Emotional eating can sabotage Weight Loss Surgery

[Sally Baker 31]

There are many examples of when self-sabotaging behavior around food continues after Weight Loss Surgery. It seems that the more people who commit to surgery without fully resolving their emotional reasons for bingeing, compulsive sugar cravings, zoned out or mindless grazing, and disordered eating in general then the more people who post-WLS will continue to struggle with emotional eating.

Weight loss that stalls, plateaus or ends in a person gaining back more weight than they originally lost are all forms of yo-yo dieting. This see-saw pattern of weight loss versus weight gain can go on for years. It is never about being greedy, and never about a lack of willpower. It is, however, a repetitive cycle of behavior of the emotional eater who self-sabotages their weight loss success due to a number of key habitual, responses many of which exist below conscious awareness.

There are many examples of when self-sabotaging behavior around food continues after WLS. It seems that the more people who commit to surgery without fully resolving their emotional reasons for bingeing, compulsive sugar cravings, zoned out or mindless grazing, and disordered eating in general then the more people who post-WLS will continue to struggle with emotional eating.

Therapists Sally Baker and Liz Hogon specialize in resolving emotional eating. They see a growing number of clients post-WLS in their individual practices in London, England and Melbourne, Australia.

Endless over thinking about food, and a whole range of compulsive behaviors can continue after surgery. Even the feelings of dissatisfaction about amount of weight lost post-WLS is just an aspect of the negative self-belief that can dominate the thought processes and feelings of someone in the grip of emotional eating.

Changes can take place, and belief systems that no longer serve a person can be released and replaced with a more positive, and helpful framework. Sally and Liz have found from their work that as many of the emotional drivers, and reasons for carrying excess weight in the first place are below conscious awareness then that is where the therapy work needs to happen for change to really embed and be sustained.

[tkuch 28]

I know I have been struggling with myself. I have searched for help on getting my mind on straight, I just really wish it would work faster. I am not sure if the person that I am working with is helpful on the food aspect of my issues. If wanted to find someone that works just on a food/emotional eating issue what should I be looking for?

[Sally Baker 31]

You didn't mention the skill set of the person you are seeing to support you. Although they're not focussed on the food aspects it could be the same thinking Liz and I have with our clients - that it's never about the food but about other triggers, often from a person's past that keep you thinking in a negative way.

If you looking for a different type of support find a really good hypnotherapist that is experienced in eating disorders. A lot of what you may be struggling with may be below your conscious awareness so you want a therapist that works with the subconscious mind. A hypnotherapist will bypass your critical mind to work over time on your trigger issues so that your mind aligns with your desire to lose weight. Be kind to yourself. Sally