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I DVR'd the show Intervention the other night and just finished watching it. It was about a young girl addicted to heroin. Now some of you may know, I'm divorced 2 yrs this month, I literally watched my ex become an alcoholic the last 3 yrs of our marriage and I thought "how dare you do this to us". I didn't want the divorce, he did, in the end because I wouldn't go out partying with him, said we never did anything together and we had grown apart, well he had met someone too. Anyway, getting back to the Intervention, I never understood how anyone could be addicted to drugs or alcohol and do that to themselves and to their family members but tonight I looked at my mom and said "you know I no different, I'm addicted to food, always have been". Thus the reason for my surgery a year ago this week. I make better food choices now, yes its hard and a daily struggle with me with head hunger and sweets and sometimes I give in but I'm no different so I have no right to criticize anyone's addiction not even my ex's. Which by the way I saw my ex today, he always forgets to mail my alimony ck so I had to meet up with him, he looked awful. For someone that used to hold a corporate job and have a company car and make six figures now looks like he does is sad and breaks my heart, I feel sympathy for him. All I can do is pray not only for him but for myself with my head hunger in which I struggle with each and every day.

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The good news for you,Donna is that you recognized you had a problem and doing everything you can to defeat it. Some ppl never admit they have a problem and need help.

My sister had a gastric bypass years ago b/c of her food addiction. She lost a lot of weight, but didn't fix the head problem that caused her to use food for comfort. Since she couldn't use food for comfort, she turn to alcohol and has become a case of beer per night person and gained all her weight back.She traded one addiction for another.

She wants a band over bypass, but the Dr won't do it, b/c it won't fix her head. It is very sad and until they admit they have a problem, all we can do is pray for them and not in able them.

Like your ex, my sister looks terrible. She sent a family picture at my mothers 85 birthday, my mother looked in better health than my sister.

Sometimes ppl have to hit rock bottom, before they can see their way up. That's where I was, literally did not want to live another day in the pain I was in. The Lord heard my prayers and made away for me to get the help I needed and I now have my life back.

If I need comforting, I now turn to something that can't hurt me. Like I shared with you before, getting in touch with the beauty around me,in my own backyard, or just giving a stranger a few minutes of my day.

May all those that have an addiction find peace within themselves, so they may live the life that they were meant to live.

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Insightful words MG...

The individual with the addiction must "save themselves", no one else can rescue them.

The motivation for the process of change in addiction recovery must come from within the individual.

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Yup. food is an addiction like any other addiction. That's why I hate the attitude of those not addicted who say, oh just shut your pie hole and you'll lose the weight. OK then, just stop drinking and you'll be OK, or just stop shooting up and you'll be OK.

Our addiction is the hardest one to overcome. You can stop drinking, you can stop drugs, you can stop gambling. You can't stop eating. Every day, every moment, we are faced with our addiction and forced to make a choice as to whether or not to give in to that addiction.

I'm so proud of everyone on this forum and even those who are not. Kudos to all the people who struggle daily to get healthier and overcome this addiction.

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Our addiction is the hardest one to overcome. You can stop drinking, you can stop drugs, you can stop gambling. You can't stop eating. Every day, every moment, we are faced with our addiction and forced to make a choice as to whether or not to give in to that addiction.

So true! People who don't share any particular addiction, have a difficult time understanding why we can't "just stop". We need food for our survival, so we're always having to "dance with the devil" (so to speak). We can never completely leave the dance floor :wacko:

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you are all so right the brain chemicals have to be adjusted to over come all additions. I have gotten help in that area over the years but my family didn't and now its hard to get along with them because they do not see reaility they changed facts and always need someone to blame and it is always someone else fault. We have all come to the comclution that our over setting is our fault so we can be succful here. We all should be very proud of ourselves for coming so far

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Well, I guess these shows are helpful. So glad that you can see the other sie,now. Too bad for your ex-hubby! Just be thankful that you recognize and addiction and are controlling it. God is blessing you!

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thank you all so very much and yes God is blessing me much every day, as you all know I'm deeply religious, southern Baptist girl here and I take my faith to heart. It breaks my heart every time I see my ex because like I said above, college grad, successful business man and now this to the man he is now. To hear his family talk, which I'm still in contact with, he goes out drinking all the time and comes in to work smelling like alcohol, just awful. I guess you are right Maddysgram he has to hit rock bottom to see his way up. I thought that would have been 3 yrs ago when he got a DUI but no, didn't phase him. Like I said, I struggle each and every day with sweets, it's my devil, but choose to suck on a piece of sugar free hard candy or occasionally have skinny cow candy or ice cream treats. God has given me this second chance and I intend on living it to its fullest.

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    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

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