Question:
Has anyone else noticed that your relationship with food totally changes?
Has anyone else noticed that your relationship with food totally changes? I am 3 months post op and have lost 81 pounds so far. I used to love eating. I looked forward to every meal. Now I have dealt with vomiting several times and I find myself forcing myself to eat because I am just not hungry. I can usually only eat the protien portion of my meal so I have stopped cooking the side dishes. My husband has had some trouble adjusting. He has started to cook extra things for himself. Is this a normal side effect of this surgery? I am just eating to live now instead of living to eat. — ckreh (posted on January 4, 2003)
January 4, 2003
That's the way it's been for me. I have to remind myself to eat a lot of
the time. At home, I am concentrating on getting in the protein first and
there is rarely any room for other stuff.
<p>
When I am out at a restaurant, I might eat some veggies and maybe even a
bite or two of potato, but that's only after I have eaten my protein.
Many times, I will just order an appetizer like a shrimp cocktail or crab
cake - so there isn't any side dishes.
<p>
I don't do a lot of cooking, but if I did, I would still fix the side
dishes for my wife and kids - even if I wasn't eating them. My wife Geri
is going to undergo a lap RNY sometime this year (her initial consult is 2
weeks from Wednesday) and I am sure that she will still be fixing the side
dishes - even if she or I isn't eating them, because the kids will be
eating them.
<p>
Congratulations on your weight loss, but I am having trouble understanding
why you have stopped cooking the side dishes for your husband...JR (open
RNY 07/17 -126 pounds)
— John Rushton
January 4, 2003
It is very important, that even though we do not have the same relationship
to food or the same needs as before, that we do not neglect our loved ones.
It is very important tht they have balance diets. I have found that it is
easiest to cook fresh vegies for my husband and steam them in the
microwave. I keep salad makings on hand and will make him a green salad to
go with the main dish. I have also put him on daily vitamins and he gets
his share of protein everyday. Going out to eat is very easy. He gets what
he wants and I can always find something that works for me. when all else
fails, then you can get easy to prepare meals from Costco that will do the
trick.
— Sue A.
January 4, 2003
I think everyone goes through this. I HATED food for the first 6 or 7
months. And those are the months that I lost the most weight. However, as
time goes on, you WILL get back to a more "normal" way of eating.
You will be able to tolerate a wider range of foods. I'm a week shy from
being a year post op.... -105 pounds with about 15 to go......
— Kim B.
January 4, 2003
I am experiencing the same feelings about food. I rarely have any desire
for the food and just make it because I "have" to. Well, after a
couple of weeks of throwing out lots of food, that I had made for my
husband and daughter I switched over to lean cuisine, smart choice type tv
dinners. I make a fresh salad for everyone to share and they make whatever
they are in the mood for. Noone is starving but honestly they have lost a
little weight. I think mainly because we no longer have pop in the house.
I talked this over before the surgery about not even allowing certain
foods. I tend to "pick" at foods when I cook them and fear I
would graze on yummy things if they were left in the house. They sometimes
get treats when we go out together, but respect my request to not have it
in the house. Maybe further along I will enjoy the site and smell of food
but at four months I feel queazy sometimes and don't yet "trust"
myself around the good stuff. My feeling is that my first obligation is
to take care of myself, and find compromises to work things out with them.
Best of luck. Carrie
— Carrie R.
January 4, 2003
Hi Kristin. I am the same way as the other posters. I have no real desire
to eat much. I eat to survive and to replenish now, not to "just
eat". One thing I noticed big time was I used to be so obsessive about
my eating where I would think about what I was going to have for dinner
first thing in the morning. Now since there is nothing to obsess about with
food, I am obsessive about a clean house. WHAT A CHANGE! Now my house is so
wonderfully clean all the time. I am thankful for the constructive
change!!!
— Gina D.
January 4, 2003
Don't worry ... slowly but surely, you will begin to desire food again. It
won't be that obsessive, nagging thing that it was before surgery, but you
will have a more friendly, healthy relationship with food. I am almost 2
yrs. post-op and now look forward to a good meal, having full confidence
that I will not overindulge and that I will feel great right after eating,
instead of overstuffed and bloated like I used to feel after a meal (aka
"binge"!).
— Terissa R.
January 4, 2003
I'm not trying to belittle your problem... I'm just envious, I guess! I'm
2.5 weeks out, and hungry all of the time (tummy hunger, not even head
hunger). Only very acidic things (like juice or tomato soup) make me
nauseous. Bread goes down TOO well... But, based on what I know from OTHER
ppl, you should get your appetite back eventually... just try and enjoy it
while it lasts!
— Patricia E.
January 4, 2003
I am the same way. Food just don't interest me. If I could get by without
eating I would be happy. I have to force my self to eat. I just sometimes
forget about eating. I know this isn't heathly but what do you do when food
just makes you sick looking at it. Of course when I do eat I have to force
myself. They say this will all come back in a few months. Just be
patient. I hope it never comes back to me again.
— Lana Rush
January 4, 2003
Yes MY relationship with food has changed agreat deal. and like you i eat
now to live not live to eat...however, i still love to cook and enjoy doing
so for my family the only diffrence is now i cook much more healthy meals
for them and am way more aware of what they put in their bodys. The way i
look at cooking for them is this...they didnt have this surgery (nor do i
want them to have to face having it in the future)and they still need to
eat veggies and stuff like that and it would be wrong of me not to do for
them post op what i did pre op...ie cook well balanced healty (though
healthier now lol)and that means a certain amount of carbs and veggies and
so on.
— Becky M.
January 5, 2003
Thank God I am not the only one with this problem. I am nearly 9 months and
have not wanted to eat since the surgery. I used to looove to cook, and for
a while a cooked a lot after surgery, just didn't eat. Now I don't even
want to cook. Honestly, my weight lost has really slowed because of a lot
of nausea and vomitting, and I wish I could eat. Starvation mode is what I
am in the middle of, and my husband thinks I am developing bulemia. I get
about 400 calories/day and I know this is terrible, but it really is tough.
I am pretty much back to the diet that I had right after surgery-
clear/soft liquids.
As soon as I can figure out how to want to eat again you will be the first
to know.
— kultgirl
January 6, 2003
Kristin,
I've noticed a good change in my tastes for food. First of all, I don't
crave like I used to. I used to love fried chicken and steak - for some
reason I'm much happier now with veggies and fruit. I think chicken has
kind of made the desire for meat kind of dissipate. I've had nothing but
bad experiences - for some reason it gets "stuck" going down and
almost always comes right back up. I would rather eat soft foods and not
get this feeling. I don't crave cola's anymore thank God. I was drinking
6 to 8 a day before surgery - I went cold turkey 2 weeks before surgery and
went through terrible caffeine withdrawal. I've tried a couple of sips
lately but I just don't care for it anymore. Tea and water are delicious
and I can't get enough. Its been 3 months and I'm 60 pounds lighter so I
must be doing something right. Good luck to all. Deb
— [Deactivated Member]
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