My FOOD ADDICTION! I want REAL FOOD!

[Gr8fulMiniMe 66]

I am 8 days out and am going through head hunger so bad! I want FOOD!!!! I would never admit this but I need to call myself out on this because I know it is for my best. I have been putting food in my mouth chewing it up so I could feel like I'm eating and then spitting it out. I know I should not be doing this. In fact, the more I write the more clear it is I need to be addressing my whole food addiction issue. I've got it bad! Hope I can find someone who can relate and offer their take on my situation... =(

[KSTUZ 438]

Aww gr8, I haven't even had surgery yet and was thinking if anyone has done that.

you CAN DO THIS!

This is for you. It's only food. U can overcome food. Food is fuel. Food is fuel. I sometimes need to pep talk myself out of that. I hope it kinda helps. U are stronger than food. I try to repeat that as I am pre surgery dieting. And I'm starving.

Crazy I literally had just thought about that the other night.

You are strong! You are beautiful!

YOU CAN DO THIS!!

Katie

[queenie47 45]

Im on the pre-op and I sooo want to do that!!! You got this!! Im sure it will pass!

[Saramarie1023 27]

I can certainly relate to this! However the more I surround myself with people who are supportive and keep myself busy the better I do. I sometimes find myself laying in bed thinking about how much I wanna chew something, but then I try to tell myself that if I can make it to the morning without giving into that feeling I will be so proud of myself. Don't quit yet and don't be so hard on yourself this has been a real eye opener for me and I am sure others...it is like an alcoholic going without alcohol...it is hard!

Just remember you are not alone. We are all here with you rooting you on!

[Butterflyhigh 504]

I was very worried about this too. I am now 5 days post-op. and this is what I've done to try and limit the exposure to 'real food'.

I have several tiny tupperware containers that I fill in the morning with chicken broth, veggie broth, diluted apple juice, and Jello. I am surrounded by them during the day, they are easy to grab, and it's easy to count Fluid ounces.

I stocked up on easy microwave dinners that the kids can eat so I don't have to handle food much.

Next week when I move towards the pureed stage I'll do the same thing except with lots of homemade meals that I will feed to the kids and then puree for me.

Also...I am really trying to emotionally embrace this 'empty' feeling that I normally want to shove full of food. And it IS emotional. Please try not to chew and spit because it will just drag this whole purging process out. The longer you go without those foods the less of a hold they have on you. Chew and spit is like hitting the RESET button and starting from scratch again.

But how AWESOME of you to be Self-Aware enough and Real enough to call yourself out on this!! That shows you are done being in denial and are a strong woman who can totally conquer this tough stage of the process.

[BeagleLover 1,020]

One book in particular helped me: "Emotional First + Aid" (the bariatric one).

[BLAKQUEEN 33]

Hi I am 11 days out and although I am not a food addict I do understand how you feel. I read some articles on head hunger and that helped, I really wasn't that hungry but the clear liquid stage was really really hard. I am at my mom's house and she has all my favorite foods in the fig and cabinets, but the kicker is all the food commercials they really drive me crazy. I could not wait for full liquids because you can eat Soup and yogurt. Hang in there it gets better remember what you did this for, drinking something usually gets rit of that hunger feeling. good luck

[mi75 1,241]

i TOTALLY get it.

i'm still pre-op too but last night i had a complete and total melt down about mcdonald's because the fam was eating it and i was feeling all sorry for myself and such. i posted about who eats mcdonalds and this morning i realized just how foolish it sounded.

i too am a food addict. i feel like although i will probably be able to eat most things again, the timeframe is doing me in. also, i don't want to just be in waiting to indulge in the bad things. i really plan to try my very best and just do what they tell me to do. not think outside the box, not cheat (by intention), just have a bit of tunnel vision and press forward. i hope that by the time my 'real' hunger kicks back in post-op, i will be past the addictions and craving only good healthy things.

[crystaljeanine 31]

I did the same thing during my first and second week out!!

Literally had the worst head hunger

I chewed foods for the taste and spit it out!

The head hunger goes away fast don't worry too much just concentrate on getting better

[Msray79 4]

I am day 4 of post-op and I wanted to eat so bad. I did the same thing like chewing the food and spitting it. I can't wait to be on full liquid diet

[Gr8fulMiniMe 66]

I really appreciate the encouragement! I was feeling like such a loser... I am so glad we have this forum! It really brought me to tears to read the comments. I feel the support which is so amazing!!! Thank You!!! Oh, My family has already told me they can see weight loss. Yay!!!

[sa1976 221]

You are very brave to admit that. You are not a loser. You can do this. You seem like you have a supportive family. I know you will be successful. Congratulations on already losing weight.

[Bigmommatojacob 54]

I also chewed and spit lol. It was away for me to get over the sensation of chewing. It helped because my craving for chewing went away. I did not do it but a couple times a day and it helped. I am addicted to the wrong foods. Fatty,sugary,greasy,all those good foods. Now my body is getting the good foods and it's helping. Hang in there it gets better. I know some get this surgery and never have an issue. We'll not me. I have regretted this surgery a million times over. Yet now that I am finally learning to use my new stomach and what's good for it I am happy very very happy with my new tummy. So just remember there is food coming soon.