I am going to seek out a counselor to help me with carb addiction. I believe that I am fully addicted and controlled by food, especially carbs. Has anyone seen someone to deal with this, and if so, was it helpful?

I really thought I was a food addict too until I started learning about nutrition and what my body actually needs. I used to crave sugary foods so bad and I knew that wasn't normal. I also used food as a way to keep people away from me. That only works for so long. Before I was banded, I started doing research about carb cravings and found out about an amino acid called Glutamine being good for stoping carb cravings. I started taking it and it worked. I also had some blood tests ran to see if I was deficient in any of my Vitamins and minerals because I had become pretty negative in my thinking all of the time. Turns out I was Vitamin D deficient too. My cholesterol was high. I also started taking fish oil again and that lowered my cholesterol and really improved my mood and negative thinking. Since I have been banded, I rarely have any sugar cravings and if I do, I can usually satisfy it with a sugar free popcycle or a piece of sugar free candy. I also take a vitamin every day and I fill a lot better than when I used to just love on Dorito's and cheese dip.

I'm sure you do feel better! Good for you for being proactive.

I wanted to update here. Before banding I was really worried about being able to control my eating after banding. I thought I would fail, that I'd still eat emotionally. I am now happy to report that after 2 weeks banded, I seem to have conquered my emotional eating - sans therapy! My friend told me the issues would just disappear after banding, but I had a really hard time believing her. I thought it's surely fail me. But the band makes it impossible to overeat, thus forcing me to find comfort in other ways. I get INSTANT negative feedback when i take one bite too many. I <3 my band