Question:
Is it ok to eat fruit or will it cause dumping?

I am 5 weeks post-op and next week I can start eating regular foods. My doctor did not give me any diet or list of guidelines(calories etc.). I need some advice on which kinds of foods I should be eating. Also, I love fruit but I'm afraid it will make me dump. Does fruit have too much natural sugar or is it a good choice? I have avoided all sugar so far because I do not want to be sick.    — MICHELLE R. (posted on June 24, 2001)

June 24, 2001
Each person is different. Unfortunately, I don't dump from fruit or any other type of sugar, chocolate, or fats. And, that's why I had the surgery, I needed this "policeman" so to speak. It has been very hard for me, and all I get if I talk to anyone is basically "just do it." Apparently "they've" forgotten what overeating was like before for them, and how they COULDN'T just do it. I can eat any types of fruit, I've heard some people say they can't eat citrus, it hurt their pouch. Everyone is different. Just eat a little and test it. That't the only way you'll know if you can eat ANY food. I love fruit! (Along with everything else, unfortunately.) Good luck, I'm post op 5 months.
   — Tina C.

June 24, 2001
I tried eating a couple of bites of cantalope, at 5 weeks postop. I did dump. I am now 3 months postop and can eat fruit with no problem. I would also ask your surgeon or nutritionist, about how much fruit you can eat.
   — JazzBear111

June 24, 2001
I am 10 wks post op and the only problem I've had with fruit is once I eat a banana that was over-ripe and I felt bad for a little while. I've had strawberries, cantalope, tropical fruit salad (canned), apple (no peel), banana, pineapple. As the previous poster said, the only way to know if you can eat it is to try it and see. And you may not be overly sensitive to sugar....not everyone is.
   — Karen F.

June 24, 2001
I am 8 weeks post-op, my doctor said to start on canned fruit...
   — Marie B.

June 24, 2001
When I get a craving for something sweet, I go for canned mandarin oranges. They are juicy and sweet, but are small and tender also. I open a can and get several servings out of it. I also keep the can in the fridge before I open it because they are even better cold. Good luck!!
   — robin C.

June 24, 2001
Tina, I haven't forgotten what it's like to overeat or eat the wrong things. I know your struggle. I did so well in May (lost 12 pounds), but haven't lost an ounce since and have been fluctuating a pound or two. So, I did get discouraged and just had two or three chocolate days in a row! And then guess what? My period started! Gets me every month... <p> Anyhow, I just keep walking and I just got a new bike, so I've been very diligent about my exercise during this latest plateau. I found the best way to handle temptation is to overcompensate in the Big Three: protien, water and exercise. Even if you add more of just one of these elements to the program while you eat sugar, it will help balance the effects...I woke up this a.m. and finally lost a half pound. <p> The most important thing for those of us who do not dump is not to beat ourselves up! Unless it you are reverting back to your old habits daily, indulging once in a while won't hurt you. And if you are indulging daily, you need to keep the 'baddies' away from you, which is a lot easier than keeping away from the 'baddies'. DON'T LET IT IN THE HOUSE! DON'T BUY IT! Take your lunch to work. Get beef jerky and soynuts and those cute little individual cottage cheeses and munch on them at work. If I'm in a grazing mood, I'll go through 1/2 a big bag of jerky in an afternoon at work, but with little fat and tons of protien and few calories, it is so much better than dipping into the chocolate bowl. <p> BTW, to Michelle - I love fresh fruit with yogurt thrown in the blender with some protein powder...yummy!
   — Allie B.

June 24, 2001
I love fruit! I can barely restrain myself around fruit! Yum yum. BUT yes, I have dumped on a banana, on an orange and on watermelon, as well as just going nuts with fruit compote or fruit salad. My dumpometere isn't that senstive, actually, but I am thankful it works. I always say that if there's enough sugar to make me dump, there's enough to make me large again. I do eat fruit, but I appreach with caution and eat reasonably small amounts, never overripe stuff. Also, getting silly with it makes me gassy and uncomfortable.
   — vitalady

October 28, 2003
I was told that fructose, the natural sugar found in fruits, was fine post op. I have not had any problems with dumping fruits and I am 3 1/2 weeks post op.
   — eweejoe