Question:
Does anybody ELSE not feel like cooking family meals anymore??
I am nearly 4wks po-op and ever since my surgery I just refrain from cooking for my family whenever i can (ahem, my hunger is back) because i find it too disappointing to cook, with all the good smells, when all i can eat is like 2% of what i cook...is this normal??Have YOU ever felt this way? and also...is a 30 lb weight loss good for the first 3 1/2 wks?? — littleguzla (posted on March 1, 2008)
March 1, 2008
You'll need your family support, just as they need you to support the
family. Cooking is one way to show the family you still care, and maybe
they'll help with the other chores you can't do at this time.
— Dave Chambers
March 1, 2008
Congrats & yes to the 30 lbs. lost. Great job inonly 3.5 weeks. I,
too, often feel like I don't want to cook for my family. But... more often
than not, I go ahead and cook because I know what they'll be eating if I
don't. Junk! So, I do try to get myself in gear whether I feel like it or
not. Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband who can cook quite well
(better than me...did I say that?) and he does not complain about cooking.
Good luck to you & keep up the great work! Leslie
— LuvNSummer
March 1, 2008
You are at the same point that I am at. I don't cook right now. The
smells bother me. Seeing that I am only eating thicker liquids. I have a
hard time being around food smells. As for the weight, great job!
— teresasmiles
March 1, 2008
It's very normal I think. In fact, it was one of my major concerns before
considering surgery. My husband is a healthy eater...meaning he likes to
eat....and not ALWAYS healthy....smile. My son, is picky, and I LOVE to
cook. After surgery, I managed well, for awhile....but found the trick was
to make a large batch of something...such as a hot dish/casserole, or soup,
and then freeze whatever wasn't eaten....to eat later...or for my husband
to take to work. I just don't cook full blown meals each and every night,
which has helped me considerably. It's very difficult those first few
months....but does improve..and you'll start feeling like you're old self
again.... and if cooking was something you enjoyed....that will come
back...but now you'll get more creative in making more healthy meals for
the entire family. Good luck and congrats on the weight loss...that's
AWESOME! Hugs....Cheryl
— Cheryl K.
March 1, 2008
I have a hard time being interested in cooking what I can't eat. I eat
primarily fish and seafood and my husband and son enjoy beef and pork,
which I can't eat. So, I end up cooking two meals every time. BTW, 30
pounds is great. Congratulations!!
— Shirley D.
March 1, 2008
30lbs, FABULOUS!! I feel you sister. Cooking can bring so many
tempatations. Try eating or having a shake before cooking. Then see if
someone can help out with the meals until you really are on your two feet,
so to speak. Where do you live?
— bariatricdivalatina
March 1, 2008
thats not unusual, You do need to cook for your family. I do and you will
have to just relax and eat till you feel full. The object is to leave the
table right when you feel satisfied!! you will never be able to eat what
your family can. you have to stay under control for YOU!
— obx100
March 1, 2008
The more you alientate yourself from the normal things in life like
cooking...the more you will feel depressed. I was allowed to eat from the
start...No liquid diet stuff for me! So that was easier for me than it is
for most of you. Still I ate whatever I cooked my family only 2 tablespoons
here and there. And pureed...ugh..I ate pureed/chopped food for some 6
months to a year. By joining them with the same meal (babyfood style) I
felt somewhat normal and once I was able to chew my food, my entire family
was eating healthy too. It helps to try to avoid depression by doing some
things the same to feel normal. (Because so MUCH changes in this WLS
journey) Any change good or bad is stressful...and mourning the loss of
food is inevitable. I did. I was missing food so much (it tastes different
purreed)...but I always knew I would be eating somewhat normal again. And 4
years later I do. I eat like a normal, small person with healthy good
choices...I have kept my weight stabilized within a 10 lb range and I enjoy
my RNY and the health it gave me back. It's normal to feel
food-separation...It gets easier. Hopefully you'll think about what I said
and look forward to cooking soon. And get excited about eating with your
family like normal. Til then just take it easy on yourself...Your weight
loss so far is WONDERFUL! So many hugs and kudos for doing such a wonderful
job.
It almost feels like you are being pulled inside out...and you don't even
feel like yourself...Well, that is exactly what is happening...The thin
person you always felt and wanted to be on the inside is working it's way
to the outside! :) You will very soon begin to enjoy it all!
— .Anita R.
March 2, 2008
Good job on the 30 pounds! That's great! I am 2 years post op. A trick I
used then and still do now was to cook my husband's favorite foods. There
are many things that he loves that I don't even like...like lasagne. I
hate it, but he loves it. So I don't feel tempted and he feels spoiled.
It's a win/win situation. Good luck!
Kim
— kcox1960
March 2, 2008
I AM ONLY I WEEK POST BANDING, I HAVE LOST INTEREST IN COOKING SINCE I WAS
ON OPTIFAST FOR 3 WEEKS PRE-OP. BUT NOW THAT I CAN HAVE PUREE, I AM BACK TO
COOKING. IT IS FUN PUREEING EXACTLY WHAT HE IS HAVING AND THAT I AM FULL
AFTER 1 OUNCE OF THE SAME FOOD. THINK OF IT AS A GAME AND YOU WILL WIN THE
WAIT LOSS.
— ICANDOITFORME
March 2, 2008
After I had wls I had to cook for my family I would rub vicks salve under
my nose so to not smell the food cooking. It made me sick to my stomach to
smell any foods while it cooked. Even when I drove past food places it made
me ill. The vicks salve worked for me and but as far as cooking I had to or
my family would be as big as I was eating junk and easy access foods. So I
altered my recipes to be healthy eating and they liked it just as if it was
regular calorie foods. I have a problem with wasting foods. I put no more
on my plate that I am going to eat. I will say that I will go back and get
seconds 30 minutes later if I feel I want more but left overs taste as good
the next few days as when cooked.
— mspisces
March 2, 2008
Have a family meeting and talk about it with them. My wife cleans the
house, but she was never a cook, so I have always done the cooking. My
favorate ingreadents in many dishes was Heavy Cream and Real Butter.
Before I had my surgery I found a lot of good recipes that I could eat
after the first month. For the first month I cooked for the rest and ate
my liquid meals. After a month, I cooked the same food for them as I did
myself and my wife has lost 10 lbs. She was not realy overweight, but she
enjoys the meals and even guest have come to try some of my new healthy
dishes. I do fix deserts for guest that I could not eat, but I try to
garnish them with fruits and berrys and I can eat the garnish for my
desert. My whole family is use to our new china that has smaller plates,
so we all don't load up as much. Your family realy wants you to succeed so
ask for their support and cook for everyone eating just your smaller
portion of the right kinds of foods. I once and a while will do a pasta
dish or fix bake potato's that I can't even taste, but it is not a big deal
to me, as I have their support an they are watching what I am eating I I
can't disapoint them by slipping. Best of success to you!
— William (Bill) wmil
March 2, 2008
I felt exactly the same way for the first 4 weeks, especially the first 2.
I couldn't handle even the sight of food I couldn't have. I put all their
food out of sight and had to leave the room while they ate. It was a very
emotional time for me and, fortunately, my family was very understanding
and supportive. Somewhere around the 5th and 6th week I started to
disconnect from what others were eating and started focusing on what I
could have. I experienced a powerful freedom from food. Now, I will only
cook foods that I can eat, so my whole family has benefited from a better
diet. They weren't sure at first, but again, to support me, gave it a try
and enjoy this healthier way of eating. Remember, this is your time to
kick old habits and you only have about 6 months to do it. Lastly, 30
pounds is a great amount of weight for 3.5 weeks! Congrats!
— eddyrider3
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