Hi there!

I am scheduled to have the gastric sleeve mid January 2025. I have done my research and completely understand the procedure and the physical side of it all. I was wondering how you cope emotionally with such a big change, especially for those that are so used to using food for comfort as I am. I've heard some say that since the ghrelin hormonal gland was removed from the stomach they never felt hungry and no longer think of food in the same way. I have also heard people say they are hungry all the time. I am expecting a whirlwind of emotions and I know it will not be easy. I'm just looking for some examples of your experiences, especially on emotional eating .

How did/do you cope?

Do you have/need coping mechanisms in place- if so what?

Does it get easier?

Do you have any helpful advice for a newbie like me?

Thank you so much for your time guys x

39 minutes ago, Bessieboop1981 said:

Hi there!

I am scheduled to have the gastric sleeve mid January 2025. I have done my research and completely understand the procedure and the physical side of it all. I was wondering how you cope emotionally with such a big change, especially for those that are so used to using food for comfort as I am. I've heard some say that since the ghrelin hormonal gland was removed from the stomach they never felt hungry and no longer think of food in the same way. I have also heard people say they are hungry all the time. I am expecting a whirlwind of emotions and I know it will not be easy. I'm just looking for some examples of your experiences, especially on emotional eating .

How did/do you cope?

Do you have/need coping mechanisms in place- if so what?

Does it get easier?

Do you have any helpful advice for a newbie like me?

Thank you so much for your time guys x

I don't know if any of this will be helpful but, I'm three weeks post gastric sleeve. I wasn't hungry for the first 2 weeks. Today, I'm feeling a bit hungry but, as I'm still not able to eat anything but purees or soups and only about 4 tablespoons in one sitting. After surgery, the last thing you think about is food for the first week. I went the NHS route so a psychologist will be in touch at the 3 month mark I believe so I guess time will tell what support I will need. Personally, I think the psychologist should be involved from Day One, but that's just me. I also had 12 weeks of pre-op diet so I feel like I had to give up my coping strategy cold turkey.

At this point, I just want solid food. Not like the old "I need comfort/I'm bored" type of eating, just different head hunger. It's definitely true you think of food differently. Now I think food is an inconvenience. Having to set a timer to remind me to get something other than water in my system is a different feeling. I never had to force myself to eat before.

You mentioned your surgery is January 2025 so you will still have a few months I would use that time to see if you can find a therapist or a support group.

And yes, it does get easier. For me it's going slowly, but it is still getting easier day by day.

This is very helpful thank you so much Neon raven x

Edited October 28, 20241 yr by Bessieboop1981

I have always cooked 99% of our family meals. They were healthy and full of vegetables. My problem is because I love my own cooking. I would eat a huge amount especially carbs. Oh and butter...... Oh and chocolate .......

I took me a long time to be able to eat solids after surgery, I had a swollen internal scar so I had to stick to liquids. Once my restriction kicked in at about 8 weeks I could eat soft meats and some vegetables. After that I could run with it

At about 2 years out, I tried carbs again and could eat a tablespoon of rice, noodles or a slice of good seeded bread. I have left them off my menu so long that eating meals without a pile of them is no big deal. I don't miss the over stuffed feeling. I can't say this will last forever but I intend to keep a check on my calories because I am the skinny person I always wanted to be. I still have butter and chocolate in small amounts. I will watch that.

I’m still fairly new to the game (only 8 weeks out from sleeve surgery), but I look at it as I have invested a lot of money, time and energy into this surgery and so I want to make good choices now. I don’t want the money and hard work to go to waste. I am losing slowly but it’s still rewarding to see the pounds drop on the scale and it makes me want to keep making good choices.

I’m a while out now (5.5yrs). I was one who never felt hungry. The first time I did was at about 8 months & I honestly took a while to work out what was wrong. I felt restless. Something wasn’t right and it certainly wasn’t anything like what I thought was hunger before. It wasn’t until I reflected back on my day that I realised I’d been busy and hadn’t eaten much. Then it was a couple of months again before I started to feel hunger more often. Because of my lack of hunger I ate to a routine, still do, to ensure I met my protein goals and other nutritional needs.

I wasn’t someone who ate to sooth themselves in fact I tended to be the opposite and wouldn’t eat. If you are someone who always has used food as a comfort the first weeks can be a challenge as it’s a stressful time ( physically & mentally). You may be emotional too because of the hormonal flush from the estrogen stored in your fat that is released as you lose weight. Generally if you are craving a specific texture, flavour or food that is head hunger. Check your emotions: are you feeling sad, angry, bored, lost, etc.? Then it’s head hunger. Is your tummy rumbling? Again head hunger & also from excess tummy acid. (You’ll continue to produce the amount of acid you used to need for the volume of food you ate & your larger tummy. You’ll likely be prescribed a PPI to counteract the excess acid but if not ask for a script to help.) Distraction can be very useless at these times. Read, craft, go for a walk, contact a friend or family member, meditate, check this forum, etc. Often a warm drink can be helpful.

I also agree with @NeonRaven8919’s advice of finding a therapist. Many find the support & strategies they can offer vey helpful.

All the best.

20 hours ago, Bessieboop1981 said:

How did/do you cope?

Do you have/need coping mechanisms in place- if so what?

Does it get easier?

Do you have any helpful advice for a newbie like me?

Thank you so much for your time guys x

I felt hunger from the first week post op, it never disappeared. In fact I was starving on the first week of liquids. at 10+ months post op some days I feel ravenous (especially on days I lift very heavy) and some days I'm not interested in eating.

How did/do you cope?

To be very honest the first week is very hard and generally the first 6 weeks are tough not gonna lie. I hated eating soups and mushy foods. I hated the feeling of my restriction but what made it all worth it was the progress I witnessed on a daily basis. The pounds were melting off and I was so ecstatic about that.

Do you have/need coping mechanisms in place- if so what?

I traveled. That really helped, I traveled at 3 weeks post op, 3 months post op, 6 months and 8 months post op. I went back to exercising and took up Pilates. I regularly checked in with a friend who's had VSG before me. All these things helped me cope plus the weight melting off!!

Does it get easier?

It really does. You will look and feel better, you will re-learn how to eat and it'll be okay.

Do you have any helpful advice for a newbie like me?

Take it one day at a time. Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't compare yourself or your progress to anyone. The first few months are a gift, use them but also free your mind of food anxiety and accept that you are not perfect and you will make mistakes and learn from them. Oh and indulge in movement you enjoy (it makes a big difference, physically and mentally).

Edited October 29, 20241 yr by Lilia_90

Lots of great advice here but I will add my experience with having done this before and just having a revision that exercising and eating clean makes it so much easier. My mood and energy level are so much better this time and head hunger is pretty non existent so far (part of which is a greater metabolic change witb the more aggressive surgery I’m sure but when I don’t exercise as much or I eat processed junk I can feel the difference part of it may also be that I’m just too darn busy to think much about food).

For me carbs crave carbs. I learned this after my sleeve but I wasn’t super careful with it. I’m not taking about the better carbs from fruits and veggies, but the processed type. Eating even a smaller portion is a slippery slope for me so I will avoid these as long as I can and if I do have them I know I will have to white knuckle it a few days through the cravings. I make all my food from scratch and freezing food has made it possible to not cook every night. I freeze small portions and I have a note in my phone if what’s on the freezer by date. When I wake up and look at my calendar as I’m drinking my proffee (chilled coffee and protein shake) I decide if I have time to cook and if not I pull a bag out of the freezer and put in the fridge. Then when I get home I put it on the counter or defrost in microwave if necessary time wise and make a veggie to throw it together. A really nutritious and yummy dinner done in 10-15 minutes and bonus, a lot less dishes.

I started walking early out and added group classes that are offered at my community center and now i am up every morning walking first thing. I actually put on exercise clothes after my shower and sleep In them and first thing I’m already dressed and ready to go for my walk. ooh and the support groups that my team offers are great in addition to staying very active on here. I actually met a walking buddy there and we walk together down by the river once a week, the day that I don’t have group classes and we cheer each other in in addition to the once a month in person support group meeting.

I also chose to tell more people this time. Some were against it but I educated them and now they are starting to come around about it. I think it will be easier fir me to say no thank you to food when everyone around me knows my goals. The first time I did this so many people would say to me you’re doing so good. You can have one slice of pizza or one brownie but the problem was this was my family and I was around them several days a week so just this one became just three or four. I actually told them that when I see pizza or brownies, I already want one bad enough on my own. I don’t need someone else tempting me. I think they got it. We’ll see. I guess if they do it this time.

Edited October 29, 20241 yr by ShoppGirl

thanks so much for your advice ladies it's very much appreciated.

I strongly encourage you to seek out therapy ASAP.

While surgery will make your tummy smaller and make it hard to eat a lot for some time, you'll eventually get back to a point where it becomes relatively easy to overeat again. Keep in mind that surgery won't fix your head, thus emotional eating like you describe won't go away simply because of surgery.

That's an excellent idea thank you!