Question:
HELP!!!!!!!!! CHEATING ALREADY

Only 1 week in and every couple of hours I eat 2 Ritz crackers to make my stomache feel better............I did not tell my doctor. Is this bad?    — tammiherb (posted on April 21, 2006)


April 21, 2006
Hi Tamara- I really dont believe in flaming post ops because we all take a different journey- so I am going to talk to you like the 2 year post op I am, and the retired doctor I am. If, on your food protocol your surgeon and nutritionist has 2 ritz crackers every couple of hours, then there is no problem. If you are self medicating-in other words going against what you are allowed to eat at this point in your post op healing, then yeah its a big problem. This is the time you should be re-learning how to eat, and adhering to the rules. Will you lose mnore or less, prob not, but it will set you up or failure down the line if you cannot curb your wants over your body needs right now. You are still healing, and crackers are usually not part of any food plan this soon out. If your stomach doesnt feel right, then a call or a trip to the nutritionist is in order, so they can help you find something within your food protocol you are allowed to eat. This is just the beginning of your journey, and I would love to see you take advantage of this time to make big changes in your eating pattern and life. Think about it. Are the crackers that important? Good luck Tamara, its all a learning curve, one which we all had to live through. It will get better. Cindi -223#
   — DollyDoodles

April 21, 2006
Read Doodles comments very carefully. Doodles is 1000% correct. As for myself, I followed the Doc, Dietican for the first 7 months to a T, then I let my body tell me what is good and bad. You will find your favorite food before surgery is not your favorite now. If you feel you need to speak to your doctor, DO IT. They get paid a lot of money to listen. Good Luck Steve OH Leader
   — Steve Cohen

April 21, 2006
Tammy, my Dr. and Nutritionist both said to avoid crackers and junk, and said in general don't "waste the space." If you have to have something, drink a sugar-free non-carbonated (decaf) drink or have some sips of your protein drink. Some protein supplements will make into puddings you can have a few spoons of, or sugar free jello. I encourage you to talk to your doctors or team and be honest about what's going on with you. That's the only way they can truly help you. Hang in there.
   — PedalSteelGirl

April 22, 2006
~Hello i totally agree @ this point out you really need to follow your post-op surgeons instructions to a T. I can relate to your feeling of not being full and totally understand where you are coming from ! I am 17 days post op and often get the feeling that i am hungry, but when in actuality if i really stop to think about it, it's just that feeling in my head...i remeber snacking and eating so i want to do what was natural to me. (WLS is only a tool) we need to completely change our habits in order for that tool to work, i know it will be difficult....Try this, when you get that feeling of being un-full....get out a water bottle and sip,sip,sip!keep drinking eventual you will get full from the water & you will up your fluid intake which is really important @ this stage for us. I myself (have a schedual i follow) I take my vitamins and meals at specific times a day and the rest of the time i just drink to get past the hunger pangs. Don't be afraid to talk to your surgeon or the dietician they are there for you and can really help and give you suggestions..I wish you all the luck in your weight loss journey
   — tiffany E.

April 22, 2006
call your surgeon or dietician. understand at this point you can eat almost everything and lose weight BUT you must use the fast loss phase to its best ability. if you dont lose enough early on, you will get no where near goal:( eventually you can cheat but its a slippery slope. did you risk your life to lose just a little? worse if you dont get close to goal the later regain might give you back your co morbids.
   — bob-haller

April 22, 2006
Tammy, I totally agree with Doodles, it's imperative at this stage to follow the plan your surgeon gave you and learn good eating patterns. Believe me the first 6 months are so important and you will be glad you followed your surgeon's instructions to a T. When the real hunger returns you will face challenges, so to enable you to realize the what, whys and whens of eating, please don't waste this learning time. If you have the desire to eat....drink something. Do you like tea? Warm peppermint tea was a staple in my plan early out, it soothe the pouch and the peppermint was a treat. Good luck, Dana
   — cajungirl

April 22, 2006
I was allowed crackers at three weeks out...pretty much ONLY crackers, mashed potatoes, thin oatmeal, plus the full liquids. I don't think your surgeon would be upset because you are eating "junk" like crackers, but maybe a bit concerned because that's usually stage 3 food. I'm sure that if you call your nutritionist, she'll tell you that as long as you REALLY mush those crackers up AND you explain that the crackers calm your stomach, you'll get the green light to eat them. Maybe not Ritz, but plain old soda crackers.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 23, 2006
I am PostOp 1 week. --- Are you taking your PEPCID AC? ---This is supposed to be taken for 0-18 months twice a day. Make sure it is the 20mg and not the 10mg that most have.
   — tweazee

April 24, 2006
Let me qualify "junk"...the nutritionist said later we could quite easily eat Baked Lays and similar foods. Her point was, it's easy to fill up on those things and not get adequate protein & produce for the day. I too was an exception due to post-op pancreatitis I had trouble getting anything solid down so I was told reduced fat peanut butter on a UNSALTED plain cracker, just until I got a little better. Different doctors vary, so you really do need to find out what your team feels is best for you, and please, never be afraid to tell them how you feel and what is going on. In the next 2 years your body and mind are going to go thru a lot of positive :-) changes. Best of luck to you. Jo
   — PedalSteelGirl

April 25, 2006
You mentioned you eat the crackers to make your stomach feel better? Are you nauseated? If so, maybe you need a prescription for an anti-nausea medication like Phenergan or something. I'd talk to your doctor if that's the case. It's kind of like a "morning sickness" feeling - but this time a saltine or Ritz cracker is probably not the best thing for you. Just my thoughts.
   — Terri S.




Click Here to Return
×