Compulsive eating

Okay, so I am just starting the bariatric journey.  What do we all do about the compulsive side of overeating?  Are there classes, is there a medication, What helps?

Congratulations on beginning your journey. 

For me, journaling is key.  I use Fitday (free on Fitday.com) and I purchased the upgrade.  It keeps me aware and honest about what I eat.  It also track inches lost, weight loss and nutrition counts.  Certainly the surgery has helped me with overeating, as I get full and stop.  I do not and will not eat sugary desserts or highly fat foods and I appreciate the fact that I could experience the dumping syndrome that comes with RNY.  Only did it once in the hospital on meds not because I ate something inappropriate.   I never loose site of the fact that I am a recoverying food addict.  The surgery is just a tool, and I must continue to make conciencious decisions about what I eat.  If I started "thinking' I could eat just one cookie, candy, I'd be right back where I started, like most addictive behaviors.   So, I choose nuts, cheese, fruits and veges and frankly I appreciate eating them more now.

The other thing is to surround yourself with support, be in online like OH or in a local support group.  Attend luncheons and coffee's put on my OHers or support groups.  Giving back and supporting others helps me tremendously!

I hope this helps you as you begin your new life.  It's the best decision I ever made for myself.  I feel wonderful and in control.  We're here to support you on your journey!

Barb

Wow!  Thanks for this info.  Fitday is really a cool site.  I just played around on it for a while... you can track everything about your life!  I'll be using this tool regularly. 

You are most welcome, it's my life line and my honesty!

That question is an important one to ask.  I think you have to first recognize the problem, which you do, and then plan a very specific way to handle it.  While the surgery will help, hence the tool, the great majority of work is going to be yours.  I am speaking to myself as I write.  I too am waiting for surgery, and very close at this point, but the internal dialogue I have now is certainly different than when I began.  Like the other posters, I make myself accountable.  That has had a huge affect on my relationship with food.  I post all my choices on the daily plate - www.livestrong.com  And I am honest about each and every thing I put in my mouth.  Cheating would only hurt me and not accomplish anything.  I am, like another poster, very aware that my trigger foods:  bread, pasta, cookies, cake, ice cream, rice, potatoes, sauces.  I just don't eat them anymore.  I can no longer fool myself into thinking I'll eat one cookie.  NOT!  I have been on a pre-op diet since Feburary, and lost 45 pounds to date.  I hope that means I'm giving up my compulsive side and putting on my accountable side.  Now I'm compulsive about exercise....but that's safe, lol.  Hope this is helpful to you in some way.

Thanks everyone for th input.  I am actually taking a class currently, but I have taken classes before.  It always helps, but it never lasts.  Not that I'm about to giveup, no-siree-bob, I'm not.  But it's always good to get input from others fighting the same battle.  I too have investigated the FitDay site, and I like it.  It doesn't offer enough exercize options to suit me.  I work out on a Gazelle glider every day and that's not an option on FitDay, but I have found a level of stationary biking that seems to fit, so I'm using that instead.  I will look at livestrong next, and see how I like that.  there is a Yahoo page that is similar too, and has a lot more exercize options, so I am also looking at that.  But I am struggling with the whole compulsive eating thing, and can use all the help I can get.

I am 2 1/2 years out, and I want to tell you that compulsive eating the way I used to do it is still not possible for me. For 2 years, I could barely get in enough calories to meet my daily should-haves, and now I have learned to keep things healthy or I will feel sick. I can eat up to a certain amount, but then I get gassy or quesy and that keeps me good. I still do almost no sweets or fats and I cannot imagine going back there. I think our surgery changes us and our pouch keeps us from overdoing. I am saying it is always easy. But I have control now, and I never felt like I had that before. Do not worry now. You will fill up so fast, you will have trouble just getting in your liquids and your protein. Binging will be far from your mine for a long while, hopefully forever.
nancy

Thanks for the info, Nancy.  I hope that turns out to be the case for me.  I will not have roux-n-y because I have RA and need to keep taking my nsaids.  Also my doctor says he will not perform lap band on a diabetic (me), so don't bother to ask for it, so I guess I will have the gastric sleeve, which is the only option open to me now.  Apparently a lot of people have had great success with it, so I am hopeful. 

Pat