I am so addicted

Hello everybody.  I have been reading your posts for weeks now.  I am waiting on my insurance approval. I am about 350 pounds overweight and I feel so addicted to eating.  My doctor wants me to lose some weight before this surgery and I think I have gained.  How did you tell yourself to stop?  It is all I think about and I am to the point where I can barely walk nor breathe.  I would appreciate your prayers, I don't know anywhere else where someone could possibly know how I feel.  I haven't seen anybody on here as large as me and I am glad of that.  I wouldn't wish this on anybody.  Thanks for listening.

There are some people here who started out with very high BMI - so you're not alone...

I didn't have to do a pre-surgery diet - but I did quit smoking and drinking coffee for the surgery. Does that count as something that was hard to do? Basically, I had had enough of being obese - and decided that I wanted the surgery more than anything. For sure, it was very hard to quit smoking - but looking back now? It was all so worth it. If I had suffered 10X what I did, it would still have been so worth it! It will be worth it for you too!!

We have all loved to eat or we wouldn't be here, but having this surgery will help sooooo much. There is someone on this site that says  NOTHING IS AS GOOD AS SKINNY FEELS.  Good luck, you can do it!!

Hello, I'm glad you decided to post and let us know you are ready to begin this journey.  I may not be able to relate to your experiences of being SMO, but I am more then willing to support and encourage you! 

Your post actually includes the answer to your own question...."I can barely walk nor breath"....ths is what you need to remember each time you go to eat during your pre-op diet.  Your life depends on you losing this pre-op weight so your Surgeon will be able to see your committment to this new life.  Once you receive the surgery, you will have such a helpful tool!

Continue to read and to post...we will all benefit!!

Thanks so much, I am really going to try harder..  It is true, if life isn't motivation enough, what is there?  It is so hard though..

I appreciate your encouragement!

Hi Sweetie. I can definately relate. I didn't have as much to lose as you do, but, my life depended on me having this surgery and taking off over 100 lbs. Not a small task by any means. No matter whether we need to lose the 100 or 300 lbs, it's to save our life and give ourselves a quality TO our lives.

I am sending you a big "hug". You are overwhelmed it sounds like and I can relate to the out of control. Try to simply start losing the carbs. Eat as much protein as you can, and good carbs, but try to start losing the bad carbs. Try to eat more lean protein. No white sugar, white flour, white rice, that sort of thing. Eat whole grains, whole wheat pasta, brown rice instead, and eat these IN portion and concentrate on eating more protein along with that. You will despite yourself lose some weight while staying satiated. I got that advice from a NUT once and it does work. It's a start. You have to wake up one morning and take that first step and just do it. You can, I have faith. You have faith. Just remember, it's to save your life.

Good luck to you.

Sue

Hi,
Your words touched my heart.  I have all kinds of reasons I eat. I have had to enlist the help of a professional therapist to help me with my eating issues. That's  the best advise  I can share. 
Good luck to you and God Bless.
Margaret

I love to eat I think I can say we all do.

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday and today I had to start a clear liquid diet for three days
up until surgery. I have had to do this once before when I had a colonoscopy but at least when
I did it then I knew that after the test I would once again be able to eat all the foods I love so dearly.
Now I do not know when I will be eating real food again I just know that the liquid diet will continue for me for four weeks after surgery.
I am freaking out this is really hard.
The only advise I can give is that because I want this so bad and I do not want to screw up the surgery or post op I am going to stick to it.
Also I am trying to keep myself busy that seems to help alot- If you can't get up and go window shopping (which is my all time favorite) I have also found that just being on this site reading all the posts and viewing the before and after photos of everyone really helps to pass the time and keeps me motivated. Because I too plan on having one of those UNBELIEVABLE before and after photos.

Hang in there you can do this.

My prayers are with you.

I'm probably close to your size. I did WW while waiting for surgery and went up and down..although I was down 14 pounds from my highest weight on surgery day.  I didn't have a pre-diet like others, just no food after midnight the day before surgery.

Now, after surgery, life with food is completely different. I feel in control for the first time I can remember. I feel full. Food is not always on my mind.  I can not tell you how happy I am.  I love when I look at something sweet (even SF pudding or a skinny cow) and be able to say no, and really because I just don't want it. It's the best feeling you will ever know. 

Insurance will drive you crazy.  I had to actually hire a lawyer to get my approval, but it finally happened(took 16 months). Don't give up..it will hurt, it will make you cry and scream and even eat...but keep fighting and get the surgery. You will never be happier and your life will never be the same again.

Good luck

Hi I feel your pain. I too am addicted to food. My highest weight was around 320.  There are people on here who weighed more than you and have done the surgery and are losing or have lost all of their weight. I hope some of them post here.
When my surgery was scheduled and i was told to do the liquid diet for 2 weeks i was nervous i would not be able to do it. I drank a lot of protein shakes and slim fast.  And I wasn't perfect i ate some chicken and eggs when i just had to have something. I took it one day at a time. Soon it was the day before surgery and my appetite was much lower from doing the protein/low carb liq diet. I really wanted to help shrink my liver so the surgeon wouldn't have any problems. I lost 10lbs pre surgery.
Now at 1 month out I'm eating some solids and surprisingly i am satisfied most of the time. I have some cravings but a little applesauce or a Popsicle and viola its gone. I get full so quick its crazy crazy. I am seeing a therapist since right before the surgery to help me with issues that will come up. I mean obviously i have issues. I've been self medicating with food my whole life. I wen to dinner tonight at a restaurant with family. It was really weird to eat less than my 7 year old daughter. I kept looking at the food around me. In the past i woulda cleaned mine and everybody Else's plates plus desert plus probably woulda still been hungry once i got home. Instead I'm sitting here posting and feeling satisfied. It's a miracle!! Truly!! My prayers are with you. Please keep reading and posting. This forum has everything to do with my ability to go through with this journey.