Scared to eat!

I had my lapband on 11/8 and have followed the liquid and pureed diet to the letter. Next week I can start on solid foods and I am really scared. I'm worried about what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, etc etc, etc. I am also worried that once I start back on solid food the cravings and hunger will come back and I will be out of control. I know I have to start eating eventually but I think this drinking and pureed diet works well for me LOL. Has anyone else experienced fear about returning to real food? What kinds of things are good for starters. I know I have lots of written information but hearing first hand from those ahead of me is really helpful. Tips would be helpful. Thanks. Kathy

Hi Kathy, I had the RNY on Nov. 3rd. I just started eating real food last week days. It has been really nice chewing again! I still feel full--no hunger-- however I do know when I need to eat. I stop when I feel full--a little pressure at my breastbone area--I try to stop a little sooner than that, but never go past that feeling. I started with refried beans, mashed potatoes, mashed lean hamb. with a little spagetthi sauce or alfrado sauce. It has been almost 4 weeks so today I had broccoli with a little cheese and chilie. I only could eat about 1 table spoon of broccoli, and about 2 tablespoons of chilie. As far as cravings I really have not had any yet, but when I do and I am ready to have those kinds of things I feel that I will be ok--as long as it is not often and that I only have a little bit. I have heard that hunger usually does not return until about 6 months out. So you have some time. Odetta

I had my surgery on the 15th, and I can start soft foods tomorrow. I'm looking forward to beans and cheese. Oh, and cottage cheese. Chili sounds good too. Mashed potatoes and gravy.

Watch out for the gravy---I have had more trouble with fatty foods such as gravy than anything else. You can dump on fatty foods as well as sugars. Julia

Thanks for the tips. Refried beans with some cheese sounds so good right now, that may be my first choice. I have been eating some mashed potatoes already and I went to the store to get a gravy mix, as I thought it sounded good and I also thought it would be a source of protein. Guess what? Those gravy mixes have no nutritional value whatsoever. I think that means I will have to make my own if I want it to have some protein. Kind of a problem for me cause I gave up cooking LOL, at least that is what I keep telling my husband. Thanks again. Kathy

Hi Kathy, I had RNY in July, and I too was scared to eat. I work at Freightliner and it is very hard for me to--eat-- lunch in just 30 min--cause as you know we can only eat a few bites and we are full. I have found that just taking it slow and making certain that you chew your food thouroughly makes a HUGE difference! The only thing that I have really had a problem with is Beef. Beef makes me sick if I don't cook it so that it is soft. I would love to eat a hamburger--but I still can't. Oh well! That has really been the only thing that I have HUNGERED for and haven't been able to eat. I don't dump with anything--but did once with some --bad for you--ice cream. Three bites and I had to lay down and take a nap! Shame on me--but I never really liked ice cream anyway--so that's not a big loss. I know that you will do fine! Congrats to you! Noel