Question:
Scared to Eat???

I find that the further I get out from surgery (surgery was 3/01), the less I want to eat. I am actually avoiding food now because I don't want to slow my loss. I have heard that cutting calories too much can inhibit my loss even further so I am forcing myself to eat. But all I really want to do is get my protein in and fast the rest of the day. I will conquer this, but is anybody else going thru this, and how did you get through it? I don't want to be scared to eat for the rest of my life! I want to be as normal as possible. I am scared of this taking over and turning into some weird eating disorder that I will have to battle, and that's the last thing I want!!!!    — Becky H. (posted on October 20, 2001)

October 20, 2001
Becky H, I don't think you afraid to eat. You just want to lose as fast as you can. You ARE eating. You say you are eating your protein. Iam 6 months post-op now. During the 4th and 5th month I was just like you. I didn't want to eat. I wanted to lose as much as I could. So I just did my protein and that was it. But now I feel like eating again, because I see that I am still losing and it really didn't make me lose any faster by only eating protein. So I might as well have other stuff and enjoy life a little. I know I am still losing. And it's fine not to lose tons of weight. Everybody is diffferent. But you'll make it to your goal. You will.
   — Mara K.

October 20, 2001
Yep. The less you eat your body will think you're starving it and will not let go of anything. Eating frequently SPEEDS UP your metabolism (I know, it sounds weird). And, drink tons of water and do at least a little walking.
   — Betty Todd

October 20, 2001
Hi. I'm only about 4 weeks out from surgery, but I'm having lots of fears about eating.... But they mostly center around eating too much (so that I'm uncomfortable and feel nauseous), or eating too quickly (so that anything I eat comes right back), or not chewing enough (ditto). I don't know what to choose to eat. I'm still eating mushy and pureed, and don't know if I'll ever get to the "little pieces" stage! I'm still eating six tiny (3-4 oz.) meals a day.... But I have every sympathy. Try to spread the food out over a whole day. Fasting does no good. It must be the fastest way back to hunger there is. Maybe a visit with a nutritionist will help you get control. Good Luck, Margie
   — Marjorie B.

October 20, 2001
Every surgeon seems to have a slightly different approach to post-op diet. I have always been thankful for what seemed to be a very simple and sensible approach from mine. After the initial 3 weeks of "full liquids" (foods with mushy, pureed consistency) six times a day, his patients move immediately to a three meal-a-day ONLY plan, starting with "soft" (no high-residue foods like beef and pork, no crunchy vegetables or fruits....but otherwise normal foods) for the next 3 weeks, and then to a regular diet as tolerated. He stresses with his patients that the surgery will indeed create the desired weight loss, but that the primary purpose of this surgery is to be able to return the patient to an improved state of health and to "break" all those old negative eating patterns and establish normal ones. Don't be afraid that you won't lose the weight you need to lose...don't tell yourself that you are the only one in the universe that this surgery is not going to work for...don't compare your weight loss rate to that of others....don't become overly dependent on weighing every time you turn around. If you have had RNY surgery, then the surgery itself will be your best friend and "protect" you from overeating and eating those foods higher in sugars and fats that got us all into "trouble" in the first place. After the first six months post-op, almost all patients notice a decrease in the rate of their weight loss. That is completely normal...don't be anxious about it....the weight will continue to come off if you are faithful to your diet and exercise. I am 19 months post-op, and my daughter is 21 months post-op...we are still losing 2-3 lbs. a month and are only 5-15 lbs. from our personal goals. DO have a positive attitude....believe in the process, because it DOES and WILL work...get your protein and vitamin/mineral supplements in, drink as much water as you can stand, gradually increase your exercise, and try to establish as "normal" an eating pattern throughout the day as possible...remember that every patient loses at a different rate depending on many, many factors, and that plateaus are a normal and expected occurrence....remember that even when the pounds seem to be hanging on, the inches aren't....try to break or limit your psychological dependency on your scales; they are not necessarily your best friend in this journey. This surgery is going to open new and wonderful doors for you on an almost daily basis...relax and enjoy the trip! Good luck!
   — Diana T.