Question:
What foods will I be able to eat - what foods to stay away from
As I am getting ready to go under and get bypassed, my wife and I have learned two things about new diet. Protein Drinks and Vitamin Supps, but what about normal foods. Could anyone please list a few things that I wil be able to eat and a few things I wont. I am lost here, — lukenzo (posted on November 6, 2002)
November 5, 2002
it will be a little while before you can eat "normal foods". And
you will start to do it slowly. It is relearning to eat. Everyone is
different. You need to stay away from sugar, and lots of carbs as much as
possible. Eat lots of proteins, and just keep trying different ones. Good
Luck to you, you will do fine!
— Vicki L.
November 5, 2002
Check out the library on this site. It is full of information on nutrition.
Have to take baby bites, even infants start out on a liquid diet. Good Luck
with your surgery!
— Tricia J.
November 5, 2002
I eat pretty much everything that I did pre-op just in smaller portions.
Read my profile I have some lists of what foods I was eating at each stage.
— Linda A.
November 5, 2002
This is sort of difficult because everyone is different. I am 11 months
post-op and can eat most things I want. The big difference is that I don't
want things like chips, sweets, etc. The things I eat with no problem:
fish, shell fish, steak, pork, all veggies, most fruits, cheese, yogurt,
sugar free popsicles, cereal (Grape Nuts per my surgeon's orders)and nuts.
I DO NOT eat foods with refined sugar, bread, and chips. I choose not the
eat these foods. Foods that give me problems sometimes: eggs, chicken
unless it is very moist, and most pasta.
I have no problems eating out at all - just take a lot home with me or else
order an appetizer or share with someone.
Open RNY 11/29/01 -156 pounds
— Patty_Butler
November 6, 2002
I am 12 weeks post-op and am beginning to get where I can eat most
anything, but the difference is, I don't really want things that I
shouldn't eat. If your program is like the one I went through, we had to
go to a nutrition class. The rule was when eating according to our
instructor was (1) Protein always first (2) Fruits and Veggies if you have
room and (3) Carbs always last. We also had a food list each time we went
in for a checked up post-op (spaced 2 weeks apart). The first list at 2
weeks allowed soft foods. The second list added deli meats and shell fish,
crackers and low fat cheese. The third list added almost everything else
except beef, soft bread, carbonated drinks, raw cauliflower and raw
broccoli--always staying in the sugar free/low fat realm. I'm supposed to
get in 50-60 grams of protein each day, take the supplements and drink a
minimum of 64 oz.of water per day. So far so good. I go for my 3-month
checkup tomorrow.
— Cathy S.
November 6, 2002
And if you eat something you're not suppose to eat... see my profile.
— Wanda R.
November 6, 2002
darren, when I was pre-op back in August, I must have had like 20
"last meals" all the while worrying that I was saying goodbye to
certain foods for at least 6 months....You know what, I am 12wks tomorrow
and I can eat everything I ate pre-op JUST LESS OF IT! My only no-nos are
sweets, candies, cakes and soda. I eat EVEN eat Ice Cream. I have 2-3
small scoops several times a week. I eat Breyer's No Sugar Added (its
delicious)! Good Luck!
— heathercross
November 6, 2002
This is the realization I came to after three or so months: If I wanted to,
I could probably eat almost anything I want. I have on special occassions
even allowed myself a cookie or a bite of something yummy and sweet. I do
have a problem with bread. It gets stuck, even if toasted. Even if it's a
thin tortilla. I avoid pasta, potatoes, rice, and of course bread at all
times by choice. I keep pretty strictly low-carb. I eat chinese food, a
lot of meatballs, any variety of chicken dishes - normal plain old chicken
dishes (except fried). Cheese, glorious cheese!! I treat myself to a good
steak dinner once in a while...peanuts, peanut butter on celery, sugar free
popsicles, protein bars, any shrimp dish you could think of. A fried egg
with a slice of melted American and a 1/4 c of s/f, f/f yogurt almost every
Sunday morning. We aren't really supposed to do liquid calories, but I
must admit I recently started eating soup once or twice a week (and it
fills me up just fine). I was a soup addict before, and now that the cold
has returned I NEED some once in a while. I just don't do anything with
noodles, potatoes, or rice. Basically, Darren...like I said in the
beginning I could probably eat almost anything. But I choose to make the
right choices, without driving myself nutty. Some days I fill up really
quickly and that's probably because I didn't chew enough or I ate too fast.
One week from tomorrow I will be celebrating my 9 month Anniversary and as
of today I have lost 140.5 pounds. I have about ten or fifteen to go till
goal and fully expect to do that by my one year. I know it seems so weird,
this eating totally different thing. But trust me...it gets REALLY easy.
After a while it is a part of life and SO DEFINITELY WORTH IT. Good luck
on your upcoming surgery!!
— PaulaM
November 6, 2002
I avoid only milk & sugar. I eat normal food, normal fat, normal
non-sugar carbs. I use protein drinks & vitamins to meet most of my
nutritional needs, but I eat normal foods, small volume.
— vitalady
November 6, 2002
Each person and each doctor is different as is the time of surgery. 3
years ago with open, I was on soft food before I left the hospital and we
had very few restrictions other than sugar and fat. I facilitate a support
group here so have stayed current with the new procedures in our area. It
is now lap, smaller stomachs, actually sectioned apart, liquid diet for a
month then soft foods. Our nutritionist that comes to the group talks
'after your first couple months, your goal is real food first for your
nutrientients then supplements'. I eat everything, I have become
hypoglycenic and so have found that carbs help me there, I am a big pasta
and have never had problem with bread. I eat oatmeal or life cereal for
breakfast, I was still a candy junkie after surgery but it is now a treat.
I have learned when and what time of day I have have a sweet without
messing up my sugar level. I eat in moderation all foods except one. I
eat a lot of low fat plain yougert, not lots of meat, lunches are pp &
low sugar on rye or salads. I keep cans of cooked chicken that are the
size of tuna, and will open and use over 3 or 4 days in my salads to add
protein. I eat lots of cheese and nuts are one of my downfalls now. I eat
lots of soups, homemade. I use the crock pot lots. My soups are full of
vegetables and either chicken or beef. I have not eaten much beef over the
last 10 years but I have my favorite cuts. I watch my fast food, I usually
only do Taco bell for a burito, salad or mexican pizza or Arbys roast beef.
I do eat subway club subs. Takes a long time, but they actually are the
best fast food around.
The only food that I can't absolutely eat, (and no logic to it) is
spaghetti noodles. I throw them up every time. For your first foods, and
if you do break the dr rule and try foods before he says, make wise
choices. Some good first foods are soft overcooked vegetables like
squashes, carrots, potatoes, go for the sweet potatoe first. steam with a
little water with a bullion cube and it will be the sweetest thing you ever
ate, canned soups because they are softer. I eat a lot of plain yougert
with fresh fruit. in the beginning, you can use banana, and you can never
go wrong with fresh fish. I poach salmon, tuna on top the stove, it is
very soft and very digestable and very good for you. I put an onion ring
in the pan, some water/milk mixture with a sliver of bullion cube or the
granulated bullion, then top with garlic powder and other spices. cover
and steam for about 5-15 min depending on how thick your fish is. Any
anything that you can blend in a blender is usually ok. Stay away from
beef for good while. I couldn't eat chicken for 18 months, just could not
digest it. I find that the roterserie chickens are much softer and usually
buy one of those, eat a leg and then through the rest in crock pot and it
makes a great soup.
Hope this helps.
— Elizabeth K.
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