Question about Eating Disorder Counseling

I'd like to know if anyone here tried eating disorder counseling before making the decision to have weight loss surgery. The reason I ask is that my sister asked me if I had considered trying that. She told me that not all overwieght people have eating disorders so she wanted me to consider that this may be my problem and that it could be the answer for me instead of surgery. Even though she knows I've tried a zillion other things. I told her I'd post this to the forum to see what others had to say about it even though it really doesn't make sense to me. To me, it seems that anyone who over eats has an eating disorder and ..... don't all overweight people over eat? But I promised her I'd post to see if anyone can help clear up the question.. so here I am. Thank you, Marianne C. Hudson Florida

Sorry.... I should have signed my post saying why I'm posting in the NY forum. My husband and I are "Snowbirds" We are from Schenectady NY and now live in Saratoga NY for 5 months and in Hudson Florida for 7 months. We are currently in NY until October. -Marianne C.

Well i think it goes hand in hand. I know for me even with the surgery i need some outside counseling to deal with issues that brought me to overeating in the first place. The surgery isnt a cure for obesity it is an amazing tool to be used with therapy and support. I needed assistance in loosing the weight and the surgery helped me. Good luck and we are all here for you ! LisaMarie

Thank you Lisa Marie! That makes sense to me. That the surgery is a tool to be used to assist me in fighting the eating disorder counseling is something everyone needs in conjunction with WLS. So if my sister insists on me seeking counseling prior to deciding whether or not to have the surgery. Perhaps I should find a counseling program that is also WLS friendly. -Marianne C. Saratoga, NY and Hudson, Florida

Over eating is one thing. COE and binging are another and are secondary to more of a significant problem that should be addressed rather than having WLS.

I am in councling now for it . I see a weight management counclor. SHE also had the surgery is a pscy nurse and i think its needed! hugs

Marianne, For me the phyc is something I should have done from the beginning but it does not take the place of surgery for me. The WLS was just a tool, the phyc that I am seeing if for learning how to use the tool the best I can. Now I have to make my health the major issue in my life so I can stick with my new eating plan for life. I could have never lost all the weight with just going the the phyc, I needed the WLS as well and it has become a very important tool but it is just that, A TOOL, and if we do not learn how to work with it then we can end up back in the same place we started! AND I will NEVER let that happen again. I wish you all the best hun. Keep us posted.... Debra P

Hmmm, overeating, a disorder...well I suppose. I'd say if you eat for emotional reasons that are deep seeded, and need to be dug up, counseling can't hurt. I was bulimic. I did not tell anyone at the surgeon's office because it had been awhile since I had a binge and purge. I knew it could have disqualified me from surgery. I didn't want it held against me, because I was determined not to do it again. I didn't and don't want to spoil my 28K+ surgery. At one point in my life, I was 19, bulimic and chunky. An older friend had said to me, I didn't think bulimics were heavy. I thought gosh that's an ignorant statement. I had been in counseling most of my life since puberty. I think it's helped and it can't hurt. Kristine