Question:
Will cooking for my family change after RNY?
I went to my first meeting the other day and a few of the surgeons patents were there and were telling us about their experiences. One thing they all said was that they didn't really get hungry anymore or have the want to eat. That sounds great to me but what about my family? will it be hard to cook for my family after the surgery if I am not interested in the food or will I want to eat what I make them??? I am really concerned about this. Thanks, Elizabeth — Elizabeth H. (posted on June 6, 2008)
June 6, 2008
I love to cook and also have a family that I cook for every day.
At first you think it will be difficult but like anything else you just get
used to it. For me, it's not that I don't get hungry...I still do and I
get cravings...but even if I cook what I want or give into the cravings I
just can't eat that much. After a few bites you're just not interested
anymore. ALso, if you experience dumping (I do slightly) then that takes
the urge to eat away.
That's why the surgery works though.
At times I do miss my old relationship with food but I'd much rather lose
the weight than enjoy eating a lot.
I'm almost 5 months out and I've lost 75 lbs. I just got back from a
cruise and I ate everything I wanted (which wasn't near as much as I used
to) and I still lost 5 lbs. Not bad, huh?
Good luck...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Chris
— cjjordan
June 6, 2008
Elizabeth ... you might be surprised how much your relationship with food
changes after you've had the surgery. Before I had mine, I adhered
(religiously) to the "seafood" diet, as in, "I see food and
I eat it." Afterward, I had to be REMINDED to eat sometimes, because
I quite literally was never really hungry -- and to this day still aren't.
I still cook for my guys (husband and two voracious sons, ages 21 and 17),
even though I don't eat 98% of what I make for them ... I still love
cooking for them, and seeing them enjoy it. I bake, too, cookies and
whatever. You really don't know what will happen with your situation until
it happens (yeah, I know, horribly helpful), but I think food will probably
begin to assume its "proper" place in your life -- it's something
you do to live, instead of do to avoid having a life. Hope that helps ...
— Cheryl Denomy
June 6, 2008
Don't be concerned. I wasn't sure how things would go...but being the cook,
I learned to feed my family healthier food. We all benefit from not
drinking soda or high calorie drinks. My adult kids LOVE eating healthy.
They don't have weight problems and never did. We don't eat a lot of bread,
but we do use low carb wraps a lot now and whole grain breads if any...I
bought a panini grill/press and make the most awesom wraps and sandwiches
ever! No one wants pizza anymore...or ice cream when we make protein and
fruit smoothies! I found a lot of substitutes for bread and rice and
pasta...but I still make it now and then. My family used to eat 1 1/2 lbs
of spagetti or pasta at a sitting...Now we can barely finish a 1/2 pound
and always make more meat than pasta...and always a side veggie and/or big
salad. My husband lost weight his big belly and his cholesterol is much
better...His doc LOVES me! My whole family takes vits now too and the kids
19 and 21 have totally embraced eating healthy...They still bring home some
junk now and then...Which I have to fight to stay out of....but in
moderation I don't mind a little. Learn new recipes that use less carbs
and sugar and more fiber and protein...You will be amazed how good you can
make healthier choice foods taste. Practice making your fav recipes with
leaner cuts of meat or textured vegetable protein (TVP) or turkey burger in
place of ground beef recipes (my hubby has no idea my chili is made with
TVP now) Try eating more fish...It's so lean and full of protein. I used to
hate fish...Now I eat it several times a week. (Cod, Orange Roughy,
Tilapia, Shrimp, Salmon, Tuna, Mahi Mahi...) You can do this and EVERYONE
benefits...If you are the cook...YOU are the boss. They'll eat if they are
hungry! LOL
— .Anita R.
June 6, 2008
Sorry to say I still get hungry. And i love to cook also. My problem is in
my mind. When I cook I think I am still eating for 3 instead of one. I
always cook too mcuh which in one way is good , I have left overs and I
bring them to work the next day for lunch.
— Joanc
June 6, 2008
Liz,
I do the cooking for my family and freinds even though I am a guy. My wife
never learned to cook, and she does not mind the clean-up behind me, so she
cleans and I cook. There are times when I am realy not hungery, but that
does not stop me from cooking for everyone. My wife likes the changes I
made to our meals, I no longer cook with Heavy cream and Butter, sugar got
tossed and we just keep a few little packaqges for freinds for tea of
coffee or if I make a Pie that has to have it like any kind of merangue,
but for them most part I used splenda. No one knows that even though I
don't eat cakes or pie, they are made with splenda now. I fix better
meats, like filets and roast whole chickend, and use Baby Spring Lamb from
New Zealand. I have dropped most porks as they are so fatty. I fix more
fresh vegatables, and I still do sauces, but rarely taste tem myself. When
it comes to dinner, I have my own 6" plate and the rest of the family
has the old 12" plates. They dish up their meal as they eat, I
usually do mine in the kitchen and measure and weigh everything. I found
that I don't overeat that way. I use to be the first to finish so I always
had time for seconds and thirds. I take 25 minutes to eat, and then quite
if I am not finished. I found it is best to sit with the family as you
need to be reminded of meal time, three times a day. I fix a better
breakfast for everyone now, and they love it. The only rule they hate is
no TV during meals. We use that time to talk to each other, and it helps
me focus on the food I am eating and the time. I shovel with the TV on or
in front of a computer. Strat off right, and just sit in the dinning room
for all meals and away from the TV. No exceptions! I gave away the TV
trays. If you make a big deal of your food being different, you will not
have the support of your family, freinds and you will find your self alone.
THis can happen at work very easly. The first 4 weeks are hard, but after
that, conform to what you are feeding the family, and clean up your act
now. Then they will not notice when the food changes. I fix pasta once a
week, and I eat just the sauce and meatballs. I fix rice once a week and I
skip it. We have bread on the table for everyone and no one notices I
don't eat it. I fix potatoes twice a week, in various styles, and I don't
eat it. Just do a lot more, and you will be happy and they will too. We
still have Pizza night with freinds about twicea month at our place and
twice a month at freinds. I eat the vegatables and cheese and leave the
crust. No one ever coments any longer. I participate, but eat a lot less
and after 6 months there is more than 100 lbs of me gone. Best of success
to you!
— William (Bill) wmil
June 6, 2008
Heck no it won't be hard to cook for them at all. Make them the healthy
choices that you eat.... It will help them in the long run and make them
much more healthier as well!!! And some receipes can be altered or adapted
to better suit healthier eating. Good Luck!
— Toni Todd
June 6, 2008
Elizabeth- My wife had her surgery back in November and insists on cooking
every night. She cooked Thanksgiving Dinner wile on Optifast for 8 people
and it did not bother her. Her love for cooking has not ended (and I sure
hope it never does). Good Luck.
— Ira Sansolo
June 7, 2008
You will be surprised how much you will not want to eat after having
surgery. The taste of food is no longer the same. You will not like the
same foods and you will find yourself trying other options. After a few
months of weight loss, you will be so happy about the way you look and feel
until you won't care about food as much. You will eat to survive not live
to eat. You will be a new person physically and mentally. It is not a
miracle and does not happen over night. It has taken me about a year to
actually accept who I am now. I found myself wanting to stay in the old
habbits of eating, such as dipping the same amount on my plate, but I did
not want the food and could not hold it in my stomach. This is a good
thing. Even when I would go to buy clothes, I would find myself in the
plus sizes still. It takes a while to change mentally while the body
changes physically. Guess what? I no longer need any medications.
In january of this year, I lost my oldest sister who suffered from heart
attacks, diabetes, glocoma, and the list goes on. My second oldes sister
had a heart attack two weeks ago and I almost lost her. My brother at age
37 had a heart attack and almost died too. My father died at age 51 with
heart attacks. So the decision I made was based on all of their problems
that I did not want to have for the rest of my life. None of them suffered
with weight problems. They tried to exercise and watch their weight. They
were under doctors' care, but still suffered with the heart problems. So
while my problems have not progressed to that stage yet, i decided to get
the weight off with gastric bypass and I have not regretted it one day.
What I am saying, Elizabeth, you will adapt after surgery and everything
will work out for you. Go for the gold!
— bfd-234most
June 7, 2008
when i first had my surgery i didn't get hungry and had to make myself eat,
BUT i love to cook and that didn't change!! i also found myself watching
the food network channel all the time!!! the only problem i had and still
have sometimes is being around people when they eat! it makes me nauseated
to see people eat large portions of food or to eat certain foods. you
should be fine cooking for your family, just be careful tasting things
because just a few bites and you will be full. hope this helps...Holly
— RNlvnCARSON
June 12, 2008
I wondered the same thing. The exact opposite has come about though. I
can now watch cooking shows all day and I have cooked some pretty amazing
meals the last few weeks. Lots of Rachel Ray recipes! I have no desire
to eat them because I have not gotten hungry since surgery 4 weeks ago. I
enjoy cooking again because it is not a weakness for me. I am just excited
to try new things that are healthier and slip them in on my large family to
transition them to better food choices also. Within a couple of months I
will be able to tolerate what I cook but for now I am excited to try new
things without feeling the burning hunger to shove it down my throat
compulsively. I may taste a sauce here and there and it more than
satisfies me. I found the excitement for cooking came with trying new
things and the joy of making right choices. My husband is just floored
that I go out of my way to cook so many great things for them that I cannot
even enjoy right now. He thought for sure that they would be on a frozen
food menu for a few months but I have found a new freedom from food and am
enjoying it for as long I possibly can. Hopefully, it remains a very long
time. LOL Good luck!
— texast
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