"Will I ever be able to eat like a normal person?"
Old Re-Post
With additional crap at the end-
---------------------------------------------------------------
I see this question a lot from folks prior to surgery-
“Will I ever be able to eat like a normal person?”
Not only from those in their first week of-
“What the Heck did I do to Myself!?!?”
But a lot of pre-Ops.
This is one of those things that people
Actually worry about A good deal.
In fact, it’s one of those things that people,
Specifically,
People who have not had Gastric Bypass
Use to persuade others NOT to have RNY Gastric Bypass
Or even WLS in general!
Here’s how some of this is “Manifest”
“Just Diet and Exercise More…..”
“You’ll be Living on a Diet…”
“A Diet with a Scar!”
“Living on those Protein Shakes!”
“You’ll spend your life measuring out meals in ice-cube trays…”
“Un-able even to chew gum for the rest of your life…”
“Never being able to taste a beer again as long as you live?”
“…A life of daily vomiting, you might as well be bulimic!”
“Everyone gains it back anyway! With “That, K-mart variety WLS!”
“After one year of loosing THEY all gain it back anyway….”
“You’ll never able to eat like a human again…”
“…want to still eat more than three peas and a crouton for dinner.”
So, am I able to eat like a normal person? Yes!
Am I able to eat like a 385lb man?
Who is steadily gaining weight toward an early grave?
NO!
That’s the Deal.
I’m no longer a “Member in Good Standing” of the
Clean Your Plate Club!
When eating out, no cards, not even “doggy bags” anymore.
I do what the other 6’1”-181lb men do-
I eat until I’m satisfied and stop.
I make healthy food choices
Rather than ones based on whether or not
I find them –“Comforting.”
Because I’m not carrying those extra 200+ pounds
I easily get exercise without too many hassles at all.
Yep, I have the occasional Beer, Wine etc…
I Chew Gum (while walking
)
Sugar?
Well I eat a lot more of it than Aristotle, Plato, Jesus, etc….
In fact,
More than most everyone prior to massive Slavery in the West
Making it something that the world was plagued with.
Popped up about the same time as tobacco or cocaine and equally “essential” for life.
Do I have Protein Shakes every day?
Nope,
I get Most all of my Protein in from Meat, cheese, and Legumes.
An RNY’er Who Eats Meat!?! Even Red Meat? And Doesn’t Live on Shakes?!?
Yep. And it’s not uncommon no matter what
The “Nay-Sayers” might present as “The Truth.”
Do I still Dump at 4+ years out.
If I eat Much Sugar at all, Yes!
How many times I’ve “dumped” in the 3 years? 3 times!
Does the threat of “dumping” over-shadow my life?
No.
Rich Foods?
For me, a touch of intestinal discomfort,
If I eat too much overly rich foods.
(A Great deal of Fat, Butter, or Cream. Think very fatty Steak with Bernaise Sauce)
Strangely enough
This is often the case of Non-WLS people as well.
They just call it “Indigestion.”
Living on a Diet?……Diet?
For those who have not completely forgotten the definition, Yes!
According to Webster-
“The usual food and drink consumed by an organism (person or animal).”
So that’s it…
“Usual!”
For those early out of surgery
Still stuck on liquids,
Wondering if they’ll just have to get used to this
And for those who are Avoiding Gastric Bypass
Or any WLS for that matter,
Out of Anxiety that they will
“Not be able to Eat like a Normal Person,”
Or that they will- “Never be Normal,”
In My Humble Opinion, And My Experience So Far,
Nothing could be further than the truth!
Best Wishes-
Dx
----------------------------------------
Now the “Additional Stuff.”
Saw a great post on a friends blog
And re-post it here with permission……….
------------------------------------------
“Living Normal” by Kaye Bailey - Friday, December 16, 2005
It is common for new WLS patients to ask,
“How soon after surgery will I get back to normal?”
This is understandable.
We’ve spent a lifetime dieting for the short-term – the 30-day diet,
the six-week program, the lose-ten-pounds-over-the-weekend diet.
Remember thinking, “If I can stick with this plan for just 10 days, then I can go back to normal.”
The diet industry has conditioned us to think
long-term lifestyle changes are unnecessary to accomplish weight loss.
We are impatient and demanding, we want a quick fix.
Expectations are unrealistic and result in failure, disappointment and self-loathing.
But weight loss surgery is for life. To that end, we must re-define normal.
Normal is living without co-morbidities: asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, heartburn, and knee and back pain.
Normal is feeling your body in motion, walking up stairs briskly, and bending to tie your shoes.
Normal is playing children’s games on the floor and getting up without struggling.
Normal is hearing compliments about how great you look.
Normal is ACCEPTING compliments about how great you look.
Normal is fastening an airplane lap belt and pulling it tight.
Normal is enjoying clothes shopping.
Normal is the thrill of amusement park rides.
Normal is waking up early to jump on the scale – and thrilling at the number.
Normal is living without the incessant distraction of food and the relentless hunger.
Normal is feeling proud – not ashamed – of your body.
Normal is savoring food one bite at a time, not ravaging it.
Normal is having the power – the tiny tummy - to control eating behavior.
Normal is eating three meals a day and not snacking in between – and doing just fine.
Normal is feeling immediate discomfort when too much food, or the wrong food is consumed.
Normal is taking vitamins every day.
Normal is drinking water – lots of water.
Normal is enjoying exercising!
Normal is boundless energy.
Normal is a positive outlook, not fearing the doom of an early, miserable death for obesity related health complications.
Normal is eating lean protein at every meal.
Normal is declining doughnuts or pizza – and not feeling deprived!
Normal is making healthy eating and behavior modification a lifestyle for the whole family.
Normal is quality food, not gluttonous quantity.
Normal is taking responsibility for your own health and wellness.
Normal is respecting the science of your body, respecting the tiny tummy, and respecting yourself.
Normal is constant attention to weight maintenance.
Normal is feeling deep compassion for the obese.
Normal is being scared of the rapid transformation your body makes.
Normal is bouts of anger over years of self-loathing, discrimination, isolation and suffering.
Normal is the occasional departure from the rules that results in dumping or vomiting.
Normal is a rapid return to appropriate eating behavior.
Normal is seeing, for a time, a stranger in the mirror.
Normal is freeing yourself from obesity’s prison.
Normal is understanding that the pre-surgical behaviors and habits were unhealthy, destructive and abusive.
When a fellow patient asks, “When will I get back to normal?” the answer is Never-Ever-Never. Your tiny tummy is a one-way ticket to health, happiness and better living – the new normal!
Re-define your own normal! Chose your path into bariatric maturity. Embrace the new healthy, attractive you!
Welcome to your new life: You have arrived!
~ KAYE BAILEY~
(if you haven’t come across ‘Living after WLS Site –Kaye's Site
http://www.livingafterwls.com/index.html
Check it out- It’s a great source!)
(there's a lot of great sources out there beyond OH)
-----------------------------------
Hope this gives some perspective for those just beginning ……
Best Wishes-
Dx
With additional crap at the end-
---------------------------------------------------------------
I see this question a lot from folks prior to surgery-
“Will I ever be able to eat like a normal person?”
Not only from those in their first week of-
“What the Heck did I do to Myself!?!?”
But a lot of pre-Ops.
This is one of those things that people
Actually worry about A good deal.
In fact, it’s one of those things that people,
Specifically,
People who have not had Gastric Bypass
Use to persuade others NOT to have RNY Gastric Bypass
Or even WLS in general!
Here’s how some of this is “Manifest”
“Just Diet and Exercise More…..”
“You’ll be Living on a Diet…”
“A Diet with a Scar!”
“Living on those Protein Shakes!”
“You’ll spend your life measuring out meals in ice-cube trays…”
“Un-able even to chew gum for the rest of your life…”
“Never being able to taste a beer again as long as you live?”
“…A life of daily vomiting, you might as well be bulimic!”
“Everyone gains it back anyway! With “That, K-mart variety WLS!”
“After one year of loosing THEY all gain it back anyway….”
“You’ll never able to eat like a human again…”
“…want to still eat more than three peas and a crouton for dinner.”
So, am I able to eat like a normal person? Yes!
Am I able to eat like a 385lb man?
Who is steadily gaining weight toward an early grave?
NO!
That’s the Deal.
I’m no longer a “Member in Good Standing” of the
Clean Your Plate Club!
When eating out, no cards, not even “doggy bags” anymore.
I do what the other 6’1”-181lb men do-
I eat until I’m satisfied and stop.
I make healthy food choices
Rather than ones based on whether or not
I find them –“Comforting.”
Because I’m not carrying those extra 200+ pounds
I easily get exercise without too many hassles at all.
Yep, I have the occasional Beer, Wine etc…
I Chew Gum (while walking
)Sugar?
Well I eat a lot more of it than Aristotle, Plato, Jesus, etc….
In fact,
More than most everyone prior to massive Slavery in the West
Making it something that the world was plagued with.
Popped up about the same time as tobacco or cocaine and equally “essential” for life.
Do I have Protein Shakes every day?
Nope,
I get Most all of my Protein in from Meat, cheese, and Legumes.
An RNY’er Who Eats Meat!?! Even Red Meat? And Doesn’t Live on Shakes?!?
Yep. And it’s not uncommon no matter what
The “Nay-Sayers” might present as “The Truth.”
Do I still Dump at 4+ years out.
If I eat Much Sugar at all, Yes!
How many times I’ve “dumped” in the 3 years? 3 times!
Does the threat of “dumping” over-shadow my life?
No.
Rich Foods?
For me, a touch of intestinal discomfort,
If I eat too much overly rich foods.
(A Great deal of Fat, Butter, or Cream. Think very fatty Steak with Bernaise Sauce)
Strangely enough
This is often the case of Non-WLS people as well.
They just call it “Indigestion.”
Living on a Diet?……Diet?
For those who have not completely forgotten the definition, Yes!
According to Webster-
“The usual food and drink consumed by an organism (person or animal).”
So that’s it…
“Usual!”
For those early out of surgery
Still stuck on liquids,
Wondering if they’ll just have to get used to this
And for those who are Avoiding Gastric Bypass
Or any WLS for that matter,
Out of Anxiety that they will
“Not be able to Eat like a Normal Person,”
Or that they will- “Never be Normal,”
In My Humble Opinion, And My Experience So Far,
Nothing could be further than the truth!
Best Wishes-
Dx
----------------------------------------
Now the “Additional Stuff.”
Saw a great post on a friends blog
And re-post it here with permission……….
------------------------------------------
“Living Normal” by Kaye Bailey - Friday, December 16, 2005
It is common for new WLS patients to ask,
“How soon after surgery will I get back to normal?”
This is understandable.
We’ve spent a lifetime dieting for the short-term – the 30-day diet,
the six-week program, the lose-ten-pounds-over-the-weekend diet.
Remember thinking, “If I can stick with this plan for just 10 days, then I can go back to normal.”
The diet industry has conditioned us to think
long-term lifestyle changes are unnecessary to accomplish weight loss.
We are impatient and demanding, we want a quick fix.
Expectations are unrealistic and result in failure, disappointment and self-loathing.
But weight loss surgery is for life. To that end, we must re-define normal.
Normal is living without co-morbidities: asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, heartburn, and knee and back pain.
Normal is feeling your body in motion, walking up stairs briskly, and bending to tie your shoes.
Normal is playing children’s games on the floor and getting up without struggling.
Normal is hearing compliments about how great you look.
Normal is ACCEPTING compliments about how great you look.
Normal is fastening an airplane lap belt and pulling it tight.
Normal is enjoying clothes shopping.
Normal is the thrill of amusement park rides.
Normal is waking up early to jump on the scale – and thrilling at the number.
Normal is living without the incessant distraction of food and the relentless hunger.
Normal is feeling proud – not ashamed – of your body.
Normal is savoring food one bite at a time, not ravaging it.
Normal is having the power – the tiny tummy - to control eating behavior.
Normal is eating three meals a day and not snacking in between – and doing just fine.
Normal is feeling immediate discomfort when too much food, or the wrong food is consumed.
Normal is taking vitamins every day.
Normal is drinking water – lots of water.
Normal is enjoying exercising!
Normal is boundless energy.
Normal is a positive outlook, not fearing the doom of an early, miserable death for obesity related health complications.
Normal is eating lean protein at every meal.
Normal is declining doughnuts or pizza – and not feeling deprived!
Normal is making healthy eating and behavior modification a lifestyle for the whole family.
Normal is quality food, not gluttonous quantity.
Normal is taking responsibility for your own health and wellness.
Normal is respecting the science of your body, respecting the tiny tummy, and respecting yourself.
Normal is constant attention to weight maintenance.
Normal is feeling deep compassion for the obese.
Normal is being scared of the rapid transformation your body makes.
Normal is bouts of anger over years of self-loathing, discrimination, isolation and suffering.
Normal is the occasional departure from the rules that results in dumping or vomiting.
Normal is a rapid return to appropriate eating behavior.
Normal is seeing, for a time, a stranger in the mirror.
Normal is freeing yourself from obesity’s prison.
Normal is understanding that the pre-surgical behaviors and habits were unhealthy, destructive and abusive.
When a fellow patient asks, “When will I get back to normal?” the answer is Never-Ever-Never. Your tiny tummy is a one-way ticket to health, happiness and better living – the new normal!
Re-define your own normal! Chose your path into bariatric maturity. Embrace the new healthy, attractive you!
Welcome to your new life: You have arrived!
~ KAYE BAILEY~
(if you haven’t come across ‘Living after WLS Site –Kaye's Site
http://www.livingafterwls.com/index.html
Check it out- It’s a great source!)
(there's a lot of great sources out there beyond OH
)-----------------------------------
Hope this gives some perspective for those just beginning ……
Best Wishes-
Dx
Capricious; Impulsive, Semi-Predictable 
So the more accurate question is "What is a normal person? Identify normal."
And the variety of available eating habits of such? Is that like asking which religion is best or which opinion is accurate? Green apples or red apples?
When ever I ask what did I do to myself, If I can't remeber I wanted another chance to live abit longer and healthier, I look at before and after pictures, read profiles, and now I can revisit my meeting people this last weekend at a WLS conference (which is really a turbo-charged hemi weekend long support group meeting) that have been where I am heading the the people that are trying to get to where I am in real life and admire the will and determination of some really beautiful and thoughful people that are still discovering they are not the lazy undisciplined slugs we have been told we were all our lives, unless we want to quit trying and become what we are told we are rather than taking the steps to be what we know we really are. It is an amazing thing to witness in others while having the same lack of self perception at the same time. Kinda of a watered down Keannu Reves Matrix awareness of self in a parallel dimension without being that far out.
OK I think I've ventured into unchartered and irrelevan****ers here.
Great post as usual DxE. I enjoyed the read.
Unfortunately I'm not nearly literate enough to write something like your original post, but I can say this: I'm 8 weeks out today and I'm amazed at how small of a burden this RNY thing has been so far. What did I love to eat for breakfast prior to surgery? Burritos made with scrambled eggs, refried beans, ham, sausage, bacon, cheese, and a green sauce that would give you an erection, all wrapped up inside a gorgeous, made from scratch, flour tortilla. What am I fixin' to eat here in about 30 minutes? Scrambled eggs (about 25% of what would've been in a burrito), ham (about 1 oz), refried beans (about 1 tbsp), all topped off with that gorgeous green sauce. I'm giving up the tortilla, two out of three meats, and the cheese. Not that I couldn't eat the cheese, but I'm cutting back on fat grams. And it's pretty much the same for lunch and supper also. My old ham sandwich is now a collection of tiny ham sandwiches, made on low-fat crackers instead of bread. My grilled steak and chicken for supper are still coming off the grill, I'm just eating a quarter of the steak, or one piece of chicken instead of the 1200 -1500 calories of meat I used to eat every night. My wife ordered Key Lime pie at a resturant the other night. I had a bite and was as satisfied as I've ever been with a piece of pie. In eight weeks, I haven't felt like I was missing a thing. Yet.
The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking....... If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog.
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