Question:
HOW MANY POST OPS EAT REGULAR FOOD????
I WILL BE 6 weeks post op on Wednesday. I am wondering how many post ops eat regular foods, just in smaller amounts.. of course minus any sugars and fried stuff. This is what I am doing.. I am not really worrying about low fat or the calories right now. If I want cheese I eat regular cheese... if I want mayo I use regular mayo... of course it's very small amounts of stuff like this... I have lost 28 1/2 pounds as of last week. I am just wondering if I should be suffering more. Thanks for all input!! Pam in GA — Pam B. (posted on November 22, 2003)
November 21, 2003
people will answer you diffent on this one. my surgeon and nutritionist
told us to eat regular foods and not worry about low fat foods and fat free
foods. We need a little fat in our diets and the truth is that most of
these so called "lite" foods are higher in calories. I eat
whatever i fix for the family. Like you, I stay away from sugar and fried
foods. I have had the occassional french fry. Just go by what your doc
says and you will be alright.
— Delores S.
November 21, 2003
I do not know the right or wrong anwser here I will just tell you what I
did and it was eat what I wanted but in small amounts I still do not count
cals or nothing I do watch on stuff I buy on the fat and carbs init cause
stuff with to much fat does make me sick also fried foods so i stay away
from them. Just the thought of something fred makes me sick.I drin allot of
decafe tea as my water in take. Very seldom do i drink a protein drink If I
want one then I have it.I had my WLS on 4-16-03 and have lost 103pdsIve
gone from a size bigger than 20 jeans to a size 8 and some 6s from a XL
shrt to a med or small a size 38D to a 34C bra and my lab work was good
just one of the things was a lil high so cut down on calcium citrate.Best
of luck to you and keep up the good work
Take Care Huggs
Beth
— wildbrat
November 21, 2003
I have eaten normal food since 7 days PO, as that's what my plan was. I
only eat reduced fat things that I like. I've found reduced fat cheese
that tastes good. I buy 2% milk fat cottage cheese, fat free gravy etc.
I've always like egg beaters more so I usually order them. I found the
first few months that because there was so little fat in the plan my legs
were so dry it was horrible.
<p>I do eat sugar and fried things. For fried, onion rings are my
pleasure. I eat a few and that works fine. Don't eat much more that is
fried. For sugar, I eat gummi lifesavers but only 5 at a time and not
every day. I will eat a bite or two of pie, but only if it's a kind I
really like and know I will enjoy. No sugar added ice cream bars I eat on
a regular basis. Depending on which ones I buy the sugar ranges from 2 to
4 grams and total carbs from 5-13. I don't buy the 13 gram ones often. I
pay attention the least to fat but don't go out of my way to eat high fat
as I feel yucky then. Reasonable choices is how I approach post-op life.
Not every meal will be ideal choices but overall for the day they are good.
I would look for opportunities to limit calories and fat but not be
obsessive by it.
<p>In my opinion too many people view this as a diet for the rest of
their life and feel they must eat diet food. This is a life style for me
and I just try to make decent choices the great majority of the time. For
me now that the quantity is limited that seems to do it. That and staying
protein focused and pushing lots of water. I'm 9-1/2 months out so
definitely out of the honeymoon phase and have lost 197 lbs. 45 to go and
this journey comes to an end and PS is scheduled for Feb. However, you can
find to make this work is what is right for you. Everyone has their own
demons to deal with and they never truly go away in my opinion. We have to
find a way to keep the door closed and not let the demons back in. It can
be done. We just have to remember each day why we chose this new healthy
life and remember why we don't ever want to go back there. Congrats on the
28-1/2 lbs. It will keep on moving!
— zoedogcbr
November 21, 2003
hi, i am 5 months post op and i now eat whatever i want as long as its not
fried (grease makes me have an upset tummy) and full of sugar, i dont eat
pasta, bread or rice anymore, i try to watch my carbs and that is a
weakness for me. im just surprised that i have adjusted to eating healthy
because of the way i used to eat, i was a junk food junkie. but i have
changed for life cause i didnt have my anatomy changed for nothing. good
luck. shelly
— shellypoe
November 21, 2003
I have always had regular foods. I never denied myself anything. Now,
that being said...I paid attention to eat protien first, and only gave into
my cravings in a small amount. Never once did I count a calorie, fat gram,
or anything. I used common sense and didn't obsess over everything. It
worked for me. Becky 10/01~265/135
— RebeccaP
November 22, 2003
I'm not sure what your question is asking. If it's, do you eat the way you
used to, just less, the answer is an emphatic *no*. If it's, do I eat a
lot of "regular" foods, meaning, do I eat things with fat in
them, or with sugar, yes, I do, but I'm on maintenance now. When I was
losing, I was pretty strict with myself, tracked what I ate for months and
months on fitday.com, counted protein grams (and kept carb grams below
those), etc. It was what I needed to ensure that I was completely
overhauling my eating habits, because eventually, we can eat more, *and*
the head hunger returns, so you need every weapon you can get in your
arsenal.<P>I see no problems with regular cheese (as long as it
doesn't constipate you!) or a bit of regular mayo, of course. But, I
wouldn't just eat everything you want, only less of it. That approach
doesn't work in the long run for most people.
— Suzy C.
November 22, 2003
I do eat regular foods, I count the carbs and fat & sugars and make
sure there isn't too much, I just want to get the protein I need. I don't
go out and get fast food and stuff like that, but I do eat regular foods
like chicken, beans...etc. Stuff Like that and I have lost 48lbs in 8
weeks! GOOD LUCK!
— Saxbyd
November 22, 2003
I eat a very normal diet...now that I am 14 months out. I followed the
Dr.'s orders strictly for the first 6 months... and then he said eat what
you want and can...just remember Protein first. I had this surgery so I
could break away from the cycle of dieting!!! Not continue to be a prisoner
to food... I have lost a total of 127 lbs and I feel the best I ever have
in the last 22 years!!!! I always choose protein first and I ALWAYS stay
under 10 gms of sugar at any 1 serving....by following this rule thumb I
have never dumped, and I pay close attention to when my stomach tells my
brain that it is full. I do not feel deprived at all...I feel completly
normal!
— Susan H.
November 22, 2003
I'm 9 yrs out and eat regular food. I avoid milk & sugar like the
plague and use protein shakes. But I eat regular normal foods. I do not eat
fat free anything (means higher sugar). I don't particularly avoid carbs
(except sugar) UNLESS they act like a trigger food for me. What is a
trigger for me, might be safe for you and vice versa. I don't graze and I
don't diet. I eat or avoid the things that will keep me at the weight I
prefer to be.
— vitalady
November 23, 2003
— Evett B.
November 23, 2003
I am 13 months out and have been at goal for a good bit of time. I eat
whatever I want, just in much smaller amounts. Nothing is off limits for
me, except large quantities of sugar. A few bites and that is it. If not,
its off to the bathroom. There is nothing I cannot tolerate, but in the
beginning (first 6 months), I could eat almost nothing. No sugar, salad
dressing, fatty foods, starches, nothing but beef and cheese for the most
part. Don't feel like you have to suffer! We had this done for freedom,
not for constant worry! Enjoy!
— thecobles
November 24, 2003
The only thing low fat I eat are Quakes rice cakes but not because of
low-fat, but because they are lower carb than potato chips. I don't have
enough fat in my diet. My skin and lips were drying out because of it.
I never thought not enough fat would be a problem for me, but since I
almost always only eat lean meats, I'm not really getting it from
anywhere.
I eat normally. The other day I split a soft chocolate chip cookie with
another post-op friend. Together we didn't even eat half. It was maybe
100 calories.
I don't sweat anything except when I eat too little protein / too many
carbs. I try to work out longer the day after I have too many carbs.
— mrsmyranow
November 24, 2003
Pam: Nobody said you have to suffer! Although I know lots of people have
a hard time, I think the vast majority of us are able to adapt, and pretty
quickly. I'm about 11 weeks post-op (Lap RNY) and for several weeks now,
I've been eating pretty much regular food. Meats have to be moist and
tender, and veggies pretty well cooked. I have tried a little salad, and
it was fine, just didn't try the denser veggies, like raw carrots. My
eating problems are usually of my own doing, because I ate too fast, or
didn't chew well enough. I don't eat bread much, except high-fiber types
that are well toasted. I do eat potatoes and pasta occasionally. I don't
worry about fats, and use regular cheese, butter, mayo when it's called
for. Congrats on your weight loss, BTW. Sounds like you're doing great.
I'm pleased and happy so far, with a 43 pound loss. Keep up the good work!
— Carlita
November 24, 2003
I eat anything I want except sugar (4 months post op). I've not had any
physical problems with what I ate. I've just been a little uncomfortable if
I ate too much or too quickly, but that feeling passes in a few minutes. I
just eat about 25%-30% of what I ate pre-op and don't follow it up with
dessert. For me, this is a miracle which I never dreamed could come true.
— Margaret G.
December 1, 2003
I eat nothing BUT regular food!! There's no reason why you can't. I tried
the protein drinks and bars and didn't like them. I just eat regular food
now and I have NO problems getting in all the nutrients I need from the
regular food.
— Patty H.
December 1, 2003
Hiya, I have not eaten low fat (except fried) since surgery, I must have
done something right because I've lost 156lbs in one year- I don't really
count calories, and try to use things like mayo/butter sparingly just
because I know they are not real healthy- I've said it 100 times on this
website. But I think the key to this whole weight loss surgery
"thing" is MODERATION- now If I could have only learned this
BEFORE surgery, I would not have had to go under the knife (haha) Best
wishes
Kim
— WABBIT F.
December 1, 2003
I'm 3.5 years post-op and for the first 6 months or so I was sticking to
the "low-fat - ultra-processed" foods that I "thought"
were good for me because they were called low-fat. What I've found out is
that I was poisoning myself and my husband. After my surgery, hubby put on
over 25 pounds from all the "healthy" food I had in the house.
We went back to basics - protein, butter, olive oil, veggies and fruits,
limited starches and refined sugar and not only did Hubby take that weight
off, but both of us have improved cholesterol and tryglicerides for the
past 2+ years. We do use Splenda because I can't tolerate lots of sugar,
but that is about the only processed food I use to cook with anymore. I
even switched to lard to make my piecrusts! There are occasions where I
will use the low-fat versions of products, but it is more often because
someone else will be eating it who is on a low-fat diet. I lost 160 pounds
(327/167) initially and now I am maintaining between 173 and 178.
— heidiinPA
December 1, 2003
2.5 years out and reporting in! Working to fight some minor regain I can
and do eat anything. Do try to avoid sugary stuff and found Atkins brownies
are really yummy, taste just like regular ones to me. Other than attempting
to substitute for sugar I am good to go. Love porterhouse steak, and lately
trying to eat more veggies for the roughage to stay regular. Recently I
webnt back to basics protein first lost from 205 to 191 but constipation
set in. At 191 I am elow my surgeons and PCPs goal but want to get back to
my all time low weight of 179. I looked bad at this weight but want to see
how I look since my skin shrunk back nicely. Sorry to write a book the vast
majority of us settle in eating regular foods. See my profile as long as I
stay away from oreo cookie bars I am OK. Sugar puts weight on me FAST:(
— bob-haller
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