Question:
Any suggestions on how to dela with solid food cravings while on liquid post op diet?

I'm 9 days post op and have been feeling really good, but am craving solid foods. I feel guilty about it.    — Jardee (posted on April 2, 2010)

April 2, 2010
Please follow what your Dr tells you to eat. It is so important you are compliant for your health. When I had my surgery, I had RNY, it was a chore for me to take in the foods I was supposed to have. Remember this is a life changing surgery we all did, and it is so worth it in the long run. NO guilt my weight loss sister!!!!
   — FSUMom

April 2, 2010
Hi, I know exactly what you are saying... what I did was get excited about the next stage I could have... and making it a challenge to find great things to eat on liquids or mushies. I did my best to keep my mind occupied away from my head hunger. Or, you try to figure out why you want solid food... is it the texture or other emotional things that accompany it. If it is the texture, look at when your Dr says you can have solid food, and plan your menu... you might well find that when you do get to eat it, you are not as hungry for it as you thought. Hope this helps.
   — Kathleen O.

April 2, 2010
I didn't have cravings. I changed the way that I was thinking about foo. I decided that I was being deprived of anything. I was being given an opportunity to feel better and be healthy. I am being treated to a better life. Certain food have gotten me into being fat. I can avoid those food and have a chance to feel good. My daughter was sitting next to me looking at pictures of Godiva chocolate. I remembered how it tastes. I thought , "Yes that is good but it is not for me. It would be like an addict taking a first drink." One is too much and a bunch is not enough.
   — MargaretHM

April 3, 2010
Hi Susan, congrats on your surg! It is hard for some(me included) as they change our stomach..not our brain. We as the other post have sd have to change our minds to work with us unstead of against us. For some I have heard/seen it becomes a new way of life and others..just dont want to comply. Just remember to follow very closly your DR and know that some of the very things that tasted sooo good to us ..change. The wonderful people in the group I use here in Fl. have given me many of new ideas (all good) for coming up with the new foods beyond the sites you can go to. I wish you well and see you on the LOSERS bench!
   — tootsie52

April 3, 2010
Hi Susan....your cravings are probably what they call "head hunger"... and that can be hard to deal with. First off, you should remember that it's okay to crave, as long as you don't eat. If you do, you could injure your pouch and end up back in the hospital. So, it's pretty imperative that you find a way to change your attitude about the food you're craving. There are lots of really un-appetizing things you can do to make that happen (like "visualizations"), but I won't mention them on this forum, because they might gross other people out. As far as doing something to help allievate them, though....I found that drinking warm beef broth with unflavored protein powder in it helped with my cravings for meat, and I checked with my nutritionist about this wonderful recipe for spinach soup you make in the VitaMix (which liquifies and cooks it at the same time) and she said it sounded great as long as there were no pieces or chunks in it (and she suggested I add unflavored protein powder to it, too) and it took care of my cravings for vegetables, while drinking herbal tea with a packet of Splenda in it, or eating sugar free jello took care of my cravings for sweets. Anyway, don't feel guilty about your cravings...given the lives we've all lived, I'm sure most of us have had to deal with them. I even had to deal with a degree of anger - at the fast food companies that make your mouth water with all their thousands of TV commercials and at the restaurants that give you plates of food big enough to feed half a dozen starving people in 3rd world nations, and stuff like that. It's okay....let's just find a way to help you get over them. Hugs, Erica
   — Erica Alikchihoo

April 3, 2010
I am at the same point as you are. I have been struggling with wanting to "chew" something or atleast feel like I was eating. It has truly been very difficult to get my head in the game. I am so grateful for this gift of a new life, but also understand that I have to work hard. I never imagined that this would be so hard. I have cried almost every day. I did not know how much our lives revolve around food. I must tell you that I have found two things that have helped with the feeling of like I am eating something. First, I bought Sonic (the restaurant) bags of ice...I chew them while drinking crystal light or water...Second, I bought sugar free Crystal light popsicles that I find I love. Keep trying until you find what works for you...I definately know where you are coming from, and can appreciate your craving as I am craving it too...Won't be long....
   — losriosgirl

April 3, 2010
Thank you SO MUCH everybody. Your support and suggestions have helped me tremendously. I didn't even think about "head hunger" but it makes so much sense. I thought it meant my body was needing something it was missing, now I see it could be my emotions needing something and that's probably where the hard work begins. Luckily I see my weight loss therapist on Monday so can process some of these feelings. Thanks again everyone, your encouragement was just what I needed instead of FOOD!
   — Jardee