newyorklady20

The important things are you’ve recognised you have an addiction & that weight loss surgery doesn’t cure it.
Now you can begin to move forward, work at taking control of your addiction & truely take advantage of your surgery. Whether that be with the help of a therapist or a support group (or both) is up to you.
Wishing you the best of luck.
PS - Yep, I’m with AZHiker. Sugar, real & artificial, is crack but I’ll also say so is caffeine. Now I’ll be in trouble - lol.

Thanks everyone! I did the sleep study at home last night. God knows if I did it right, that was interesting! Going to see how that goes first. Let’s see what happens!

As long as patients are getting scolded for their... "misbehavior" and on internet boards these three answers are dominant, this won't most likely not change.
1) Try harder!
2) Follow your plan! (Many times followed by "I did follow my plan to the T during weight loss phase!!" which isn't really helpful to someone struggling.)
3) Get a therapist! (I guess there must be some place where therapists specializing in eating issues don't have months long waiting lists and don't cost fortune simply fall out of the sky, yes?)
There are several taboo subjects when it comes to WLS. Patients simply don't talk about it or only behind the metaphorical closed doors, doesn't matter if it's talking to other patients or their treatment team. Disordered eating is interestingly enough one of these subjects. Unfortunately disordered eating is all too often encouraged by fellow patients and sometimes also treatment teams as it seems.

Hi there, I'm so glad someone else has posted their struggles with sweet things. I was beginning to think it was just me.
I am a food addict. My 'bad' things are crisps, chocolate, biscuits, cake and sweets. I didn't touch one single thing for a year after surgery as I suffered such bad reflux it took me ages to be ok with food. I then tried some crisps and they were ok and sooo good! I then started having a pack every day, then it was a pack and a chocolate bar, I didn't feel sick or have any problems. I stopped losing weight but I still carried on. I knew I shouldn't have it but my addiction was back. It was coming into the long dark evenings in October that triggered it as I was feeling down and lonely. It this time that I eat in the evenings. So a week ago I got in touch with my old therapist who specialises in eating disorders and had a good hat. I haven't have any crisps or chocolate this week and lost 3lb. I am going to chat to my therapist every week until I feel stronger at coping again.
Like you, I know the surgery is a tool and it doesn't cure what goes on in the brain. Its so hard! Best of luck, I'm so glad I found this site. X

I’ve always wanted to have a large collection of coats/jackets to wear as accessories.
I’ve always wanted to be able to cross my legs comfortably.
I’ve always wanted to be able to take pictures from any angle and not hate them.

I can’t wait!

So, I have basically been quarantined d since March. I have been fortunate and worked from home the entire time. I think what I am
Most nervous about is catching covid when in the hospital, as I will be in there a day. Also, I won’t have a mask on during surgery. I have to take a test soon for covid and am hoping my doctor will too. Does anyone else have the same concerns? What did you do to calm yourself?

My time is nearly here andddddd..... I'm starting to get pretty nervous. I've never had surgery before and I'm worried about the pain, the anesthesia, how long will I be in recovery etc. Someone please talk me off the ledge here! I'm trying to stay focused on my goals: better health, being able to do more with my son, less pain from fibromyalgia (hopefully), looking hot again (post PS I'm sure) etc. but still it's SURGERY! Am I crazy? Is this too extreme? I check in @ 5:30 am on Tuesday (PST), surgery @ 7:30. Holy Crap that's 32.5 hours from now-- HOURS! This anticipation is killing me- AAAARGH!

You can't afford your liver to be too large for the surgery. You can't cheat on this. If you're cheating now on the pre-op, what are you going to do post-op and for the rest of your life? Think about that. I'm not being mean, I'm just asking you to think about the long-term.

I had a little food at my mother-in-law’s today, but it was our only Christmas celebration, but I also had mostly Soup. I chewed slowly, and told myself that was the only solids I was going to allow myself to have in this whole liquid diet phase. Doesn’t matter, still feel guilty as all hell. I’m back to liquids already (had a Protein Shake for dinner), worked out an extra 40 minutes today to make up for it. Back to liquids tomorrow. 6 days until surgery (12/30)!

Some of my unexpected changes:
1. I'm cold all the time.
2. I feel disoriented in my new body (almost like my old brain was transplanted into someone else's body).
3. I do think shopping has replaced eating as my go-to self-soother. It's a habit I need to break.
4. It's amazing how much more respectful and kind health care professionals are to me now that I am normal weight. It's like all of a sudden, I am a regular person who deserves medical care. Crazy.
5. I get catcalls and random men hit on me from time to time. Rather than making me feel pretty, it makes me uncomfortable.
I think that's it!

I know, I wonder how many people would say it was not hard work if they wouldn't get judged harshly.

The body dysmorphia is so real for me. I’m almost 1yr post VSG but have lost 140lbs total since starting with my weight loss clinic and I wasn’t mentally prepared for the sagging skin everywhere- thighs, arms, stomach, and weirdly calves even though mine have always been muscular. It definitely makes being in front of a mirror naked a hard thing to bear right now. Eventually I’ll get plastics and I’ve been thinking about it more often lately as I continue to lose the last 30 or so pounds.

Hi!
I really appreciate what you shared as I'm heading into Gastric Bypass surgery on 12/8/2020.
I particularly identified with staying with a spouse because I was overweight and felt that no one would want me. I had actually had this surgery scheduled for Feb. 2019, but my husband refused to acknowledge that he had diabetes and developed double vision, so I had to cancel because we felt we could not have both parents incapacitated. There were also issues of mild physical abuse (hitting, pushing), as well as verbal, emotional, and financial abuse. Turns out that I needed to lose his 330 lbs. prior to getting my surgery done and ended a 25 year marriage. Life is so much better!
I wish you the same feelings of relief, freedom, and confidence. You can do this.

Usually there is only talk about the opposite. The "hard work".

What helped me was seeing other people at work in size Small scrubs. We have a scrub dispensing machine and the scrubs have little colored tabs that designate the sizes. It's not too hard to see who is wearing the same size and I found myself looking at other Smalls a lot - just trying to get into my head that I looked like that, too. It did help to have this objective way to compare. It really messed with me for a while, and still does a little. I am always caught off guard by remarks like, "you can squeeze in here" (a small space like a restaurant booth) or "you're so tiny - how do you push that heavy bed?" or "you look like you've taken good care of yourself" (if only they knew!!!).
See if you can find other folks who wear Small or X-Small scrubs. That can help.

So true...
Body Dysmorphia is a terrible thing. I certainly have a very dysmorphic view of myself despite all the changes (and there have been many especially ones I paid for) and it feels like nothing changes it I have no idea what to do.
Imposter syndrome is one I don't hear a lot of people admitting. Feeling that you've accomplished something, but you really didn't do much at all or it wasn't such a big accomplishment because it came a little too easily or the accomplishment isn't worthy of praise.
Stay strong everyone.

Thank you so much for sharing this experience and being vulnerable. I feel like many of us can relate to this feeling!

Thank you so much for sharing this experience and being vulnerable. I feel like many of us can relate to this feeling!

Hi Gang. Meow here. 5.5 months post op bypass. I've had slow but steady losses. (SW:217 CW:178. GW: 150)
And I just felt the need to make a post about my sweet addiction. Before my surgery I found myself very concerned about dumping. Often asking in the forum whether Bypass meant I could never have treats again and being assured I could "eventually" or "a bite or two" or "in moderation" etc. This brought me great relief. I knew then I wasn't in the ideal frame of mind but I was doing the best I could.
I found at about 4 weeks post op I could tolerate about 5 of my favorite chocolate covered almonds and ate them every night as a reward for hitting my Protein and Water goals. Eventually I increased that to 10 choco almonds. Then it moved to other Desserts or candy. What I've found is my entire eating plan is focused on getting my "healthys" in so I can have a treat at the end of the day. I become obsessed. I realize I've always been that way. Eat healthy so you can indulge.
I find I get nauseous if I eat a full portion of dessert. But I can usually get away with eating half. So I do. Every day. Or I eat the full portion and get nauseous. I get thru it. Usually lasts about 30 minutes. I feel miserable. I don't throw up. When I'm in the middle of the nausea I swear I'll never have sugar again. But then it passes and I'm the addict again.
The last couple months I've somehow justified 2 treats a day. And this Thanksgiving was the first time I really realized how deeply I don't have control over my treat addiction. I was surrounded by baked goods. I'd eat a small one. Feel sick. Then a couple hours do it again. Over the 2 days of celebration I made myself feel sick about 5 times. The nausea is miserable. Sweats, light headed, toe-curling nausea. Then it passes. And I'm fine. And like a drug addict I indulge again. It's shocking. It's like I'm binging. Except I never throw up and it's only one treat at a time.
I guess my point is... bypass didn't cure me. I do feel sick when I eat too much sugar. But it doesn't stop me from doing it. From constantly seeing how much I can have before I feel sick. I have a lot of work to do before I am no longer "unhealthy" regardless of my weight. Wanted to share in case others are sweet addicts and wondering how the surgery will affect that.

I had surgery almost 10 months ago. Hubby is just eatting better

I am not having fun coming of caffeine before surgery. Probably after the headaches go away I will be fine. Then the artificial sweeteners will be next. I have 2 months so I am sure I can do this. I am not required to do a liquid diet b4 hand. I might do it anyway just to prepare my liver to shrink down. I hope I have not gained since last visit. How did you do in breaking your caffeine addiction?
Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using BariatricPal mobile app

I’ve always wanted to have a large collection of coats/jackets to wear as accessories.
I’ve always wanted to be able to cross my legs comfortably.
I’ve always wanted to be able to take pictures from any angle and not hate them.

I can’t wait!

Your husband is against you smoking to alleviate pain? Get a new husband.

I am brand new to all of this today...so this may have come up before. What was/is your greatest fear going into surgery?
I am being sleeved on 11/18. I am VERY EXCITED to take this next important step in my life. There are so many things I think (and research) about as the date draws closer and closer...but my GREATEST FEAR is that I won't like the way that I look. I know that may seem very shallow given the complexity and importance of everything else tied to the procedure...but I can't help it.
I have been big my entire life....and I actually like the way that I look (except for my torso). I just want/need to get my health under control.
Does anyone else have crazy things like this that consume their mental side of the experience?

I want to take a second to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you. From the Debbie Downers all the way up to the Positive Peters... you all give advice and knowledge on a topic that you can't just talk to anyone about. We are all in the trenches TOGETHER. In a way we become a unit/family that relies on each other. We don't always say what people want to hear...we go one step further and say what people NEED TO HEAR!!! I think that is the most important thing.
We all know that because we are rowing in the same direction....we will have a support system to lean on when things get tough.
I go in on Wednesday. I am very optimistic about what the future holds for me. A lot of that is because of the people in these forums. So....
THANK YOU!!!