Re: Food Addiction/Low Self-Esteem

[Guest guest]

I definitely still have a very strong emotional connection to food, and

having the MGB didn't really change it that much. If I have a bad day or

I'm feeling a lot of stress, I want to eat junk food. And sometimes the

drive to do so is very strong. I was a non-bulemic binge eater before the

surgery, and those tendencies are still there. I can't binge like I used

to, but I WANT to do it, and that bothers me.

I am over two years out from the surgery, and I am up ~10 pounds from my

lowest weight, I think. (I haven't weighed myself recently b/c our bathroom

is being redone and the scale isn't in there right now!) I am still wearing

size 8-10, but most of my size 6 clothes are too snug right now.

Not sure how I'll handle these challenges...I do know that I can eat quite a

bit at one sitting these days, and refined foods seem to slide right down.

The key, of course, is to eat properly, which for us means focusing on

protein foods first, followed by veggies and fruits, and then the other

stuff, if there's still room. But sometimes that is easier said than done!

The good news is that I'm not gaining a ton of weight when I eat the wrong

foods, and in the past, I would have gained a lot. The bad news is that I'm

not losing, and I've actually gained a little bit. As always, maintenance

is the hard part of the journey!!

Joanie

5/25/04

Drs. Walsh and Rutledge

>From: mbuelowfam@...

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Food Addiction/Low Self-Esteem

>Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 18:44:28 EDT

>

>I am writing this letter of inquiry to find out how many of you believe

>that

>you were " addicted " to food before the MGB and if you find yourself having

>those obsessive behaviors now that you are well beyond the surgery. When

>I

>refer to addicted, I mean you GOTTA have it or you will go crazy. My 3

>year

>anniversary of the MGB is coming up in two weeks, and I have found myself

> " obsessively " thinking about and eating food. Granted it's not as much as

>I used

>to but it's all the wrong kinds of food and I feel that I NEED them to

>help

>me emotionally. I have gained 15 lbs since March and I exercise daily,

>which

>I still feel motivated to do. My clothes are starting to fit a bit

>tighter

>and I find myself slipping back into something that I hoped NEVER to feel

>again. I have read many posts about weight gain after the MGB but

>wondered more

>about the EMOTIONAL side of it??

>

>I know that I have an eating disorder and I guess I foolishly thought the

>MGB would make that go away since I had a smaller stomach. This is

>obviously

>an issue that I will have to address my whole

> life: ( I use food for more than nourishment.

>

>The reason that some of you have had to have revisions (as I have read

>about) is it because your stomachs have started to stretch again and you

>are

>eating more?? I'm so afraid that will happen to me.

>

>I know that obesity can obviously affect your self-esteem but how many of

>you (even though you look and feel great now) still find yourself battling

>issues of self-esteem??

>

>I don't post very much but do read and gain information from you.

>I would appreciate any of your thoughts and incites to these questions.

>

>Thanks,

>Anita

>Dr. H

>7/31/03

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I feel your pain. I mostly ate (and still do) out of boredom, so I wasn't

an emotional eater. I do have a problem of " grazing " that I have to watch

out for. I may not be able to eat much at a time, but I sure can eat

constantly. I have to keep food out of reach while at work or I'll munch an

not ev en know I'm doing it, finding myself shocked to learn that entire bag

of chocolate is gone! MGB will keep down the quantity and maybe even the

types of foods you can tolerate, but if you are gaining and know it is

emotional, I would seek counseling. My heart goes out to you. Don't let

this take away the slimmer figure and better health you have worked to hard

to achieve. Keep us posted.

Marilyn in Vermont.

[Guest guest]

Hi, I also know that I was an emotional eater. I used every excuse

in the book to have what I thought I wanted no matter what. I am 2

1/2 years out, and can say that I still eat the things I want, the

difference is in the amount. Before it would have been a whole one

pound bag of M & M every day...I am a chocolate person. But now I can

eat a small bag of them and that is the end of it. If there was a

single piece of candy in the house, I would obsess about it until it

was all gone. I dont do that any more. Somedays, I dont even have

chocolate. But it doesnt bother me. I was also a diet pepsi person,

6 pack a day, I havent had one since the month before my surgery and

you know what I dont miss it. Thats a big surprise to me.

I also had a revision, but it wasnt because my stomach was stretched,

it was because the first time I only had a two ft bypass because of

liver disease that was found when Dr. R performed the MGB. So yes, I

did the revision in order to continue to lose weight. Some days, I

feel hungry all day and others I just eat what I now consider a

normal amount. Good luck.

Anne Hansen

312-162

>

> I am writing this letter of inquiry to find out how many of you

believe that

> you were " addicted " to food before the MGB and if you find

yourself having

> those obsessive behaviors now that you are well beyond the

surgery. When I

> refer to addicted, I mean you GOTTA have it or you will go crazy.

My 3 year

> anniversary of the MGB is coming up in two weeks, and I have found

myself

> " obsessively " thinking about and eating food. Granted it's not as

much as I used

> to but it's all the wrong kinds of food and I feel that I NEED

them to help

> me emotionally. I have gained 15 lbs since March and I exercise

daily, which

> I still feel motivated to do. My clothes are starting to fit a

bit tighter

> and I find myself slipping back into something that I hoped NEVER

to feel

> again. I have read many posts about weight gain after the MGB but

wondered more

> about the EMOTIONAL side of it??

>

> I know that I have an eating disorder and I guess I foolishly

thought the

> MGB would make that go away since I had a smaller stomach. This

is obviously

> an issue that I will have to address my whole

> life: ( I use food for more than nourishment.

>

> The reason that some of you have had to have revisions (as I have

read

> about) is it because your stomachs have started to stretch again

and you are

> eating more?? I'm so afraid that will happen to me.

>

> I know that obesity can obviously affect your self-esteem but how

many of

> you (even though you look and feel great now) still find yourself

battling

> issues of self-esteem??

>

> I don't post very much but do read and gain information from you.

> I would appreciate any of your thoughts and incites to these

questions.

>

> Thanks,

> Anita

> Dr. H

> 7/31/03

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, Joanie, are you sure we are not twins who were separated at

birth?? Your message (below) absolutely mirrors my experience as

well. I, too, was a non-bulimic binge eater before MGB, and for me

the tendency is still there also. Sometimes the only thing stopping

me is the smaller size of my stomach. And like you, I have noted

that I don't gain a " ton " of weight when I eat the wrong things,

whereas pre-MGB I would have. I do gain, but *only* two or three

pounds. But that still worries me, because 2 pounds here and 2

pounds there can sure add up, and the LAST thing I want is to regain

the weight I lost.

In truth, I have regained about 10 pounds, but Dr R says this is

a " normal " part of the rebound procedure at about 2 years out. I am

currently 2-1/2 years out.

I have resigned myself to the fact that I will undoubtedly ALWAYS

have a deep emotional attachment to food. This goes way back to my

childhood days when I frequently went hungry. For one thing, my

family was poor, and after my mother died (when I was 7), my father

handled the problem of feeding 3 kids by making up a huge batch of

pinto beans once a week or so. And that is what we ate EVERY NIGHT

for dinner -- a bowl of pinto beans. And that's ALL we ate, night

after night -- no fruit, no veggies, no meat (unless you count

the " fatback " that went into the pot of pinto beans). So, even when

there was " enough " to go around, I still sometimes went hungry

because I was so SICK of eating PINTO BEANS! (Needless to say, I

NEVER EAT PINTO BEANS NOW!!!!!!!!!)

At lunchtime, I can remember being in the school cafeteria (with my

rancid bologna sandwich) and seeing the other kids with their hot

lunches, which they turned their noses up at. I observed that they

seemed to throw away more than they ate! How I longed for their

leftovers, but my pride stopped me from digging them out of the

garbage can, although believe me, I thought about it. I was obsessed

with food from a very, very young age. So it is not surprising that

I STILL have a very deep and very strong emotional attachment to food.

The very minute I got out on my own, where I could buy and cook my

own food, it was full speed ahead for me -- think " Kid In Candy

Store. " I would use the last dollar in my wallet for FOOD. Not

clothes, not shoes, not makeup, not jewelry, the way *normal* women

do -- but FOOD.

Even though I have now been buying and cooking my own food for more

than 35 years, I have never really recovered from being that hungry

little girl who would sprinkle salt on the back of her hand and lick

it off, just to get the " taste " or " simulation " of eating something.

So, all I can say is " THANK GOD FOR THE MGB! " If not for that, I

shudder to think how much I would weigh by now. I was 271 pounds on

the day of surgery, and I am quite sure I would have gained at least

30-40 pounds in the last two and a half years if not for my MGB. I

would probably weigh 300+ by this time.

So, for me to say that I am extremely grateful for my MGB is no

exaggeration.

(Wow, I didn't mean to write a book!)

Hugs 2 All,

JamiGoldWing

271/161

>

> I definitely still have a very strong emotional connection to food,

and

> having the MGB didn't really change it that much. If I have a bad

day or

> I'm feeling a lot of stress, I want to eat junk food. And

sometimes the

> drive to do so is very strong. I was a non-bulemic binge eater

before the

> surgery, and those tendencies are still there. I can't binge like

I used

> to, but I WANT to do it, and that bothers me.

>

> I am over two years out from the surgery, and I am up ~10 pounds

from my

> lowest weight, I think. (I haven't weighed myself recently b/c our

bathroom

> is being redone and the scale isn't in there right now!) I am still

wearing

> size 8-10, but most of my size 6 clothes are too snug right now.

>

> Not sure how I'll handle these challenges...I do know that I can

eat quite a

> bit at one sitting these days, and refined foods seem to slide

right down.

> The key, of course, is to eat properly, which for us means focusing

on

> protein foods first, followed by veggies and fruits, and then the

other

> stuff, if there's still room. But sometimes that is easier said

than done!

>

> The good news is that I'm not gaining a ton of weight when I eat

the wrong

> foods, and in the past, I would have gained a lot. The bad news is

that I'm

> not losing, and I've actually gained a little bit. As always,

maintenance

> is the hard part of the journey!!

>

> Joanie

> 5/25/04

> Drs. Walsh and Rutledge

[Guest guest]

This is from DC. I am a food addict. I follow a food plan for food

addicts and go to 12 step meetings. The MGB did not cure my food addiction.

I couldn't stop eating sweet things after the surgery and vomitted my way

down to 140 pounds. Then I got so scared about gaining weight back I starved

myself to 112, with reboind bingeing all the way.

My food plan doesn't have sugar, wheat, or flour, No diet soda, no gum, no

coffee. I have to live without putting addictive substances in my body.

I eat awesome healthy meals with plenty of what I need- good proteins, whole

grains, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats.

It really takes the cravings away when those addictive things are OUT of

your body.

Write me if you want to know more.

Love,

in DC

APES

http://www.theapes.com (homepage)

http://www.birdmanrecords.com (record label)

http://www.leafygreen.com (booking)

http://www.230publicity.com (publicity)

>From: " Joan Baird " <jbair001@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: RE: Food Addiction/Low Self-Esteem

>Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 09:40:35 -0400

>

>I definitely still have a very strong emotional connection to food, and

>having the MGB didn't really change it that much. If I have a bad day or

>I'm feeling a lot of stress, I want to eat junk food. And sometimes the

>drive to do so is very strong. I was a non-bulemic binge eater before the

>surgery, and those tendencies are still there. I can't binge like I used

>to, but I WANT to do it, and that bothers me.

>

>I am over two years out from the surgery, and I am up ~10 pounds from my

>lowest weight, I think. (I haven't weighed myself recently b/c our

>bathroom

>is being redone and the scale isn't in there right now!) I am still wearing

>size 8-10, but most of my size 6 clothes are too snug right now.

>

>Not sure how I'll handle these challenges...I do know that I can eat quite

>a

>bit at one sitting these days, and refined foods seem to slide right down.

>The key, of course, is to eat properly, which for us means focusing on

>protein foods first, followed by veggies and fruits, and then the other

>stuff, if there's still room. But sometimes that is easier said than done!

>

>The good news is that I'm not gaining a ton of weight when I eat the wrong

>foods, and in the past, I would have gained a lot. The bad news is that

>I'm

>not losing, and I've actually gained a little bit. As always, maintenance

>is the hard part of the journey!!

>

>Joanie

>5/25/04

>Drs. Walsh and Rutledge

>

>

>

>

>

> >From: mbuelowfam@...

> >Reply-

> >

> >Subject: Food Addiction/Low Self-Esteem

> >Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 18:44:28 EDT

> >

> >I am writing this letter of inquiry to find out how many of you believe

> >that

> >you were " addicted " to food before the MGB and if you find yourself

>having

> >those obsessive behaviors now that you are well beyond the surgery.

>When

> >I

> >refer to addicted, I mean you GOTTA have it or you will go crazy. My 3

> >year

> >anniversary of the MGB is coming up in two weeks, and I have found

>myself

> > " obsessively " thinking about and eating food. Granted it's not as much

>as

> >I used

> >to but it's all the wrong kinds of food and I feel that I NEED them to

> >help

> >me emotionally. I have gained 15 lbs since March and I exercise daily,

> >which

> >I still feel motivated to do. My clothes are starting to fit a bit

> >tighter

> >and I find myself slipping back into something that I hoped NEVER to

>feel

> >again. I have read many posts about weight gain after the MGB but

> >wondered more

> >about the EMOTIONAL side of it??

> >

> >I know that I have an eating disorder and I guess I foolishly thought

>the

> >MGB would make that go away since I had a smaller stomach. This is

> >obviously

> >an issue that I will have to address my whole

> > life: ( I use food for more than nourishment.

> >

> >The reason that some of you have had to have revisions (as I have read

> >about) is it because your stomachs have started to stretch again and you

> >are

> >eating more?? I'm so afraid that will happen to me.

> >

> >I know that obesity can obviously affect your self-esteem but how many

>of

> >you (even though you look and feel great now) still find yourself

>battling

> >issues of self-esteem??

> >

> >I don't post very much but do read and gain information from you.

> >I would appreciate any of your thoughts and incites to these questions.

> >

> >Thanks,

> >Anita

> >Dr. H

> >7/31/03

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi,

We are the same person and in many ways, carry the same issues after

surgery. However, there are many who have food choice changes as a

result of the surgery. For example, dairy and sugar intolerance.

Behavior issues seem to be alot deeper and are not

necessarily " cured " as a result of surgery. So, I would say you are

not alone. I too have some of the same emotional issues.

a

>

> Hi, I also know that I was an emotional eater. I used every excuse

> in the book to have what I thought I wanted no matter what. I am 2

> 1/2 years out, and can say that I still eat the things I want, the

> difference is in the amount. Before it would have been a whole one

> pound bag of M & M every day...I am a chocolate person. But now I

can

> eat a small bag of them and that is the end of it. If there was a

> single piece of candy in the house, I would obsess about it until

it

> was all gone. I dont do that any more. Somedays, I dont even have

> chocolate. But it doesnt bother me. I was also a diet pepsi

person,

> 6 pack a day, I havent had one since the month before my surgery

and

> you know what I dont miss it. Thats a big surprise to me.

> I also had a revision, but it wasnt because my stomach was

stretched,

> it was because the first time I only had a two ft bypass because of

> liver disease that was found when Dr. R performed the MGB. So yes,

I

> did the revision in order to continue to lose weight. Some days, I

> feel hungry all day and others I just eat what I now consider a

> normal amount. Good luck.

> Anne Hansen

> 312-162

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Did you visit a psychologist before you had your MGB? I know my

psychologist went over these kinds of things during my psych. eval.

If he/she did go over these things with you about binging on sweets

and stuff, did you lie and say you don't do that? I know it's been

said many, many times that this surgery will NOT change your brain

or emotions.

I think you have to make a committment to yourself to change your

way of life before the surgery and use it as a wonderful tool.

I, for one, cannot stand throwing up and will avoid anything that

will make me do so; so I know that I will be a success. Sweets,

diet soda, etc., aren't enough to make me vomit. I threw up for

almost nine months straight when I was pregnant with my kids, and I

will not do anything that will make me go through that again.

>

> This is from DC. I am a food addict. I follow a food plan

for food

> addicts and go to 12 step meetings. The MGB did not cure my food

addiction.

> I couldn't stop eating sweet things after the surgery and vomitted

my way

> down to 140 pounds. Then I got so scared about gaining weight back

I starved

> myself to 112, with reboind bingeing all the way.

>

>

> My food plan doesn't have sugar, wheat, or flour, No diet soda, no

gum, no

> coffee. I have to live without putting addictive substances in my

body.

>

> I eat awesome healthy meals with plenty of what I need- good

proteins, whole

> grains, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats.

>

> It really takes the cravings away when those addictive things are

OUT of

> your body.

>

> Write me if you want to know more.

>

> Love,

> in DC

>

>

>

>

>

> APES

> http://www.theapes.com (homepage)

> http://www.birdmanrecords.com (record label)

> http://www.leafygreen.com (booking)

> http://www.230publicity.com (publicity)

>

>

>

>

>

> >From: " Joan Baird " <jbair001@...>

> >Reply-

> >

> >Subject: RE: Food Addiction/Low Self-Esteem

> >Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 09:40:35 -0400

> >

> >I definitely still have a very strong emotional connection to

food, and

> >having the MGB didn't really change it that much. If I have a

bad day or

> >I'm feeling a lot of stress, I want to eat junk food. And

sometimes the

> >drive to do so is very strong. I was a non-bulemic binge eater

before the

> >surgery, and those tendencies are still there. I can't binge

like I used

> >to, but I WANT to do it, and that bothers me.

> >

> >I am over two years out from the surgery, and I am up ~10 pounds

from my

> >lowest weight, I think. (I haven't weighed myself recently b/c

our

> >bathroom

> >is being redone and the scale isn't in there right now!) I am

still wearing

> >size 8-10, but most of my size 6 clothes are too snug right now.

> >

> >Not sure how I'll handle these challenges...I do know that I can

eat quite

> >a

> >bit at one sitting these days, and refined foods seem to slide

right down.

> >The key, of course, is to eat properly, which for us means

focusing on

> >protein foods first, followed by veggies and fruits, and then the

other

> >stuff, if there's still room. But sometimes that is easier said

than done!

> >

> >The good news is that I'm not gaining a ton of weight when I eat

the wrong

> >foods, and in the past, I would have gained a lot. The bad news

is that

> >I'm

> >not losing, and I've actually gained a little bit. As always,

maintenance

> >is the hard part of the journey!!

> >

> >Joanie

> >5/25/04

> >Drs. Walsh and Rutledge

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > >From: mbuelowfam@...

> > >Reply-

> > >

> > >Subject: Food Addiction/Low Self-Esteem

> > >Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 18:44:28 EDT

> > >

> > >I am writing this letter of inquiry to find out how many of

you believe

> > >that

> > >you were " addicted " to food before the MGB and if you find

yourself

> >having

> > >those obsessive behaviors now that you are well beyond the

surgery.

> >When

> > >I

> > >refer to addicted, I mean you GOTTA have it or you will go

crazy. My 3

> > >year

> > >anniversary of the MGB is coming up in two weeks, and I have

found

> >myself

> > > " obsessively " thinking about and eating food. Granted it's

not as much

> >as

> > >I used

> > >to but it's all the wrong kinds of food and I feel that I NEED

them to

> > >help

> > >me emotionally. I have gained 15 lbs since March and I

exercise daily,

> > >which

> > >I still feel motivated to do. My clothes are starting to fit

a bit

> > >tighter

> > >and I find myself slipping back into something that I hoped

NEVER to

> >feel

> > >again. I have read many posts about weight gain after the MGB

but

> > >wondered more

> > >about the EMOTIONAL side of it??

> > >

> > >I know that I have an eating disorder and I guess I foolishly

thought

> >the

> > >MGB would make that go away since I had a smaller stomach.

This is

> > >obviously

> > >an issue that I will have to address my whole

> > > life: ( I use food for more than nourishment.

> > >

> > >The reason that some of you have had to have revisions (as I

have read

> > >about) is it because your stomachs have started to stretch

again and you

> > >are

> > >eating more?? I'm so afraid that will happen to me.

> > >

> > >I know that obesity can obviously affect your self-esteem but

how many

> >of

> > >you (even though you look and feel great now) still find

yourself

> >battling

> > >issues of self-esteem??

> > >

> > >I don't post very much but do read and gain information from

you.

> > >I would appreciate any of your thoughts and incites to these

questions.

> > >

> > >Thanks,

> > >Anita

> > >Dr. H

> > >7/31/03

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

,

Good for you, sounds like you have it under control now I think that is

AWESOME!!!! Kudos to you!!!!

Hugs,

Elissa

Dr. R 4/19/06