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The emotional journey so far



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We've discussed this in many threads. It's not that fun dealing with the emotions that come along post op. I thought I'd go out on a limb and share some of mine and see if anyone else has experienced the same.

I wasn't prepared for the emotions. I haven't enjoyed them at all. This is what has happened in my case.

Understanding the food part has been easy. I like food, its been my friend, and depriving myself of it and the comfort it brought me has been a major adjustment. Not fun but knowing how my own mind works I can grasp it and move forward.

Not so easy to grasp is how this emotional merry-go-round has made me think of my entire life spent as the fat girl, the names I was called in school, the dates I never went on, the men in my life that I allowed to tear down my self esteem even more, and the great deal of time I have let myself waste because of these things.

Why? Why did I have to be the fat kid? Why did I let anyone influence the way I felt about myself? Why did I choose food as my escape instead of something more productive? Why have I raised my children to always recognize their own value and teach them that they are special and can be anything they want to be and not teach myself the same things?

These are the things that are hard to understand. Yep - its too late to change the past. I see that I can change my future and know I have to do it. Facing these issues is way harder than having an operation or changing my eating habits. I'm and doing it day by day but it sure is hard to face the cold, hard truth. I was the unattractive fat kid growing up that got picked on. I was the one that let others knock me down even more. And now I'm the one who can change everything and finally see myself as someone worthy of being beautiful and successful.

What a wild ride. I'll ride it though and see where I land.

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We've discussed this in many threads. It's not that fun dealing with the emotions that come along post op. I thought I'd go out on a limb and share some of mine and see if anyone else has experienced the same.

I wasn't prepared for the emotions. I haven't enjoyed them at all. This is what has happened in my case.

Understanding the food part has been easy. I like food' date=' its been my friend, and depriving myself of it and the comfort it brought me has been a major adjustment. Not fun but knowing how my own mind works I can grasp it and move forward.

Not so easy to grasp is how this emotional merry-go-round has made me think of my entire life spent as the fat girl, the names I was called in school, the dates I never went on, the men in my life that I allowed to tear down my self esteem even more, and the great deal of time I have let myself waste because of these things.

Why? Why did I have to be the fat kid? Why did I let anyone influence the way I felt about myself? Why did I choose food as my escape instead of something more productive? Why have I raised my children to always recognize their own value and teach them that they are special and can be anything they want to be and not teach myself the same things?

These are the things that are hard to understand. Yep - its too late to change the past. I see that I can change my future and know I have to do it. Facing these issues is way harder than having an operation or changing my eating habits. I'm and doing it day by day but it sure is hard to face the cold, hard truth. I was the unattractive fat kid growing up that got picked on. I was the one that let others knock me down even more. And now I'm the one who can change everything and finally see myself as someone worthy of being beautiful and successful.

What a wild ride. I'll ride it though and see where I land.[/quote']

Wow that is so true!

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Well said. I can relate totally to everything with the exception of being the fat girl and the men part.Lol. Other than that I am right there with you.

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I totally relate to this. I am working through these things pre-surgery and have been for the past year and more. I came from a situation of abuse and was also verbally abused at school. After school I was abusing myself verbally, inside my head. I'm trying to learn how to break the cycle and learn to be happy now.

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    • 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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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