Things I Did Not Expect

Well, here I am. 25 days out of surgery.  I've had few complications - annoyances, really - certainly nothing like our brother Bob.  I have some trouble getting my protein in because protein shakes just suck - I think there's no way around it. Still, I've lost 56 pounds in those 25 days - 73 pounds in all.  I feel better physically than I have in years.  I can walk without back pain.  My clothes are getting looser and looser.  I've gotten compliments on my progress from family, church, and co-workers.  And in a few days, I 'graduate' from full-liquid diet to 'pureed' foods.  At least I'll be able to eat some frickin' meat again, even if it IS 'meat-mash'. Anyway, I should be ecstatic, right?  Physically, I'm doing better than I could have possibly imagined.  I should be one happy guy.  And I usually am. Yet..... I miss eating.  There, I said it.  I LIKE pizza.  I LIKE spaghetti and bread sticks.  I LIKE pork roast and potatoes and chips and salsa and chinese take-out and Subway and ice cream and steak grilled out on a Sunday afternoon.  And dammit, I LIKE eating theater popcorn when I go see a movie. Took the kids to a movie last night.  They had popcorn and drinks, etc.  I had a bottle of water, period.  I'm not sure if I EVER had jus****ER watching a movie before. And eating 2 oz. of cottage cheese when the whole house smells like the pizza everyone else is having for dinner is depressing, even though I know if I gave in and had a piece, I'd be upchucking, or dumping, or both. Academically, I knew that people - including me - often use food as a crutch, or self medication.  But I didn't realize that there would be this sense of loss.  It's like an old, true friend has died.  Even though this 'friend' was killing me, I still miss him. Sorry to whine.  I'm just feeling down tonight. 

Hi Boxman, I am about six days behind you.  My son grilled a New York Strip tonight and the smell was awesome.  I hope someday to be able to eat all the things that you listed.  Just not in the quantities that I used to eat them. I try not to think too much about the long term.  I try to concentrate on today and making the right choice for now.  The fact that we have a future is because we made a good decision to address our health issues in a positive way.  Congratulations on your terrific success so far. Jeff

You should be able to eat all those things in a few months.  Not as much, but small amounts.  They won't be good for you and you always need to get your good stuff in first (protein & vegetables).  But you really should be able to enjoy most of that stuff.  If you are active you can get away with some, if not, then watch out.  I have not touched KFC or Pepsi (or tons of sugar or fried foods) since WLS.  I feel if I start back with those I will be playing with fire.  I enjoy alittle here and there of most things, but I will not let ANY food control me like before WLS.  Brian

Hang in there Box! A year from now? I swear that popcorn at the movies tastes a hell of a lot better While wearing a size Medium Shirt! That "Mourning Food" is a Biotche! I was lucky enough to have a distraction from it. Add one food at a time back to your typical intake. There are about a thousand foods left to add Before you get to the decision of whether or not you Want to add those things. Quick! Go chomp on a SF Popsicle! Overcoming the urge for these foods today Is what makes the next 20 years easy! Also, be an absolute azz for a week or so, and declare a ban on all foods that have a smell! You’re entitled to a little pampering right now. Best Wishes- Dx

What you say rings close to home.  I've broken up with my "old" relationship with food.  I miss some things but not enough to offset the good things going on now.  I am just about 4 months out and every once in a while I'll treat myself a little. I kind of look at it like I broke off my old long term relationship but can still be friends.  Last weekend my family had pizza for dinner.   I used to have a ton of it, but I didn't go through everything just to go back to old habits.  What I did do was have a slice for dinner.  I took one of the smaller slices and ate on it for about a half hour.  I even left some of the crust (I'd never done that before).  It tasted great and I was able to keep it to the one slice. Keep your goals in mind.  Remember why you did this and go on living. Really living.  Think of all the good to come.  Sure I miss some of the old days but not enough to ruin everything else. Have a great one, Brian 

Boxman -

As stated by all, you will be able to eat that stuff.....in time and in much smaller portions. I went through it also, I loved eating a large pizza and drinking a 2ltr of diet coke!!! Not to sound weak, but I cried myself to sleep a couple of nites because I feared I would never eat that again. I then had to tell myself that eating that way was what got me to 422lbs...

I am now 2.5 month out and love eating 1 piece of pizza (2 if thin crust). It tastes just as good as before, and I get full a lot faster. Also the good thing is 2-3 hours later when everyone else is still hurtin from packing it away, I enjoy another slice......

It will all come back. I went to the movies last week and stole some of my nephews popcorn. BAD IDEA...it did not sit well with me. That does not mean it wont with you. The first 3-6 months are a biotch as it is trial and error.

Take it slow on the soft solids.....

Great job on the weight loss. Keep it up.....

I sympathize, somewhat.  But I wanted hot wings from day 1 after surgery, and steak, and BBQ pork. I followed my doctors orders pretty much, and so I spent several months progressing up the ladder.  At six months, I certainly enjoy food again.  I've had hot wings, and steak, and BBQ pork,and yes, pizza.  I've even snagged a couple handfulls of popcorn at the movie theater. Foods that I associated with volume=good still don't really appeal to me.  So I don't really crave pasta at all, for example, because for me it was a volume food (huge bowl, some grated cheese, shovel, repeat).  I've tried a couple bites since surgery, but it doesn't taste as good anymore.  I'd rather cover a chicken breast, pork loin, or white fish in whatever sauce I would have put on pasta before, and maybe add just an ounce or two (cooked weight) of pasta on the side. I wouldn't say there is a type of food that I really want but deny myself.  I do make some modifications where possible.  For example, I found some frozen (baked) breaded chicken tenders that are breast meat and pretty low fat, and with some wing sauce I enjoy them just about as well as Hooter's hot wings but come out miles ahead on fat and carbs.  I never was a big ice-cream person before surgery, and I've studiously avoided it afterwards (as the main board posts reveal, it's a major downfall for many post-ops, cough, women, cough).  I do like strawberry desserts, but I can blend frozen strawberries (unsweetened, whole) with lemon crystal light and some splenda and get a similar effect for only about 60 calories and no dumping.  I also eat nectarines, apples, and blueberries and enjoy them very much  (and marvel that 100 calories worth of nectarine slices fills me up). Now, I guess it depends on your personality.  For me, the volume aspect hasn't been a huge psychological problem (though the desire for constant small snacking has been creeping up on me).  But for some, loss of big meals is a big problem, and if it is and continues to be for you, maybe it's worth seeking counseling over.  But right now I'd just urge patience and reevaluate how you feel a few months from now. Oh, and 56 pounds in 23 days is pretty awesome..  Congrats on that.  Maybe if you obsess on weight loss and getting more active for the next couple months, it will take the place of what you are missing until the variety of what you can eat catches up.

Hey boxy The mourning the best friend really sucks...remember the stages of grief... but there is an old receipt that I have not put out in a while...since youare going to pureed... cottage cheese crack an egg in it sant and pepper the crap out of it parmageion chees shake in int put it in a bakeing dish put some ragu type sauce on top of itm and bake it till it's girm you can kinda talk yourself into you are eating the inside out of a ravioli things get better...and we get creative russ

Thanks for the encouragement, guys.  Today is Day 3 of the Pureed Food Stage, and it's nice to be past the the full liquids.  Having some meat - even finely chopped meat - is quite filling.  I have to eat it slower, and it stays in the pouch longer, I think. AND, I'm back to drinking regular milk again, so the lactose intolerance - if that's what it was - was temporary.  And the chocolate whey protein powder is MUCH better than that soy crap I was choking down when I was avoiding all dairy, so between that and some real meat, I'm now getting my protein requirements, and THEN some. And the weight's still coming off...  62 pounds since surgery, 79 pounds total.

Hi Boxman,

Sorry to hear about the food problems. One way I've delt with that lately is by getting more healthy fat (salmon, oil rich low carb dressings, avocado, etc.) and by making diet a hobby. So, adding richness through fat and then managing a "bodybuilders diet" that brings specific results and then daily watching for those results (decreased body fat and increased muscle). In a nutshell, I've been adding the above two or three new forms of enjoyment to the eating process, in replacement of the past need for quantity.

As for the protein, no need to torture yourself with it...

You can get in your protein by mixing it with a very small amount of water, making a syrup and then just downing it really quickly. It'll taste better than most medicines, for sure. You'll just need to get your liquid from drinking more water earlier or quite a bit later after the protein. No need to suffer through an entire shake, when you can get the protein in about 20 seconds, right? None of those shakes are exactly "good", so might as well down them as fast as you can and get your liquids in a more traditional or better tasting form (not from protein shakes).

Best Wishes,

Dave