Top Foods that you struggled w/ giving up or were surprised you had to give up???

Good Morning All!
Happy, happy Saturday!!!

I am pre-op and have all kinds of questions and would like to get a little insight from ppl that have experienced WLS...

Today, my homework is FOOD!!!
What were the top 5 things you struggled w/ giving up???


What were the top 5 things you were surprised you had to give up???

Please, please, any feedback would be VERY helpful as I have not had an appt w. a nutritionist yet..

Thanks for your thoughts and imput everyone!!  I REALLY appreciate it!!!

Pammie

I am pre op also. I know I don't want to give up carbinated drinks or coffee, but will to be healthy. Do you have a surgery date? Mine is April 15. I am waiting for my nutritional date. Have a great weekend. Wendy

Wendy,

Switch to decaf and you'll be fine. You really do get use to it.

They recomend no pop for at least a year. I tried it after I was about 2 yrs post-op. It went over so well that I still have a bottle of sf root beer (decaf) in my fridge from last May! It just doesn't 'feel right'. Neither do most breads or pastas. That too, you get use to.

Sherri

Pammie,

I can't say I was overly shocked about anything except maybe diet pop. I didn't realize that the carbonation was so bad for my stomach (pour a few ounces into a balloon, tie off the top of the balloon and then observe what happens to the balloon...now, imagine that being your stomach!).

Is there any doubt in any of our minds that sugars, breads, fatty foods, high carb/starches, fried foods, and alcohol are bad for us? That is the main things I avoid now. But..my taste buds & tummy have changed to where I really don't want much of that stuff anyway.

It sounds like to me like you could really do with having a surgeon & nut consult...before you get really lost in all your homework...or you get yourself too shook up. Life post-op really is not that bad and this is coming from someone who had alot of complications.

Sherri

I miss my diet coke badly.  I opened my fridge the other day and there was a can of cherry coke sitting there and it made me cry.  I loved my diet coke and drank tons of it preop.  I have not had a sip for 8 months now but still think of it daily. 

I am not able to eat pasta, it sits like a brick in my tummy and there have been many times it won't even sit in my tummy it needs to come back up so I don't even try pasta anymore.    Some days I can't tolerate breads either, some days bread is fine.  I love a lunchmeat sandwich from time to time but they are few and far between. 

I do not tolerate artificial sweetners well, before surgery I used a ton of them.  I don't really miss them.  I think once you are away from any one food for a few weeks you kind of move on to liking something else to take its place.  For instance instead of sugar free pudding with artifical sweetner I prefer carb masters yogurt.  

Jeannie

Wellll...the balloon analogy isn't really accurate. The carbonation has nowhere to go when you tie off the balloon. In our pouch, it does the same thing as it does in a regular stomach....you either burp or fart.  If it needs to escape, it will escape, just like it does with anyone. It's not going to blow up your pouch. That having been said, I wouldn't recommend carbonation until the pouch is completely healed. I didn't drink it until about six months after my surgery, and I don't drink it every day. But if I want a few sips, I have it. I drink caffeine...again, in moderation and again, not until my pouch was completely healed. Moderation and common sense is the key. I have had no complications whatsoever.

Jenny

Jenny,

I basically believe in letting others do whatever they want but You do ALOT of things that I would not recommend any pre-op or newbie to listen to. I don't want them to get off to a bad start and  I hope that each of them simply asks their own surgeon/nut...and certainly not assume it is ok just because you do it and you aren't even 8 months post-op. I don't believe the medical personel has changed their mind, so I can't help but ask....if you aren't going to stay away from the things you are told to stay away from, why have the surgery to begin with???

Pammie & Wendy...

That balloon experiment was recommended by people WITH medical LISENSES. That was good enough for me, I hope it is for you as well. The balloon test is why most who do try pop, tries to get it to go flat first. You do have a small relief valve (burbing or passing gas) but until that happens, the gas does stretch your belly until the pressure it built up enough to foce that air out.

Anyone can find an excuse or find a reasoning on why they should continue with things they were told not to do..rather if it be caffiene, carbonation, chocolate kisses, pizza, or pringles. Some people just preferred to skip that session. If ever in doubt..or if it just doesn't seem right, ask your surgeon/nut...and then remember, that is the recommendation they made for you. I know others who have gone through the same plan as Jenny...none of them have been allowed any of that stuff so don't just assume that if you have the same doctor as someone else that the same thing may go for them as it does for you.

Sherri

5 things I struggled to give up... 

Lets see... giving myself insulin shots... 4 of them each day.  LOL whoopss... not a struggle giving that up!!

But you see my point with that I am sure.

Food wise...probably cookies and ice cream.  However, none of that tastes as good as it used to.  I NEVER thought I would say that.  But now for me things are just toooooo sweet at times... and with that I mean sf pudding.  OMG it gags me to think of it sometimes.  I do like apples and bananas.  They are my sweets. 

Drink wise... I cut out diet pop a year ago last January.  My surgery was in October.  But I used to love diet rootbeer and diet vanilla pepsi!!  And they do sound good sometimes.  BUT...like Sherri said... think of what that carbonation/gas does to your insides!

I work really hard to not feel deprived.  That is big key for me.  When I think of all the chemicals and processed foods.  It just makes me feel ill that I used to put all of that in my body.  Is this a new way to look at foods?  Yes it is for me. 
And do I miss anything so much that I regret having wls?   HELL NO!!!  I thank God that I was able to have this surgery. 
I thank God that I was lead to this journey where I have met so many fabulous people on this site!!

Well, I can pretty much eat anything...the key is MODERATION. I love doughnuts, but can only eat one donut hole. If I eat more, I get nauseated. I'm glad! I admit I get a small regular fountain Coke sometimes. I usually only sip about half of it, but BOY is it good! It doesn't bother me, and again, it's not an every day thing. Most of the time I stick with what I'm supposed to be eating, but don't think you'll never again be able to eat the things you love. You will, but a lot of it you won't want any more. What you really do crave, you'll be able to eat a little of. Your attitude towards food will change like you won't believe. Never would I have believed that I could stay out of my husband's Twinkies, HoHos, etc. in the cabinet. Honestly, I don't even want them. Before surgery...well, I'm sure you know.

You will be so thankful and glad you had this surgery...believe me!

All the best to you!
Jenny

I was a carb addict.  Having to give up bread, pasta, potatoes - was awful.  I still miss pasta.

I started drinking diet coke again about a week ago.  If I sip slow, I'm good.  I have better luck with fountain diet coke -I let it get a little flat.

I still miss popcorn.  That was one of my favorite snacks.