How do you handle grieving/missing food?

How do post-ops handle missing their favorite foods? For example, I LOVE soda (with lots of ice and lots of fizz). I'm going to miss being able to have an ice cold Coke (and a smile) Some have shared that they lost their cravings. Some still struggle with their food cravings. Do you find it hard to watch people eating or drinking things that you used to "love"? Does it get easier?

There are little techniques I have used to help with those cravings. Although I must say after surgery the cravings are not nearly what they used to be. For instance, when I get a cravings for some real coca cola, I will take a swig and let it sit in my mouth and then politely go to a bathroom and spit it out. I think that idea came from Carnie Wilson. Also I will still have a bite of cake or cookie or something with surgar.... but it usually only a small bite. Usually that satisfies me. You will be amazed after the surgery how it works on your mind! Hope

Hi Cassandra, I guess I approached this surgery a bit differently than others do. I spent alot of my pre-op decision time soul searching to see if I REALLY thought I could do this for the long haul. I was so ungodly sick of food and it's side effects ruling and ruining my life that I was anxious to make the changes. I welcomed them with open arms because that meant that my life was truely going to change for the better. If that meant giving up sodas then that's what I did. I made up my mind long before I ever entered that operating room what my mind set was going to be. I can't do things any other way. Am I perfect all the time? Nope. But I sure can say I follow my plan to the letter as much as I can. Doing so was simply more important to me than some temporary food craving or can of soda. Watching people eat doesn't phase me, actually for the most part it grosses me out when I see people shovel in huge amounts of food, and makes me even sicker when I think that I used to eat that way. I don't love food, I like food, I appreciate a good meal now more than I ever did because I actually taste what I'm eating. I figure if I'm going to each such a small amount quality definitely rules over quantity. This is just MY take on the subject. You will get as many different answers as there are people to type them. For me, there was NO way I could lay my life on that table without knowing I was going to give it my 100% best shot. Linda

What a great outlook! Thanks for sharing-it helps put things into perspective.

Cassandra, If you want changes in your life, now's the time to really think about this. Life after WLS is seriously different from before. This is not a 6 months fad diet. This is a new way of life & living forever. You really have to want to be healthy. Then you won't care about soda or chips or donuts any more. I have never regretted having surgery. I went into this knowing that I wanted to be healthier. I already am. My BP went down in less than 4 weeks. No meds anymore. My cholesterol is down to 175 from 283. No meds for that either. My sleep habits are so much better now. I have to be officially re-tested, but the sleep apnea is gone. The fact that I can sleep through the night and wake up rested is unbelievable & wonderful to me. MY KNEES DON'T HURT 24/7 anymore. I believe in Miracles. I thank God every day that he gave me this oppurtunity. I've lost 111 lbs in a mere 6 months. HELLO!!! YIPPEE!!! Gone from a 5X to 18's. AGAIN HELLO!! YIPPEE!!! I fill my days with exercise, good thoughts & less stress. I love my new life, excess skin, droopy boobs and all. Being a baby boomer, I have my Mother, my husband, my kids and grandkids that all need me. I want to be in good shape for myself so I could do things with them and for them. This has truely been the hardest decision I have ever made in my life, and the only thing I struggle with now is "Did I get enough proteins and fluids in today?" When I watch other people eat it amazes me that they consume so much. It kinda grosses me out some too. I cover my food over when I'm done. I don't really want to look at it on a plate. I don't have envy for people that can eat tons of food. I kinda pity them, especially if they are obese to begin with. I quietly think that I wish I could share my story with them. I still love to cook, I just don't overeat or obess anymore. Cassandra, read our profiles, the good the bad and the ugly. You'll be amazed at the similarities in others that you will find. Go to the support meetings, talk to us. We are here to support in any way we can. Get informed. Bring your significant other with you too. The more educated you are the easier the decision is to make. See you at the meeting Monday night. ((HUGS)) Elissa

Hey, I'm just over three weeks away from surgery and getting a bit nervous. Thanks for sharing your story. You give me re-newed hope that life is gonna be soooo much better reeeal soon. Gwen

Cassandra, You may have not heard this before ... but around the OH message boards there is a saying ... NOTHING tastes as good as thin feels!!! And to me there were never truer words spoken. My life was miserable before my surgery. I hurt all the time, I was on a fast track to nothingness. Not being able to really live anymore. Food became my constant companion ... but it let me down. It no longer took away the pain. I knew that I needed to something and do something fast. AND I knew I was not able to do it on my own. I feel so very blessed that Dr Irgau agreed to perform the surgery on me. My whole life has changed ... now I actually have a life once again. No more sitting everything out because of my knee pain, back pain, too big to fit, too embarrassed to try ... etc etc etc. I have come to appreciate food for what it is ... nourishment for my body. And have tried desperately to feed myself the best foods available to help my body be healthy as possible. I have been down the road where I was losing my health and I don't care to go back, even if it means giving up my favorite foods. As far as cravings ... yes, I have had some ... but generally don't give in to them. I know that when I do, I am taking up precious space that belongs to foods that will nourish me. Something else I feel is important ... I think that after surgery, and now eating a healthy diet ... my palette has been cleared and for the first time in a very long time, I am able to fully taste food, rather than taste the fat, sugar, salt that my body used to crave. My body now craves food items that are good for me, fruit, veggies, protein and etc. I would have never been able to imagine that when I was Pre-OP!!! FYI - I went on a diet years ago that totally eliminated salt from my diet. At first it was really hard ... how can a person eat without salt I said. But after a while I started realizing that once I purged the salt from my system (taste buds) I was able to better taste the food. Not quite sure how it happened, but I slowly introduced the salt back into my diet and before I knew it ... well I guess you get the picture. Anyway, just like Elissa said ... once I have finished my "meal" I have to either cover it, pu**** away or walk away. And now when I see people overeating, or eating the junk I used to crave it amazes me and I feel sad for them. I too just want to run up to them, hug them and tell them there is another way ... Hubby and I went out to a buffet about a month ago. I was able to make mostly good choices (except for one stupid bite of desert - which I paid for later BTW), ummm anyway ... instead of eating, I was people watching ... truly I was amazed at the amount of food people can eat ... that I used to eat. Not standing in judgment of anyone, only seeing myself in all those people. And how very careful I need to be this time so as to not be like I was the last time with the salt reintroduction. I don't EVER want to feel like I felt before my surgery again. I will do all I can to help ensure that I don't fail this time. That is my biggest secret fear ... that I will not be successful. However, I think that things are different this time ... food no longer has the same hold on me as it always has had in the past. I pray daily for God to help me through all of this, and that this time I become as healthy as possible and not go back to all my old self defeating habits! Sometimes it is a bit of a struggle, but when you fall, you just get back up and start all over again. I just try to do my best ... knowing that each bite I put in my mouth really needs to count ... after the surgery, eating junk is no longer a luxury my body can afford! Anyway, I said all of that to say that after surgery, your whole life changes. Nothing will ever be the same. Yes, you do have to give up some stuff, yes sometimes it is kinda hard watching, smelling someone eating something that you loved pre-op ... but honestly, you get so much more in return!!! Soooo worth the "sacrifice"!!! OH BTW - Coke tastes like to me now ... perhaps you will have the same effect? But hey, we will all give you a anytime you feel the need!!! *giggle* Best wishes in your journey!!! Hugs, Tammy I REALLY NEED to get off the boards today ... each post has become a novelette!!! Sorry guys!

Don't apologize--thanks for sharing. I'm pre op so I need to hear this stuff. You guys are the best!