Question:
Do you ever stop "missing" food?
I'm having RNY in 4 days, and my biggest concern is that I just love food! As I prepare myself for this lifelong commitment, I think of how I will have to distance myself from the things that I love so much and I feel like I'm going through a death or divorce. Do you ever get over it? — tkj1224 (posted on November 6, 2010)
November 6, 2010
Good News, Today is my 4 year anniversary. 2006 on this date I had the RNY.
I have lost and kept off 220 lbs. You have to change the way you are
thinking. Don't think of what you are giving up, but what you are gaining.
A LIFE. Once you loose and get to your goal weight, then and only then,
once you have learned control, you can start adding in back some of the
foods you love. Just remember, the last bite taste the same as the first.
Usually if I am craving something, it only takes one mouth full to cure the
craving. Mine is chocolate. Good luck. Beleive me it was the best thing I
have EVER done for myself.
— kaykay1959
November 6, 2010
Not at all, I am so happy to be skinnnny! You must change your thinking
for the love of food, but no I do not miss it at all!
I do go to a counselor as a part of my weight loss journey, I am very
concerned of gaining, but my counselor who happens to be the best one ever
helps me considerably. I also go to monthly support meeting for this
surgery.
Your first year is going to be rough maybe, but it is so worth it in the
long run.
My only regret I have is, I wish I would have had the sleeve.
Follow your Dr's eating plan to a "T."
— FSUMom
November 6, 2010
I had RNY in 2008 and food was my friend. There are times that I miss my
friend if I am really under a lot of stress ot if everyone around me is
"feasting" but then I really do get up and go to the restroom,
and look in the mirror. My "friendship" with food was going to
kill me and I was not happy so why go back when I can look like I do now...
Just think about what you want out of your new life and stick to it.
Food really is not our friend anymore and if you think about it, it never
really was. Eat to live don't live to eat.
— phyllismmay
November 6, 2010
I am 2 years out and i miss food all the time. it is a constant struggle. i
am able to eat everything i ate before the surgery. candy , chips, bread
and it really sucks. i do not have a support systm here. there is no
councling avaliable and they would make a difference. but if you are a food
addict like me it will be an on going issure for the rest of your life. and
i fight the battle every day. and lose often. i have gained back 20 lbs. i
am eating a chochlet bar as i type this. dont think this is a cure but a
tool and you need to find a way to work it. i hope i can turn it around so
i dont gain any more weight but it is the hardest thing i have done.
— pinky_711
November 6, 2010
Do you ever completely get over it? Probably not. Is it controlable?
Absolutely! The truth is, for most of us food has been a crutch. We
substituted food for all the things we were missing in life. Once the
weight comes off, and it will, you will have gained so much more from life
that there is no comparison! To buy regular clothes and look good in them,
to play, to dance, to be active without pain, to work hard without being
exausted, to breath easy, to have no more weight driven medical conditions,
to have people tell you how wonderful you look, and at the same time feel
that good...there is no way I can describe to you how much more that is
worth than all the food in the world! I was a prisoner of food. Food fed
my pain. That is all gone and I will never again be dominated by food.
Keep a list of all your NSV's (non scale victories), such as smaller size
clothes, lost inches, knees don't hurt, able to walk a mile, play with
kids/grand kids, complement you get from others, feeling better with more
energy! Soon you will see that a little hunger is worth dealing with in
exchange for so many positive improvements. Best of luck with your surgery
and with your new life! God bless!
— Bonnie H.
November 7, 2010
I'm 2 years out and struggling. Food was--is--an emotional crutch. I WANT
to eat--I just can't. I'm always looking for new ways to channel my
emotional stuff so the compulsion to eat will stop. I can do it for short
periods of time--and that's all I can ask. I didn't learn this behavior
overnight and I'm not going to UNlearn it overnight either. The trick is
finding other things to replace food. You CAN do it. No one ever said it
would be easy--but so many have succeeded and I believe we can too!
— Tina G.
November 7, 2010
I am only 11 months out but have lost 110 lbs. I have been able to eat
most everything but don't even try sweets as I don't want to know if I can
tolerate them. This is a great place to be and I don't want to gain weight
again. It is like smoking, drinking, or any addiction. One day at a time.
Replace the eating with other activities. Go to the gym, crotchet, read,
walk, volunteer. Last month I walked two half marathons (13.1 miles)!
What a great feeling after having trouble going up a flight of stairs prior
to surgery. Make some plans, plan some goals. It is all up to you and you
can do it!!
— Cynthia T.
November 7, 2010
I am 14 months about 120 down, should be more tho. I am an emotional eater,
altho i would do this again in a heart beat it has been very emotional for
me. so many changes to deal with and food has always been my way of
dealing. i gained a few pounds back and am not happy about it, it is very
easy to go back to the way it was. I won't even try chocolate or any kind
of candy, for fear of being able to tolerate it and going off the deep end.
it is a divorce from your best friend and you will grieve the loss, but you
can get thru it.
— MarthaJ0110
November 8, 2010
Thank you for your question Tanya and thank everyone for their insights.
It is so helpful to hear how everone is coping. I too will be having
surgery soon and had the same question (less than 2 weeks). I have been so
addicted to food, it is hard to imagine a life without all the things I
love but now that I have heard new ways to approach it, I feel
enlightened.
Thanks Again
— LillyoftheValley
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