Question:
How did you deal with the loss of food?
How do you deal with the loss of food in your lives. Food seems to be all I had; now it is going to be gone! First week, only 1 ounce at a time! WOW! I'm mourning the loss of my food already. My surgery is 2 days away. Any answers for me? — Georgia H. (posted on June 8, 2002)
June 8, 2002
This might not be the answer you want, but I am still as focused on food as
I was before surgery. Maybe even more so. Before I would get hungry and
cram large amounts of what I wanted down my throat, but it was just kind of
a second nature, thoughtless act. Now I try to think about making healthy
choices. I am trying to eat 6 small meals a day, so am constantly timing
my fluids and trying to get them in. The first couple weeks after surgery
I would lay in bed and almost fantasize about what I used to eat. I would
crave it so bad. I think I used up a whole bottle of ativan in the month
after surgery I was so anxious. But it really got better and better every
day. And I think that the more weight you lose, and when you start
dropping sizes and feeling better, you stop caring as much about food and
start caring more about things like shopping! I'm sure you will do
fabulously with your surgery, good luck! And if you start to feel anxious,
come on here and look through the library. You will see that you aren't
the only person feeling that way.
— Nichole B.
June 8, 2002
I don't think I LOST it, so much as I mastered it to a large degree. I
didn't notice it right away, but after a few months of non-hunger &
non-interest, it dawned on me that I was no longer a victim of food. I
could choose what, when, how often, how much (to a degree), how little, if
any, if ever! The only things I avoid by conscious choice are milk &
sugar. There are lots of things I don't LIKE (never did), and some things
that don't set well with me. But otherwise, if I want it, I eat it. I'm not
deprived. Far less than before, because I was always dieting! My labs are
in better order than ever in my life, so that may have a bearing on why I
don't crave or "Miss" food. I still like food, of course, and do
not consider it my friend (it tried to kill me!), but I can eat a little of
what I want and walk away the winner now, and I certainly could not say
that pre-op, ever. It's been 8 yrs. Are there times I wish I could eat
til I burst? Sure. But rare, very rare now.
— vitalady
June 8, 2002
Georgia, a few weeks before my surgery I was having the same feelings. I
"mourned" over the thought of not being able to eat large
quantities of food. I always made good food choices, 4 basic food groups,
and rarely had sweets, but it was the large quantities that I ate that got
me to 264. My stomach was a bottomless pit... never getting enough. I
constantly had that drive to eat, eat, eat. I am one month post-op today.
Now I know everyone is different, but after I had surgery, it was like a
switch had been turned off. I don't crave anything. I have to remind
myself that it's meal time. I totally do not think of food, and to be
honest... it is weird. I pray that your "switch" will also be
turned off. Best wishes to you!
— juliehedges
June 8, 2002
It hardly bothers me! The only times it does is when my family wants to go
to an "all you can eat place" (they never wanted to go much until
my surgery!). Or like yesteday when my Mom and I went to a Church
dinner.... "all you can eat". I "ry to be good"......
but come on, me only eating a bite or two of roast beef??? Never happen!
Eat till I puke! And I did. But most of the time, I have no problem with
missing food. I know I can eat whatever I want, when I want. Just not much
of it at a time, which is why I wanted WLS. Perhaps you are denying
yourself something, thinking it is forbidden? ;)
— Danmark
June 8, 2002
I think what has helped me is that the way I look at food now,even at 3
weeks post, is totally different. Food is for nutrition now, before it was
for pleasure. It was hard for me for about 2 weeks and then I started soft
foods, now I don't feel deprived. One thing I must do is remind myself
everyday of what I went through and that my pouch is there to help me get
off these pounds of fat. I swore I would not abuse it in anyway and as long
as I remember the hell I went through to have surgery I won't ever stop
appreciating it.
— KCAllen77
June 8, 2002
"Mourning". That's the key word in your comment. And that's
exactly what we do. It's like dealing with the death of a loved one, which
in our case is FOOD. So we go thru the grieving process. At first I was
in denial. The first few days after the surgery (my birthday was a few
days after, and it was the first time for me no b.d. CAKE!) I craved and
wanted everything they showed on TV; pizza, burgers, etc., then you go thru
the process (you may even try to taste some of that food and get sick),
then you go on again UNTIL you ACCEPT the fact that food is no longer the
joy in your life, but merely a tool to fuel your body, and we learn to eat
the proper things. It's a good feeling when we finally arrive to the
place. I still have my cravings, and sometimes give in. But mainly, we
relearn new eating habits. It's all gonna be okay. In fact, you will be
so proud of yourself when you start eating properly, exercising, the weight
comes off, the compliments start rolling in, which gives you more
incentive......VICTORY!
— Annie H.
June 8, 2002
It is difficult at first. But, I am now 3 1/2 months post op and the way I
think of food is so different. My will power has changed dramatically. I
can say no to food. I can say no to pizza and yes to half a grapfruit
(Wow, does that sound odd). And I feel just as satisfied. It is a great
feeling. Just ride it out, it will change your relationship with food.
— David C.
June 9, 2002
Georgia, I'll tell you there are many days I now think about the fact that
I can't have some of the foods I want..Think about it, mourn and relize
that it was that food that nearly killed me in the first place. (Along
with my uncontrolable eatting habbits) Do I want my 143 lbs back? NO WAY!
Finally at the point where the good outweighs the bad... I look at food to
live, not to comfort, and it helps. Counseling and a good support network
could be your key though :) Good luck in your journey!
— Elizabeth D.
June 9, 2002
Hi Georgia. I am having surgery the day after you. I've been thinking
about all those foods I am going to miss. I'm in sales and alot of
functions are centered around FOOD. But, I think once I get used to eating
right, I won't want the bad stuff. I think you lose a taste for it. I
have in diets in the past. But, I know it will be hard, so I just have to
keep looking at that weight loss and knowing it is all worthwhile in the
end and that ITS ONLY FOOD. Its not family, friends, or fun!
— emilyfink
June 9, 2002
You are not going to have to mourn food because you are going to be able to
eat whatever you want, just in much smaller quantities. I think several
people on this site are way too "diety" for me. I did not have
this surgery to be on a diet for the rest of my life. I had this surgery
to help me limit the QUANTITIES
— Kristie B.
June 9, 2002
As I was saying, I had this surgery to help me limit the QUANTITIES of
foods that I eat, not the KINDS of foods that I eat. Of course, some
things we will have to be careful with for the rest of our lives, like
sugar, and I understand that. But if I want a slice of pizza, I'm going to
have it. And if I want cake, I'll bake one with Splenda. And I'll also
eat healthy things when I want them. Luckily, my diet has always been
pretty balanced--I just used to eat more than my body needed. Don't think
of it as mourning! I missed food for the first month post-op, but now I'm
eating things I like when I'm hungry. I will only adjust my way of eating
and my attitude if I see that my weight loss suffers. Many people on this
site will disagree with this philosophy, but I know several WLS post-op
people who live by this philosophy successfully. Good luck!
— Kristie B.
June 9, 2002
I went thru similar feelings pre-surgery, cramming all my favorites in, a
total feeding frenzy of panic. What would I do without my friend, my
comforter, after surgery? It was scary, but so was the thought that this
food that I loved was killing me. I was sooooo unhappy being fat and
unhealthy, and barely moving. It was a viscious cycle for years, eat and
gain, diet and lose, eat and gain it all back.
The first few weeks post-op while on liquids I did crave all the old bad
foods, and watching TV (Flying whoppers over the movie theater patrons, or
Cinnasticks) did not help. But it was psychological hunger not the real
thing. After I started on solids and found how quickly I filled up it gave
me the strength to make the right choices, and I found I was craving salads
or chicken and not Whoppers or cheesecake. Keep in mind that for the most
part you will be able to have your old favorites again, just very small
portions of them. I have had 1/2 of a junior whopper (and it filled me up)
and a few bites of chocolate cake. So don't think you will never be able
to enjoy food again, but at last we are able to enjoy food like normal
people do and not work so hard at trying to kill ourselves with our friend.
— Cindy R.
June 10, 2002
When I first had this surgery, I was obsessed with the idea of loss - that
everything that I had sheltered myself with was ripped away and there were
times, I cursed making this decision. However, not everything you like will
you *never* be able to eat again. There have been times that I've nibbled
on little things that are not encouraged while at parties or with friends.
Though I've noticed that my "taste" for greasy fatty food has
gone and more often than not, I'd perfer the grilled fish to the battered
one now. Your tastes will change as well, so those foods you love now, you
may not after WLS. Good luck honey.
— Gremlin Q.
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