struggling

So, week 2 this week of full liquids... i'm kinda done with them, but still got a week to go... I'm having a really hard time right now with food, since my family is bbqing and it smells really good right now.... need to get past this..... HELP! can't wait till I can have pureed foods at least....

Anna

Anna,

I know how hard it can be, but please keep your eyes on the prize, a healthier you.  You can help your psyche by reminding yourself that you will eat this or that again, but the idea is to change your relationship with food.  You will have things again, you will just be thinking quality of what you eat.  One more week, you can do it, I believe in you!

Come here anytime, yell if you have to.  We're here for you.

Hugs,
Barb

Hi Anna, I just wanted to let you know I am going through the same thing! My surgery was on Aug 4th and my doctor had me do two days before surgery liquid diet. And now I contuine. Two days of bbq ing and 2 trips to McDonalds and the smell of homemade spaghetti tonight I thought I would go crazy!  But I drank my liquid I take everywhere... and thought it will pay off. Well I just tried on a pair of shorts I havent worn in two summers and guest what? They fit! I danced around my living room, my girls think I am crazy!  I guess that Big Mac everyone ate sat better on their lips then mine!! I cant wait to eat mushy soft foods too.  Hang in there... you can do it. Close your eyes and remember why you had the surgery. Good Luck!! My thoughts and prayers are with you!!

You are probably greiving the loss of your favorite foods. The first months are so hard. You hang in there and remember your goal. Pretty soon you will be eating more things.

That full liquid phase is so hard.  I got so bored with the food.  I did two things that helped.  I tried to cook things I could eat in an interesting way, like cream soups and beans.  And I tried to do somethings that were fun and different that did not involve food.  Like I took my son to a baseball game.  I wasn't going to be spending money on food, so I got really good seats.  We had a blast.

I hope that helps.  Keep up the good work.

I had such a hard time dealing with stuff like this post surgery. My first movie without popcorn, my first county fair without eating my way through the day, my first time going to an amusement park and not eating the goodies. I realized it wasn't just about the food, but the rituals and traditions. I found if I expressed how I was feeling right at the moment I felt deprieved, that helped. Instead of letting the feelings swirl in my head for hours, by saying how I felt right at that moment, it seemed to make the feelings less powerful. I discovered a cup of ice coffee with some milk and sweetener made not eating the amusement park candy much easier. At the fair I discovered a snow cone with sugar free syrup and that helped with not feeling deprieved. Sometimes I take a protein bar with me  when I am going to a place where I used to indulge in junk food and that has helped.

Things will ge easier as time passes and you will surprised at how little you miss what you thought was so important before. It's great you're coming to this list and expressing how you're feeling and getting support. That is so important for all of us who are on this journey.

Hang in there!

You are so right!  I recently went to the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival and there was nothing sugar free there at all.  Everyone was eating funnel cakes and Kettle Corn, it was really hard, I have a booth at the L.A. County Fair and you can bet I am going to offer sugar free stuff this year!  Everyone used to ask for it last year, (I have a cupcake booth).  It never really mattered, but this year, you can bet I will have stuff for us and the diabetics.
Hang in there, I just went to my first movie also, it was wierd.  But I had a tootsie pop, 60 calories, took about 20 minutes to eat it..so I felt special!

An old timer checking in! I so know how you feel. I remember my husband ate cheerios in front of me. I never really liked cereal pre-op, but the milk looked so creamy and the crunch of the cereal...

Anyway, looking back, those first few weeks were like a drop in the bucket to the rest of my life. You can do this. Look at this as boot camp for a life time of food discipline. And remember, the liquid diet is designed to keep your pouch prestine. Think of it as a new baby's tummy -- take good care of it now and it will take care of you later :-)