I am scheduled for surgery on the 7th of April. I have been scouring the forums for good information and to get myself mentally prepared for all the ins and outs. I have been quite surprised by the number of people who comment that they are around a year out from surgery and that they can eat "anything". Does thing mean that they are "tolerant" to all foods or that you can literally sit down and eat just as you could before surgery?? I get that if you sit there and munch on small amounts of crummy foods all day that you end up consuming a lot of calories. I didn't expect that in only one year, things would be back to pre-surgery.

Can anyone share there experience? Thanks:)

@@Chelenka, that was very insightful and I appreciate your honesty.

@@VSGAnn2014, I have been going to a therapist since 2002. I have done a lot of research and it occurred to me last night as I was "finishing" a large bag of baked potato chips, that I was a "binge eater." There is a DSM category for that now and medication. I think I should try all the non-surgical means possible before my stomach is made the size of a sausage.

if you have been "in" therapy for 12 years and are still binge eating, you A.) arent being treated for an eating disorder and B.) need a new therapist and C.) are most likely not being honest with the therapist about your eating behavior and what is really happening with you.

as a former chemical dependency counselor, private therapist and human services professional, i will tell you that any therapist who agrees to see a client for 12 years is crappy. (unless you are seeing a psychiatrist for meds, thats not therapy) no self respecting therapist should see anyone for 12 years!

you need to look for eating disorder treatment regardless if you have this surgery or not. you need to get rigorously honest with yourself. and do what you know in your heart you need to do to overcome your ED.

i will tell you i wasnt able to really get a handle on my food issues until i was able (with this surgery) to stop eating!

its not easy to regain weight after weight loss surgery if you are aware of and healing your food issues... it is easy however to remain in denial about your food issues and disordered eating.

@@moonlitestarbrite, exactly. I agree 100% and I hope @@BeagleLover understands this. It's no different than surgeons. If I need an orthopedic surgery, I would not seek out a neurosurgeon to help me. There are general practice psychologists and psychiatrists, and like every other field, there are specialists. Counselors who specialize in eating disorders are a better choice than a general practice counselor under these circumstances.

@@BeagleLover, please seek help from a new counselor who specializes in eating disorders. As Chelenka stated, you may not ever fully understand the roots of your eating disorder but I think you would make much more progress with someone else. I don't know how old you are, but it really is unusual to be going to a therapist for 12 years. The point is to help you recognize behaviors, try to confront the feelings and reasoning behind it, learn and put into practice new, healthier coping strategies, and move on with your life - not continue to show up for appointments and make no progress.