Question:
Did any of you post-ops out there learn to eat differently before surgery?

I guess what i am looking for is if you had a hard time adjusting to the fact that you had to chew for so long to be able to digest the food after surgery?...AND, Did you try and do this before surgery also? I have tried chewing and chewing and chewing to just get the feel for it after surgery, but always find myself still gorging out...Will this change after surgery?    — [Anonymous] (posted on January 28, 2002)

January 28, 2002
Hi there......this is a great question. To be truthful with you I was going to start practicing some of the new techniques(chewing slower, making food last 30-40 mins, sipping on water) but I never did it. I don't regret not doing it.....after my surgery, I didn't feel like eating and in the hospital they give you the nutrition that your body needs thru the IV. When I got home that was more of a challenge.......for the first week after surgery my mom was with me so she made sure I had the nutrition that I needed, but my desire for food was gone! I'm not sure if that is how it is for all Post-ops or just myself. By week 3 my appettite started to come back, and I was eating about 6 meals a day, no more than 2 ounces at a time! Hope this helps you out!
   — Antonia D.

January 28, 2002
I always hear from pre-ops who try "practicing" for what things will be like after WLS. Frankly, it doesn't matter how much you practice. Things will still be scary and new for you after your surgery. Don't worry, though -- you won't end up "gorging." Your body will punish you if you do. And it doesn't take many slaps on the wrist before you stop doing the bad stuff. Good luck to you--
   — Terissa R.

January 28, 2002
Pre-op, my surgeon suggested that I start using a baby spoon to get the feel of the correct sized bites (I only did this once, my 7 year old son was just getting too big a kick out of watching me), and to start counting my chews to get an idea of how many it took to grind up certain foods. It's a whole new ballgame post-op, I really don't think there is any way to prepare for it! The basic rules for me are 1) small bites, 2) chew well, 3) don't drink and eat at the same time (I am at a point where I can 'sip' and eat at the same time tho), 4) stay aware of what you are doing until it becomes habit. Good Luck!
   — DonnaCarol

October 19, 2003
I know this is an old question, but I'm sure people will still read it. I personally stopped all soda/caffein about 3 weeks out from surgery to get over all the caffein/sugar addictions. I stopped buying soda all together. Bought only sugar free kool-aid, crystal light, diet V-8, and increased my water intake like mad. I never was a big water drinker (even with several kidney stones in the past), but I freeze my liter bottle every night and take it out when I get up in the morning and carry it to work and drink on it all day. Even refill it if the water is low with the frozen ice still in it. YUM! I've started drinking some of the protein shakes to get accustomed to the flavor. And bought several samples from vitalady.com @ 1.89 each so I could find out what I liked best. I'm also eating the sugar free yogurt, jello, popcicles since that will be my menu post-op. Even getting my daughter into enjoying these things which will eventually trim her down to I hope. So I think it's imperative to start preparing yourself in every way possible. Now don't get me wrong, I plan to indulge a little. I will have a few "lasts" before the big day. But just try it and I know it will help. There are some really good tasting sugar free products out there.
   — Lisa E.