Hi all,

I've got a surgery date of June 16th to revise from band to sleeve. I did well with the band at first, but then started having night choking issues, had a slip, revision surgery, but then was never able to keep the band tight enough to help - I lost 70 pounds the first year, then gained it all back in the last 5 years since problems started.

So - while I blame technical failures to some extent I also know that my behavior was not optimal. I REALLY want to set myself up for success with the sleeve. I'm in therapy and I've joined a monthly group with people who've had bariatric surgery. But wondering how else to set myself up for success.

My key issues that I'm worried about are 1 - major sweet tooth and 2 - overeating behavior at night. I know that the sleeve won't help entirely with the sweet issue. I've been working on weaning off sweets before surgery.

I'd love to know - are there folks out there who struggled with sweets before surgery and found a good way to deal with it after surgery? Did you (should I) just go cold turkey and swear off sweets completely? Are there any other things that work for people?

I would generally appreciate hearing any tips for how to set myself up for success - what has worked for those of you who've done well with the sleeve?

Thanks so much!

Susan

Your food desires can mostly be grouped into two categories. Actual hunger or hunger pangs and head hunger. As usual, the one we created for ourselves is the most detrimental and hardest to overcome......the head hunger.

If you're lucky, the removal of that big chunk of your stomach will eliminate most of the actual hunger and you'll find you actually need to remember to eat. (great, huh). But don't start celebrating too much yet. The head hunger can be a doozy. It really just breaks down to the habits (bad habits) you have established over the years.

Eating when bored.....

Food triggers.....

Cravings.....

Wrong choices.....

Sugar addictions.....etc etc.

I have found that post-op almost all of my actual hunger went away. After a while, I would get very powerful desires to eat various things but I found if I just busied myself doing something like going to the gym or walking or riding my bike, it quickly went away. Just don't give in and try to think of other things. Avoid the triggers like watching food commercials or wandering down the candy isles in the store. You are not really hungry for it.

Ok, now for my most recent learning tip. At four months out, some of the cravings (mental) are pretty strong. So I satisfy them in very very limited fashion. Just a taste. Savor it and that's it. You will probably find it is enough to satisfy the need and any more usually doesn't sit well in your stomach anyway. Example: I occasionally get the desire for Reeses.....so I got the bag of the little minis. I eat one or two and thats it. Walk away. In a couple of minutes your mind is satisfied, the desire is gone and no harm done. It may work for you, may not. Either way, just stick to your guidelines. The weight loss is too hard fought for to fail. Good luck ..

I would binge on sweets before surgery. I realize I'm only 3 months out, but I have no desire for sugar at this point.

Thank you both!! You make me feel more confident that the surgery will help give me the strength to overcome some of the head hunger as well. Right now if I bought a bag of mini reeces (or snickers is the one I'd choose) it's really hard for me to imagine eating a few and putting it away without majorly obsessing about it. Fingers crossed I lose those sweet cravings too!

I have a major sugar problem. Cold turkey is the only way. I read once that if you are craving carbs/sugar then you are eating to much. For me this is soooo true. I have had two stalls followed by weight gain since I had surgery. Both times were when I went on vacation and had sugar when I got home I couldn't stop. It takes we a week of trying before I can get a grip on the situation. I think the most important thing is to acknowledge when the sugar monster has you and don't let it go on, kick the problem ASAP. As soon as I stop the sugar/carb intake I start losing again but I can't help but think of the 3-4 weeks I wasted.

Thanks Hatter - yes, I know exactly what you're talking about! I think I do need to go cold turkey - and be vigilant...

Between the liquid pre-surgery diet for two weeks, and the two weeks of liquid diet post-surgery... I was so sick of sweet things!!! I craved turkey and cheese. It was so much easier to stick with savory food once I'd had 4 weeks of Everything Is Artificially Sweet. Just thinking of *another damn protein shake* made me want to gag. I craved proper food!

Elfnow - thanks, I know what you mean! Since I went through that with band. I think the trick for me will be to sustain that. In time I'm guessing my taste for sweets will return, and I'll have to bd careful not to let it sneak back into my diet.