Hey friends, I have a love affair with food. And I'm having the sleeve done on 6/1/2011.

Am I going to feel miserable if I do this? Any regrets?

Thanks Brian,

I'm headed for surgery tomorrow too. I know I'm an emotional eater and I have my work cut out for me. Even

during this two week liquid pre-surgery diet I saw how I use food to feed my feelings more than feeding

any physical hunger. I have enlisted the support of a therapist to help me adjust to a life without emotional

and recreational eating. That has always been my issue when it came to maintaining a significant weight

loss for longer than 18 months.

I learned that losing weight is just that - losing weight. Yes, I feel physically better, have more energy,

stamina and hurt less. But I used to think that being fat was the cause of all of my emotional pain -

you know "change your shape and change your life". It was a rude awakening that even weighing

30, 50, or 75 lbs less didn't mean I wouldn't get depressed about things, or feel angry or get frustrated

and disappointed at the ups and downs of life. Of course the only tool in my arsenal of self comfort

was food and eating. I hadn't developed any other strategies for how to deal with my negative (& positive)

feelings or what else to do when I'm bored or restless instead of eating.

I am working very hard now to learn other means of coping with my feelings. I know they won't feel

as good or familiar as food and eating do -- but I know that, accept it and hope to have a bigger arsenal

of self soothing behaviors so I can try out a few new ways of dealing with feelings and stress. I don't

expect to be perfect. I am sure I will have slip ups along the way. My promise to myself is to work

very hard, ask for help when I need help, and not let one slip up lead to throwing in the towel.

I can't think of anything more drastic than physically altering my body so I can't eat so much to

help me change my relationship with food and eating. Yes, my sleeve is only a tool; I still have

to decide what goes into my mouth and when it goes into my mouth. I am the one who decides

if I learn to channel some of my anxiety and stress into being more physically active (I know it

makes me feel better mentally and physically yet I just don't do it) because it exercise is

a good thing to have in my arsenal of behaviors to cope with emotions and help me maintain

my weight loss.

I will struggle, I will have set backs, I will be the same flawed human being I've always been,

but I will not give up, I've have finally realized that I am (and the longevity and quality of my

life are) too important.

Best of luck with your surgery 2morrow!!!

WOW! This was a very encouraging thread! Thanks to all who shared!!

I eat to live now, as where as before I literally lived to EAT!

My relationship with food has TOTALLY changed. I think for me, eating A LOT was part of the joy I got from food. So now the relationship has just changed. I like food, but definitely don't LOVE it.

So I guess in that respect it is kinda sad, BUT it's so worth it. I would do it again and again.

Here I am 9 months out and with a normal BMI and living life to the fullest