Question:
If you have allowed yourself to treat yourself to a dessert

or something for a special occasion , can you tell me which is better, sugar or carbs? For example, what if I ate sugar free cake w/ carbs as compared to hard candy with sugar but low carbs. Is there a "preferred" item to cheat with?    — Sue B. (posted on February 5, 2002)

February 5, 2002
Speaking from the biochemical persepctive, sugar (all sugar) <b>is</b> a type of carbohydrate.
   — [Anonymous]

February 5, 2002
Sugar IS a pure carbohydrate. Personally I have found that I can eat hard candy no problem, but everytime I've baked something using Splenda instead of sugar I dump. I thought I was supposed to dump on sugar, not substitutes! Also, the hard candy is usually fat free, and since it's much smaller, it's less likely to disrupt your weightloss too much. I hope this helps a little! Good Luck and be careful!
   — Deborah W.

February 5, 2002
I am sure I am not an authority here, but what I usually do is have a little cheesecake. It doesn't have as much sugar (assuming the plain kind) as pie or cake and has a little protein. It also doesn't make me dump as readily as other stuff. It is nice to have a "real" meal every once in a while with a couple of bites of appetizer, a couple of bites of salad, an entree, and a couple of bites of dessert!
   — ctyst

February 5, 2002
Chocolate does not bother me, but a small (1x2") lemon bar left me shaking on the floor of my office! It was really small! A few spoonfuls of my husband's Frosty last weekend also left my queasy, dizzy, etc. I can eat a few gummy worms with no problem. It's hard to tell what will bother you, but it seems most people have a hard time with high-fat items (e.g. danish) or ice cream. Even sugar free ice cream bothers me, but I can tolerate milk with no problem. Weird.
   — PT LawMom

February 5, 2002
I have to address the "cheating" part of your question. It was the feeling guilty when I "cheated" that got me to 264 !!!!!!!! I no longer consider myself on a diet. I allow myself to have whatever I want. I will have to say that my desires are so different. But, if I want to have a piece of hard candy, I will. (I've had 1 piece in 13 months!)My doctor does not put his patients on diets. He encourages normal eating. I feel like I eat like a normal person. I do not feel deprived because I know that I could have whatever I wanted, IF I wanted. It is amazingly liberating. I have lost 141 pounds and am 17 pounds BELOW goal. I have achieved this by NOT mentioning the word diet or feeling guilty because I ate that one butterscotch! I know that all surgeons are different, but I had this surgery to free myself from the constant guilt and deprivation that I was experiencing. I highly recommend it. Shelley
   — Shelley.

October 6, 2002
There's no need to feel like you are cheating! Make scrumptious desserts using fructose or turbinado sugar! You and your family will be amazed at how delicious they are! Many spouses families don't really like the things that we now eat, but there's a recipe book I've put together for people who have had RNY surgery. Not high protein, not low fat, but special occasion recipes. I've compiled a list of 115 recipes that use mostly turbinado sugar and fructose....things like fudge, soft peanut butter cookies, pecan sticky bread, cheesecake, oatmeal raisin cookies, hot fudge pudding cake, etc. The book is called Desserts and More and is available by emailing [email protected] or visiting my website. On the website you'll find sample recipes, photos of some of the desserts and ordering information. The website address is: http://www.freewebs.com/recipes-after-rny
   — Lynette B.