Re: Post op binge eating

[Guest guest]

The first thing you have to remember is that the surgery IS working. Instead

of paying for your binge in becoming " morbidly obese " again, I can assure you

the only payment will be that you had to spend more time in the bathroom.

Coupled with this is since you will not gain weight (significant over the

long term--maybe a pound or two intitally) from this binge, it won't begin

the cycle of self-loathing that a binge or multiple binges brought on before.

My educated guess is that you paid for your binge with the extra trips to

the bathroom and now it is all over. Go easy on your self. If this happens

on an occassion now and then, don't beat yourself up. It is not the first

choice to solace yourself with food, but you now don't have to worry about it

spiralling into making your disease (morbid obesity) worse.

Dawn

Dr. Hess, Bowling Green, OH

BPD/DS

4/27/00

www.duodenalswitch.com

267 to 165 5' 4 "

size 22 to size 10

have made size goal

no more high blood pressure, sore feet, or dieting!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/01 2:38:15 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<<<<<I ate a whole cheese ball and half a package of wheat thins, a small

package of cookies, some baked cinnamon raspberry flaky

cookies, nibbled on trail mix and dried fruit, ate half a bag of BBQ

chips...just bunches of things like that. The sweets really

called me and I followed their lure.>>>

Well, Elle (I hope you don't mind if I refrain from referring to you as

'crone' LOL) -- the trail mix and cheese ball are GOOD FOOD. Pigging out on

that provides protein. Ok -- the chips weren't so great and cookies... I

can totally relate. I tend to binge eat when I'm stressed out. I try to

choose stuff that isn't as 'damaging' as other foods I would traditionally

eat but I can't resist at times.... :(

<<<<I felt sick last night and had terrible BMs this AM and the urge to binge

is gone but I feel sort of frightened at how easy it was

to pig out! I was thinking that maybe I should have had the RnY because it

wouldn't have LET me do this ...is that sick thinking or

what?????>>>>>

I think it's pretty normal to think this way. HOWEVER, I think RNY patients

have to deal with this issue as well. AND, I think it can be more severe

because if they have a proximal they don't have malapsorption working in

their favor. Dumping doesn't always occur with the RNY and it isn't

permanant in many cases. So, I think honestly that a majority of post-op

RNY folk deal with this issue as well. I think if one wants to eat for

comfort nothing will stop one. Sure, a dumping episode early one will scare

a person off for awhile but not for the rest of one's life for most people.

Same goes with the bad stomach/gas/diahhrea --- It may make a post-op DSer

think twice about indulging to quite the same degree again but it may just

happen despite all our best intentions.

I think the first step is to recognize what you're doing and why -- and it

sounds like you do. The next step I think is to FORGIVE YOURSELF. NOw,

if it becomes a habitual pattern, then I think you really have to look long

and hard at the reasons why (perhaps seeking counselling for eating or

sharing with a support group, etc.). But, I think that every now and then a

'splurge' isn't going to hurt. You know, I wonder if 'normal' people do

this, too? Like, they are stressed out or something and crave a

certain-not-so-nutritious-food? I would think they do but the difference is

their body recovers and they don't rely on that pattern of eating long term?

<<<<<I can say that I ate less than I would have pre op but that does not

make the actual idea of a binge any less frightening. For some

reason, I figured that the DS would not allow binging...and that does not

seem to be true, at least for me it isn't.>>>>>>

I feel the same way --- I eat MUCH less than I would have pre-op (and much

less frequently in terms of sugars, etc.) and I was unable or even willing to

binge or eat emotionally for about the first 3-5 months post-op. Then, I

began to like chocolate again! YIKES! LOL

I think the DS does curb binging just by the fact that the stomach is smaller

and can't hold so much. Maybe we could sprinkle some protein powder over all

the good things we like and it would work kind of like a charm to repulse us

from those items???? ROFL

<<<<<<Has any one else dealt with this in a positive manner? Today I made a

food program/wrote down what I would eat for the day/

this is old diet behavior for me, this restricting of food. I also dumped

half bags of stuff into the garbage and put unopened stuff

in the garden room pantry instead of leaving it in the kitchen to call my

name.>>>>>>

I think that's an EXCELLENT idea. Keeping a journal/record makes you

accountable and more honest about exactly what's going in and how much, etc.

I think reverting back to food journaling is a wonderful idea. You also may

be surprised at how little you are actually consuming even though it seems

like so much.

I think getting rid of the offensive items is also a great tactic. Out of

sight, out of mind!

<<<<<I'm feeling really devistated because of this binge..and afraid too. My

confidence in my weight loss was so high, I was feeling

really positive about my choices but now it feels like the old days, the old

bad food and screwed up again days, the diet failure

days.

Who else has dealt with this kind of stuff? What do you do? Any ideas?>>>>>

Elle: The most important thing is to FORGIVE yourself. I can totally

understand your fear that you will 'revert' back to preop ways and 'fail' at

this weight loss, at this wonderful chance to heal and be 'normal' again. I

have felt exactly the same way. And, I think it was around 4 months post-op

that I did get the urge more often to partake of the goodies... BEfore that

time I was just TOTALLY uninterested!

Your weight loss is great -- and it will continue to be. I think the best

approach is to recognize the behavior, try to find other ways to soothe or

appease yourself instead of food, perhaps trying some relaxation techniques

or something to prevent you from the first 'dive' (I think it's much harder

to stop once it begins)... and forgive yourself if you have 'one slip' and

'nip it in the bud' afterwards. :)

All the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 198 lbs/bmi 28/size sweet 16 but squeezin' into a 14! LOL

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/01 2:38:15 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< My educated guess is that you paid for your binge with the extra trips to

the bathroom and now it is all over. Go easy on your self. If this happens

on an occassion now and then, don't beat yourself up. It is not the first

choice to solace yourself with food, but you now don't have to worry about it

spiralling into making your disease (morbid obesity) worse.

>>

Dawn: My problem is I DON'T pay for my binges by going to the bathroom more

often! HELP! I mean, I've had gas and stomach problems on occasion, but not

related to eating bad foods per se... I dont do it that often but I have had

some 'bad stuff' on occasion --- I've had those days but not really suffered

any ill effects from them....

Yikes!

I just refer to them as my 'bad food days'... where I'm just comforted by bad

food choices and the reasons for wanting them are emotional. I almost always

get back 'on the wagon' and eat 'normally/healthily again'. It is possible

that me having some milano cookies every now and again has 'slowed my weight

loss' a bit -- but I'm satisfied at 10 months out (almost 11) having lost 109

lbs! I do want to get the last 28-38 off and am starting to obsess about

that, though... I know, I have some time left and if I keep up the exercise

and eat right I should be able to make it... but I've been on this nasty

plateau for a few weeks now and I'm becoming neurotic!!!!

Somebody give me a chill pill.... preferably with about 20 gms of protein in

it! LOL I'm being such a good girl and still sippin' my strawberry ISOPURE

shake LOL

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months postop and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 198 lbs/bmi 28/size sweet 16 but squeezin' into a 14! LOL