Feeling Lost

[Mel G 5]

Hi - I'm new to the forum and I just need to hear from people like me. I had gastric sleeve on 6/21/16. I'm three weeks post op and am having a bad day. I've always been an emotional eater and today my anxiety has been at an all time high. I did the unthinkable and ordered Chinese, beef fried rice, shrimp lo mein. Not only did I order it but when it arrived I just plowed in, without thinking. Then I threw up and have been crying ever since. I'm not in pain, I hope I didn't hurt myself but I am so frustrated.

I've hit a stall in my weight loss and my cravings are taking over, I'm so sick of the endless food commercials on TV and wonder what the hell I am doing. I feel like nothing fills me up, eggs, Protein shakes - I have just had it!

Please help.

[atontor 1,068]

Hi. Sorry to hear but you have to be careful with food especially at this stage. It will take time. You just had surgery 3 weeks ago. You can expect to lost 30 40 or more lbs. it takes time. Be strong. Talk to your NUT DOCTOR. Follow the plan that was provided to you. You'll see the pounds will fly off. I was sleeved on 5/29/15. HW 340. CW 200. I reached that in 6 months but it didn't start coming off till 6 weeks after surgery. Look for support groups as well as on here. Be strong be positive. Think of the reasons you agreed to this surgery. Don't ruin it by ordering food you knew you cannot have.

[chycky 671]

We share a sleeversary date!

I can understand the frustrations, but like many vets I would say, are you really eating enough Protein and drinking enough Water? Work with your nut if you are feeling like you need more direction. I get 80+g a day and 70+ of liquid. I cannot imagine hunger but I can understand cravings. For cravings I try to mix up what I am eating and find some Protein mixtures I really like. Being on mushy phase has helped bring in somewhat normal food, but it is a lesson not to eat too fast or too much even the small 2 ounces.

Hang in there!

[kazie15 12]

The hardest part for me was the liquid and soft foods part of the diet. I just wanted to chew and use my teeth. I remember being so frustrated that I couldn't have food. But trust me, that part only lasts so long. When I was in that stage, I would get so mad at commercials and all I wanted was my old foods... Once I was able to start eating real food again, I have noticed those cravings are gone. I don't crave fried foods or sweets. I actual crave things like grilled chicken, shrimp, cheese and veggies. (Did I actually just say veggies - yes I did). I wouldn't have believed that 3 months ago! I remember 2 weeks in, all I could think about was chili cheese dogs. Well I didn't. I recently had a single bite of the hotdog part with chili and cheese and it was truly disgusting to me. Weird right. Just be strong. In a few weeks you will be able to chew and get real food and life will get a lot easier.

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[hebert5943 8]

It's ok I'm on week 2 and it's been hard for me, but then I remember it's only temporary. You don't want to make yourself sick and put yourself back. Being apart of this group has helped me tremendously and I think it will help you too. Good luck I know you will do well.

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[GSleeve822 394]

Week 3 Is a normal stall that mostly everyone gets. Don't expect weight loss till week 6. Theres no need to beat yourself up over Chinese food. Yes, you could have hurt your body. However, you can learn from this lesson that getting some help for that anxiety, depression and eating disorder is really important and that the sleeve Is not a magic bullet. You will be OK.

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[AmberMc03 59]

I am 1 week 1 day post op and my surgeon told me that if I am tolerating the shakes well I can start introducing puréed foods slowly. This helps with the chewing! I puréed some Progresso Light beef stew and chewed the purée. It wasn't like chewing a piece of meat but it worked like a charm! Call your surgeon or nut and ask about introducing some purée foods!

[KristenLe 5,979]

@@Mel G Take a deep breath! You have to get back on track immediately - eating regular food this early out is extremely dangerous and could cause complications. I know you didn't post to get "scolded" (and that's not my intent) but it's really important that you stick with the plan - more for your health than anything else. Rice especially could cause significant complications with your healing (stapled) stomach. Your emotions will be running high - especially at this stage - your hormones are out of whack. You can't let your emotions win! I strongly encourage you to get some therapy for emotional eating ASAP. You're putting yourself at risk!!! Please get some help!!!

Take care of yourself!

~Kristen

[theantichick 2,204]

I haven't had my surgery yet, so I can't help with the food discussion, but I know trying to break out of emotional eating myself, TV is the worst. I'm trying to get busy with other things, and if I am watching TV I either watch things I've recorded on the DVR and fast forward through commercials, or I binge Netflix so there's no commercials.

I wish the best for you!

[Valentina 2,642]

Hi - I'm new to the forum and I just need to hear from people like me. I had gastric sleeve on 6/21/16. I'm three weeks post op and am having a bad day. I've always been an emotional eater and today my anxiety has been at an all time high. I did the unthinkable and ordered Chinese, beef fried rice, shrimp lo mein. Not only did I order it but when it arrived I just plowed in, without thinking. Then I threw up and have been crying ever since. I'm not in pain, I hope I didn't hurt myself but I am so frustrated.

I've hit a stall in my weight loss and my cravings are taking over, I'm so sick of the endless food commercials on TV and wonder what the hell I am doing. I feel like nothing fills me up, eggs, Protein shakes - I have just had it!

Please help.

Go ahead and have a good cry. I think crying releases soo much built up stress and anguish. Let it all go.

Then:

Call you team and tell them what you ate AND then vomited it all up. One, in my opinion is just as bad as the other. eating/vomiting

Only they should be guiding you after such a "stumble". --no sugar coating--a serious stumble.

I have permanent scar on my knees from "stumbles" along my WLS path. I'm think'n that there are very few members who don't. So, what to do??

realize the seriousness of your actions----done

Have a good, cleansing cry---done

Call your "team"----make app'tment-----hopefully done

Finish your crying---pull up big girl panties--in process

Call your therapist--tell all--make app'tment---hopefully done

Take a deep breath---please

NOW, get on with you journey:

go for a long walk--or a short one--just get out of the house--even into the yard if that's as far as you can go

Make notes to yourself :

pros of why you had WLS

your recent binge and how your felt after

What you ARE going to achieve with your WLS journey

Read a nasty historical romance!---oh wait! that's for myself!! A little woman's porn never hurt for a wee bit of escapism. It sure gets my mind off of food!!!!

AND stop watching the TV commercials!! Record programs so when you do watch your shows you can fast forward through those nasty, nasty devil driven creations.

My friend, don't keep flogging yourself about a situation that you can not take back.. Put the determination of NEVER repeating it into your mind.

You can do this. You've already done the hardest part---you recognized your obesity disease and took action and responsibility to a healthier life.

Now you simply have to "go forward"--one step at a time. Forward, ----always forward, my friend.

Please, keep posting and letting us know how you're doing.

I care, and I know many other members do too.

Take care of yourself.

[trae33 5]

Atontor help. I'm abt 3 1/2 weeks post op and I've only lost 18 lbs. I'm so sad . I'm following by the book but it's not coming off. How much did u loose the first month?? Should it be 30-40

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[Christinamo7 4,041]

Atontor help. I'm abt 3 1/2 weeks post op and I've only lost 18 lbs. I'm so sad . I'm following by the book but it's not coming off. How much did u loose the first month?? Should it be 30-40

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how much you loose will vary based on your weight when you start.

[newme68 11]

We had surgery the same day. 22 days ago. Seems like a lifetime!! I have lost 16 lbs since surgery. I was disappointed in the scales. They became my nemesis. So I decided to measure myself. I have lost 13-1/2" since surgery!! Talk about a pick me up. I'm doing Water aerobics. I'm fighting head hunger. It's a chore getting in liquids Proteins and Vitamins. Whoever said this is the easy way out needs to be slapped. You need to read the book Emotional first aid kit. It's designed for bariatric pts. Please hang in there. Regroup. Get your heart and head back in the game. Lean on your support group. You can overcome the food demons and achieve your goals!!

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[Mel G 5]

Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement and support, it is just what I needed. I guess I just feel alienated from everyone right now, never realized how much food is a part of EVERYTHING. I'm back on track and feeling...OK. I see my therapist tomorrow and doc and nut next week.

It helps to not feel so alone.

[kazie15 12]

I have struggled with that too... food for me was always a social thing, and it felt so weird the first few times I hung out with my friends and I wasn't doing what I did before, but it gets easier! Now we play board games, or set a activity at the lake to swim, or hanging at the park instead of a restaurant being the main event. And now that they are used to me bringing my own small snack and just eating that "small" amount, it's not awkward anymore. But I hear ya. I never realized, before surgery, how much food had such an influence on my day to day...

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