Question:
I enjoy food so much...
Okay, this is something that has me worried. I absolutely LOVE to cook and eating is part of of our family life. I admit we are out of control as my husband and I are BOTH MO. I think eating has become our way of interacting together. I don't know if it is the food itself I love, or my hobby of cooking. What do people do with this type of worry? Will I learn to refocus my energy somewhere else? Will food NOT be my focus? Because my husband and I are going to try to do this together (as long as we are both approved), I think that will help. My son is already showing signs of a serious weight problem and he is only 10. My daughter is skinny, but can eat more than I can at times. Any input? — Kellie D. (posted on April 26, 2006)
April 26, 2006
Kellie,
That's why I knew the BPD/DS was the right surgery for me. I love food,
too. In fact, I have a culinary degree. My husband also has a history of
working in food service. We are GREAT cooks and love to entertain. Food
is not just fun for us, but a part of our lifestyle! We love to have
people over and serve them a beautiful meal. I knew that my love of food
would not go away - I'd talked to enough post-ops who were years and years
post-op and shared openly about the fact that the fascination with food
wanes for a while during the first few years post-op, but then the old
feelings, desires, habits come back - and how!
I had my DS with Dr. Baltasar 3 years 9 plus months ago now. I've lost 210
lbs and a wheelchair and a boatload of co-morbidities. I have an
incredible quality of life. And I still love food. Yes, I eat smaller
portions now, but there is no food that is taboo for me. If I want
dessert, I have it. If I want fetuccini with extra alfredo sauce, I have
it. My surgery gives me great license - but of course, with license comes
responsibility. You gotta know that it takes commitment to choose to get
in enough protein daily, and enough dietary fiber (every human should!),
enough water, all of my vitamins. But in exchange for doing the basics, I
have a great relationship with food, and - in fact - a better array of food
choices now than I ever had as a pre-op.
BTW, my husband was MO, too. He had his DS with Dr. Baltasar two years to
the day after mine. He's done incredibly well, too. If you want to see
our pictures, you can go to www.bodybybaltasar.com and go to the photo
gallery. Look for my name, and you'll find them there - as well as a link
to my husband's page.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
April 26, 2006
I think you can continue with your hobby and love of food. You won't have
the desire to eat as much and by eating in moderation, should be fine.
I recommend one of you have the surgery and the other later. You will
need each other to help you.
Even with Lap RNY and an easy recovery, my stamina was low and I
needed my spouse for lots of things. (driving, groceries, etc) I know I
wouldn't have been any help to him if he'd needed it. Just my opinion, of
course!
Good luck.
— LauraA
April 26, 2006
I also love to cook and I've learned that I can feel just as creative and
inspired, if not moreso, using healthful and fresh ingredients. There are
so many exotic vegetables and fruits to experiment with and it was a
surprisingly welcome change. I feel like a whole new color palate has
opened up to me.
— Lauren003
April 26, 2006
Kelly,
This is not a difficult situation. You will need to readjust your mind
over food. I do catering and all the cooking in my house. there are times
that i would like to eat something bad, but I look at it this way. I know
vertually what every type food tastes like. So that stops me from tasting
or eating it. I would love to have a plate of ribs, or at least 2 of them,
but first of all I know i would get sick, and last of all i know what they
taste like. This is a very serious situation that you have. is food that
important to you? You will need to ask yourself, am i going to let food
overcome my problems, such as being fat. We all got ourselves in this
situation because we ate to much. I think you have to look at the whole
WLS. In my family, everyone has changed there eating habbits, and your
family will also. Remember that you are having WLS for yourself only, not
your husband, kids etc. If you are doing it for any other reason, you
should not have the surgery.
good luck
— Steve Cohen
April 26, 2006
At 11.5 years, I've lost interest in food, been REALLY interested, lost
interest, back 'n forth. The one thing that is most notable to me is that
I ENJOY it more. Because I chew it a bit more, (not to grossness), I can
savor the flavors and textures more than I ever did. They SAY you really
only "taste" the first 3 bites. I can take more bites than that,
obviously, but I ENJOY my food more than ever. There is no guilt attached
to anything but sugar (only because I KNOW that will fatten me up), and so
I can cook my favorite things and enjoy them fully vs life before surgery
where every bite seemed somehow "wrong". We still host &
attend potlucks, most celebrations & gatherings are around food---it's
international! So, now I don't go for volume, but epicurean delight.
— vitalady
April 26, 2006
I was worried about exactly the same thing - then I was told about Susan
Maria, who had in the same delama. She loved cooking and entertaining
pre-op and found a wonderful way to do it post-op! Her site and book are a
must-see for any gourmet. It really inspired me. Check it out......
bariatriceating.com
— Joanna
April 26, 2006
Not to be too blunt, but whenever I considerd/worried-about this same
issue, I ultimately realized that dead people can't cook or eat ... so
whatever changes I need to adjust to as I recover, at least I'll have a lot
more years to do so.
Good luck with your decision-process
— Mark W.
April 26, 2006
I worried about this issue too. Food is so important in my family, it is a
way of showing love. Of course obesity is prevelant in my family as well.
My brother had his surgery and continued to cook for his friends. I had an
RNY a couple of years ago. Admittedly, at the beginning I wanted nothing to
do with food. I simply wasn't hungry and often the smell of food would make
me sick. But gradually my appetite and my desire to cook returned. I just
keep what I eat in moderation. My brother and I just cooked Easter dinner
together. It was great fun and so very good to be back in the kitchen with
him again. So you will still be able to cook and entertain friends and
utilize food in a social setting. The thing to remember is that your health
is the most important thing. So now, whenever possible, I try to prepare my
meals as healthy as I can. And if there is no way for me to make a
"healthier version" of something, I limit myself to just a few
bites. I think I am still, and probably always will be, a food
"junkie" but now I realize that only I have control over what
goes in my mouth to fuel my body. If you can keep that in mind, I think
you'll do fine. Best wishes for health and happiness!
— djfoz
April 27, 2006
My own love for food and the social part it plays in our lives are part of
the reasons that I choose to have the Duodenal Switch... after the initial
weight loss period, you have such a great quality of eating. The DS leaves
you with a larger stomach (mine is 4 oz) and it's normally functioning too
(no chewing your food to liquid mush or 'pouch rules'). Granted, I'm only
3 weeks out but I'm looking forward to the day that I can eat normally.
One reason my husband and I both felt that this was a great surgery for me
was that we went to dinner with a DSer who was 18 months out and besides
the fact that he had lost 285 pounds -- he ate normally! He had prime rib,
baked potato, small salad, drank wine with dinner and even had a dessert...
we were impressed! You can check out more information about the DS at
www.duodenalswitch.com or e-mail me, I'd be happy to answer your questions!
God bless.
— [Deactivated Member]
April 27, 2006
Yup, I second what Dina said. I love food! LOL That's why I had the
BPD/DS. You should look into it as a possible option for you and your
hubby... =)
www.duodenalswitch.com
— AmandaLeigh =)
April 27, 2006
Hey I love a good meal too. After the RNY and out a year a good meal is the
portion size of other normal weight people. pre op it was huge repeated
supersized, frankly that makes me kinda ill watching friends gorge
themselves. if your lucky your tastes change, pre op spicey foods caused me
severe gerd. Post op RNY I LOVE spicey stuff! having wls doesnt mean you
never eat, hopefully your life isnt completely food centered. play
volleyball, have a burger. rather than watch others play volleyball drink a
2 litre of pepsi, and 3 burgers, and a package of oreos, with ice cream....
that last one is frequently a pre ops life, myself I woulds rather be
active! couples having WLS are better off if the wife goes first and the
hubby follows along a month or two later, men tend to lose fast and lose it
all. if hubby goes first wife will be unhappy with her loss rate. i know
from personal experience
— bob-haller
April 28, 2006
For me it was a huge relief to not have food be such a big portion of my
thoughts. I enjoy food very much still - and love my life post-op!
— [Deactivated Member]
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