Anxiety and Weight Gain

[sweetmini 12]

I am about 13 months out from VSG. I have started to feel "normal" again, with hunger and cravings having returned. I'm worried about it now, and that's where my problems have started. The fact that I'm out of the "honeymoon stage" and can eat mostly anything means I'm having to monitor and control my eating with more vigilance. It makes me feel anxious, and then that triggers my emotional eating.

I'm worried about ending up right back where I started. I know this is the part of my journey where my training is supposed to kick in, but I'm not doing too well.

I'm generally just feeling very down right now, and I am feeling the same hopeless feelings that I had before I had surgery. Anyone else out there feeling this way? Anybody have a suggestion for me?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@sweetmini - thanks for sharing. Have you ever looked at this book? https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-First-Aid-Kit-Practical/dp/0976852659?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

This was helpful to me going in, my be helpful to you at this point.

Feel free to give any more details about where you are, what type of support you have and life style changes to date. That really helps the group help you. It's amazing how many people might have a similar experience and there is some collective wisdom from vets which can be helpful.

We have had people get knocked down by spouses being asses, job losses and even tragic personal losses which can knock us off stride. So the more you explain what's happening, the better we can all help.

[FrankyG 1,450]

I am 18 months out and have noticed this as well, and what I've been doing to counter the anxiety-based need to eat is to go exercise and get a little sun (but wearing lots of sunblock). I figure if I'm still obsessing over a certain food after I've gone walking/jogging for a hour, at least I exercised, but most of the time, I'll feel a bit calmer and just better, and am able to skip the food. Yoga is a great exercise that isn't hard either - but you'll feel good after doing it. Exercise is supposed to be great for depression and anxiety issues, and I've found it does work for me. Who knew?

I am constantly worrying about regaining, but I know that's not realistic because even if I fell off the wagon and ate some bad stuff and gained a few pounds, I can put the brakes on and get things back on track before it proceeds to be dozens of pounds. I have the skills and ability to police my food choices and I know what I need to be doing and how to do it. Nothing can take that away from me. So a small slip will not ever turn into a complete failure. You have to tell yourself this and keep telling yourself whenever those thoughts come up. You are still new to all of this and it's going to be harder for a while, but it will become second nature eventually.

If you're really feeling depressed and anxious, please see a counselor and find ways of feeling better about yourself.

Big hugs and hope things start looking up for you soon!

[Beach Lover 1,084]

Hi Sweetmini,

When you say you have hunger pains are they the same hunger pains as before surgery or is more of an empty feeling? I have a carb addiction and found this out when I did my liquid diet before surgery. If I eat the bad carbs they draw me into craving them like crazy. I have pledged to stay away from carbs that trigger my addiction and that has helped me greatly for the last 3 years. I'm not bashing carbs I get plenty from veggies and fruit etc. just not the chips, breads, pastas and Desserts. I don't know if this will help you but you might try staying away from them.

Try not to beat yourself up this will trip you into a spiral down. Those are the same thoughts we had before surgery and they are the ones we now have to keep at bay and remember the power of our pledge we made to ourselves. We all get weak from time to time and its tough we all just have to power through it and it will get better. I definitely have the same anxiety and I have to depend on myself and that does feel scary sometimes. Not gonna lie!

I wish you the very best!!