What I Miss After Having WLS

 

 

Life after bariatric surgery is amazing and it comes with so many positive changes. However, your life is

completely different and there might be some things from your previous life that you miss. Now don’t get me wrong, I definitely don’t want to go back to the person I used to be, but there are definitely things that I miss. It is completely normal to feel this way. What I miss is obvious. I miss food. I miss the feeling of just sitting on the couch and stuffing my face on whatever I want without feeling sick. Yes, I said it. Most of us that have this surgery are food addicts, which means after surgery we miss using food for comfort. I did not realize how much I did this until after I had bariatric surgery. I used food for everything. I used it for both comfort when I was sad and as celebration for when things went well in my life. I sometimes miss that feeling.

 

Food is everywhere and it is really hard when you are on a weight loss surgery journey. I miss showing people I care through food. I used to bake all the time, but now I choose not to because I know I would have no control over it. I miss having fun in the kitchen and exploring different tastes. Sure, I could do this with healthy food, but to me it just is not the same. I miss going over to friends’ houses and being greeted with tasty foods. So much of socialization involves food. I miss the feeling of just sitting around eating chips and queso talking with my girlfriends.

It is not easy to get past these thoughts. I think it is important that we recognize the feelings we have and talk through this with someone. You have more than likely always had an unhealthy relationship with food, but that does not mean it has to continue. I have found that working with nutritionists helps me look at food in a healthier way. We should enjoy the foods we eat, but we should not let it consume our minds. It is alright that you miss food. If you are like me, you have spent your entire life revolving everything around what you are going to eat. Be patient with yourself and talk through these feelings with someone. It is alright to grieve the person you used to be and miss the things you used to do, but eventually you will need to let go and embrace your new life. I promise you; it will be worth it.