weight loss and addiction

Question
Hello, First off I need to say that I LOVE this site, I found it just browsing and have spent over 3 hours reading reading ... Anyways, I am just coming up in 2 weeks for my 2 year post op. anniversary. I had a RNY Gastric bypass. I started off at five foot tall and 279 pounds and am now 119 pounds, I am 30 years old. So 160 pounds lost. This last year has been a very big learning experience for me about myself. I have noticed that I tend to become attached to certain things. Not necessarily because of feelings or depression but just because they are there. Sugar at first was the big addiction after the surgery. I noticed very huge cravings for sweets that would drive me cranky or even close to insane when I didn't feed it even if just a little bit. Before I knew it I would be eating cookies before bed every night. So I read up on sugar addiction and tried to cut that out. I also noticed that I react differently to alcohol but that was immediately banned from my house. That addiction seems to run in my family so I forbid that completely into my life. Then I ended up on an over the counter sleeping pill that would help me sleep. I started running every other day and ended up with so much energy I had issues sleeping. It was there when I needed it but I noticed very soon that I had put myself into a state where I couldn't sleep without it. I was 114lbs when I started them and also ran alot which I never in my life had been able to do. I started to gain weight and stopped running because of the pills so I ended up at 119. Then stopped the pills because that 5 pound gain was an eye opener in me to what I was doing to myself so now I am currently working to get back to 115 where I was very comfortable, and am back into running again. I have never had an issue with addiction before is what I thought until I noticed that apparently I did with food before surgery. My main question here is, can stopping that 28 year addiction in food and the fact that my body reacts differently now with things, trigger the need to replace it with something else? Or can I possibly just have this addicted personality that I never noticed until now?

Answer
Hi Lee,

Thanks for sending your question to me.  I agree, it is a fabulous site.  I'm glad that you used it to ask me a question.

You have had incredible success with your surgery.  A huge congratulations to you.  You deserve to feel very proud.  

As I read your question, I love how aware you are.  You noticed that sugar is a problem so you backed off.  You realized you reacted differently to alcohol (which RNY post-ops do because of our surgery) and you banned it in your home.  Those are big awarenesses.  Also, you caught your weight gain at 5 pounds rather than 50.  5 can turn into 50 before you know it if you are unconscious.  It truly happens.  Not you though, you took the appropriate action when you were up 5 pounds.  Not many people have that keen awareness that you do.

You abused food before you had surgery, as post-ops do, or we wouldn't have needed the surgery.  Just because you had surgery, it doesn't fix your head.  If you had a food addiction or compulsive overeating, you'll have it after surgery unless you develop coping strategies to replace that need to numb and calm yourself with food.  

What you are describing is a cross addition.  I'm not saying you have that at all.  A cross addiction is when you transfer from one coping behavior to another.  You aren't able to eat the way you did before that worked well for you in coping with emotions and situations so it makes sense with cross additions that you want to turn to something else.  Some people replace it with alcohol, shopping, sex or other coping and escape behaviors.

The awareness you have though will make a difference.  Seeing what you're doing and the willingness you have to make sure you don't fall into something else (food and the banned alcohol) is very good.  

I think what you're calling an addictive personality can be thought of that but I think more so it is a coping strategy you've used that has worked for you for many years.  Now, it doesn't so you're looking for something else that will do the same thing that food has for you in the past.  

Develop some strategies how to handle uncomfortable emotions or situations.  A list of things you'll do instead of eating when you feel the urge.  It can be call a friend to talk about what you're feeling or a situation, take up a hobby, work on hand crafts (to keep your hands busy), read, journal, etc.  Make a long list of anything that comes to mind that you enjoy.  When the urge hits, think of the list and do one or some until the urge passes.

Thanks again for submitting your question to me.  Again, congratulations on your amazing success.  

To your health,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator

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