Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
I am considering having gastric sleeve surgery. I am concerned that I am not the best candidate. I have so many issues with food. I am an emotional eater and food is my best friend. I eat when I am bored, sad, anxious, stressed etc. I know I will need to replace food with a different behavior but I'm not sure i can do it. Even thinking about food starts cravings and then I binge. The bingeing is usually brought on by dieting. I figure I already messed up so I might as well eat whatever I want and since i am starting over tomorrow let's make today a free for all. The problem is this happens every day. I am always starting over.
Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? How have you managed it?
Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? How have you managed it?
i totally understand your problem, I feel i am in the same position. My neice had this surgery done and I am very much wanting to do this, so have been getting lots of info from her as well. I am wondering how it will impact my life as well. I just keep reading and reading more before i make my final decision.
Cindy
Emotional eating is common for many of us and counseling is a valuable tool. If you are considering surgery and arent already in counseling with someone who deals with emotional eating and foods addictions, please start. The more prepared you are for surgery in all ways (mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual), the better it will go. I looked at your bio and see that you have had quite a history and my heart goes out to you. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate and surgery will add a whole lot more. Gastric surgery does not fix our heads. Managing emotional eating is an ongoing process and takes constant awareness of our emotions and choices. It sounds like your photography is very healing for you. Keep it up!
For me, coming here regularly, counseling, journaling, gardening, home projects, art, and EFT are excellent outlets to manage emotional eating. I am big on EFT. EFT (tapping) has helped me tremendously and Farmgirl also uses it with great results. There are many good counselors who use tapping and you might find some in your area. The following link explains tapping and provides great information on how you can get started trying it on your own http://www.thetappingsolution.com/ . You can click on find an EFT practitioner in your area in the right column to find someone in your area. EFT not only works for food addictions, it works for boredom, sadness, anxiety, stress, and everything else. If you scroll down to Why Does EFT Tapping Work? it gives you some great information to understand the stress response and its roll in anxiety. EFT really helps to neutralize the stress factor of my emotions, and can reduce my stress around something completely or at least to a minimal and manageable state.
You are not alone!
As much as i know that self hate and beating myself up over my food choices isn't a solution I still do it. I know what I need to do emotionally as well as nutritionally...I just can't seem to get there and when i fail i am terrible to myself.
I do know one thing. I deserve to live and enjoy the rest of my life. I spent so many years hung up because of things that were done to me. Now i understand it better. Now I am choosing to step out into the world ( at the age of 50) and live. But here I am saddled with 150 pounds that is holding me down and struggling to find the motivation and ability to change. I don't want to die like this.
You have to get creative finding things to substitute the old behavior with. I write, walk my dog, call friends, draw. It's still a challenge but it's been worth it.