Hi Gang. Meow here. 5.5 months post op bypass. I've had slow but steady losses. (SW:217 CW:178. GW: 150)

And I just felt the need to make a post about my sweet addiction. Before my surgery I found myself very concerned about dumping. Often asking in the forum whether Bypass meant I could never have treats again and being assured I could "eventually" or "a bite or two" or "in moderation" etc. This brought me great relief. I knew then I wasn't in the ideal frame of mind but I was doing the best I could.

I found at about 4 weeks post op I could tolerate about 5 of my favorite chocolate covered almonds and ate them every night as a reward for hitting my protein and water goals. Eventually I increased that to 10 choco almonds. Then it moved to other desserts or candy. What I've found is my entire eating plan is focused on getting my "healthys" in so I can have a treat at the end of the day. I become obsessed. I realize I've always been that way. Eat healthy so you can indulge.

I find I get nauseous if I eat a full portion of dessert. But I can usually get away with eating half. So I do. Every day. Or I eat the full portion and get nauseous. I get thru it. Usually lasts about 30 minutes. I feel miserable. I don't throw up. When I'm in the middle of the nausea I swear I'll never have sugar again. But then it passes and I'm the addict again.

The last couple months I've somehow justified 2 treats a day. And this Thanksgiving was the first time I really realized how deeply I don't have control over my treat addiction. I was surrounded by baked goods. I'd eat a small one. Feel sick. Then a couple hours do it again. Over the 2 days of celebration I made myself feel sick about 5 times. The nausea is miserable. Sweats, light headed, toe-curling nausea. Then it passes. And I'm fine. And like a drug addict I indulge again. It's shocking. It's like I'm binging. Except I never throw up and it's only one treat at a time.

I guess my point is... bypass didn't cure me. I do feel sick when I eat too much sugar. But it doesn't stop me from doing it. From constantly seeing how much I can have before I feel sick. I have a lot of work to do before I am no longer "unhealthy" regardless of my weight. Wanted to share in case others are sweet addicts and wondering how the surgery will affect that.

You’ve described my behaviour around sugar and processed carbs. I’m a recovering alcoholic- 10 years this time round and 22 years before with a miserable 4 year relapse in between.
my thought processes, constant internal arguments, obsessive behaviour, reaction to relapse are identical to how I was with alcohol. But sugar is harder to avoid than alcohol. So I hear you: I knew wls would not cure these issues but I hoped the break from processed food/sugar would make it easier. It didn’t.

I do intermittent fasting now - as much to rest my poor pancreas as for any other reason. Fasting is easy for me. I wish I could give up food altogether and take a tablet!
I’m on a wait list for help with my disorders eating- I’m hopeful!

cw: 140lbs lw - 1 year post wls 120lb, goal weight 130lbs.

surgery Dec 16.

and all my friends say my cw is fine. It’s only me who thinks I’m fat. A friend told me that at 120lbs I looked like an hiv or cancer patient. I’m sick enough to feel secretly pleased I got that thin…

I think u need to have an appointment with a psychologist or a therapist

Just got your all foods, 10 wks postoperative. I'm nervous over no scrpt of foods. But with my measured 1/2 cup meal servings, and a year of Noom preop, I am experiencing a new food each day 80% of good food choices and 20% of higher fat to maintain satiety. I'm lucky I'm a salt snack person over a sweet one. I stalled for 2 weeks and thought that may be due to a cup of popcorn here and there but then a drop of 4.5#. This is an older post but liked the mental discussion of eating. Way overlooked.

6 hours ago, Bettyboop56 said:

This is an older post but liked the mental discussion of eating. Way overlooked.

Indeed. It's way overlooked.

Both too many patients and unfortunately too many treatment teams treat "nutrition", "eating" and general lifestyle issues post-surgery in a way that makes me wonder if that is one of the reasons for regain some years down the road, higher rates of depression or transfer addictions.

Hi. I am a food addict and had my gastric sleeve 3.5 years ago. I have lost 10 stone and my weight has stayed the same for a year now BUT the cravings are every single day and I eat something like cakes crisps or biscuits every day. I can't stop. Luckily my weight doesn't go up as the amount I can eat is limited. The surgery does not get rid of the addiction and I don't think i will ever not turn to food when I'm feeling down/sad/depressed which is a lot. I hate my lonely life, I thought losing the weight would make me happy but it hasn't I just now have loads of awful saggy skin that I can't afford to have removed so in a way I'm now worse off for having surgery. I think when you have weight loss surgery you should have loads of follow up therapy to help with the mental and emotional problems but here in the UK it isn't offered. ?