Question:
I am 4.5 weeks post op w/ an open RNY, I eat watermelon a lot.

I am afraid because I can eat it and never feel full. I chew it completly before swallowing, eat slowly, but never am I full. Can I stretch my 30cc pouch eating watermelon??? I am still on full liquids/soft diet and nothing satisfies me like the watermelon. Please help. thanks    — Gina D. (posted on June 12, 2002)

June 12, 2002
I like watermelon too and I think it is because it has so much fluid in it. Cantaloupe too. It disintegrates into mostly water so it would be hard to stretch your pouch with it. I think it is very good for us to eat! Cherry tomatoes too. I love them all. I would rather pop a cherry or grape tomato into my mouth for a snack than a piece of candy! Never thought I would say that!
   — Marilyn C.

June 12, 2002
Yep, I can eat a lot of watermelon too. And it tastes great. Only once did I eat so much of it my tummy started to hurt. But I didn't get sick. I won't eat that much of it again. I'm 5.5 weeks post op.
   — Jennifer A.

June 12, 2002
2 C watermelon = 25g sugar. If really ripe & sweet, then more. There's 35g in a Milky Way. I love watermelon, though I haven't found a decent on this year. Probably just as well. I have dumped on watermelon. If I dump on it, it can mess with my wt loss, so I don't indulge often.
   — vitalady

June 12, 2002
I love watermelon =)... I find it is really satisfying... and the sugars in it is natural... I am 14 mos post and last summer (after my surg) I discovered my love for it. I asked my nutritionist about it and she seemed to be ok with it. cause it is mostly fluid... as long as you don't get sick from it.
   — Bonnie S.

June 12, 2002
Hi Gina, Funny you should bring this up. I just talked to my nutritioist about WM yesterday. She told me it is fine ( I am 6 weeks out open rny) That the sugars are not bad because they are natural . She said that 1 and 1/2 cups of watermelon is equal to one small to medium apple as far as the sugar content goes. I thought this was the best news I had heard all week! :)
   — Tracey L.

June 12, 2002
I can eat a lot of watermelon too, especially if I take my time. Natural sugars usually won't cause dumping, but individuals may be more sensitive than others. However watermelon is a very common food allergy so those who don't tolerate it may actually be allergic rather than dumping. My two brothers are allergic to it and it makes them sick to eat it, neither having had WLS. It is basically a lot of water, small amount of sugar and fiber so that if you chew it well, it is basically a liquid. It would take a lot of watermelon to eat enough to get that many calories, so indulge. It is a far better food choice than the Milky Way that the previous poster mentioned.
   — Dell H.