Question:
Did you have surgery in September 2002? If so I'd like to hear from you
I had surgery 9/19/02 and am down 81lbs, I feel much better but I am just wondering if others who had surgey in 9/02 are having the "emotional eating" problems I am ? I just want to know what is working for you, and what isn't working for you. Thanks for your input! — Leah G. (posted on March 20, 2003)
March 20, 2003
Hi Honey, I had surgery August 2002. I have the same emotional eating
problems. Most days I stay on the right track. But some days all I want to
do is eat. I am so afraid I will stretch my pouch. I think it is a constant
battle and will always be with us. But I do not diet. I try to eat the
right food everyday. Then when I do fall off the wagon the next day I go
back to the good habits. I drink my protein shakes first to make sure that
I get my 64oz. I usually have a double shake in the morning which equals 30
grams & have another double in the evening. The shake is my breakfast.
Then for lunch I have a low fat sandwich and wow chips and water or soup.
For dinner I have the same or 3oz of meat, veggies. I started at a weight
close to 290 lbs and today I weight 183 lbs.
You are doing great. Don't beat yourself up over not eating the right food
all the time. The main reason we have had the surgery is to not have to
diet all the time. As long as you are not eating carbs on top of carbs
everyday you will be fine. We have to eat. But we have to remember we have
to eat to live not LIVE TO EAT. I still look forward to my meals.
Just remember don't beat your self up everytime you make a bad choice. Put
it behind you and get back on track.
You have lost 81 lbs in 6 months. WOW!!!!!. GREAT JOB. YOU MUST BE DOING
SOMETHING RIGHT. GOOD FOR YOU, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GIRL.
— mickie5535
March 20, 2003
Boy is your question relevent today!!! I had surgery on the 18th of Sept
and have lost 106lbs and over 62 inches. However...every now and then
usually when I get a "little visitor"like TODAY. I am just
wanting to put ANYTHING in my mouth. I really agree with Mickie about not
beating myself up over it. I know that the majority of the time I choose
the correct things to eat and I get lots of exercise and am doing fine.
Even though I now HATE girl scouts ;)( I only have about 4 more boxes of
those evil things in my freezer)I just pick myself up, dust myself off and
crawl back up on that horse and keep ridin'!!! When I get really bad I try
to call a friend or clean out a closet, go out and play with my fur babies,
anything to get my mind off of the urge to eat something I know I shouldn't
have if I'm not hungry. I'm sending you LOTS of positive thoughts and
hugs...you'll make it through this. You worked way too hard to get this far
and you deserve to succeed. Keep it positive!!!!
— Deanna_K
March 20, 2003
Hi there. I had surgery on Sept. 5, 2002 and have lost about 78 pounds.
This week I'm really struggling, as I had a breast lift and augmentation on
Monday and made the idiotic mistake of weighing myself the afternoon
following surgery. I know it's all IV fluid weight but I am up about 8
pounds and bothered terribly about it. I have been wanting to eat all week
long, to comfort myself I guess, and that troubles me, as if I really don't
have control of the eating situation afterall. I had been feeling wonderful
about my success up until this week, and I hope once I heal from this
breast surgery I will be feeling proud of my success again. Also, prior to
this week I was going to the gym everyday and being very active, so the
loss of the ability to workout, atleast temporarily, is making me
depressed. Thanks for allowing me to vent!!
— Samantha S.
March 20, 2003
I had my surgery on Sept. 25, 2002. I have lost (last time I weighed)
101.5 pounds. I have to say I feel great, but I want to eat. I would give
anything to have a big ol steak fresh off the grill, but right now it
doesn't agree wtih me. I would also enjoy a cinnibon. I am working very
hard to keep this progress up and won't even cheat and taste anything with
"Sugar" in it. You know what I mean, cookies, cakes, candy and
the list can go on for a mile.
I really do enjoy pretzels and potatoe chips though. They are my weakness.
I find I'm getting to much carb and not enough protein, especially on
tough days at the office. I guess the surgery is supposed to make us
skinny, not necessarily happy.
— Rachel W.
March 20, 2003
I had surgery on 9/5. I started at 220 (I'm 5' 1") and now weigh 142.
I lost 12 pounds before surgery for a grand total of 90 pounds. I am
doing pretty well with eating. If I have to have something when I'm not
really hungry, I usually have a piece of beef jerky or a handfull of
popcorn. Nothing too serious. One thing that has sort of helped to keep
me from even trying anything with sugar is to make a game out of it. I
keep thinking, I made it through Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day and
Girl Scout Cookie month without a bite of sugar, surely, I can make it
through Easter. Once I do that, the game will be to see if I can make it
back to September without any. I don't know why excatly, but that's helped
me.
— Amber L.
March 20, 2003
Leah, I had surgery 8/15, OPEN RNY, I was 305 day of surgery and am now
205, down 100lbs. I am 7 mos out! I am not doing "emotional
eating" but, I am coping with a lot of sweet cravings. Espically
around my period. I am also craving carbs, I guess it's b/c I am working
out alot! For the sweet cravings, I do "SF choc pudding" and
"zone bars" for the emotional times, I work out ALOT! My hard
times are my weekends and evenings. Good Luck! Heather (Open RNY 8/15 -
305/205/150)
— heathercross
March 20, 2003
Leah--- I had lap rny Sept. 24, 2002 my starting weight was 364 and I am
currently at 261 as of last night after dinner, so I may be down a couple
of more pounds (who knows). I feel really good about myself, however I am
afraid to eat.. I feel that if I eat I am going to gain the weight back
again... I am so very happy I had the surgery I feel so good about myself
even though I am still 261 pounds... Good Luck
— April P.
March 20, 2003
My surgery was 9/17/02. My starting weight was 290. I have lost 100lbs
exactly. I too deal with emotional eating but I also deal with the same
demons that I dealt with before surgery such as eating out of boredom,
stress, and when I'm PMS'ing I could eat a house. But like the previous
posters have said don't beat yourself up. I think that we're just normal.
I do eat some carbs too, probably more than I should. For the most part, I
think I eat pretty normally (compared to what I could eat before surgery).
I still battle with my head telling me I'm going to fail since I've failed
so many diets before. I also battle with me head when I look at myself. I
still see a 290 lb person standing there:( I think we're all going to be
okay. I try to tell myself, they operated on my stomach, not my brain. I
still have to work at how I "think" of myself. Take care of
yourself.
Robin
~*~ It's funny, what the caterpillar sees as the end of the world, the
butterfly knows is only the beginning~*~
— Robin V.
March 20, 2003
Hi Leah, my surgery (lap rny) was 9/4/02, I've lost 83 lbs. It is so
wonderful, I am so much happier with my appearance and health, I'm wearing
clothes that haven't fit for 6 years and back in regular sizes, no more
plus ladies for me. I eat more out of boredom than anything else, slow
times at work. What helps me is to track my calories every day to write
down what I've eaten and how much, I also keep track of protein and water
making sure I get those in every day. I keep careful track of how many
calories I burn through exercise to try to keep the weight coming off at a
steady rate for as long as possible. It is a struggle, but the real
success for me has been that surgery was a springboard to more healthy
habits (eating and exercise) and the tool helps me keep the eating in
check. I can eat sweets but not too much at a time or I'll get sick and I
don't do well with breads/baked goodies, so that has been a tremendous
help. I still like to eat and could sneak in alot of calories in a day,
but I watch it. I try not to have too many bad eating days, but sometimes
it happens. Best of luck and you have a wonderful weightloss and alot to
be proud of.
— Margaret H.
March 20, 2003
Oh Yeah, I know about that! I had my surgery 9/3/02 and am down about 94
lbs. There is so much of a difference between head hunger or emotional
hunger and real hunger. Remind me to tell you the difference. The
"emotional eating" monster does raise it's ugly head from time to
time, but I decided to get additional help by seeing a psychologist. Giving
in to "the monster" doesn't work...it will only make you
depressed and set you back on the backward road. Pray, medidtae, drink more
water and wait for about 15-20 minutes before submitting to any
cravings~~do whatever you have to do (within reason) and try to get over
it. Read, jump rope, go to the gym, KEEP BUSY. Call a friend, write a
letter, journal...but what works best for me is PRAYER and making an
talking with my psychologist. I hope something I've mentioned works for
you.
— yourdivaness
March 21, 2003
Hi I had surgery On 9/18/03. I have lost 103 pounds. I am just starting to
exercise. Whenever I get hungry I DRINK, down the water. I no longer dump
so I can eat anything I want. If you have any queations e-mail me at
[email protected]. I went from 292 to 189. I went from a size 20 to a size
10, that right there blows my mind. I carry ALL my weight in my tummy how
can I weigh 189 and wear a size 10???
— nicole79
March 21, 2003
Hi! I had my Open RNY on 9-16-02...I am 5'2" and I weighed 287 the day
of my surgery. I am 6 months post-op and Ihave lost a total of 92 lbs!!! I
can't say in words just how happy I am and how good I feel. I have not
eaten any candy,cakes or sweets... I read all labels and try to stay away
fromanything that has >10 gms of sugar listed... My big downfall is
salt!!! Anything and everything needs extra salt. CHIPS are a definite
no-no in my house... I LOVE THEM!!!!!! But over all... I get true hunger
pains and have to eat right away... but I will think that I am starving and
only be able to eat small amt... My eyes are always bigger than my
stomach!!! I do not regret one moment of the decision to have this surgery.
I will not fail for the first time in my life in becomming healthy....
"God grant us continued successes even in the smallest forms!!!!"
Susan Hardway
— Susan H.
March 21, 2003
Hi, I had an Lap RYN on 9-30-02- I started @ 270 and I am down to 184-
86lbs gone. I have had no complications and no trouble with anything I've
eaten so far. But I still think I eat too much, and I am still an emotional
eater, But I excercise and dance and have lots of energy, and I try to
drink lots of water. And I can stop myself from overeating now and I wasn't
able to do that before. Take care, Rose
— Rose B.
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