Psychological changes

Hey-
I haven't had any issues with the losing weight part. BUT there is a huge mental aspect that comes along with this whole thing. I have been overweight forever, so one of the weird parts for me is that i have a hard time not seeing myself as the way that i once was. I see what i look like in the mirror but sometimes i still feel like the pre-op me, which is completely different from the me now! 
All in all though, it has been a great experience for me to become a better person while losing weight. i am a better, happier person everyday and the few head games that come along with it are totally worth it!

I had to have a psych eval before my band surgery and one post-op psych visit was also included in my program fee.

Some of the emotional and behavioral changes I've experienced:

> mourning food, especially recreational eating
> anger and disappointment when I can't overeat
> not being able to comfort myself or numb myself with food
> dealing with unintentional (mostly) sabotage by friends and family
> finding behaviors to substitute for overeating
> occasional jealous behavior on the part of obese friends
> my own jealousy of other WLS patients who lost more quickly than I did
> self-consciousness and awkwardness when complimented on my new appearance
> body dysmorphia
> frustration that my mother will not acknowledge my weight loss success
> fear of failure
> fear of weight regain

I can give you a much, much longer list of positive experiences I've had.

There's an excellent book that addresses a lot of this.  It's called The Emotional First Aid Kit, a Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery, by Cynthia Alexander.

Jean

I guess I experience all of those too... some people are just better with words!  Thanks Jean - great post!

I have a very long blog on this subject.......my issues were still dormant until I hit 100 lbs lost, so it took time to come get me.  Feel free to click on me and read........I also posted on the board at the time a shorter version because nobody needs to read all my fat drama.......but suffice to say I found I missed my fat suit.  My psychologist says it's really common to have issues with the positive of the loss and appearance, he was the speaker at my support group last night.

Kernie,

I've met alot of people who have no idea how valuable a fat suit can be and they'll always look at you alittle funny.  I identified this need in me around age 24 but when I brought it up to those around me I was ridiculed.  Now I wish I'd listened to myself and kept looking for someone to understand, it would have saved me years of obesity and helplessness.    I guess though that we all live through what we live through to be a help and blessing to someone else. 

Keep up the good work with your counselor.

Gwen