So we've all heard it- "You need to change your relationship with food." But what does that mean? How do you do it? How do you know it's done? I see this advice all the time but never steps to take to make that change. I'm seeing a therapist ( I have bipolar disorder and have had several different addictions through my lifetime so I will ALWAYS have a therapist) and I'm working through my problems with her. But I want to know how everybody else did it.

How did you start? Did you have any slip-ups? When did you realize that you had gotten over your love of eating, or the unhealthy eating for convenience? I'm not saying everybody here is addicted to food. I don't even want to start that debate so please don't misunderstand

Just to go ahead and start the discussion: Like I said earlier, I've had many dependency and addiction problems. In middle school it was my obsession with friends and attention. In my high school and college days it was pot and pills. In the most recent years I've struggled with alcohol dependency.* I've overcome it all! (YAY ME!!!! ) Now I'm staring down losing my most basic coping skill - food. It scares me. Of course all programs start out by telling you to QUIT. Quit smoking, quit drinking. We can't do that with food! So wtf do we do? What do I do? I'm working with my therapist but I'd like to have some advice from people who have actually faced this and overcome it.

*I'm hoping that you guys will withhold judgment of my past deeds and try to help me with my current problem. I fully understand the risks associated with WLS and transferring addictions. Thank you

Accepting responsibility for myself seems to be a daily challenge, group therapy with other sleevers and 'buddies' have been helpful and sometimes inspirational.

This is the best post I've read on here thus far. Thank you all for your honesty! I was really worried when I hit about the 3 month post op because my food restrictions were no longer very limited. And now, almost 9 months post op, I see that food is becoming my best friend and source of comfort and entertainment all over again. I've just purchased and downloaded "When Food is Love" and am determined to gain back control over what I eat and why. I've accepted that it will always be a struggle and I will always have to be conscientious of what I eat, but I also know I need to stop seeing food as anything more than nutrition for my body.

I just ordered "When Food is Love" and am looking at the "Food and Feelings Workbook". I'm hoping to work on some of this before the surgery.

I just ordered "When food is Love" and am looking at the "Food and Feelings Workbook". I'm hoping to work on some of this before the surgery.

Good for you! I SO wish I would have discovered that book and started working on things before I had surgery. I think you are doing yourself a huge favor! :-)