Hi everyone! My name is Heather. I live in Tampa and am 33 years old.

I had lap band surgery on 4/8/10 and have been progressing well through all the post op phases (with a few minor hiccups along the way).

I'm very frustrated right now with myself because I WANT to eat more during a meal but I physically can't... The anxiety from that fact is heavy right now and it frustrates the blazes out of me! I don't know what to do with the frustration either.

I probably sound ungrateful, but I'm not, I'm just struggling with my new reality and relationship with food.

I started this journey at 259 pounds and I am currently at 237. I eventually want to get down to around 170ish.

Thanks for listening...

Hugs,

Heather

I think your response is natural. Anger (frustration) is one of the stages of grief, and many do grieve the loss of what has been a source of pleasure and comfort for many years.

It will pass with time. You will work through it, and come to a happier place where food does not have the importance to you that it does now.

That does NOT mean you won't eat enjoyable foods again, or derive pleasure from eating. It just means that it will not meet the same needs as it did before.

A really good book for dealing with the emotional aspects of overeating is Shrink Yourself by Roger Gould. Another good one is The Food and Feelings Workbook by Karen Koenig. Both help you figure out ways to deal with the frustration.

Your post made me realize that I have finally stopped doing that! When I started eating real food and something was really good I would be mad when I couldn't eat more, I would literally pout! But I just realized that I hadn't had those feelings in a few weeks now, so it gets better. Trust me.

I am doing that right now, I was banded on 10-13 and have lost 57lbs, went away on vacation and knew i wouldnt lose - i had ice cream twice and quite a few nuts that i snacked on all day long -

now i am home and the scale is still not moving, and my head knows it is most likely a plateau, i really dont think i need a fill, but i find myself getting down right pissed off that i cant eat anymore -- and i force that one last bite it and thats the one that sends me running for the bathroom.. it is always that last bite!! then i get pissed about that too... im not sure what do to about it but try every day to keep moving forward.

I have had those feelings too. Especially when I'm sitting infront of a reasonable amount of healthy food I like and can't finish it. I want to eat more, yet am uncomfortable (I get a wicked pain in my chest when I am "full"). I usually stop even though I don't want to. I have learned what one or two bites more will do. It is getting better over time (I am 5.5 months out) so hang in there. You are doing great!

Yeah, I know that feeling and it's rough. No great words of wisdom here. Only plenty of empathy!