, 2004
I don't know if it falls under the category of "not being addicted to food anymore," but I could care less if I ever cooked another meal! :-) My husband has actually requested that I cook just 2 meals a week for our family! When I have a protein shake or a slice of cheese or two and am no longer hungry, I just don't give a flip anymore. Unfortunately my husband and teenage daughters don't always feel the same way. I find that eating is sometimes a burden now--and cooking is even more of a burden...how selfish is that?? Sometimes I get a craving for something, but it doesn't take a lot to appease me these days--a cup of yogurt...half a protein bar...a protein shake...a slice of turkey breast. It feels great not to be thinking of food 24/7, even though I should be eating something approx. every two hours. I still can't do that--and I have to sometimes make myself eat something. Before surgery, I'd be thinking about my NEXT meal while eating...no any more. It's an incredibly "freeing" feeling
— MDGordon

January 18, 2004
I'm not sure a lot of morbidly obese people could claim they were not addicted to food, but that's another post. I won't say that I'm no longer addicted to food -- I believe its an addiction just like alcohol or drugs. I used food just like any other substance you abuse; I approached it the same way. That said, the trouble with food is that you can't give it up all together. I'm not sure what to say about how I manage to curb it, but the surgery helps -- and with that help -- support groups -- making concious changes and most importantly, real success, it keeps me going. Ask me in five years though.. I'm stull under two years out. Good luck!
— Lisa C.

January 19, 2004
This is THE big question I had as a pre-op: What will keep me from going back to my bad old ways?And the answer, which I read from the very wise and venerable vitalady, Michelle Curran, comes in the form of another question:Ask yourself what will be different *this* time, to help you keep your weight off?After surgery, the sheer trauma of it may make it very difficult for you to eat junk for awhile, plus, you truly may not want it most of the time. Some people seem to want to turn to the junk almost right away, within the first couple of months; others succumb after about 6-7 months (when the weight loss begins slowing, and stomach capacity increases); still others face this issue at a year or more out. My point is, lots of people will say they're no longer tempted by bad foods or bad eating habits, but I believe that there comes a point where almost EVERYBODY is tempted once again.At almost 20 month post-op (at or past goal for 11 months now), I still worry about this issue. It has gotten increasingly easy not to eat right, though I try not to give in. I've not gone back to my "old ways," because I was a volume eater, mostly of heavy foods like pizza, fast foods, etc., and physically, I cannot do that now. But, new "bad" ways have developed that, if I let them go on unchecked, could allow me to eat around the surgery. Meaning, I can and do sometimes graze on "slide" foods, meaning, mostly, junky carbs, like cookies, and especially chocolate, that simply do NOT fill up the pouch ... so I can eat 'em and eat 'em all day long if I'm not careful. And I don't dump, never did; don't count on dumping saving you forever. I suspect if I was a dumper, I'd be grazing on non-sugary carbs. The addictive power of food will find a way 'round this surgery, if you're not careful.All I can say is, look at weight loss surgery as a journey with many phases. Much is written around these parts about the early phases, but not as much is seen about the later ones. Once you get to goal, you have just as big a struggle ahead of you to keep the weight off, but unlike your pre-op life, you'll have a tool (the pouch) that may finally make all the difference in your success. Learning how to use it properly is an ongoing process; what comes naturally (or is forced on you) in the early months changes as time goes on, and you gotta be the one to work the tool more; it doesn't "work you" as it did in the beginning.I believe that if you are very strict with yourself in the beginning, with your food and exercise choices (learn to love protein early!!), and stay strict while you pouch gets bigger as it heals, you will be better equipped to deal with the inevitable phase where you can eat a lot more, as old urges return or new bad ones develop. I also think that staying in touch with people in the same boat, and picking up their tricks and tips, is key.Key tips and tricks for long-termers that I've picked up are: (1) stick with your protein shakes (I know some disagree, but that's JMHO); (2) fill your pouch with dense protein foods, not junk "slide" foods that don't keep it full; (3) don't drink with your meals (or within half an hour of eating); (4) exercise, regularly, always, if you can; (5) if you experience a weight gain, take it OFF before it reaches more than 3-5 pounds, and don't let it grow to be more; (6) stick with your vitamin regime and keep up with your labwork -- learn to be sensitive to when you might be feeling tired and run down, and need to adjust your vitamins, as you might eat to make up for the feeling of fatigue, which is exactly the wrong thing to do; and (7) keep in touch with others who fight weight issues, be it here, or on other websites more geared to long-term post-ops.Having said ALL that, I still feel my chances of success, as a post-op, are waayyy, wayyyy better than they ever would've been without surgery!
— Suzy C.

April 5, 2004
Kelly, I am only 2 weeks post-op but I can tell you what I've been going through. I am really addicted to food. I say that I am because right now I am still addicted to food. I'm doing great but there's not 1/2 hour a day that I still don't think about food. I still think about what I'm going to have for my next meal even though its only a little bit. It's hard but I am confident that it will be worth it. I've already lost 18 lbs. in less than 2 weeks so that was a big boost for me. I'm also confident that sometime in the near future my addiction to food will lessen if not go completely away. Good Luck to you!
— Vicki H.

April 5, 2004
This was an ancient question back from March, 2002. As a major carb-a-holic, I was curious to see how the original poster had done so checked out her profile. As of February she was down almost 200 pounds!! Woo Hoo!! Congrats to Kelly :)
— mom2jtx3

October 12, 2004

— Maria R.

October 12, 2004
When I had my surgery a couple of years ago, during the after care, they emphasized that we must always realize that for most of us, food will always be an addiction--AN ADDICTION THAT WE MUST CONTROL FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. We all will always be just like a recovering alcoholic and must find whatever it takes to maintain our control or we will regain. I think about what my life was like before I lost and I never want to be that way again, but control is a struggle sometimes, but you just have to take it one day at a time. For me having structure to my eating program works. If I lose that structure, I tend to slip, but am proud to say I've maintained this weight I'm at now within a 5 lb range for the last 14 mos and hope I can say the same thing next year this time. But it's one day at a time.
— Cathy S.

October 13, 2004
I am maintaining well so far, BUT, I will always struggle with my food issues.
— **willow**

December 20, 2004
I was also addicted to food before surgery... but afterward, *** I'm not sure if it was because of the pain & complications & cost*** or *** if it is a natural occorance afterward*** But, food no longer holds me in it's clutches, as before. I can satisfy most desires for it, with a small taste of what would otherwise end up in a binge, beforehand, i.e. sweets or fast food. I do think about what I am going to put in my mouth so that I do have healthy options available... but most often, I try to eat what I am cooking for the family, only in very small amounts. I don't deny myself an occasional sweet or junk food... but only order a Happy Meal, instead of the 1/4 pounder!!! I live in Las Vegas, the land of the buffets... and I'm still able to eat out, without pigging out!
— Julianne L.

December 20, 2004
I have been a terrible food addict since the age of 6. It's what got me to 400lbs in June of 1996 when I had my WLS. But it didn't stop there. The cravings were just as bad after surgery-only I was sick if I tried to eat the foods I craved. I was miserable for years. I traded in the food for alcohol. That didn't make me sick-just drunk and an alcoholic. Accomplished the same thing. I only in the last 8 months -yes months- have come to terms with it through a 12 step program and no longer feel the need and cravings that I've had the last 42 years. My food is under control now. The Surgery was just a major note to get help physically-but it was my emotional and spiritual needs that were in disarray that needed help too. It has taken 8 1/2 years to come to terms with the surgery. I'd still do it again however!
— molly1226

March 2, 2006
I had my WLS 2 1/2 years ago. It is a challenge everyday. I too am a food addict. I didn't realize how bad until after my WLS. I read everything and researched everything prior to my WLS and I was told that the surgery was a "tool" not a cure. I didn't listen. The surgery was a success. I lost over 135 lbs within 3 months. However the urge to eat hasn't gone away. I still crave all those wonderful foods I used to and I still have some at times. I did not realize that everything I read and I was told was true. Please, before you have WLS make sure you are ready to make a LIFESTYLE change. You will still have to diet. You will still have to watch the things you eat and you will still crave the JUNK. It will be up to you to be successful. Along with WLS you must have willpower. If you don't you will probably not be successful. I have learned this the hard way. Of the 130+ lbs. I lost I have gained back about 18. Now I am struggling to lose the 18 plus. I wish you much success I just want you and everyone out there to realize that WLS is NOT a miracle to make you lose weight. It however is a great tool to help you. GOOD LUCK!!
— pjm6162

Click Here to Return

Our Mission

Follow us

Links

Select Photos