If you don't mind sharing

I am an emotional eater, food is my drug to combat anxiety, etc. I am considering Overeaters Anonymous as well as WLS, but really would like to get feedback from anyone who has been in the program or are currently in it. Feel free to send me a message if you don't want to post in the forum. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts! Thank you

I would encourage you to do anything you can to address the emotional aspects of the obesity because, as you probably already know, those issues will NOT go away after surgery.  You may get a brief reprieve from them for a couple of months, but eventually you will need to deal with them to some extent in order to not thwart your weightloss and to MAINTAIN your weightloss. If you don't find it useful, you can always quit...

Lora

It's been several years since I attended OA. It works (if you work it, as they say!) for many, but not so much for me. Personally, I don't agree with the religious component. (No matter that people insist it is not religious, it clearly is. Just look at the literature, which is carved in stone.) I also do not agree that the same philosophy and plan that works for alcoholics and drug addicts applies to compulsive eaters. Yes, there's overlap, but we are different animals. 

What is great about OA is the fellowship. Everybody there has the same basic issue, the same drug of choice, and the same desire to be free of compulsive eating. I encourage you to try it. It exists to provide experience, strength, and hope, and I've always found those to some degree at a meeting.

Not all meetings are the same. Even though the international rules and regs are inflexible, individual meetings have their own personalities. You might find one that suits you.

I agree with the above posts.  You will want to address your eating/food issues before you start the WLS journey.  The head issues don't go away with surgery unfortunately.  The more prepared you are mentally, will make your journey a little easier.  There will be temptation everywhere and you need to be prepared to overcome those temptation--and when you get to the point of having a sweet or two, you'll need to be able to limit it. 

 

I wish you the best of luck!!

I know there are quite a few surgeons who will not operate on someone with emotional eating issues.  They send you for a psych evaluation and I know of a couple of people who they refused to operate on.   You need to get that under control prior to moving forward with a decision to have major surgery.   Ask for a referral to a counselor and take it one step at a time.  Good luck.

Thanks for all the replies. I should have been clearer in my msg that I'm already in counseling for my issues and am actually doing quite well.  I was just wondering if it would serve me to also check out OA.  I already passed my psych eval. She is aware of my issues and thinks I'm ready to move forward with the surgery. But I'm thinking of the future. I mean, I'm dealing just fine now, but I need to keep up with the work and I'm thinking it would be better to seek group support, not just one on one, for the long term.

OAhelped me considerably. You can take what you want from ant program. You don't always get a doctor that understands what makes us eat or the inability to just stop. OA is filled with those who have been there. If nothing else you eill receive the tools you need to learn what abstinence ,means for those of us with food problems

Best of luck to you.

Thank you for the feedback! I think I'm going to attend a meeting with a friend of mine who I trust, and see how I feel.

This is not a OA but I do go to WW every week to help get the support and feedback from others so I don't feel alone.  I have also realized that my eating has to do with wanting to get rid of pain.

I have heard good things about WW, too. Thank you for the suggestion. :)