Question:
AT 1 YEAR POST-OP WHAT WILL MY CHOICES OF FOOD AND THE AMOUNT BE LIKE? Can you please

give me examples of what you are eating and snacking!! Thanks....    — Alice W. (posted on March 24, 2003)

March 23, 2003
I can eat EVERYTHING I did pre op. My volume is smaller, I like veggies more, and under stress still crave carbs espically chocolate:( I eat what other thin folks eat. I try to snack on apples, grapes and veggies but If I truly want something I will eat it. A couple months ago I had about half of a dairy queen shake. I havent wanted one since. I am still a BIT lactose intolerant but that doesnt bother mew at all. I wouldnt want to get back into the chocolate milk thing. Last night for dinner I had T bone steak nice and rare with mushrooms and onions. Theres enough left for my lunch today. I fretted SO MUCH pre op that I could NEVER eat so and so again, what a waste of energy. If I could of seen just a glimpse of my post op life it would of been so easy. BTW my wife Jen also a post op is the same. Anything in moderation is the best approach. The other night we went to a birthday party, we had cake. I ate a bit too much and my tool reminded me by making me feel icky. It lasts about 20 minutes. I am glad that occurs it reminds me that a thin slice of cake is fine, a big hunk a really bad idea.
   — bob-haller

March 23, 2003
Hi..I agree with Bob...I'm 19 months out, and I eat anything I want, and everything I could before surgery. The volume is much less, and of course, there's the dumping thing if I eat too much sugar or too many french fries (yes I do eat a couple of these when I order a sandwich out - but I definitely don't push it..lol). I have cravings for chocolate, and when I do, I have it. I just have only one or two pieces instead of the whole bag of kisses. Lately, I've been on a grapefruit kick, I eat (1) a day, half in the morning, half at night (gotta watch the sugar in citrus). Other snacks include apples, beef jerky, peanut butter crackers...I try to get some protein in with them. I was so afraid I'd never be able to eat this or that again, now I find I enjoy eating again, and the surgery has provided a "governor" to the process so that I can control it and not let things get out of hand like before. Good luck to you...Denise start: 316#, size 32/34; now 150#, size 8
   — lily1968

March 24, 2003
At 19 months post-op, I am able to eat anything I want except for alot of sugar. However, if I DO eat anything I want, I gain weight, so I have to be careful. I'm a major carb addict, so even though I CAN eat pretty much anything, I CAN'T if I want to keep the weight off. The best thing for me personally is to avoid white flour and sugar, and concentrate on whole foods like meat, chicken, fish, any kind of veggies, whole grains like WASA crackers, and fruit... although sometimes I have to limit the fruit and whole grains if my carb addiction kicks in.
   — mom2jtx3

March 24, 2003
The others are right, for the most part we can eat anything we want, just smaller quantities. Some of us, though, have to stay away from certain foods or they will make us feel icky. For many of us, we limit the amounts of pasta, rice and breads we eat as it doesn't settle really well (I can eat all of these in moderation quite well-too much and its uncomfortable). Towards the end of my profile is a days menu for me to include amounts at 1 year post-op and snack choices, which I include every day!!
   — Cindy R.

March 24, 2003
I love grapefruit. The canned is great. I drain off all the liquid to get rid of the added sugar, add spenda and enjoy. Very yummy. I dont think its too bad calorie wise,.
   — bob-haller

March 24, 2003
I am just about 13 months post-op from my wls and I can't eat anything with sugar or high fats, or I dump( diarreha) really bad!!!I mainly eat mostly fat free meats, and cheeses, and I do drink coffee and tea with the fat free/ sugar free sweetner(sweet and low) it's the only artifical sweetner my belly can handle, but it sure stops my cravings for sweets, which I cn't eat anyway, or I have the bad side effects above!!...
   — bikerchic