A little discouraging

Terri, I was also surprised to find out that the cravings and hunger will come back over time.  However, with all the dieting and behavior modification I have undergone from the point of my first orientation to now is that I don't wanna go down that road ever again.  sure I'm in the honeymoon period of the post op and I can't eat much more than 1/2 cup of anything pureed but I'm not even wanting that other stuff.  Right now even crystal light which is what I can drink upsets my stomach and I have to drink just plain ole water which I really hate.  You just gotta do what you gotta do to get you where you wanna be :)  Remember, pureed food doesn't mean you can't have spices (as long as they are not seeds)....I don't have much of a sweet tooth but my savory tooth has kicked into high gear so I put salt and garlic powder in everything savory LOL  Not to mention I'm a recent non-smoker as well so things are definitely tasting much differently.  Before surgery.....vegetables were kryptonite to my species.....now I think I would kill to be able to eat one LOL  Just keep your head on straight, follow the rules and you're going to be fine :) Food for thought :) Aaron

Hey Terri - First of all - a bit of friendly advice - take what you hear and read on this site and off with a grain of salt.  The effects of each type of surgery varies with each individual.  I remember when I went for my first consult, the nutrionist asked me what I considered to be my biggest problem.  In a word - sweets!!!  I LOVED (and still do), anything sweet, and would eat MASSIVE quantities of it.  I knew it was a problem, but didn't know how to stop.  So imagine my relief when she told me I wouldn't WANT to eat sweets nor would I be ABLE to.  SALVATION AT LAST!!! Frankly, she lied.  I can eat sweets, and yes, I do.  Do I eat the ginormous quantity that I used to?  Not a chance.  Is the fact that something is sugar free license to eat more?  No, unless you don't have a problem with horrible gas and diarrhea from the sugar alcohols.  In short, I find that my "urges" are better fulfilled with a little good quality chocolate as opposed to s/f cheaper stuff.  Although I will say that s/f products have come a LONG way. For whatever reason, I find that junk slides down much easier than the good for you, dense proteins.  However, I just don't overdo it.  I can honestly say that I've never gotten sick from eating too much food or the wrong type of food.  It becomes a matter of listening to your pouch - trust me, it talks!!!  If you ignore it, that's when you'll gain weight and get sick.   Like people have already said, this is only a tool, and it only works if you allow it to.  For the first 9-12 months, what they call the "honeymoon period," you COULD, conceivably, eat junk and still lose with the rny because of the malabsorption factor.  Once that period ends and that window closes, BAM! get your fingers out of the way!!! I myself, due to some gyn issues that often left me a raging hormonal mess and forced me to take yet MORE hormones, and also, due to stupid choices - snacking, when my surgeon specifically said 3 meals a day, no snacks.  Finally, 2 weeks ago, I stepped on the scale to see a number that wasn't friendly, and I kicked my own butt.  From that day on, I've done 3 meals a day, protein first (which I always did anyway), and no snacks.  It was hard at first, but actually, I've gotten used to it now.  I did have a little movie popcorn the other night, because that and pizza are my biggest weaknesses.  My diligence has paid off, causing me to lose 10 pounds in a week and a half.  So you can still lose, even at almost 3 years post-op, but take my word for it, IT'S MUCH HARDER.  Sometimes, I'd give anything to be a new post-op, knowing what I know now.  If you can avoid opening the carb door, by all means, do it!!! As far as what I eat now, I consider it to be normal - but what is normal, anyway?  For breakfast, most mornings, I have Greek yogurt (it's thicker with more protein), fresh berries, Splenda and Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal.  Lunch today was real deli turkey and colby jack cheese.  If I use my tool, drink the amount of fluids I'm supposed to and eat protein first, I can honestly say that I am never hungry.  Tonight's dinner will probably be some f/f refried beans mixed with black beans and fresh salsa, topped with 2% cheese and microwaved.  Full of protein, flavor and yes, one of my faves, SALT!!!  And give me sweet and salty together and I'm a happy girl!!! I also drink a ton, and I'm not even exaggerating.  So far today, I've had 40 oz. of coffee, 80 oz. of water and 20 oz. of diet iced tea, and the day's not over yet.  I am seriously drinking all the time!!!   Some of this seems hard and like you'll never get the hang of it, but you will, I promise. I hope this made sense and helped you.  By all means, keep on posting.  An informed, education wls patient is the best and most successful kind!!! Tia

Thank you so much for all your advice and wisdom and I am so grateful to have this knowledge upfront.