Question:
Feeling frustrated over what I'm NOT eating
I have posted this on two other online support groups that I frequent, but though I'd post here too, since I have always gotten great advice here too. This is what I posted: ****First of all, let me appologize for all my constant whining & complaining. I don't have any other means of support, that is why I always turn to my online groups, and I thank you for being here!! Now, on to my problems...I am so disgusted with the way things have been going for me since wls. I never dreamt it would be like this. I am having such a hard time with my "food issues". I can't stand to eat anything!! It's not that I don't want to, because believe me, I am HUNGRY!! Not "head hunger" either!! I am just so finicky, I guess. I practically live on saltines!! I am sick of refried beans, sick of soup, sick of mashed potaoes,(this list goes on) and getting sick of eggs!! I have tried to eat tuna with low fat mayo, I can't stand the taste of it!! I am so sick of "low fat" this, and "light" that, and "sugar free". It's not that I miss the "regular" stuff, but this stuff tastes nasty to me!! I have tried to choke down 4 different brands of protein drinks, and I CAN'T DO IT!! They were gross!! I know that by NOT eating, I am hindering my weightloss, which is no wonder I haven't been losing like I would like!! I am just so tired of this, and am now second guessing my decision to have wls, though it's too late now!! I feel like a complete failure. The ONLY thing I do right is get in my water, and take my meds & vitamins like I should. I'm sorry for ranting like this, I just feel so darn crappy about myself right now. It stinks!! If any of you have any suggestions for me, I'd love to here them, but I do hope that you'll be nice. :o) I don't think I can take any more negativity, I've done gave myself enough!! Thanks!!!**** If you have any help or advice for me, I could really use it. Thank you all!! — Cat S. (posted on May 7, 2003)
May 7, 2003
Cheer up :>) It's a hard learning process for us all as we stumble
through this. But why are you working so hard to eat low-fat (usually
low-taste IMO)? Is this on the advice of your surgeon/nutritionist? If
they advised it, then far be it for me to dissuade you from following sound
medical advise. However, if not, try eating real fat flavored foods. I
eat real mayonnaise, full-fat cheese, full-fat dressings on salad, etc. In
the beginning I dumped on fats, but not hardly at all now. Many low-fat
items are high in carbs because they are replacing the fats. Fat we
eliminate easier than carbs. And to spout the old rhetoric "Fat
doesn't make you fat." I also don't do protein supplements. Not to
put them down, but I just don't like them. I eat a lot of jerky, moz
cheese sticks (the only cheese I can eat on a regular basis without getting
sick of it), 4% fat cottage cheese - sometimes with fruit in it for
variety. No sugar-added peanut butter, nuts, canned corned beef with
finely chopped cooked cabbage - very good and easy to chew up fine! I
choose no sugar-added over sugar-free a lot, but watch for dumping! You
can also control the amount of artificial sweeteners by making your own
sugar-free stuff. Knoxx plain gelatine can be made with splenda and
sugar-free syrups - you control how sweet it ends up. Anyway, hope you
find something that works for you!
— [Deactivated Member]
May 7, 2003
— stacey93
May 7, 2003
I agree with the previous poster, if your nutritionist or Dr gave you the
diet you are on then by all means, stick to it. But, my dr put me on
proteins. I do eat some carbs, I don't eat diet anything except- sugar free
jello or something like that. Then its only to avoid sugar. I have lost
wonderfully. I am almost 9 months out and am about 15 lbs from goal..I eat
regular mayo, ranch dressing(its low in carbs)..Good luck!! Hang in there
because the results are fabulous!!Feel free to email me if I can be of any
help to you.
— Sharon1964
May 7, 2003
I don't really know how I can help. But, I will say, try adding more water
or milk to what the protein shakes suggest. They usually say up to 5 oz of
milk per scoop, but I use 12oz...It makes a world of difference on what I
can and cannot stand.
— thekatinthehat
May 7, 2003
Cat, I had surgery just a couple of weeks after you. The first weeks were
tough. I just finished my 4th week, but it seems like I'm really enjoying
food now. I still stay away from sugar and high fat anything. However,
who's to say you can't have your tuna with a little bit of regular mayo or
Miracle Whip? I can't imagine that it would sabotage your plan. I'll bet
if you ask your surgeon, he'll agree. Personally (being a fish fan), I
have always had my fish with lemon & herbs & salt. So, now I mush
up my tuna with lemon & salt. It's so YUMMY! Plus, if you want to add
a saltine cracker, why not? Please, always follow your doctor's advice but
DON'T be afraid to ask him if you can do things a little differently. I
always ask...and he's very receptive. Your surgeon may be as well. Those
diet plans are very helpful, and for the most part, they don't want you to
stray, however they know these plans are "guidelines". Talk to
your surgeon. Add a little variety...Good luck!! ***Amy LAP RNY 04-09-03
— Amy A.
May 7, 2003
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE!! I noticed that I forgot to mention that I'm an early
post op, I'll be 4 weeks out tomorrow. I had my surgery through the BTC in
Ohio, and am still on pureed foods, although saltines ARE allowed. I am
going by what their dietician says. I'm supposed to get 79 grams of protein
per day, only have 6-7 grams of fat per meal, and no more than 2-3 grams of
sugar per meal. I was told not to count calories, or worry about carbs!!
I'm so damned confused by everything I'm told, read, hear, I don't know
what to do. I'm so tired of being hungry, and eating nothing. Whoever said
something about the "starvation mode", I TOTALLY agree with
that!! I believe that is why I'm NOT losing, because I don't eat, my big
fat body is holding on to everything it's got!! Well, thanks to all for
your help/advice. :o)
— Cat S.
May 7, 2003
{{Hugs}} to you and hang in there!! This is a hard adjustment period, and
I promise it will get better. I don't do "light this" or
"low fat" that. These things can be filled w/ chemicals or are
higher in carbs (not to mention I HATE the taste). I do a few sugar free
things to help w/ sugar cravings. Stick w/ protein and veggies. Have a
little real mayo w/ your tuna, or dressing on your salad. It WILL get
better, and you'll start to want more healthy foods. (BTW, if you have to
have crackers, try and make them whole grain :)
— mom2jtx3
May 8, 2003
You are not alone and that's a fact! We all struggle with new WLS issues,
this was not the miricle or easy surgery like the outsiders think (lol).
You do have alot of food choices, you just have to look and try them :o) I
had the same issues my first 3 weeks alls I did was cry, I had nobody to
talk too that has been through this and I felt so alone(still feel that way
sometimes), I did not eat(well drink my liquids) and I got really sick and
my Doctor was MAD MAD MAD so thats when he had the nutritionist help me
with my food issues and it did help! I don't want you getting sick like I
was...my stomach hurt so bad, I was in 24hr pain and I was even
hospitalized over it, so PLEASE eat and drink your liquids. We can all help
with food suggestions. I still eat chips almost everyday, cheez its, all
kinds of crap, no sugary stuff and I do try to pick out the lower fat
goodies and I still have lost pretty fast. I completely understand how you
feel and I hope you feel better soon:o) Good luck!
— Sandy M.
May 8, 2003
At 4 weeks out I cried over many meals and wondered what the hell I had
done to myself. At almost 4 months out I feel like it was the best thing I
could have done for myeslf. I felt like crap for about 8 weeks and had a
hard time with the limited food choices. I agree with others that you need
to stick to your doctors plan if you can but I also never use low-fat or
light anything. The fats help keep you satiated and have had zero affect on
my weight loss. Have you discussed your concerns with your nutritionist?
Mine really tries to work hard to tailor my eating plan to me not just the
general population. Have you thought about talking to a mental health
professional? I do a post op group therapy once a week that has really
helped me come to terms with my anger and frustration about not being able
to eat for the reasons i ate before. This is not easy!!!!!! It makes me
very frustrated to see people say that they had surgery and then skipped
down the road to happiness. I think that for me that is not realistic. I
don't do carbs because they do not make me or keep me full and because they
do hinder my weight loss. Do you eat dairy? Have you tried cheese, cottage
cheese, yogurt? One food that was very satisfying and tasted great and went
down easy was chicken parmagiana. I made it myself and cooked it covered so
that it was super tender.
Good Luck and feel free to email me. You are not alone in these feeling and
it WILL get better!!!!
— Carol S.
May 8, 2003
ORIGINAL POSTER AGAIN!! TY all so much!! I am so glad I posted on this
site. I've gotten so many more responses here than my other groups, though
they were helpful too. It's nice to know that there are others feeling like
me when it comes to the icky lowfat, fat free, light "stuff". I
believe I will go ahead and use the regular things, just not as much. To
the lady who asked if I like dairy, YES, I do, and I've had no problems
with it. I have been avoiding the cottage cheese because I was told to eat
the lowfat version, so I bought some, and again, it was not so tasty!! I
just figured I wouldn't eat any, but ot heck with it, I'm going to get some
regular, because I figure it's probably better ot have a little bit of fat
than to not eat at all. Thanks again everyone!!!
— Cat S.
May 8, 2003
I am so happy that you found some help!!!!! I stopped eating tuna after I
used light mayo. It totally gagged me and not with a spoon! Tee Hee. I eat
4% cottage cheese and have found that if I mix regular and "Just 2
Good" mayo I don't notice a difference from straight regular and I cut
a little fat in my tuna (I am eating it again!). That is one of the only
fat cutting things that I do and I only started doing it because I am 4
months out and losing a little slower than I was in the first 3 months. I
will say that if that gagged me I would not bother.
— Carol S.
May 8, 2003
Cat, just to add to what the others have already said, you are just a new
pre-op, and still on pureed stage. Its not easy right now, but as soon as
you get to solids and can vary your diet more, you will do better. Hang in
there! We all had to make our way thru the first months but eventually you
come out of it and will feel better. I, too, agree with the others that
lo-fat and light and even most SF's just do not taste good.
— Cindy R.
Click Here to Return