Grieving The Food Already

[Arizonakimc 25]

I am getting surgery tomorrow and have been on pre op diet for three days. I am already beginning to feel sad about not having my comfort foods. It has been a struggle and I know many people with bands can probably relate. What did everyone do to get through the emotions that come with not being able to eat so much? I am excited and scared to change my lifestyle. Thank you!

[2muchfun 8,928]

Think about all the good things that will come from being healthier. I know it's hard to imagine, so many of us don't remember what it was like to be able to walk 3 miles and break a sweat. Or, bend over and tie our shoes and put socks on without our heads exploding. Sitting in an airplane and not piss off skinny people around us.

Once that band is placed around your stomach, you won't miss the food. Your focus will turn to eating right, losing weight and being there for your family. Only one more day.

tmf

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Like you, I grieved. After surgery, when I was on liquids and healing, I cried and was angry as hell. But I also realized that mourning of comfort food was necessary to move forward on this journey. It's that unhealthy relationship with food that led me to be morbidly obese needing the Lap Band to begin with. I knew it was time to deal with my emotions and start a new chapter in my life.

I found being honest helped. I didn't try to deny I was sad or angry and allowed myself to move through those emotions. The good news was, by the time I finally got back on real food 6 weeks later, I was definitely past my fatty food addiction so it made the transition into eating healthy a lot easier.

Just remind yourself that you are strong and you can totally do this.

Best wishes

[TampaGina 11]

I am on Day 4 post op and all I want is everything I can't have! I keep questioning whether or not I did the right thing. I am so sick of these liquids and Protein shakes!

I just want real food! I know this is part of the reason that I havent succeeded on diets before...I just can't seem to get myself out of this food depression.

[Arizonakimc 25]

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement! I am sure I will have so many emotions because I have lived like this for 34 years. It will be great to work through the emotions and have the life I have always wanted. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

[jrae 38]

It will pass. It's totally normal. You will be able to eat many of the foods you are missing but even tho you won't believe it, you'll lose your taste for them and they won't be so important any more. Just take it one meal at a time!

[Arizonakimc 25]

Stick with it Gina! Look at all the people who did it before you!

[TracyW2 137]

2 1/2 Years out and I still have moments where I grieve food. But I have learned not to live my life around food. So if I am really wanting something, I let myself have it. I just have a lot less of it. I remember seeing a quote on here that said something like, That piece of food doesnt taste as good as skinny feels. Its so true!

[Angelizz10 76]

I am getting surgery tomorrow and have been on pre op diet for three days. I am already beginning to feel sad about not having my comfort foods. It has been a struggle and I know many people with bands can probably relate. What did everyone do to get through the emotions that come with not being able to eat so much? I am excited and scared to change my lifestyle. Thank you!

You will be able to have your favorites, just not as much. You Will feel satisfied, I am told.

[Rojasanoll 920]

Well just like all of us here, WE elected to give up food for awhile to fulfill a healthy dream. If you do it right, your dream will come true, and this will make you a healthy person for you and family. Be positive and Keep the Faith.

[2muchfun 8,928]

My apologies to those who have seen this post before but it seems to fit several folks on this topic. I found this comment somewhere and can't recall who it is or where I copied it?

"In my case, the most fearful thing I had to do in order to succeed with my band wasn't switching to skim milk, surviving a liquid diet, or giving up bread. The most fearful thing was giving up my emotional attachment to food. In the nearly 5 years since I was banded, I've made a lot of progress with that, but the attachment is still there. It forms one of the innermost layers of my turtle shell. Working on that layer will probably be a lifetime job for me. At times I'm not even sure I truly want to get rid of it altogether. At times I'm afraid that if I shed my shell completely, I won't be able to survive. On the other hand, I seem to be doing fine without that thick old b***h layer. So I'm going to pay attention to my dreams rather than my fears and pray for a miracle. And why not? It can't hurt to try!"

[Summerrain 520]

I am getting surgery tomorrow and have been on pre op diet for three days. I am already beginning to feel sad about not having my comfort foods. It has been a struggle and I know many people with bands can probably relate. What did everyone do to get through the emotions that come with not being able to eat so much? I am excited and scared to change my lifestyle. Thank you!

Hi there what you are feeling is normal as you can see by the responses so far. I'm seven weeks post op and I remember when I went for my first fill two weeks after my op how emotional I got. I started crying as I was driving home not knowing why and then it hit me that I was in mourning. I lost my comfort zone which was food. Once I worked out why I laughed at myself because this is the best thing I could have done for myself. It's going to be an emotional journey, cry if you need to, a good cry is therapeutic at times. It's still early days for me but my relationship has completely changed with food. Now I eat to live not live to eat. I have control over food, it no longer controls me. Don't get me wrong I still get the odd craving for chocolate and when I do I have just one small piece and not the whole block of chocolate and I'm satisfied.

When you feel a bit emotional just think how much healthier you will be 12 months down the journey. It's a new journey, embrace it and you will find each day does get easier. Best of luck with it all!

[Summerrain 520]

I am on Day 4 post op and all I want is everything I can't have! I keep questioning whether or not I did the right thing. I am so sick of these liquids and Protein shakes!

I just want real food! I know this is part of the reason that I havent succeeded on diets before...I just can't seem to get myself out of this food depression.

TampaGina hang in there, it's hard but so worth it. I had to do a month of Protein shakes before my op and two weeks into it I was about ready to gouge my eyes out because I was so sick of the shakes but I got through it and with a 10 kilo loss which is just over 20 pounds. After my op I just couldn't do the Protein Shakes and will never have another again. To be honest for the first two weeks after my op I didn't feel hungry at all and had to make myself drink Water, Soups, v8 fruit and vegetable juice. Best if luck to you also and it will get better.

[Banterwonder 63]

I am 6 months post banding and some days I miss my comfort foods. Hot dogs and french fries, a big burger, cook out foods. I know now there are foods that I can tolerate in small"doses", well-chewed helps.

So, on my little dinner plate I put my Protein, meatloaf), some peas, maybe mashed up and some whippeded potatoes. It's a comfort meal, just the amounts are what I can now tolerate.

Makes me feel better !

But, I agree that there are still moments when I am "in morning" over past foods.

[Pheath 38]

I'm 10 days post op and I feel the same. I have cried over various things for the past week (my kids whining about homework, my divorce last year, my dog barking) and I finally realized on Sunday that I am depressed about food. I get hungry but I get full really fast too. Sometimes I still want to overeat! Then I realize that the 1/2 cup of Soup filled me up and get scared to push it.

I've got some head games happening.

Are you on Soup yet? Saved my life.

Pennie