Question:
I need some advice on when it is okay to

start eating cheese (reduced fat), bread (NOT toast, but wheat bread), and certain meats like steak, chicken, or lean pork? I am 3 1/2 weeks post op, lap RNY, -38.5 lbs. Last Friday I went to my 3 week check up and ate 1/2 egg and 1/2 sausage patty out of a croissant sandwich with no problems whatsoever. I did not eat the croissant, and I chewed, chewed, chewed the egg and sausage until it was almost liquified. Lately I've been having some cravings though, but I'm hesitant to try them. I would like to hear from others when you were able to eat cheese, bread, and other meat besides ground beef (which I'm handling fine). Thank you so much! Melissa    — Melissa B. (posted on January 13, 2003)

January 12, 2003
First, what is your doctor's eating plan. I started on soft foods at 12 days post-op - cream of wheat, potatos, refried beans, etc. By the time I was 4 weeks post-op, I was eating grilled pork chops, grilled or baked fish, tuna salas, egg salad, and at 6 weeks I started eating steak and salads. But I didn't eat bread at all. Bread, untoasted, can ball up and cause a blockage. I didn't even have toast til I was 8 months post-op. I chose not to eat breads at all because I want the most impact from the food I eat and bread will fill you up but not give you the nutrition you need. I don't eat pasta (makes me very ill), rice or potatos either (at least not often on the potatos). I am 13 months post-op and do occasionally have bread now but rarely. Ask your doctor when you can start these foods - he/she is the best source for this kind of information.
   — Patty_Butler

January 12, 2003
Congrats on your loss Melissa. I am 4 1/2 wks postop, I only eat wheat toast because the doc says no fresh bread just toast for a while. I also have had all kinds of meats but again I chew and chew and eat very small portions. I have found for "me" the best thing is to get the lean cusine meals. I can eat about 1/2 of a meal and usually have to heat it up midway through because i'm eating so slowly. Just have to watch the sodium. Just make sure you progress as the doc tells you and eat very small portions. Mine says eat 4-5 small meals a day if I need to. I lost 30lbs in 3 weeks. Happy Losing!!!! donna C.
   — donna C.

January 12, 2003
I am 3 1/2 months out and have been eating cheese since about 10 days out, and meats since about 1 month. I still cannot tolerate bread though. Makes me really nauseous.
   — Lesa H.

January 12, 2003
Cheese you should be able to start eating now. Thats one of the earliest foods you can have. In fact, melt some of that cheese over the scrambled egg for a great protein start to the day. I started out with tortillas at about 4 weeks post-op, a thin type of bread product and tolerated that well. By 5 or 6 weeks out I was eating 1/2 sandwichs on wheat bread but with the crust and top slice of bread removed. I've always tolerated bread just fine. I do try to stay away from or minimize the white breads like the buns that the grilled chicken sandwiches or hamburgers always seem to come on, but will have a little bit of it. As for meats, I believe I was about 4 or 5 weeks out when I started on dark meat chicken. Steak did not come until about 8 weeks out only because it is such a dense meat I was afraid to try it sooner. A good thing to do when you first try meats, is to be sure that they are moist and covered with sauces. I learned the hard way not to reheat leftover meats in the microwave which dries them out and then led to pouch pain! A chicken covered in water/chicken broth and cooked in a crockpot all day is very moist! Don't be afraid to try new foods when your doctor gives you the OK. Just take tiny bites and just eat a very small amount to see how it settles.
   — Cindy R.

January 12, 2003
I still have problems (I'm 18 months out) with cheese. It really hurts me. I cannot tolerate white bread anymore. When I toast the wheat bread, I lightly toast it. I couldn't eat anything like steak or anything for at least 12 weeks. Be careful. Ground beef, chuck, etc. I couldn't eat for several months (at least 6).
   — dolphins94

January 13, 2003
I am 2 and a half weeks post op, and have been eating cheese since I got out of the hospital....does you doctor have a meal plan for you? It seems that each person has a totally different type meal plan from their doctor...I would just try to eat what the doctor says to eat for now while you are still healing.
   — thekatinthehat

January 13, 2003
I'm almost 6 weeks post op, and I still haven't eaten ground beef. I'm afraid. :) I ate pureed steak at 8 days, but only 1 ounce. It looked like cat food, even if it tasted the same. Just take it slowly, and don't try too many new things at once. Oh yeah, I ate a tiny bite of bread at about 3 weeks, and it went down fine. But, I chew EVERYTHING until it's like liquid. :)
   — Diana L.

January 13, 2003
I'm almost 6 weeks post op, and I still haven't eaten ground beef. I'm afraid. :) I ate pureed steak at 8 days, but only 1 ounce. It looked like cat food, even if it tasted the same. Just take it slowly, and don't try too many new things at once. Oh yeah, I ate a tiny bite of bread at about 3 weeks, and it went down fine. But, I chew EVERYTHING until it's like liquid. :)
   — Diana L.

January 13, 2003
I am 2 weeks post and am eating a lot of different meats. I just purree it in my blender with some college inn broth. It tastes great and goes down easy. The list is roast pork, pot roast, turkey, chicken, and shrimp....I think the variety helps with the cravings. Good luck
   — Brooke B.

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