How is does eating feel a few years out?

For those a few years or more out, does it feel as if you are "dieting?" Do you feel deprived? Or do you feel as if you eat just as a naturally thin person would without a huge struggle?

I don't feel like I am dieting.

I axed a few things right away and never looked back so not having them "occasionally" helps me (everyone is different, moderation works for some, this works for me) example... I don't do pasta, rice, crackers, bread... I know me... a few pinches from the restaurant bread basket would lead to "I'll just have 1/2" to "just one" to "refill it" and health issues I happily am not suffering with any longer. Those few items I chose to leave behind just aren't my food anymore.

I think it helps that I enjoy cooking and adapted a lot of pre-op favorites into versions I actually like better believe it or not... lasagna made with grilled veggies is so much better than heavy pasta layers... so I rarely feel deprived... every so often something new will come out... some cookie or something I see on a commercial and I think I wonder what that is like. Those are moments I lean on support friends and a little remembering why I started.

Best wishes ~Shelly

I am 20 years post-op..

.It's interesting how tastes change.. mine went from loving sweets, to liking sours... Now, I don't want sour and sweets really make me sick, unless natural sub for sugar is used, so I try to make most of my sweets from scratch...I still will have an occassional cracker type cookie, like a sugar cookie, particularly if I am not in a place where I can eat a meal annd feel my sugar dropping.

I avoid the ones .."that I could make a meal of"..don't even buy them for the family. Like Ice cream, my limit is one ounce tops...usually a tablespoon.and I have it about every 4-6 weeks.

I will not be deprived.( It adds stress, and that interferes with wt. loss) You don't have to either, find a substitute for anything you don't want to give up, or like the other lady and re-vamp that recipe into a healthy version.

Most of the time I am not an emotional eater, but I like food. I want it to taste good...and meats must be tender and very low fat or my pouch tells me NO. This surgery has given me control. I choose and try to make predominately wise choices... Do I mess up... absolutely! But I am once again remembering, the scale is my friend and just another tool in the toolbox.

I love eating more than I ever have ( also cooking ) . I am amazed when I look at my ripped body in the morning . I had a porn-star boyfriend for a while .... we had the BEST most affectionate sex all the time and he adored my body and style too ( only was crazy jealous ) .... I still miss his all-night hugs and sexy cuddling BUT ... I realized I deserve better than a man who can't pay rent who has an atitude and who leaves work to follow me constantly .

I can say this truly - I LOVE my life since surgery . Every day is anew adventure . Of course I'm a naive idiot but I'm learning . Do I love food ? Of course . Is it important in my life ? Yes ... when I'm hungry lol. Oyjerwise its way less than important .

Ummmmm...

Does EVERY comment you make have to include sexual detail and self-aggrandizing comments?

Oh wait! I already know the answer to that question!

sorry lol... I'm feeling a little sorry for myself since our horrible breakup ... Sex was an interesting substitute addiction. Self-aggrandizing ? Don't really know how to respond to that ...I would probably say your low self esteem is showing ( to me )

I don't think people should pretend to be better than they are ... then its boring and no longer entertaining.

Awwww, thanks for pointing out my low self-esteem. It's true: I can no longer brag, like you, about a "real live 19-yr-old" asking me out.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/5367354/Early-fall-is -the-most-confident-season-for-the-formerly/page,2/#45096285

Hugs, dear.

7 years post op and most of the time it is a WOE - Way Of Eating - commonly known as "diet".

I have to make concious decisions every day , every meal, to maintain.

When I get off plan - I start gaining..

But most skinny, healthy normal woman over 40 HAVE to watch whey they eat and how much. I have a few "skinny" very good friends. They don't allow their weight to get more than 5 lbs above their comfort level. If that happens - they go on a diet until they lose the gain. During anynotherbtime - they may allow themself one special meal, or treat... But not every day... Unless they are exercise junky and they work out like crazy...

I have much less of a need to keep my blood sugar level high . This means I can eat a lot less , a lot more healthily and still feel satisfied even a few hours later . In practice this means I keep losing weight effortlessly as the years go by .

I DO NOT feel that my metabolism has slowed at all or that my tool including the malabsortption doesn't still work. Sometimes due to being an airport or a catered event.. I HAVE to eat high fat and I see my body eliminate it ( thank God) . I used to have to take Chitosan to help that process along .. now I rarely find I need that aid.

I have also been able to take a break from my Tamoxifen which lowered my naturally overly high estrogen levels . ThAT too is a profound change ...

I don't know whether it reflects emotional recovery or simply physical but I have been working on both levels trying to take better care of myself .

The idea of eating at a buffet doesn't excite me anymore . I haven't given myself an emotional bandage with overeating for some time .

So yes I've found there are long term very desireable changes .