Question:
Do at any point you eat like a normal person again?
Hi. I was just wanting to know after awhile do you eat like a "normal" person again? I am 5 weeks post-op and I swear everything I eat is gross. When do things taste good again and when can you have a normal meal? And I am not talking about my old habits, but I mean when will I be able to have a real salad. I loved salads and miss them. Especially Greek and Ceasar salads. It just seems to me when you have to chew the food to death it just doesn't taste good to me. Anyway, would love your thoughts on this. Thanx :) — NikkiCarter (posted on January 2, 2003)
January 2, 2003
It takes time, by 6 months the tough early days will be a dim memory. By a
year you will miss being able to eat so little, and wish things would be
more like the begining.
— bob-haller
January 2, 2003
Yes unfortunately! I remember thinking at 5 months I'd never eat again.
Savor these days when food doesn't taste good and you can't eat much,
because they are your biggest weight loss days.
— ZZ S.
January 2, 2003
Yes, you will be able to eat "like a normal person"only in small
quanities. I too went through the nothing is good and food was a turn off.
I am almost 5 months post-op and have lost 82 lbs. There are still foods
that I don't like and foods that I can't tolerate. Just hang in there and
one day you will have that salad. You will always have to chew, chew.
— khartnett
January 2, 2003
Our surgeon allows his RNY patients to eat "plain" salads
(lettuce/tomato only) at 3 weeks post-op. My first salad was a Caesar
salad and I thought I was in heaven! Granted I could only take 3-4 bites,
and chewing the romaine lettuce well was SO important, but still..... I
always experienced pretty significant "dumping" with any degree
of sugar or fats in those early months, but now that I am 33 months
post-op, I find that I can tolerate most things in moderation and I am able
to eat almost everything that I could eat during the pre-op days, only in
MUCH less quantity. As the other responders have said, cherish these early
days when eating is a "no-brainer" and you have no appetite, can
only eat a few bites, and dumping is your friend. After 12-18 months, your
appetite will return to some degree, your taste buds will "wake
up", and your dumping experiences may diminish or go away completely.
This will leave you vulnerable to returning to all those old habits that
helped to create the problem of obesity in the first place. Don't wish
these first months away....use them wisely to develop strong, positive
eating habits that can stay with you for a long and healthy lifetime. Best
wishes!
— Diana T.
January 2, 2003
I'm not sure I eat like a normal person *again*, since I wasn't eating like
a normal person before surgery or I wouldn't have weighed 410 lbs (smile!)
however, 17 months out I eat like a normal sized person, like my friends
who haven't had weight issues. If a serving size says it serves 4 I'm
usually full on a fourth or less, instead of eating the whole thing and
snorting to myself "4 what?". There isn't really anything I can't
eat, but there are things I choose not to eat, like a lot of deep fried
foods or lots of sweet sugary fatty desserts, because then I'd lose all the
wonderful things I got from the surgery, weight loss, health, energy etc. I
adore salads and I don't have to chew especially to death, though I do eat
slower in an attempt to not get back into the habit of wolfing my food down
and not even tasting or registering what I had eaten. I try to eat salad as
snacks, usually with a protien, and/or fruit with protien. I love high
glycemic starchy carbs (still! surgery on stomach not taste buds sadly) but
I limit them to one small part of one meal and the rest of the time I eat
lower glycemic less processed carbs like salad, fruit, beans. I find white
bread ... like sunbeam, turns into dough balls in my tummy and makes me
feel yuck, though homemade bread, or wheat bread or grain breads do fine.
Things taste way to good now if you know what I mean! So even though now,
early on, it seems you will never want to eat again and stuff tastes yucky,
eventually things should taste good again, which is why this is a great
time to teach your taste buds to like good for you food:) Best of luck!
Becky
— Becky K.
January 2, 2003
Things probably taste gross now because you are in ketosis. No biggie,
that's a good thing--means you're burning fat. This is a great time to help
your brain make the switch from food as entertainment/friend/solace to food
as fuel. Eat what you have to when you have to so that your body stays
healthy. Even if you don't particularly want it. When your appetite comes
back (and it will!) you will be in good shape to continue your
success.<p>I still enjoy food but now I am in control of what goes in
my mouth. I eat out quite a bit and pretty much eat like a normal person
(whatever that may be :) with the exception of high sugar and fried stuff.
I have listed on my profile what I ate a 4, 9, and 18 months if you'd like
to see how it's changed over time. Don't worry--be happy. You're losing
weight!
— ctyst
January 2, 2003
Nikki, believe it or not, some day your going to wish for this stage your
in again. Appetite does return, usually around the 4-7 month mark and then
you have to exercise a little control, whereas now, its just a struggle to
get in enough calories. And you will not have to chew food to death
forever. I take fairly normal bites and chew normally now, and have since
about 8 months post-op. As for salads, had my first one at 5 weeks post-op
and it was the best thing I had ever tasted! Lettuce, tomato, onion,
mushroom, shredded cheese, kidney beans, hard boiled egg and shredded
chicken with ranch dressing. YUM! Still one of my favorite lunches.
— Cindy R.
January 3, 2003
Hi Nikki, I remember feeling exactly like you are now (I'm 8 months
post-op). You will eat like a "normal person" again. I love
salads too. I was able to eat salad around 8 weeks post op but everyone is
different. You will have to do trial and error at first but you'll find
what works for you. Hang in there we all go through this at first. It is
worth it.
— Lynn E.
January 3, 2003
I had NO appetite for the first 2 months post-op. Then things got better.
At about 5 months, I was able to eat anything and have been fine eating
whatever I want ever since. I'm 14 months post-op and have lost 120 pounds
and weight 128.
— Patty H.
January 3, 2003
I started trying salads about 6 months out, starting with just plain old
iceberg lettuce. I was able to eat 'a normal meal' at about 9 months, just
smaller portions. I go out to dinner and eat what looks good or what I
like, and enjoy myself. The first few months are the biggest adjustment,
just be paitient with yourself and your new body. Now you've made me hungry
for a Ceasar Salad!
— Cara F.
January 4, 2003
I started eating peeled, chopped tomatoes with a bit of mayo or salad
dressing on it about 3 weeks out and progressed to iceburg (easier to chew
fine than the leaf variety) lettuce salads at 5 or 6 weeks. Cole slaw cut
into tiny pieces went down well to. For some reason creamy dressings don't
agree with me well, but French, Italian and Catalina sit nicely on my
pouch. I am 5 and 1/2 months out and still don't do bread products well -
unless it's really hard and dry, but everything else seems to go down well
most of the time. I even love steak and burger. Just remember what
doesn't sit well today, may sit fine tomorrow and vice-versa.
— [Deactivated Member]
January 4, 2003
I eat like a "normal" person is suppose to. I take in
approx.950-1000 cals. a day. I can eat everything including sugars and I
can drink alcohol also. I was told to not even think about these two things
ever again because I would not be able to tolerate them in any amount.
WRONG. I have to tell you that instead of eating a two dozen box of cookies
I can eat instead maybe two. Instead of drinking a six pack i can drink
about one bottle of beer and be intoxicated. I have experimented with a
number of foods and salad is one of my favorites. I do not have the heavy
dressings that go with them anymore. Balsmic vinegar and a dash of olive
oil does the job for me know. I know each of us is different and you may
not be able to tolerste the things I'm talking about but, the support
meeting at our local hospital seems to be my way of educating myself on my
diet and the do's and don't's. Also, nearly everyone in that group can
tolerate sugars and alcohol also. Can they eat the amount they did before?
Everyone one of them will tell you NO. So, I guess what I'm telling yo in
this long read is that you may be able to eat most anything after about 4
months out. The quantity is what is limited because of you pouch
size.(Thank You GOD). The only time I have lost a meal was when I did over
indulge. It was a horrible experience. Would I do this surgery again. YES.
YES. YES. I am 9 months out and have lost 75lbs. 45lbs. to goal. I agree
with BOB about wishing for the early post op days. I miss those quick drops
in weight. God Bless and chew chew chew.
— Jennifer F.
January 4, 2003
I wanted to add that when I asked my dietician about salads before eating
them she said that salads were the food most of her bypass patients were
missing the most.
— Jennifer F.
January 4, 2003
Hello Nikki,
First of all, remember, everyone is different....I am only 6 1/2 weeks
post-op and as of a few days ago things started changing
"drastically" in the taste bud department! lol Everything now
tastes fantastic!! A simple little slice of cheese taste so
"cheesy", and peanut butter tastes so
"peanutty"....lol. My taste is comeing back and I must say that
food is more of a pleasure now than it ever has been!! Even Diet Dr. Pepper
tastes wonderful!! It's like someone lifted a veil off of my tongue and
invited all kinds of explosive flavors in to play!! I only eat a few bites
of most things, but it's the "quality" of the food now, not the
quantity that is important to me!! I am loving this!! I had my first salad
last night (from McDonalds) with a little bit of Ranch dressing and it was
"to die for"! It was like having a "party in my
mouth"!!!! This will happen for you also, Nikki....maybe not this
week, maybe not next week, but this will happen.... Life is good!! Love and
light,
— medium
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