cheri1967

Excellent results Therese Bell!!
VSG BABY!! LETS GET IT ????

I'm with you- still seeing myself as larger. I think that's why buying these clothes were so important now. Now I can actually see my figure, and be proud of where I am.... Over 80 lbs down, and from a size 24/22 to a 12. I'm glad my husband stepped in and told me I looked ridiculous wearing larger sizes. Lol.

Just got another coupon email from GNC for 30% off. Code is FABFALLDEAL. It also gives you $1.99 shipping.

Good read..
Compulsive overeating, also sometimes called food addiction, is characterized by the compulsive eating of food. Professionals address this with either a behavior therapy model or a food-addiction model.[1] An individual suffering from compulsive overeating engages in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binge eating, during which she or he may feel frenzied or out of control, often consuming food past the point of being comfortably full. Bingeing in this way is generally followed by feelings of guilt and depression. Unlike individuals with bulimia, compulsive overeaters do not attempt to compensate for their bingeing with purging behaviors such as fasting, laxative use, or vomiting. Compulsive overeaters will typically eat when they are not hungry. Their obsession is demonstrated in that they spend excessive amounts of time and thought devoted to food, and secretly plan or fantasize about eating alone. Compulsive overeating usually leads to weight gain and obesity, but is not the only cause of obesity. While compulsive overeaters tend to be overweight or obese, persons of normal or average weight can also be affected.
In addition to binge eating, compulsive overeaters can also engage in grazing behavior, during which they return to pick at food throughout the day. These things result in a large overall number of calories consumed even if the quantities eaten at any one time may be small. When a compulsive eater overeats primarily through bingeing, he or she can be said to have binge eating disorder.
Signs and symptoms....
Binge eating, or eating uncontrollably even when not physically hungry
Eating much more rapidly than normal
Eating alone due to shame and embarrassment
Feelings of guilt due to overeating
Preoccupation with body weight
Depression or mood swings
Awareness that eating patterns are abnormal
Rapid weight gain or sudden onset of obesity
Significantly decreased mobility due to weight gain
History of weight fluctuations
Withdrawal from activities because of embarrassment about weight
History of many different unsuccessful diets
Eating little in public, but maintaining a high body weight
Very low self-esteem and feeling need to eat greater and greater amounts.
Addiction
During binges, compulsive overeaters may consume from 5,000 to 15,000 food calories daily, resulting in a temporary release from psychological stress through an addictive high not unlike that experienced through drug abuse. In bulimics, this high may be intensified by the act of purging. Researchers have speculated there is an abnormality of endorphin metabolism in the brain of binge eaters that triggers the addictive process. This is in line with other theories of addiction that attribute it not to avoidance of withdrawal symptoms, but to a primary problem in the reward centers of the brain. For the compulsive overeater, the ingestion of trigger foods causes release of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. This could be another sign of neurobiological factors contributing to the addictive process. Abstinence from addictive food and food eating processes causes withdrawal symptoms in those with eating disorders. There may be higher levels of depression and anxiety due to the decreased levels of serotonin in the individual.[2]
There are complexities with the biology of compulsive eating that separate it from a pure substance abuse analogy. Food is a complex mixture of chemicals that can affect the body in multiple ways, which is magnified by stomach-brain communication. In some ways, it may be much more difficult for compulsive overeaters to recover than drug addicts. There is an anecdotal saying among Overeaters Anonymous members that "when you are addicted to drugs you put the tiger in the cage to recover; when you are addicted to food you put the tiger in the cage, but take it out three times a day for a walk."[2]
The physical explanation of compulsive overeating may be attributed to an overeaters' increased tendency to secrete insulin at the sight and smell of food, though medical evidence supporting this is controversial.[3] Research has found a link between the sugar and fat content of foods and bingeing behaviors.[4]

"acampbell1318", you are not alone. I cannot COUNT how many times I've stopped by a Wendy's, a Panera, a Starbucks, and many other places WITHOUT even being hungry, without even having a previous craving. Just by passing next to it, I'd go "hmm, let me stop and get something", and I'd be sitting in my car, eating. And not long after, I'd be so mad at myself... But do the same thing tomorrow.
I'm glad I stopped doing that, and I hope I don't ever start again. But it is so hard, I know!

Oh good gracious, who here ISN'T a food addict? Seriously? I see so many heartfelt pleas saying "I miss food, why oh why can't I be normal?" when in fact normal people don't put food at the top of every activity and as the most important thing to focus on each and every day.
It's hard, very hard, but "Hi, I am Art, and I am addicted to food"

I am definitely addicted to food and I have no doubts about where I would be if I had not had this surgery. I would still be eating exactly the same way I use to. Everyday I battled with the urge to satisfy head hunger. Some days I am winning and some days I'm not perfect. I hope it gets easier. I know you are just at the beginning of this journey, and I think for me seeing the weight come off has been enormously motivating. I don't want to go back to the way I felt before. I know I still have a long way to go, but I'm trying to hang in there. I come to this site almost everyday as a way to stay on track and continue to learn from everyone on this board. It is a great resource for me and other peoples experiences help keep me on track.

I dare say there are MANY food addicts here and almost every story is that of one, whether they own up to that addiction or not.
For me, the removal of my stomach has taken away 95% of my NEED to eat mass quantities of food because it HURTS. Eating more than a few bites is uncomfortable and makes me want to vomit. At least once a week or so, I do have to vomit because I have one bite too many or something gets stuck. Those times are getting fewer and farther in between, thankfully, and I am finding myself dreading eating even when I feel physically hungry. What's really bizarre is that I don't mind dreading food, as I am slowly starting to see it more as nourishment than anything else.
I still battle head hunger from time to time and a need for sweets/carbs/fatty foods/etc. but I am so physically uncomfortable when I indulge, it's getting SO MUCH easier to defeat the "need".
This has been a great tool for me to get my food addiction under control. I don't feel as if I need therapy, but I certainly think that's an awesome tool to go along with this if one does.

Please, please, please don't keep this to yourself. Speak to your doctor ASAP. The thread is a lark, true confessions, but we're just having fun. Yours is super serious and you need to talk to someone before your life is in serious danger. Do Not Wait!
My heart is breaking for you.

Sometimes I gulp instead of sip fluids. I'm a bad, bad man

I drink a glass or so of coke zero in a week. I have No problems with it. I can eat pretty much everything except salad (which I miss )and milk.
I just only eat a few bites then I'm full. I was sleeved 3-25-2013 I'm down 70lbs!
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I went on the scale this morning and I am 204 lbs...I have now miraculously lost 176 lbs. ..Nov. 6th will be one year anniversary.....I am so proud of me....I am so proud of all the support I have received here on this forum...And the encouragement.....TY for your help thus far...I think I will just keep swimming to see what onderland will feel like...

Check out Dr James Davidson. He comes very highly recommended and has been a top doc on Dallas for 20 years. He works out of Presbyterian and Forest Park. His office staff have been super nice so far.
I
Was going to go with Nicholson - but he does 12 approx. surgeries in 1 day. Dr. Davidson will pray with you before surgery. Not necessary but sweet and kind just the same.

Back in 2008 I was diagnosed with Graves Disease. I had to have my thyroid ablated (RAI) radiation and had it killed off. So now I have a dead gland in my neck. I was 245 pounds then. After the radiation, I gained another 50 pounds which put me at my higest weight of 295 -299. I started on meds and my weight gain leveled off but I couldn't lose. So that is when I decided to have surgery. Anyway, my meds have been adjusted down 3 times since being sleeved and as I've lost weight. Just got my labs back and I'm hypothyroid again so I need to go back up on my meds a bit. I haven't lost any weight in 6 months really.Nothing has worked. My hair is still falling out and I've been an emotional wreck! I sure hope this helps me. I'm praying this adjustment on my medication will get my weight loss started again! Very hopeful! I want to be at 150! I decided to take some pics yesterday just to remind myself of where I've come from. At least, I haven't been gaining to much. Well, I did gain 7 pounds and lose two. I really think this is the reason. I pray that it is! Starting on new meds tomorrow.