Distorted thinking and forgetting im trying to diet.

Hi Swede - welcome aboard! Your avitar says you're waiting for approval - is that from the insurance company? Do they have any special requirements you have to follow before being approved? Just asking because mine did.

In order for my insurance to approve me I had to go on a 3 month supervised diet, exercise and nutrition program - I had to obtain the services of a professional nutritionist (outside of Barix) - I had to join a gym and use a personal trainer - and I had to report into my PCP monthly with my progress.

At first I thought 'OMG I'll never be able to do this' but in the end it turned out to be the best thing I could have done pre-op because the nutritionist didn't put me on a 'diet' - she just had me start tracking my food intake and sort of watching what I ate. The personal trainer set me up with a program that my 388 lb body could handle - and I got a puppy and started walking a lot (not just for the walks but it sure helped!!). And my doctor was so supportive and logged my progress and reported into my insurance company with how I was doing.

I lost 33 lbs without really 'dieting' or feeling deprived - I learned how to log my food and the nut told me how to read labels (she was very well educated in WLS).

We all have/had bad habits and that's why we're here - and trust me I'm surely not perfect but that 3 month prep period really did help me POST-OP with my new eating habits and all.

Wish you all the best - you're going to knock this one out of the park - you just have to get your head wrapped around it (how many cliches can I use here?? LOL) but you seem determined to kick the foodie habit and move on to a healthier life and lifestyle - and I know you'll do it!!

Kathy

Hi Kathy,
I am on a six month supervised diet (I just had my fourth visit on Monday).  I could have gone to monthly meetings at my hospital or do them with my PCP.  I chose my PCP.  I meet my Surgeon on 5-4-10 to get the skinny on the surgery and find out what else I need to do.  I need to show some adherence to a diet and exercise program and food journal.  If I meet these requirements then my surgeon will send in my case for approval to the insurance company.

Thanks
Swede

You've had so many totally right on responses, I really can't add more to it than that.  But I tend to ramble anyway so bear with me, most of it is repetitive.

First off - Karen's writing (and she speaks the same way in person as well) is just phenomenal and is a true wealth of information, compassion, and understanding, and willing to kick you if needed.

Secondly - the mind games NEVER go away.  It's ridiculous.  I have found the mind games to be worse the further out I get.  Like others, I too stretch the limits when stressed or tired (or both) and eat crap I shouldn't.  Sometimes I get away unscathed, except for the water weight.  Sometimes I dump for hours on end.  Either way - not fun.  And either way - detrimental in some way.  Mentally, physically, emotionally.

The first couple of months was "easy" for me.  "Easy" because I HAD to think about it and had to plan it or I didn't meet protein goals etc.

Congrats on taking this first step - it's the beginning of REALLY wrapping your head around a totally intangible object.  Emotions, stress, reactions etc you can't just take a strangle when they act outta line (children and significant others you can lol, as long as you hide the evidence)

AND congrats on bringing it out in "public" here on the boards.  Venting will be a great way to deal with the stress as well.  Many suggest journaling which, in this thread, kind of sounds like what you did.  WHY you ate the pop tarts, how you were feeling, etc.  Might be something that is beneficial to you.

Oh, and my final repetition is I agree with changing the word "diet"  You are NOT dieting as dieting implies there is a beginning and an end time frame.  You are "successing" as we say.   Many of us have determined we don't want to "succeed" because when you succeed, it implies, yet again, and end....and there's no end, nor limits, to what we can achieve.

I am being bombarded with the mind games a lot now.   Being almost two weeks out of surgery I think I am getting picked on by the TV.  At night when everyone else in my house is asleep I think the networks purposely put all the Pizza commercials on to tease me .  It is really not fair  lol...When I feel my self getting sucked in I just laugh because I know I don't need that anymore

What I have learned in working with my clients in the D&A field as well as post WLS patients is that this really is a recovery. If you can look at it that way and identify that food as an addiction that needs to be treated forever and ever amen it does help a bit. You never get a vacation from recovery.
I would suggest reading the book Anatomy of Food Addiction and The Beck Diet Solution book. Both very good books for laying the ground work for your recovery. The surgery is easy the real work comes after and it is a ***** but so necessary to truly learn to use this tool for life.

Hi Swede,

I didnt read any other responses.... all I read was this:

"I cant wait to get this surgery done so I can finally interrupt this pattern and really take a look at why I eat and to finally get off cruise control."

Just know... this surgery doesnt  inturrup the pattern.....

I'm strugglin.... almost 3 years post-op .....  just know...