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    Sunday, January 07, 2007

    Food Addict?

    Weightloss surgery has made forced me to look at my past eating habits. Most obese people will tell you that they eat food for comfort. They are emotional eaters. Food is the one and only friend that doesn't treat them poorly (at first, but then the pounds are packed on). The vicious cycle is that the more one eats, the worse they feel.

    Given my somewhat turbulent childhood, one would think that I should fall into the above category. What I'm realizing is that I'm not an emotional eater. I never have been. I have never found that food eased my pain. In times of stress, I go into starvation mode.

    I had a hard time convincing the weighloss center behaviorist that I was not an emotional eater. Instead of individualizing each patient, he was using stereotypes that I did not fall into.

    The behaviorist wanted to know how someone could become morbidly obese without being an emotional eater. I explained that after giving birth to two children and taking care of two terminally ill in-laws, I had focused on everyone except myself. As a mother, I gave every ounce of myself to being the best I could be always putting the babies first. This meant that I didn't really put much thought into what I was putting into my body.

    I had to take a look at genetics as well. I come from beefy stock on both sides. I found a picture of my great grandfather's sisters. I am built exacly like the herd.

    Metabolism needs to be factored in as well. My best friend eats twice as much as I do and can't believe how little I actually eat (she has travelled with me for days being with me 24 hours a day watching what I eat).

    I'm not saying that I don't like food, because obviously I do. I have found myself eating because I was bored and the food was there. I grabbed whatever was easy and close by. I have a bad habit of going all day without eating anything until 7 o'clock at night. At that point, you better get out of my way because I'm going to eat anything and everything. When you wait so long to eat, you just stuff the food in and have no idea of when your body is actually full until it's too late.

    Weightloss surgery has given me the chance to make friends with my body. I'm learning to listen to it. I now eat slowly and savor every bite.

    I was told that the disconnect from food would be hard after surgery. One woman told me that life after surgery was the hardest thing she had ever done. She feels cheated that she can't eat whatever she wants to. What I've found is that don't miss the terrible things I was putting into my body. I feel a sense of relief for not feeling guilt about what I choose to eat. I know I need to work hard now as the weightloss window is only about 18 months. In this time, I have to set good eating habits that will follow me for the rest of my life.

    27 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    Lets go have a salad.
    Keep it up.
    I'm first?
    No pig shit pizza.
    No complete trains of thought.
    Writing disorder.
    Love

    SignGurl said...

    G-man~ I haven't eaten salad yet since surgery. It's one of the last things you get to add. It's all about the protein baby! Haven't you had your coffee yet?

    Anonymous said...

    You are right!

    I am now about to depart to Tim Horton's.

    I shall return.

    Many Many things contain protein..choosing wisely is the key!

    SignGurl said...

    Go get thee some coffee!

    You would be surprised how little protein is in anything except for meat. Thank God I'm not a vegetarian.

    Anonymous said...

    Peanut Butter..most beans, Cheese?

    Yeah, a girl that eats meat is...not a vegetarian.( I know, I kept it clean)

    Anonymous said...

    Signgurl - Even though we have just met in this "neighborhood" (thank you Dirk), I want to through my arms around you and give you a big hug. I have a dear friend that also had the same surgery done and I walked her step by step in her daily struggles, battles and ups and downs. You seems to be tackling this like you own it.

    Anonymous said...

    Your gettin a bit out of hand Sign.......( I love it!)

    Danyele said...

    You know, I'm sure that people used to look at me and imagine the gobs of food that I must have been eating but that was never the case. I certainly didn't make the best choices, but my family history (major type 2 diabetes on my dad's side) and my own PCOS definitely factored heavily into my obesity.

    Manny said...

    Sign, I'm a stress starver too and I can go all day with out food, but like you said, come 7 at night, watch out. For the last year or so, I have been struggling with an extra 20lbs. I'll lose it only to gain it back. I love food! When I eat I always go for the wrong stuff. Pizza before bed, sugar, sugar, and more sugar. I love fatty foods. Bacon, I can eat a pound of it. I know I have to stop because I'm not getting any younger. You are my inspiration. Please keep these type of posts going sweetie. OK I'm off to my treadmill. Hugs and hairpulls

    Anonymous said...

    With your attitude I don't think you'll have any problem. You are such a strong woman!

    Anonymous said...

    I don't know...I see a the makings of a giant eruption....100 pounds.
    ( BOOM! )

    Get a club...

    Big Pissy said...

    Sounds like you have the right attitude about eating.

    Good for you! :)

    Anonymous said...

    g-man seems a little mean, does he know you?

    He has a sarcastic wit...

    I think I like him, but I'll wait to see what you have to say about him...

    DZER said...

    keep up the good work, darlin' ... *smooch*

    Anonymous said...

    Sign? What DO you have to say about me?

    I (heart) you!

    Craig D said...

    Great post!

    I know all about letting one's self go to pot. Once our daughter was born I put away the Nordictrack and stopped going to Weight Watchers. I've been eating whatever and whenever I can. The result? One doughy, middle-aged blogger!

    You go, gurl!

    Anonymous said...

    My biggest problem is everyone is an enablier. Not a excuse but they do excample...hubby brings home cookies and donuts free from work. I say I'll eat just one well maybe two. I know I have a problem as well but when its there its hard to just not eat it. I have some childhood issues as well and mine are still pretty much locked up in the back of my memory waiting to be sprung out into the open which I know will cause me much pain and grief. But the parts I do know that are already out are my father abused my mom when she was alive and I used to think it was ok. I even "helped" him a couple of times when I was mad at my mom. How sick is that? I spoke with the specialist for gastric bypass but right now I need to get over some other problems before they will consider me. (gotta get my blood pressure back under control for one) I admire you alot. You have the stringth to get through your hardships. Mine are still behind a "curtain". Im really afraid of when they decide to come forth that I might not be able to handle it.

    Suze said...

    Jenn, it sounds like you are already well on the way to healthier eating.

    Realising the mistakes you made previously is the start. You are a level headed and intelligent woman, you will be fine.

    Anonymous said...

    you are so right about the habits thing

    i let my diet and exercise slide over december/christmas. i let myself start eating meat (other than a little fish) and eating at christmas parties (even at our own). i have been ditching exercise to spend time with the kids because they are guilting me out, and ditching exercise to spend time with my lady

    result: 7-10lbs up

    as soon as i let myself get back into putting everybody ahead of me, putting my diet and eating pattern behind others needs, letting myself eat a bunch of meat...

    bang - back on the old train

    your post is another alarm in my own wake-up call

    thanks

    i'm sure hoping that you are able to build a new pattern for yourself

    Anonymous said...

    It sounds like you are in a very good mental state about all of this and I think it will serve you well to be successful for the long term.
    Great post Jenn.
    tc

    Crabby said...

    If anyone was ever a perfect match for this gastric bypass thingy, it's you, Sign. Your attitude is GREAT! I think you're going to be a shining example of what can be done, when you put your mind to it.

    PS. I'm a big time stress eater myself. Working on that one. LOL!

    KJ said...

    Wow, I admire you.

    I'm a total emotional eater and always feel terrible afterwards

    CozyMama said...

    great post and you changed the look of the blog again, I love it.

    Liz said...

    You can do it!

    Why am I reminded of Rob Schneider in every Adam Sandler movie whenever I use that expression.

    Damn you SNL alumni for ruining a perfectly great motivational phrase.

    kimmyk said...

    I'm just now tolerating salad 15 months post op and something other than water.

    It's wierd when you look at what you would grab for pre surgery vs what you grab now post op isn't it?

    Comfort food has taken on a whole new meaning.

    Anonymous said...

    SIGN-GURL!!!!

    Unknown said...

    Hey Sign-Gurl! Long time slacker, first time poster. I so hear you about not being an emotional eater and I'm happy to hear you loud and proud about it. I also am a stress starver - and a distractable eater. Given something more fun to do, I won't eat. This is so not a plan after WLS, I can't tell you. So, like you, I have to listen to my body and plan eating. It's all about good habits, isn't it.