I am afraid I am going to focus on weight loss and transform my body but really need to transform my mind! How do I focus on transforming my mind for life long success?

Some people like Overeater's Anonymous. I have to admit I was a little freaked out about the 12 step program of it all when I was reading about it, so I haven't tried it.

My plan is to start therapy, attend as many support groups as I can, and reading books on the subject. I'm subscribing to this topic to see what others say.

I got a lot out of this book by Cynthia Alexander: "Emotional First + Aid" (the bariatric one).

@@Jewells70

Thank you for bringing up this topic. I was embarrassed to admit this about myself because I feel like such a failure in the weight management department of my life. I am successful in all other areas and it is so DIFFICULT to understand how to get my MIND prepared for success. The other contributors to this topic had great suggestions . I intend to take their advice.....especially buying the book that one of the participants mentioned. I'm "following" this topic in order to continue to get good advice from fellow WLS participants. Good luck with your preparation! I wish you great success.

Ah that my dear is the million dollar question. If you don't retrain your ( brain) thinking to view food as nutrition and nothing more. Not using it to reward yourself or Celebrate or even for comfort. When you are retraining your brain and making headway in understanding why you used food the way you did. How you will substitute other things for the emotions that it handled. How celebrating with food is a mirage. Then you will begin to see a light.

You will be able to feel the pride at the many times you no longer see food the way you saw it before. You will also look to balance and moderation as a guide. No longer eating like there is no tomorrow. Weight coming off and the wonderful journey that is unfolding before you...Awesome!

Little by little you will be edging ever closer to a successful future of good health and well being.

It is not a sure thing as we will always struggle and this is because we are food addicts but we can win battles forever and worry about the war another day..As it will always be part of us...Hardwired sorta, you know!

You got this! Others who have gone before you can attest to that!

I know that this site has been my saving grace. No one else in my life understands like those of you going through it too. Bless you all.

That my dear friend is the true matter at hand. I feel exactly the same way and will not have WLS until I can get a grasp on the mental aspect of my food addiction.

It seems as though most folks have a Psych evalulation as part of the pre-op pathway, but it's usually only one visit. I seriously doubt much is accomplished during the eval; it's really just a formality to be cleared for surgery.

I believe that anyone who doesn't examine the mental aspect of food addiction and began to resolve and work through the problems, is creating more problems for themselves - because having the majority of your stomach cut out does not fix your brain or your heart.

I want to prepare for the marriage (living healthy after surgery) instead of the wedding day (having the surgery done).

I'm happy someone posted this as well. I have not had the surgery yet but I am very concerned that I won't know what to do with myself if I'm not thinking about food or eating it. Like the rest of us I have been down the extreme weight loss road before and I want this time to be the last time! Any suggestions from post op sleeves of what they do to keep from not going crazy?