I miss eating....

I'm 3 weeks post op and doing really well. But I really miss eating. I want to be able to have a pork chop, some mashed potatoes and green beans. As happy as I am with my surgery, I didn't realize how much I would miss the joy of eating. I don't mean binging. I just miss having a normal meal. Sigh............. Eric

It will be a little while but some day soon you will be able to have that meal. Now it will be very small but you will be able to eat again. Here's a hint I got from my support group. Get a crock pot. When you first start eating meat cooking it in a crock pot will be great. It really makes the meat moist and tender. Just remember to chew chew and then chew some more. Good luck, Robin W

Eric, I am about 17 months out. Breaking your dependency on food is the hardest part of this journey. It is a mental fight and it will take everything you have and everything your support system has to break it. You have to be committed and fill your life with other things so that eventually litttle by little, your habits and lifestyle will change and then everything will not revolve around food. I can tell you that it does get better, but I still love and crave food. What out for stressfull times, this is when it hits me most. Of course, at this point, I can eat and have anything that I want, just less of it then I used to have. I can now eat a fairly normal size meal and feel satified. My best advice, is stay active, get in a support group, talk about why you want the food, find out what is triggering your need for it and stay away from your trigger. Good luck, Cheryl

Hi Eric, Robin is right! I think we all go through a "mourning" period for food. I missed crunchy foods, salty food, fatty foods, etc. Food was my comforter, my de-stresser, my entertainment, my - lots of stuff. It is a "head" battle. As time goes on you will notice that you really aren't hungry, it's just those cravings. And you will be able to try things, bit by bit. Just chew everything really well and eat SLOWLY. After dumping a couple of times, I became extremely cautious (and slow) while eating - it's just not worth it if you're gonna dump. If I really crave something and know I can't eat it - this sounds terrible - I take a bite, chew it up, and then spit it out. You get the pleasure of tasting it, at least. And I no longer crave being full. The hunger was raging at first, then it faded. I'm almost 7 weeks out, and my battle is to eat ENOUGH (never thought I'd be saying that). But gradually you learn, and I can honestly say I am never "dissatisfied" but in fact eat more than I want. Take care Kitty B. RNY 12/13/04 251 / 214

I had my surgey on July 5th of 2004 and I know what you mean. The Burger King commercials were the worst IN THE HOSPITAL by the time I left the hospital I was begging my husband for just one bite of instant mashed potatoes........lol of course he said no and made me follow my diet. my first meal was cream of wheat with splenda and let me tell you nothing has ever tasted so good.......lol However now I am 6 months out and the battle between my head and my stomache has been over for a while...... My cravings now are for healthier foods and I don't sit and think about food all the time anymore I have went from 290 pounds to 190 pounds a loss of -100 I would do it all over again and I promise it will pass just hang in there e-mail me if you wish would love to chat. Good luck and hang in there