What were your eating habits before surgery?

I have been told that RNY is better for grazers, and people who "have a sweet tooth", whereas the sleeve is suited better for volume eaters. 

Honestly, I think I'm both.  I have always eaten in excess since I was little. I remember when Nutagrain Bars first came out, and sneaking into the pantry to eat a whole box of them. Ugh. Shameful. 

I am curious to know if you feel you fit the grazer/sweet tooth mold. What were your eating habits like pre surgery?

I think I was both. I definitely have a sweet tooth, or an addiction to sugar. If I stay away from it, I am fine. I'm only 8 days since my surgery ... Volume isn't an issue anymore of course, and I think the Premier chocolate shakes calm any sweet craving down.

I was a volume eater for sure. Just had the sleeve a week ago and it's been weird only drinking, and small sips at that. 

That being said, no shame on the NutriGrain bars. I've eaten so much worse...and more!

Autumn

Volume. Big time. Total carb junkie. Ate pizza almost daily between meals. A serving of pasta was half a pound. Sleeve has been great for me. I am rarely hungry and easily satiated. I am lucky in that spicy foods do not bother me, so I can eat for flavor. So far, so good. 

I was both.  Maybe I just don't get it, but I've never understood the whole thing about RNY being a better procedure for dealing with sweets - unless you dump, which applies to only 30% of RNYers.  And realistically, even RNYers who experience dumping don't necessarily avoid sweets. Same as VSGers who get the foamies don't necessarily avoid overeating or eating to quickly.  The other thing with RNY is that with the relatively high number of people who experience insulin issues 3-10 years out, I would see it as being a procedure that is counter productive for dealing with sweets and actually triggers grazing over the long haul.  VSG is definitely best for dealing with volume eating, but I don't think any of the procedures offer any advantage around grazing.  Would love to hear what others say.  

I an a carb addict. I was able to control it during the day, eating a reasonable, though carby, breakfast and lunch. I usually had a snack in the afternoon to tide me over to supper, generally an apple, Cheezits, or even powdered donuts or a candy bar.  Then, a good supper. After that, it was Katy, Bar the Door!  I could get up from the table and immediately start rifling the cabinets. I could eat and eat and eat from supper to bedtime. I easily ate 50% or more of my calories between 6pm and 10pm. Cheezits, peanut butter crackers nuts, popcorn, candy, fruit, cookies, cake, on and on and on...Seriously, I could eat all that stuff in one evening.  And that doesn't even count the secretive eating in the car or other places away from home, where my family couldn't see me. Geez, is it any wonder I was 100 pounds overweight!

I was/am a "professional" eater! I did it all - gorged, grazed, sweet to salty, you name it - if it was a messed up eating behavior I had probably done it at one time or another.

My big thing was I got to the point of wanting to feel "Thanksgiving" full at every meal. Then in between meals I nibbled and grazed. From 4pm to bedtime I basically ate non stop. I also have come to understand that I have an insatiable sweet tooth. Once I start in on a sugar type of food I immediately want to keep eating it. It takes some restraint on my part to stop once I start. 

I'm going to tell you a story about a friend of mine who had the RNY about 7 years ago. She was a very large woman. Close to 350 pounds. She lost about 130 pounds and was looking pretty darn good, though at 220 and being 5'5" she still had a ways to go. She had let her tool do most of the work to get her down so far (she lost really quickly over about 9-10 months). My friend is a grazer. She eats a little bit here and there all day long. Rarely does she eat a meal. She says it's uncomfortable to eat a full meal so it's easier just to eat a little bit every hour or so. Fast forward to now - She has gained every bit of weight back and probably more. She also never got dumping syndrome, so has no aversion to eating sweets.

Now me, I can no longer eat until Thanksgiving full. I eat a 3 oz portion of meat, 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup veggies and sometimes an additional 2 TBS of a starchy carb. That is a full meal for me and I am completely satisfied. For me this is great because even if I wanted to I really can't eat more than that without becoming really uncomfortable for hours (and believe me it sucks to be overly full with a sleeve! Once you've done it, you do whatever it takes not to do it again!!!!)

With my sleeve I am sugar sensitive. If I eat something high sugar my heart races. I don't get sick, but boy I can feel my heart pound. It's not that pleasant and it serves as a reminder to me that I really shouldn't indulge in high sugar foods. I asked the surgeon the other day at group about this and he said it is a mild form of "dumping" because it is a symptom of the insulin reaction.

Yet, I CAN graze. Everyone I know who has had WLS is able to graze. If you eat tiny little bits all day long you won't feel restriction and will never feel full or satisfied. Grazing is an eating habit that requires a change in mind set and habit. Grazing is hard to break. Many people begin to struggle with grazing as a returned habit after about 18 months to 2 years. I know that I have to sometimes remind myself that grazing is not allowed. It is so easy just to grab something small and pop it in my mouth. I have to remember that if I want to eat I sit down and eat meals.

I do not believe there is a WLS that is better for grazing. Our new small receptacles are perfect for grazing, so of grazing we must be wary!

Professional eater - I'm stealin' it!

It's so true, though, isn't it!?!?

It was all about the quantity, baybee.  Nothing made me happier than a buffet.  My stomach felt like a bottomless pit.  I could shovel away massive quantities of food and preferred the starchy, salty and fatty varieties of everything.  Yes, I liked sweets too, but they weren't my kryptonite.

I could go all day barely eating anything, then have a massive food orgy at night.  I opted for the sleeve because I needed external portion control.  I'm six weeks from surgery and I'm feeling the restriction.  It's awesome and exactly what I needed to make me stop with the compulsive bingeing.