pre-op 2 months Pre-Op but can't stop binging fast food, pls help!

[Wildflower Bohême 31]

TLDR: I am getting closer to surgery and can't seem to stop my RECENT daily habit of binging drive-thru fast food, which I do when I get anxiety about something. I hope someone can help.

Full disclosure: I am about 2 months pre-op. The only thing I have remaining before my bari office submits my file to insurance is my last nutritionist meeting. I knew the psych eval was going to be a big deal, so I decided super honest with the psychologist. He cleared me for surgery, providing I get established with a mental health counselor and resolve my binging before surgery. I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD (I also have severe obstructive sleep apnea and PCOS).

I have now been seeing a counselor for a few weeks. Also, the counseling center's doctor prescribed me Prozac, which hasn't kicked in yet as I've been taking it for less than 2 weeks. My counselor has told me that her office (or the insurance?? idk) doesn't allow her to provide counseling on the symptom of binge-eating, but rather the childhood trauma behind it. I understand why that's important, but I can't wait to resolve my feelings about the trauma (could potentially take years!) to stop binge-eating and get WLS.

I will continue counseling beyond my surgery date, but for now I also want to do what I have to to get the surgery! I talked to my bari office's APRN and nutritionist, and they said they have a list of eating disorder-specialist psychologists I could see, but I have Medicaid, and it's very hard to find any doctor outside of basic community health clinics who accepts Medicaid. They also said maybe the Prozac and regular counseling will help and that I won't need the specialists.

I have a book that I think could help me, called the DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) Solution for Emotional Eating (recommended by other WLS patients who have my same surgeon). But for some reason I can't get myself to actually read it. I have some kind of mental block about it.

I am willing to hold off on my surgery until I resolve this, but I really would like it to resolve in the next month or so, considering that just a couple of months ago I was not having this fast food issue. Not to this degree, anyway. Plus, eating fast food every day is expensive, and I have gained 6 lbs, which I must lose before submitting to insurance.

I have little coping strategies for when I get anxious and want to go get fast food, but I keep ignoring them. 😕

Would appreciate any help at all! I'm getting desperate.

Edited April 12, 2022 by Wildflower Bohème
Edited for clarity

[fourmonthspreop 494]

Hey! I'm sorry you're going through that. I know how devastating that cycle is. You have to put some distance between you and the food. I am also in counseling and was pre op. That was the best piece of advice I received. If you know you're going to be tempted to buy fast food, don't bring your money with you or take a different route when you drive. Beyond that, try to work on the why component. Ask yourself why you want to binge. Try to understand how you're feeling the moment you want to binge, what those emotions are attached to and if you can write down or speak to someone about those feelings and their cause. This app called Brighter Bite really helped me conceptualize that and manage and tracked my binge eating cycles. It's also free and no in app purchases. It also offered advice on how to deal with those feelings of desperation and absolution that preceed a binge.


Im not a mental health professional so my advice isn't clinical nor do I claim to know what your best option is, but as someone who binge ate regularly their whole life, I know these small steps can make a difference. It's not about perfection, it's about progress. Remember too that shame is not a motivator of real change. It's okay if you mess up, honor that and learn from your mistakes or believe you have the capacity to do better and get the life you deserve.

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

[Sleeve_Me_Alone 654]

First of all, good for you for recognizing that this is a problem and for getting help. The meds and the counseling will help but yes, they both take time. I think its really wise to try and get some traction on this before surgery. The reality is, surgery is just a TOOL and it absolutely will not fix the mental and emotional aspects of your life.

You said you have the coping strategies, you know what to do, but you aren't doing it. I would say maybe stop and think about WHY you aren't using those strategies and why you are choosing to repeat the behavior? If you can pause, even for just a few minutes, before you hit that drive through and really sit with the feelings, I think you might be able to talk yourself off that ledge. Just keep taking small steps. We are rooting for you!

[oldandtired 238]

I used to go through the fast food drive thru, til I had my surgery-whoops, no point if everything is going to hurt me! BUT my going there was (in my head) was a "reward" for getting through a stressful day at work. It helped me to take a cup of ice Water out of work with me to sip on. Until you have to go on the all liquid diet, bring one cookie from home, leave it wrapped up in your car, and between that and the water--may just help...

[Wildflower Bohême 31]

On 4/12/2022 at 8:14 PM, fourmonthspreop said:

Hey! I'm sorry you're going through that. I know how devastating that cycle is. You have to put some distance between you and the food. I am also in counseling and was pre op. That was the best piece of advice I received. If you know you're going to be tempted to buy fast food, don't bring your money with you or take a different route when you drive. Beyond that, try to work on the why component. Ask yourself why you want to binge. Try to understand how you're feeling the moment you want to binge, what those emotions are attached to and if you can write down or speak to someone about those feelings and their cause. This app called Brighter Bite really helped me conceptualize that and manage and tracked my binge eating cycles. It's also free and no in app purchases. It also offered advice on how to deal with those feelings of desperation and absolution that preceed a binge.


Im not a mental health professional so my advice isn't clinical nor do I claim to know what your best option is, but as someone who binge ate regularly their whole life, I know these small steps can make a difference. It's not about perfection, it's about progress. Remember too that shame is not a motivator of real change. It's okay if you mess up, honor that and learn from your mistakes or believe you have the capacity to do better and get the life you deserve.

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you so much for such a thoughtful response! I will definitely give that app a try. And you know, tbh I never even thought about driving a different way. The two fast food places I go to the most often are less than 1/4 mile down the street, but I don't have to turn that way. There is absolutely another option. ❤️

[Wildflower Bohême 31]

12 hours ago, Sleeve_Me_Alone said:

First of all, good for you for recognizing that this is a problem and for getting help. The meds and the counseling will help but yes, they both take time. I think its really wise to try and get some traction on this before surgery. The reality is, surgery is just a TOOL and it absolutely will not fix the mental and emotional aspects of your life.

You said you have the coping strategies, you know what to do, but you aren't doing it. I would say maybe stop and think about WHY you aren't using those strategies and why you are choosing to repeat the behavior? If you can pause, even for just a few minutes, before you hit that drive through and really sit with the feelings, I think you might be able to talk yourself off that ledge. Just keep taking small steps. We are rooting for you!

You're right, that's really the most important part of it, isn't it? The 'why'. It's easier to avoid thinking about that! But yeah, I need to pause and become more aware of myself in the moment. Then maybe I'll be able to see that I have choices at that moment. Okay, next time I'm feeling like I need to go get food, I will make a conscious effort to pause and think. Thank you so much ❤️

[Wildflower Bohême 31]

10 hours ago, oldandtired said:

I used to go through the fast food drive thru, til I had my surgery-whoops, no point if everything is going to hurt me! BUT my going there was (in my head) was a "reward" for getting through a stressful day at work. It helped me to take a cup of ice Water out of work with me to sip on. Until you have to go on the all liquid diet, bring one cookie from home, leave it wrapped up in your car, and between that and the water--may just help...

LOL I'm hoping the threat of pain post-op will deter me too! You make a good point - if I have something prepared that can be in my car, that could be really helpful. Thank you! ❤️

[vikingbeast 985]

Others have given you great advice. I will just say that your taste buds are likely to change after surgery. I literally couldn't eat fast food even if I wanted it—I tried it once and got two bites into a burger and was all "BLEH" and refused to eat any of it.

Now if only my body rejected cheese popcorn...

[joanie pony 29]

i have been where you are - generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, and major depressive disorder. It did not manifest in binge-eating, but in other harmful ways. I completely understand that compulsion though. Medication & therapy helped a lot! The medicine helped me calm down and concentrate enough to learn and use the coping skills from my therapy. It all went hand-in-hand for me.

My mental health is really good now.

I wish you all the best!

[Wildflower Bohême 31]

3 hours ago, joanie pony said:

i have been where you are - generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, and major depressive disorder. It did not manifest in binge-eating, but in other harmful ways. I completely understand that compulsion though. Medication & therapy helped a lot! The medicine helped me calm down and concentrate enough to learn and use the coping skills from my therapy. It all went hand-in-hand for me.

My mental health is really good now.

I wish you all the best!

I am really happy to know that, and happy for you! Thank you for sharing! ❤️

[Wildflower Bohême 31]

3 hours ago, vikingbeast said:

Others have given you great advice. I will just say that your taste buds are likely to change after surgery. I literally couldn't eat fast food even if I wanted it—I tried it once and got two bites into a burger and was all "BLEH" and refused to eat any of it.

Now if only my body rejected cheese popcorn...

LOL that would be great. I mean, I'm already at the point where I don't even think it tastes that great anymore. Maybe I can just go with the flow and let it drop off naturally. Thank you! ❤️

damn that cheese popcorn!