If I don't Overeat now.... - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

ScootRider · 03-07-2005, 12:42 PM

Well, let me rephrase that. I must overeat because I am 5'6" and weigh 300 pounds. YES, I have a bad weight problem. But I am not a face stuffer.

Stay with me I have a point.

In other words, being where I am sitting at any given table at any given meal I probably eat on average the same amount as all those around me. And I do not snack very much with the exception of some late night ice cream. I don't graze at work either. Just normal stuff.

So here it is. Yes, I am fat...I have always been fat since I was 5. I do not consider this weight having come from an eating disorder. My thyroid checks out normal. I know there are alot out there like me that are kinda perplexed as to why they are so big.

Diets do not work for me. A starvation diet will cause me to lose a little until i stop then right back on it goes.

WILL GASTRIC BYPASS HELP ME?

If I say in the psych exam that I do not believe I have an eating disorder will I be disqualified? Hell, Maybe I DO have an eating disorder because I eat normally. hmmmm. Maybe I should tell them I believe I have an eating disorder.

One thing, I believe I do suffer from "clean plate syndrome" I do eat all I am served but rarely ask for more. I also know I am capable of eating ALOT more than I do.

PLease excuse the rambling, but I am just looking for someone to say they get where I am coming from.

Thanks,

Mike

Christina · 03-07-2005, 12:52 PM

I know where you are coming from. I also thought that I didn't have an eating disorder. I would normally eat once or twice a day with minimal snacking. Of course that once or twice a day was a 12 inch sub or whatever the case may be. The thing is, that we have different metabolisms than other people that do not allow us to eat that many calories without burning them all off in order to lose weight. The other thing is, I wasn't completely honest with myself when I was thinking about my "eating disorder." I was in denial about a lot of it until after my surgery and I was going through my closet (I have a big walk in closet) and I found things stashed away. I found boxes of Oreo's, Chips Ahoy, and bags of snickers, and other assorted candy. I found bags of Dorito's and other miscellaneous items as well in drawers and such. I was a horder of food. I would get up in the middle of the night and eat. Is that a good and healthy habit? Not at all, am I proud that I was like that? Absolutely not! Are you like that? Well .. maybe.. and maybe not. You may have a striclty genetic and metabolic reason for being heavy. You may have been predisposed to be heavy. Will the surgery work for you anyway? It sure will.

To be completely honest with you, you won't even begin to realize just how much food you eat until you have the surgery. Sure you may not eat "that much" now but after a few months you will begin to realize that even though it wasn't that much.. it was too much. I am not trying to be harsh with you, or rude at all. This is a fact. You don't get obese by exercising and eating sensibly at all meals. Your problem may be the same as mine was for a long time.. it wasn't the amount of food, but what I was eating that got me into trouble. The amount came after the weight gain began. Carbs were my weakness, and still are. Therefore, I try and avoid them and it seems to work great for me. Now I do eat them occassionally.. but not like I used to.

Good luck to you and I hope this didn't offend you, as that wasn't my intention.

Gladitsme · 03-07-2005, 12:53 PM

I know that I don't think I eat much either, but when I compare with what others have on their plates, it's more.

And the truth is, after we go thru the surgery, we will be eating a lot less than we do now.

watergirl · 03-07-2005, 01:01 PM

Christina really said it well, when she said, you may think you do not have an eating disorder. I don't think I did. Heck, I worked out, ate sensibly and still gained weight. I couldn't lose weight to save my life. The surgery saved my life.

I didn't snack, I know now that I just ate too much at one sitting. My down fall is carbs too. Now I eat carbs, I get sick. I am perfectly fine with this.

I hope you'll be honest in your eval because you have to live with the results. I wish you luck and clarity Mike.

bridgetgirl · 03-07-2005, 01:07 PM

i didnt think I had one until I discovered that on several occassions I would binge eat and other times I would not eat...all in attempt to control. Also, my portion sizes were out of control. I found this check list see if it applies to you or to anyone of you on the board. Good luck!

Are You An Overeater? A Check List.
Your doctor, friends, family, nutritionist and calorie tables may describe your eating as too much, too little or strange. They may describe it as healthy and within reasonable limits. Only you know the details of your eating habits and the influence food has in your life.

Do any of these food related statements describe your experience?

I eat meal portions larger than necessary.
I eat privately before eating publicly to disguise how much I eat.
I'm a "grazer," eating throughout the day and evening.
I eat alone after being with friends or coworkers.
I crowd my mind with thoughts about food.
I starve myself for hours or days to create guilt free eating time.
I binge. (Classically binge eating involves massive eating in a short period of time. But while a quart of ice cream may be a binge to one person a small dish may be a binge to another. If you think or feel you binge, that self defined binge behavior is something to explore.)
I vomit or use laxatives to ride myself of food I've eaten.
I exercise regularly and specifically to burn up calories from what I think is too much food.
I have some private rituals regarding certain foods.
The thread which runs through these behaviors is that you are eating for reasons other than food hunger. In addition, if eating ranks among the most satisfying emotional or stress reducing experiences in your life, you may be living with too many unsatisfying relationships with people.

Why you live this way may be a secret even from you. Understanding the link between your undesirable eating habits and neglected aspects of your personal life can help free you from overeating.

ScootRider · 03-07-2005, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christina

Good luck to you and I hope this didn't offend you, as that wasn't my intention.

No, No...not offended at all. I realize there are many reasons why people are big. I appreciate your comments.

Like I said, I am obviously eating too much. I just have this concern that I could go through this and have the restricted lifestyle and still not lose.

I am such a silly pre-op, eh?

Christina · 03-07-2005, 02:17 PM

You are NOT a silly pre-op patient. I had to explore this myself in great detail before I took the plunge to have surgery. I thought there was no way in the world that this would work for me as I didn't eat "that much" anyway. I started a food journal and wrote down everything I ate all day long. After I started the journal, I started my HONEST food journal and actually wrote EVERYTHING Down that I ate. My first attempt was just meals, and did not include all of my sodas. The second one was a little harder to read back. I realized that I ate more often during stressful times or bouts of depression which came along very often as a woman almost 300 lbs. I was honest with myself and then I was at peace with my decision. I knew I was out of control and I was only going to keep gaining weight. I still thought going into this that I would never be "normal" or lose as much weight as I had already lost. I was content with being just 199 lbs!! I just wanted to be under 200 and feel healthy. Now I am filled with happiness and not as much sorrow. I am honest with myself and my eating habits. I probably still don't eat as much as I should, but I definitely do not feel deprived and still feel as if I eat a lot. After a few months you will notice that you can eat more.. at first this is very scary!! Then at about 6 months then a year out you realize you can even eat more.. talk about a shock! This is normal to feel scared around those times.. but also feel happy. You can go to a resturant and eat like a semi normal person and have left over's like a thin person does. It is quite an amazing tool if you use it to your full advantage. Just try not to snack throughout the day and make good choices, you will succeed.. don't worry about that.

watergirl · 03-07-2005, 05:02 PM

You're right here with us. You're not silly at all. I was sure I was going to be the only person this did not work for, because I was different than everyone else. I thought I was different. You know what I found out, I'm just like everyone else here. We have so many commonalities. Call us all silly

Mr AOR · 03-07-2005, 05:43 PM

Hey Mike,

It's good to take a self-inventory and evaluate your situation before choosing WLS. I think you've gotten some great feedback in response to your post. After it's all said and done, it's you who will have to make the decision.

For me, it's saved my life. It gave me a jump start to seize control of this body that has always made it difficult for me to get through life with any sense of quality.

I think a lot of us felt that we didn't eat a lot, but after you have food quantity and choices restricted, I think you'll see just how much you ate pre-surgery. It's scary and it's a wake up call, and it can change your life.