I'm Two Weeks Post-OP. . . .

. . .and I miss food. I miss the texture of it. I miss the taste of it. I'm not hungry, mind you--but that's what makes it so bad. I know it will get better once I get off of the pureed stuff. Actually, getting in the 6 small meals is proving quite difficult. I count my shakes as a meal, so that makes it a bit easier. I am also having a hard time getting all of the water in. My first post-op appointment was on 11/15 (13 days after the surgery), and I lost 14 lbs. Is it me, or does that seem low? Well, I have amped up my walking, so I'm hoping for a really good showing at the scales on the 29th (my next appointment). I know it will get better. I figured I should just own these feelings and work through them. I think it will be better for me once I return to work (12/1)--I won't be so focused on food. Has anyone had these same feelings? Is my weight loss on track? Help!

Hi Melissa. So how are you feeling? Hope all is well. I was lucky, I never missed food. Missing food is in our heads. Head hunger can get & keep us in trouble. Food was truely the farthest thing from my mind. I had all I could do to get in the protein drinks for the first month. It is really hard to make sure it all gets in during the day. The vitamins & all the water. Didn't seem like I was awake enough to get in everything. Do keep a journal, it will help you stay focused. And if you don't get everything in today then you try again tomorrow. Once you get off the pureed food, you can venture out a little more with the tastes. Just remember to take it slow, eat it slow and chew it up a lot. Don't drink for the 20 minutes pre & post eating. I count my 2 protein drinks as a meal still. I used to do 3 a day and weaned it down to 2. I'm almost 3 yrs out. Take this oppurtunity to get into the good habits, it's easier when your still new at this. 14 lbs is awesome.That's a pound a day. Don't let yourself get into the numbers game. Any loss is good. Exercise will get easier too. They are both tools that you can use to get healthy. Now you have to make it to a support group meeting. Meeting and being around others in the same situation has helped me more than I can tell you. I try to get to 3/4 a month. I am a junkie. I love my new WLS family of friends. Hope to see you soon. ((HUGS)) Elissa

I feel pretty good, actually. My recovery is proving to be an easy one. I will definitely try to get to a support meeting this month, 'cuz I really need it! I had planned to attend the meeting at Chrias, but I have a PTO meeting at the same time. I would blow it off, but I'm the PTO President. . .LOL. I actually do pretty well with the vitamins. The water intake is getting better, thank God! Intellectually, I know it's head hunger. I dumped once, and trust me--I'm not trying to go back down THAT road! I am on the straight and narrow. But it ain't easy! LOL For instance, my family and I went out for a walk today. It was really brisk outside, and when we came back in the house my boys wanted hot chocolate. I wanted some too, but couldn't have it. It hit me in that moment: I miss food. But, it's o.k. I'll get past it. Thanks for your words of wisdom, and keep 'em coming! LOL

Melissa, The hot chocolate mix they sell in the CHRIAS store isn't too bad. It might help to have some for your next chilly walk with the kids. Fran

I still miss certain foods... Crunches are hard to come by with what I eat now. Its funny how all these years I have never realized that I was addicted to crunches. And of course all those crunchy foods are carbs. You are early out and it is normal to feel the loss of foods. But as you pass through the different stages you will find that foods taste better than they did before surgery. At least that is the way it was for me. You may find that you focus more on foods now....I think I still do. Debbie

Hi Melissa as you stated as time goes it does get better. As far as weight, everyone is different some tend to lose fast while others lose slow. It is your body, but you sound like you are on the right track. Remember not to rush the food thing, only because you don't want nothing to go wrong. Christie

Thanks to all of you for your encouraging words. I upped my walking to 30 minutes today!!! Kind of psyched about that. I had a little trouble getting everything in today because I took a rather long nap. It felt good, but it was definitely a food/water/supplements killer! I'll be finished with the pureed stuff in about 2.5 weeks, and it can't come fast enough! I'm sticking to my doctor's instructions, 'cuz I'm too afraid not to! LOL I welcome any and all suggestions! LOL

You're doing great Melissa! Missing food is still an issue for me and I am almost 7 weeks out. I just tell myself "you can't have that, Kathy. It'll make you puke." I am graduating to regular foods and have to go really slow. I try something new every couple of days, and with us post-ops, we never know what will happen. Lately, I am craving salad. I just want a big ol' salad, but I know the lettuce might give me a problem this early on, so I haven't tried it yet. I have yet to be able to finish the protien shakes. They are so heavy in my small tummy and take me forever to finish. I just can't handle them yet. I add unflavored whey protien to alot of the stuff I eat. I am going to try the shakes again, though. Also, there are alot of days that I just can't eat. I will take 2 bites and just feel miserable. If that goes on for more than a day, I tend not to lose as well. So I just force myself to take a couple of ounces of something every couple of hours. As far as dumping, for me at least, all I have done so far is get the sweats. I feel slightly nauseous too but not like others describe. It's only happened twice; once from eating a peanut butter cookie, and another time from eating too much pizza toppings.(can't do the crust, breads, bagels, etc. yet) Stay with it! Listen to your tummy...it will tell you what to do.