Culture
I hope this doesn't stir the pot, but I was just wondering how WLS affects different cultures. For example, Italians who are known for eating much pasta, chinese who eat much rice, I don't know what a grit is so can't comment on that. I am triying to think what white people are known for eating...burgers?? I would have to remove the bun or eat a hot dog.
Hope I have used correct terms as to not offend, but i was curious to know how hard it is if the main staple of a persons culture can not longer be eaten.
Really am curious, but don't want to offend.
Hope I have used correct terms as to not offend, but i was curious to know how hard it is if the main staple of a persons culture can not longer be eaten.
Really am curious, but don't want to offend.
I am Russian.... we eat A LOT of baked goods... nothing sweet... just very buttery -- that type of thing. Also, we have tons of meat-related foods like stuffed peppers, pelmeni (kind of like ravioli but with wanton-style wrap), pirogi....etc, etc.
I know this is going to be REALLY hard for me.... and unfortunately, I am not going to give up the food that is part of my culture. Moving here has already forced me to lose so much when it comes to being Russian.
SO, it'll be tough.... the last Easter dinner I went to I ate like a bird and then went and sat on the couch. I know that I am going to have to take everything in moderation. Gladly, we don't have the big get together dinners often. Those consist of a full table of snack-like foods (head cheese, meats, cheeses, salads, meat salads, fish, caviar, etc), then the main course (pork/steak, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, etc. Then the dessert table -- cakes, tea, sugared cranberries, etc.
It's tough.... I won't lie.
Crap...now I'm all hungry after listing all that....
Interesting question! And not to worry - I saw nothing offensive here.
For the first year post-op, I don't think it matters what culture you call your own, there's a lot to give up. After that - long term - things are usually different. What I give up now is huge portions. Other than that, I can eat anything I used to pre-op. I'm Norwegian (go figure) and I eat lutefisk, lefse (with butter and sugar), krumkake...boiled potatoes, butter, scalloped corn....whatever. What is different is the portions. I can't eat a whole lefse or a plateful of food. I save room for my favorites. Pouch space on holidays and special occasions is precious...so "spend" it wisely. Don't eat something if it's just so-so or someone expects you to eat it. I rarely dump, but I have from too much warm lefse right off of the griddle. Offda yeah.
And yes, as a white girl I eat burgers! But they are "Lori" style as my friends call them. No bun. I've eaten burgers with a fork for 5 years now!
Every WLS person finds their way eventually in their world of food. It's always interesting to see how different people do it. For the most part, strangers don't have a clue that I've had surgery when watching me eat. I "blend" in pretty well now days.
Lori J.
It's better to be imperfectly happy than perfectly unhappy. 
We also always have lutefisk, lefse. Never liked the lutefish, but love me some lefse! We also eat alot of something called (totally don't know how to spell it and will look x-rated but here goes...) crum-cack? it is a super thin flat cookie about the size of a pancake and it is rolled and hard and crumbly.
Wouh -- you, me -- 4 days.... :-)
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