SF forever????

Hi guys! No flaming please because I'm just wondering and I know I made this decision for myself but what I want to know is whether those people who are or were very sensitive to sugar and sugar alcohols in the beginning have had no choice but to continue doing the sugar-free foods forever? Obviously Easter is coming up and when I was thinking about what I could and couldn't consider eating from the meal..I'm left with mashed potatos and gravy...that's it...no kidding because everything else has sugar added. Now I know I can make my own food but was wondering about the future and for example...when I get married (hopefully someday) will I not be able to enjoy my wedding cake? Like I said...no flaming please....it's just a curiosity! Thanks in advance! sunny

Hi Rachael are you online? Sorry haven't been in touch with you but I think my depression is back in full swing. I had to stop taking my meds cause they were making me sick so now I just don't feel like doing anything. I sleep late, don't want to talk on the phone or anything. It SUCKS!!! Then this weekend was super bad as I had a dumping episode on Sunday night. It has been crazy. I have a doc appt today at 1:45 so maybe I will catch you up there. Kathy

Kathy! I've been worried about you! I read your post and tried calling but didn't get you. My appt today is at 245 but I'll come up a little early and see if I can catch up with ya! Don't get too down on yourself..but be careful with what you allow yourself to accept as normal! See you or talk to you soon! *hugs* sunny

Sunny, I can eat sugar (wish that I couldn't) but I try to limit it. A bite or two is ok. They make so many wonderful products that are sugar free you will find lots to satisfy your sweet tooth. Good Luck. Things will get better for you. This is a roller coaster ride, but the up days will out number the down days real soon. Ellen

Hi Sunny1, No flaming from me, you will get an honest answer tho if that's indeed what you're looking for. As far as the holiday dinner is concerned, Easter was the first big holiday dinner I had after surgery, I think I was aprox 3 weeks out. I was still on pureed and had dinner at the inlaws house with no problems. Ham is pretty standard fare at most Easter dinners, sometimes turkey. I took my small chopper with me, portioned out my ham and blended it up with some mayo and ate mine in the form of ham salad. I took a blop of mashed potatoes about the size of a quarter and did the same with about 1/4 of a devilled egg. I had little tiny blobs all over my plate of the things I could have, all of it totalling about 3-4 oz I guess. Didn't fini**** all but it was very satisfying and I sat and enjoyed the same food everyone else was eating. I didn't bother with the desserts at the time. As far as sugar free is concerned, it is a choice we make. There are so many sugar free products available on the market you can find a version of just about anything you may be looking for. Fact is alot of us don't dump, or dump in the beginning and then not as they get further out. Once you cross that line there is no going back, I have heard it time and again how people wish they had never tested those waters. Someday when you get married I see no problems with having some of your wedding cake, you don't plan to eat the entire cake right? Exchange bites with your new husband and enjoy the moment when the time comes..if you have room to eat a larger serving I would suggest having a sugar free specialty cake in addition to the traditional cake available. The sheer number of people on all kinds of diets would be grateful to have an alternative, not just surgical patients. At Easter dinner do what i did, have some ham or turkey pureed or cut small depending on what stage you're in now. Have some soft cooked veggies and some mashed potatoes or devilled eggs. If you're eating at someone elses house bring a dish to share that meets your needs. Have an extra protein supplement shake that day to help you meet your numbers. Remember, ONE meal didn't make any of us fat but repeat behaviors did. Choose your path, stick to it as closely as you can, allow for mistakes but be fully prepared for the consequences of a bad choice. Linda

Hi Sunny, My first holiday was Easter too. And I took my favorite foods with me. I can't remember everything i took. But i know i did take mashed potato and cheese. About the sugar, for me I can eat A peanut butter egg and thats it. If I eat anymore I will get nauseated. And I'm glad. I can drink an alcoholic drink. It's never made me sick. Once in awhile I'll have low-sugar cranberry juice and vodka w/lime. I don't drink a lot so this is my favorite drink w/alcohol. Haven't tried anything else. I don't have anything with carbon and i don't miss it. Everyones different, hope this helps. Bobbie

One thing you need to do early on in this journey is to decide how successful you want to be. The surgeons gave you a lot of rules to help with the success. - No smoking - No alcoholic beverages - No carbonation - Vitamins - 30 minutes of exercise every day - No aspirin - No sugar above 6 grams ....and many more Now is your time to decide whether you want to test each rule and see what happens, or abide by the rules and reap the beneifts. If you decide to test the rules that is your choice, obeying the rules is also your choice. Finding out that you can eat and not dump has been a major pitfall for many of my fellow WLSers. This is your time, your window... Decide how you want to attack it and move forward. I am over two years out and still can't tell you whether I dump when I each sugar-laced products. I decided from day one that all those cakes, candies, fast-food products and sweets are what got me to be super-morbidly obese in the first place. I also knew that I couldn't keep the junk out of my house since everyone in my family didn't have my surgery. If you are worried about depriving yourself, there is a great book "Beating overeating: Lazy person's guide!" by Gillian Riley, that helps you turn addictive food desires into motivation, good choices and positive feeback. Sorry to drone on but I feel strongly that many people don't understand that they need to make significant changes in their lifestyle to help their new "tool" get cracking. Pulling for you Rob DE Obesity Chapter Leader. FYI. My first holiday meal was Thanksgiving (6 weeks after my RNY) and it was the first time that Thanksgiving wasn't about how many forks I could stick in my mouth in thirty minutes. I had my meal on a coffee plate and ended up talking with people a lot more and eating a lot less.

Rob, I must say you are an inspiration! I love the way you put this so straight. You are so right !!!! My first Holliday meal was easter. To be honest I was so sick I don't even remember it or what we ate. I do know this year I have no fears for the day. I have 2 grandkids in my house. Their basket will be filled with other stuff besides all candy. We all make choices everyday and we have to live with our decisions and the consqences. The key here and everyday is pre-planning. We can all get thru this Holiday and eat healthy and happy. See all lighter. Joanne Hammond Obesity Help Chapter Leader.