Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

My disclaimer – (newbies) Its normal to be excited and a bit obsessive about the process and practicing basics in your honeymoon phase ***its normal** this topic is more for people maintaining and if they are riding a fine line between bariatric lifestyle and disordered thinking. It’s something that does not affect all of us after goal.

When healthy eating go’s to far (please read the link below)

https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/orthorexia-when-healthy-eating-goes-too-far/

I love that the things we are taught, and practice as bariatric patients are not much different than athletes. Logging and weight our food, putting thought into buying groceries and how you fuel your body, what foods are allowed and not allowed on our plans, researching new diet/fitness health trends and knowing what’s works to lose the weight and stay healthy.

Here is the double edge sword for many of us that have been formerly obese and fear weight gain. Where is the fine line between bariatric life style and disordered thinking about food and weight???

Letting go of the “bariatric weight loss rules” Scared the hell out of me after goal. The fear of weight gain kept me in check, But I noticed the fear was not in a normal range. I needed to relax and not feel guilty about indulging within reason. It’s taken me time not to totally freak out with a weight gain. I learned to maintain my weight maintaining bounce range. I had to learn to trust myself. Balance with this is something I’m still working on years out.

I would like your thoughts on the fear of weight gain after goal/maintaining. Is it a healthy or unhealthy range for you?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great topic!

I'm still on the tail end of my honeymoon period (1st 18 months where we tend to "lose the most"), and am still not at my 3rd goal of 130lbs. I'm bouncing between 135-138 and have only seen 133 very briefly. Each time I bounce I think "this is it--this is where I'm stuck and where my body wants to be." And honestly? I'm not ready to have that conversation with myself and concede defeat. So I keep pushing and trying and working. Cuz It's not that I would "fail," but I set out to achieve my goal and although I'm not willing to die trying...it's important that I remain sharply focused.

So honestly? I can't even go to the "maintenance" talk. I think it will look a lot like your bounce window and I think it's gonna include IF at least some point during the week. Is it obsessive? Probably to others it appears to be obsessive. I don't feel like I'm out of balance or control. But just as I hated being judged when I was MO, I hate being judged for my focus. Some of the women (who are not at goal and one who is on her second version of the surgery) in my local support group, tell me I'm "too intense" and too focused on goal and on a number on the scale...that I shouldn't weigh, measure, and log my food or weigh daily. They tell me that reaching a number on a scale and being defined by it is crazy town. But I disagree. There is comfort in "knowing data." If something in me breaks, I can go look at the data and will be able to spot where I'm going "wrong." It's cause and effect.

But, saying this, I do allow myself to go out and cut loose sometimes. It's only ever one meal though and often not even a full meal. Then it's back to basics. I'm no longer terrified of being unable to maintain. I think I will be able to do that--but the trade off is that for me, personally, "mindful" "natural" eating is not a real thing--much like unicorns. I will always be on a diet. I will always try to weigh, measure, record my foods and weigh daily. And I'm pretty sure I will continue to limit my exposure to high glycemic index and high glycemic load foods. And I'm pretty dang skippy ok with that.

One man's orthorexia, is another man's routine. I think the difference is whether or not it causes stress to the individual or if they use success or failure in that routine to beat themselves up and punish or self-sabotage. I don't feel that from my routine--only comfort. But others would and do imply I have "issues." :D

Edited by FluffyChix

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a tendency to be hyper focused on a clean diet which many say is orthorexia like however I don't log and weigh foods often.

I also will eat the same things ad nauseum then drop it like it never existed. This behavior isn't new to me and does not feel disordered or anxiety inducing etc... Just health conscious... but it has intensified after surgery with dumping and the absolute need to not regain for medical purposes.

Edited by GreenTealael

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×