Question:
I just have a question about cravings

I am 4 1/2 months post op. I have a question that probably will sound silly to some, but here goes. I read on a lot of post about people trying old foods they used to eat.(bad ones) I don't crave any sweets. i don't crave breads, fried foods or sodas. I don't know whether this has happened to a lot of other people. I used to eat a lot of bad things, thats why I had my surgery. I was getting health problems and weighed way too much from eating bad things constantly. I just wonder will these cravings come back one day or will I always feel like this? Like I said before I am so happy with the way I am doing. I just dont know how I wanted and ate this type of food before surgery has suddenly after surgery I don't even think about it. It is truly a blessing for me. I just hope it wont come back all of a sudden. haha. I just concentrate on trying to get the protein and my vitamins and things I need. any other post ops replies would be greatly appreciated. 4 months and a half, down 58 pounds. Thanks all!    — taterbug898 (posted on April 7, 2005)

April 7, 2005
You are not alone in the least bit! I don't "crave" sweets or the old foods I used to enjoy so now I do not even have them in my house. Suprisingly enough I crave healthy foods like fruits and veggies! I think it is because I get teased during meals being able to get in my protein and only a few bites of my veggies or fruit. LOL! I am really glad that I don't have the strong urges to eat the "bad stuff" however I do indulge from time to time. Like hubby took me to a really great fondue dinner and I allowed myself two slices of banana with milk chocolate fondue dipped on it and then stopped at that since I really did not feel the need to eat anymore. I was totally satisfied with the small taste. So do not feel that you are alone girl! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn, Weight- 257/201/146, BMI- 44.1/34.5/25 Height- 5'4", Total Weight Loss: -56 lbs., Surgery Date- 1/19/05
   — MagickalMom

April 7, 2005
I am only three and one half months post, but can tell you that I know that I have changed. I realize that I am still in what is terme the "honeymoon" period", but know that my attitude has changed considerably. I now exercise. This never happened before in my life. I was lucky enough to be thin until my forties. I had a life changing event, and ate my way through almost one hundred pounds of Ben and Jerry's. I am on my way. Considered a lightweight, but not to me. I was beginning to have many life threatening co-morbidies. I am a very slow loser, but the doctor prepared me for such (it does not help, but I continue to follow all of the rules). I have lost forty-three pounds, and have had two plateaus (fighting one as we speak). I have forty-seven hard pounds to lose to be at the weight that is considered idea. May not sound like much, but to me, it is like pushing a big rock up a hill, that just does not want to move. Trust me, should I succeed at this, I will not allow anything to come between me and the new life I strive for. I am fully aware that it will be hard. Is anything worth achieving not? Good luck to you. Live for today. Your are doing fine. Congratulations!
   — lindarodham6

April 7, 2005
I am only three and one half months post, but can tell you that I know that I have changed. I realize that I am still in what is terme the "honeymoon" period", but know that my attitude has changed considerably. I now exercise. This never happened before in my life. I was lucky enough to be thin until my forties. I had a life changing event, and ate my way through almost one hundred pounds of Ben and Jerry's. I am on my way. Considered a lightweight, but not to me. I was beginning to have many life threatening co-morbidies. I am a very slow loser, but the doctor prepared me for such (it does not help, but I continue to follow all of the rules). I have lost forty-three pounds, and have had two plateaus (fighting one as we speak). I have forty-seven hard pounds to lose to be at the weight that is considered idea. May not sound like much, but to me, it is like pushing a big rock up a hill, that just does not want to move. Trust me, should I succeed at this, I will not allow anything to come between me and the new life I strive for. I am fully aware that it will be hard. Is anything worth achieving not? Good luck to you. Live for today. Your are doing fine. Congratulations!
   — lindarodham6

April 7, 2005
Enjoy the lack of cravings! And use it to maximise your weight loss. For most of us, they do come back. For me, they are easier to control because I was so diligent for so long, measuring and portioning out my food. Good luck to you, Jo
   — JoSyrNY

April 8, 2005
Well, I guess I would say that the "magic" does disappear after a time. I did enjoy the period of time I had with no hunger pangs and near-zero cravings for the "bad" stuff. At about 4-5 months out, though, my hunger came back, although not nearly as strong as pre-op. And a few months later, I noticed I was back to feeling the "pull" of wanting sweets, chocolate, and other junk food, just like before surgery. As I see it now, the "honeymoon" period is exactly what we all need to get this weight off. I was one who could never, in a million years, have lost 100 pounds without the benefit of WLS. The most I ever lost on my own (with WW) was 60 pounds, and it all came back in about 10 minutes! Now that I have reached my personal goal weight, I look at it as though I've been given a wonderful opportunity. I know the weight will not stay off without any effort on my part, but the point is, I now have the chance I would not have had without WLS. If I blow it, it's my own fault (unless of course, something happens "mechanically" that causes me to regain). About a month ago, I had a scare of sorts, but a wake-up call also. I had, in all honesty, been eating pretty liberally and consuming way too much "junk", but the scale did not reflect my poor choices. A month ago, I suddenly gained about 7-8 pounds, and decided I better take stock of what was actually going in my mouth. I started tracking my eating on fitday.com, and discovered some areas where I needed to make changes. I have been working on this, and have gotten 4 of the 8 pounds back off. The beauty of this is, that because I have committed myself to never ignoring weight gain again, the damage is minimal. Eight pounds is not all that bad or overwhelming. In pre-op days, I would have ignored that and gone on to 15, 20, 25 or more before even batting an eye. So to sum up, use your honeymoon or magic time to get the weight off, develop some better habits, and you'll be prepared for whatever comes later. Best wishes, Lap RNY 9/11/03, 270/165
   — Carlita

April 8, 2005
You want me to nod and smile and tell you a hot fudge sundae will never sound good to you again? Um, no. I have never had one (10.5 yrs), but the "wanter" has been back since the 2nd year. Not strong. Just passing fancy. So, do I WANT? Yes. Do I HAVE TO HAVE? No. Have I been 100% perfect? No. I just stick with 99%, 99% of the time and do ok. I go a long, long way not to trigger guilt. Guilt makes me want to mow down the cookie aisle, you know? So, no. If grabbing a handful of M&M's would trigger an onslaught of guilt, it is SO not worth it. To me. You have to enjoy your freedome while you've got it, and then when you start getting the little tickle, remember who you are (morbidly obese, in remission) and decide EACH TIME, if it's worth it for the price you'll pay, whatever YOUR Price tag is. (mine is guilt + larger sizes)
   — vitalady

April 8, 2005
I smile when I see questions like this from newbies who are still in the honeymoon stage. Ah, well i remember how easy it was to stick to the protein, water, tiny meals, no snacking, no sugar and no cravings period. Sweetie, except in the most rare of cases, your cravings for all the bad foods and in most cases, the taste for it, will come back. That is why they call this the honeymoon period and why everyone urges you to take maximum advantage of it. Be good, stick to the rules, dont cheat, and maximize your weight loss because some day...I have always been a sugarholic, and for quite a while I stayed away from sugar, then let it creep back in slowly. At 3 years post-op, the cravings can be difficult and I have to balance my diet by eating good healthy and small meals, keeping up the exercise and watching the sugar intake to not overdo. And I do overdo sometimes, the scale catches me, and I have to take corrective action. I miss the honeymoon period. Probably the best advice I can give is that if you can live without the bad foods that made you obese, do so. For me it was too difficult to eliminate sugar, so i just control it. Its hard work sometimes.
   — Cindy R.