Goodbye to Food (*Warning- FOODEE Post)

My all liquid pre-op low-cal diet starts Wednesday. I've lost 56 pounds already, but the surgeon requires it, so I have every intention of giving the man what he wants-- which is 855 calories a day of yummy (bleurgh) Optifast for a couple weeks. I know a lot of people have Last Supper Syndrome-- they eat the things they will miss "one last time"-- and that last time goes on for weeks. Pre-op gain isn't unusual. That's not something I could get behind-- but I did decided that I will now have a three day Farewell to Foodz, just the same. 72 hours of misbehavior. It started out as a binge sorta thought, but I found out after last night's dinner out, I don't like the way I feel when I eat crapola anymore. The Last Italian Dinner was:

    + Penne pasta with chicken in a vodka blush sauce (I ate about 600 cal.s worth--- half the entree!)     +  5 (small) pieces of tomato and garlic bread     +  Cheesecake with strawberries This was all really tasty but it made my nose run-- I'm not used to full-fat cheese anymore! Even though I binged zealously and intentionally, I still only clocked about 1800 calories for the day (and did 400 cals worth of exercise.) I then got this major craving for Diet Coke-- I haven't had any soda since February. So I bought a liter of Decaf Diet Coke (I won't touch the hi-octane stuff anymore-- I'm caffeine free.) I put some lemon in it and it was a tasty treat, which isn't gonna impair me much. And in two days, done with soda for good. Tah dah! I decided that today would be a binge-a-palooza. Stopped in a convenience store this am to buy all the nasty crap I loved and won't be having-- and realized it's just not all that anymore, but it IS a bag of chips--- in fact, it's a small bag of Doritos and a small bag of Chex Mix--- both which will be gone by sundown today.  Tomorrow's rampant stupidity festival involves a last trip to McDonalds. And the 4th of July, my very last day of eating solid food for the next month or so, will end with a cheeseburger and onion rings. Pretty silly, I know. This isn't your average stupid binge, though-- it's a funeral for some old friends I have sort of outgrown. I am learning that food doesn't do for me what it once did, and it actually helps me to experience that--- makes me look forward to the leaner, healthier phase to follow.  I don't wanna be talked out of it--- because I actually think it needs to happen. I know, I'm weird. I think Wednesday and the weeks to follow will actually come as a kind of relief!

funny how you are nearly struggling to "binge"  i'm sitting here LMAO! ooooh a whole bag of chips...rock on! It is weird and relieving as you say to finally see food for what it is...a habit path of choices. And cravings for what they are...when we eat "that kind" of food, it simply serves to make us want more. Whne we work at eating higher quality nutrition, that food becomes what we crave. You're funny!

Shari -- I am a last supper kinda girl, so I wouldn't dream of talking you out of your last splurge.  You are being much more restrained than I know I would be.  I'm envious of your new relationship with food and look forward to a time when the crap food just doesn't taste so good to me anymore.  I definitely ain't there yet.  I hope that your 2 Optifast weeks aren't too painful and pass quickly.  But, I know that you will do well with it and also do well after your surgery.  You have gotten yourself to such a good place emotionally I think. Do you know how long you will be in the hospital?

Don't get me wrong--- it still tastes amazing....I just physically feel gross afterwards! If my head was really on straight about food, I wouldn't eat it this way in the first place! I should only be in the hospital a couple days. I'll have the Sig Ot check in here if it makes people feel better.

Well, I for one would appreciate it if he could pop in here and let us know how the surgery went and how things are going.

Hi shari,
    I can totally relate to your post!  I'm also pre-op and i start my diet today. Yesterday was my last day to binge but I had no desire to indulge. I'm a sugar hog, love that sweet stuff, amazingly I didn't raid a bakery shop. I bought some sugarfree stuff to suffice the sweet tooth,btw, I cringe every time I taste artificial sweetners. My diet consists of high protein and zero fat. I guess I'm doing an Atkins diet without the tubs of bacon. Anywho, lots of luck, and congrats on the 56lbs gone already.

High protein and low fat were what got those 56 pounds off! You know, it's really not so bad at all! I bought a lot of simple and fast protein sources-- Perdue Chicken and Turkey already cooked, ground turkey, low fat cheeses. You'll be amazed at how good your body feels and how much varity still exists out there!

Oh, Shari! What you described as a binge sort of thing sounds like an angelic day of healthful eating to me! I mean, compared to how bad I can be, and have been in the past. I point that out because it's just more proof that you are going to rock this once you're out of surgery. Congrats on the 56 pounds!

Sonora-- no lie--- the same foods for one day a year ago today would have been: * a large bag of Doritos and pint of french onion dip * a large bag of Chex Mix * 4 diet sodas * A quarter pounder with cheese * small fries * 20 nuggets with sweet and sour sauce * a large milkshake * 2 bagels with cream cheese * a package of Edy's Dibs or pint of Ben and Jerry's * any leftovers in the fridge *a large Stouffers mac-n-cheese with ham mixed in So yep, I feel you. I'm fat for a reason, and it ain't a glandular problem!  

Wow Shari, I think I just gained 2 lbs. from just reading that list.