First post-op restaurant experience.

DD  Hello! I think the first year is the harrdest to get through .Well it was for me anyway. I missed eatting like I used to. It was a hard thing to go through for me. I was very angry for about four mounths after my surgery.  I felt deprived of taste and volume. As time has past my feelings have changed some. I  still have my appetite and some time it gets the better of me. I have learned over time to eat arround it. Some stuff I can eat lots more of than other stuff. I try to focus on lean meats and veggies first than complex carbs if I have any room left. We have to work on our head along with our weight issues. If I eat junk more than once or twice I start feeling bad about it. Im not saying thats bad but atleast I recognize it now and dont continue it. I think as time goes our tastes and head start to change. An appetite is not a bad thing we need to eat to live. Its just what we put in our mouths that counts. I can eat double or tripple the ammount now than I could right after surgery. I choose to eat better and its been working for me. I stil love to eat and have taken to eatting 6-8 times a day. I'm coming up on three years this July and have lost 150lbs and have kept it off. I went from size 44-46 pants to size 32 that need a belt...lol Oh and I also have beeen running about 3 miles ever other day. I believe very strongly that this also helps keep my head on trac****ep telling my self I didnt go through all that just to wind up back where I started. I think with time and work we re learn new ways of eatting and new levels of normal. So I guess what I'm trying to say is life just seems normal to me now as far as my eatting and appetite. Hope this helps, Derrick

Hi DD, I'm 5.5 months out frmo RNY and have been to two steakhouses in the last 5 days because of customer meetings.  The smell and desire is still there, but I know I can't handle it yet.  I tried some prime rib about a month ago.  After trying and trying to get it to mush so I knew the pouch could handle it, I gave up.  I can do ground beef no problem, but for me steak is not there yet. I still enjoy the smell, but it's not like before where I'm salivating at the smell of the charcoaled beef. You have to give yourself some time.  For the first month or so my motor reflexes still wanted to drive to the fast food restaurant because I remembered breakfast was just about over and my head wanted the mid-morning snack.  Here I am now and life has changed.  I don't have those cravings, and I found myself walking back to the hotel from my conference rather than taking the conference buses that were provided.  It's wierd, I know.  But felt good.  Lunch today was a Ruth Chris' Steakhouse.  I had abotu 1/3rd of a chicken caesar salad.  I would have been hurting with the steak and fries. Hope this helps, Greg PS.  Congrats on sticking with the plan.

Hi DD,

I haven't been nearly as hungry since the RNY 13 + months ago. I can't even say that I eat any more now, than say at 6 months out. I used to skip breakfast and lunch A LOT, though when I was MO, then eat a big dinner. Now, there's no way I can eat enough for dinner to get fat, even if I do feel like eating a lot.

Funny though, when I'm back in the states, I'll get the munchies and eat a lot of chips and salsa, but up to now I've either lost or stayed the same, even at that.

Best Regards,

Dave

Gosh!!!!! What is wrong with me?????? Guys since I had the surgery I can honestly say I have not felt hunger one time. No head hunger, nor actual hunger pangs. When I had the stricture I never felt hungry even after a week of bringing most everything back up.  As for going out to restaurants, I still enjoy going because I am now going for the enjoyment of the company.

Hey DoubleDee I'm 2 1/2 years out and I battle daily with my old head hunger issues.  I still have to order the larger portions.  Luckily, my body will only allow me to eat normal portions and the rest goes home to my teenage son as a midnight snack. Try as I may I still have issues with wanting to see a "full" plate.  I know I can't eat it.  I go into the restaurant telling my self to order sensibly.  I do order nutriously.  Instead of ordering the 4 oz steak I will order the 16oz.  Go figure.  I can barely eat a fourth of it with a small salad.   Sometimes I think it must be some type of mental issue that I may need counseling for.  I had plenty to eat as a child.  I was never restricted on what I could or couldn't eat.  I don't know why I always want to see a lot of food on my plate.  At home when fixing my plate for a normal meal I will pile the food on it.  My wife just looks and shakes her head because she knows I won't eat 1/4 of it. Go figure. The WAD

DD, I am 7 months out now and I do get hungry, but I am in control of it.  All I have to do is stop sipping liquids for 30 minutes and my body says, "OK, must be time for food now."  It's kind of neat to be in control. My Psycho introduced me to the concept and I think I also read something on AJP's profile about "Mindful Eating"  The practice really allows me to savor my food, just as I did pre-op.  You might want to Google it. See ya, Bob