Am I the only one?
So I start my preop diet saturday and then surgery is 10 days after that. And all keep thinking is I better eat this or that, I have I only have 2 days left... because I'll never be able to again. My weakness and love is carbs. So I know it could be a slippery slope type situation so I intend to just not even dip my toes again so to speak. I plan to completely avoid carbs in the future. Anyway, did you all think like this too, and try to fit in all your favorite meals beforehand or do I just have major food love that will bite me in hiney later?
You are not alone at all! I am on my last day of the pre-op diet for surgery tomorrow. I got my official surgery date about a week before I had to start my pre-op diet and I totally had what I called a Food funeral. I said good bye to all my old favorites that I plan never to touch again. I think its ok just dont go to hell with it. Like have a few of your favorite chips turns into 2 large bags LOL. I think you have to say good bye to the relationship that once brought you comfort.
The thing is, with the VSG, there is never any food that is "off limits" per se. You CAN (and are able) to eat anything at all, when you are finished the weight loss stage of the journey and hit maintenance.
It's all in the choices you make and the determination/resolve you have to use your new tool to its maximum and to be diligent about maintaining your new lifestyle.
I found this outlook to be much more helpful when approaching my own VSG a year ago. And so far, that outlook has served me pretty well. Though I'm still a newbie; I'm hoping I can say the same thing 5 or 10 years post-op!
No funerals... just live life to the fullest and use food as fuel, not as a source of pleasure. Therein lies the difference for me.
OTTAWA -- 2011 - Contemplated WLS Feb. 15, 2013 - GP Feb. 20 - lung functioning Feb. 22 - blood work Feb. 27 - Referral April 19 - orientation, bloodwork July 10 - nurse July 23 - rheumatologist (VSG) Sept. 12 - Behaviourist & Dietician Oct. 23 - Echocardiogram Nov. 6 - Pre-surgery Class Nov. 12 - Surgeon Jan 13, 2014 - Optifast (3 wks) Jan. 27 - PATTS Feb. 3, 2014 - Surgery (VSG)
HEIGHT: 5'5" HW 303 Pre-Opti 297 SW 271 GW 170 CW 200 (Feb. 8, 2018 - damn the regain!) VSG with Dr. Yelle
Well said!
Surgery Date: 12/9/14 - Highest Weight: 349 - Surgery Weight: 305 - Current Weight: 137
Goal reached in 13 months - 212 total pounds lost including pre-op
(M1: -20) (M2: -18) (M3: -11) (M4: -11) (M5: -14) (M6: -1) (M7: -18) (M8: -7) (M9: -15)
(M10: -13) (M11: -7) (M12: -10) (M13: -10) (M14 -6) (M15: -7) - 168 lbs lost post-op
This is one of the reasons I chose VSG - I "can" eat anything I want.
But, food for me is definitely still a source of pleasure and I hope that it will always remain one. I've just added in a ton of other sources of pleasure so that food is no longer my main source of pleasure... or even in the top 10 :D
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)
Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170
TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)
Totally common. About 2.5 months pre-op I started replacing two of my meals with shakes each day. So the weekend before I started my pre-op diet, I didn't feel bad at all to celebrate with food a little! I went out for dinner, had Cracker Barrel for lunch.. I had a sushi platter all to myself. This makes me go o_O now, but it was fine then and I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I got those cravings out of my system so that I was able to be focused during my 24 days of liquids pre and post-op.
My funny "food love" story is pizza. I loved it pre-op and I figured that I still would post-op. I've been really surprised to find that I actually don't care about pizza at all. About 6 months post-op I had a bite of my partner's pizza and was like, "Oh. This isn't that awesome." Sushi is really the only pre-op LOVE than I still LOVE. So I have it every other month or so and that's quite lovely.
Completely avoiding carbs isn't really possible since they're in lots of healthy things like dairy and vegetables!
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)
Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170
TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)
I didn't mean zero.carbs ever, but I'm plan to stay away from breads, bagels, pastas, potatoes. That kind of thing. :) I will eat some of the "good for you carbs". And hey maybe I will learn a new control and will be able to eat some of the things I love now, or hopefully with any luck I just won't really desire them anymore. Thanks everyone, so nice to know I'm not the only one.
I had food funerals too but not because I would never eat pasta again, but because I wouldn't for a long time. I'm almost to my goal. I'm 6.5 months out and have lost 96 of my 100 lbs. I try not to say, "I will never eat this again" because I don't think I will be happy with that mindset. So, I eat good things, but in moderation. I spent the weekend in Arizona with family for my grandma's funeral. My mom and aunts had baked about 30 dozen cookies for the service and I carefully picked out one of each kind, put them in a container and took them home so I can enjoy each and every one. I put them in the freezer and I know it is going to take me a month or two to eat them all, but I know that if I feel like I'm denying myself I will binge. If I can eat yummy stuff in a controlled way, I'll be more successful. Good luck to you on your journey!!
I wish I wouldn't have because I gained some extra weight before surgery, but I did indulge in a few foods that I liked because I knew I wouldn't be able to have them. At one point I was eating stuff because I wouldn't be able to have it....instead of me truly want it! I was there where you are now!
Age: 40 Height: 5'8" Highest Weight: 325 Starting Weight: 291 Current Weight: 166 Goal Weight: 160
VSG 10/24/14 with Dr. David Chengelis