Question:
Is it possible to eat like the old days?
This question is for Barb Day or Michelle Curran. I know the both of you are very knowledgeable about the surgery and also a couple of years post op, No bull Is it possible to overeat like the old days ex. 2-3 big macs, fries and a coke--- 4-5 slices of pizza----4 plates at an all you can eat??????? or do you really have to graze to gain back weight? — [Anonymous] (posted on May 5, 2001)
May 5, 2001
WHAT? You mean, AT ONCE? Not a chance, for me anyway. Barb had a differnt
doc and started with a larger pouch than I did, but even so,even with my
staple line disruption I couldn't eat a whole Big Mac. Most of, yes.
Coupla fries. Are you thinking of a DS? They can do the volume thing,
though I don't live it myself. My pouch was only 1/2 oz, so even if it
quadruples, as expected, that's 2 oz. So, if I did that 4X a day, I kinda
doubt that I'd gain substantially. Now, if I ate 1 oz every hour, yeah,
I'd gain, no doubt. If I didn't watch my sugar g like a hawk, I'd gain.
Did it. Or if I slack on protein supps, I'd gain. Did it. My character is
such that it is easier for me to put things INTO my face than it is to keep
them out. That's why it's easier for me to put protein supps into my face
5-6 times per day. Busy hands and gets me the result I want. Holds my
weight steady, makes it easy to control cravings. In other words, takes
quite a few of the flaws out of my character. I am not all that strong, so
I will take whatever help I can get. I am going to be lazy about calories
and all that, so I eat my small meals--what I want (minus milk &
sugar), and fill up on protein. Makes my life much easier. I'm also not
willing to fight either my wt or the cravings. I think maybe I am a little
on the lazy side, huh? But if you're asking have I ever seen anyone with
the same procedure I had (distal, tiny pouch) regain? OH YES. Sugar plus
grazing minus protein.
— vitalady
May 5, 2001
Here's a no-bull answer. I'm nine months post-op and have always been able
to eat more than 4 oz. of food, and for that matter, anything I want,
including sugar and fats (although most deep-fried foods leave a gross
greasy film on my tongue so I avoid them) . But I was not able to finish
either of the two Big Macs I've had in the last nine months. But I have
learned a great way to sabotage the surgery: Make the wrong choices, eat
until you are full, and when you are comfortable again in about an hour or
so, eat more of the wrong choices. This behavior trips me up when I am
particularly stressed and anxious - but once I identify it as emotional
residual effects from my pre-op days, I can control it. Generally, I begin
to crave the protien again. But to answer your question, I have never been
able to eat the amounts I did pre-op - and I have never dumped or been
nauseous, although I do experience stomach and intestinal cramps when I eat
a whole lot of sugar. It's like a valve shuts off and you're done - even
during those times you are binging or grazing or eating badly. I have
gained weight on three occasions - Thanksgiving (3 lbs., two weeks to come
off); earlier in this year when I working in an office that had a lunchroom
that looked like the candy aisle at Costco (5 lbs., one week to come off
and boy, did I have to work at it); and in March when I donated blood (8
lbs. overnight, due to protien starvation of the blood. This really
triggered my body to fight for every last ounce of fluid. I was
particularly compliant with the diet, water and exercise at this time and
it still took a month to come off!). Bottom line, I have lost a total of
93 lbs., slower than some and within my doctor's expectations, and I am
still losing 5-10 lbs. a month. What I have to remember is that I am human
and that there are times when the triggers surface and I slip back into my
old eating habits. But the surgery prevents me from doing too much damage,
and when I step on the scale and see that I've lost one or two pounds this
week, or I drop a size, or another inch off my hips, I remain encouraged
and proud and excited and I get back on track. My grazing episodes
generally surface once or twice a month and last only a day or so. A far
cry from eating like this for 35 years.
— Allie B.
May 6, 2001
I know you are interested in hearing from those who are years post-. I am
only 4 months post-op and I am down just this side of 90 lbs. I am tempted
all the time to do the "wrong" thing. They change the capacity of
your stomach, not your head. It really does put you through changes. If
food was a coping mechanism for you, it is like having the net pulled out
from under you. You need to develop better ways to handle your emotions.I
have at times resorted to eating compulsively things that are not good for
me, I promise you, you will pay for it, with vomiting or dumping, not too
pretty. Unlike Barb and Michelle I am still on the learning curve, learning
and practicing every day, and every meal, control and conquering of the
compulsive behaviors that got me to 320lbs.
— Margaret S.
May 6, 2001
It scares me how much I can eat at 12.5 months post-op. I posted quite a
discourse about it on the message board a few days ago. I was eating about
4 tsp right after surgery, a little under 1/3 cup around 6 months post-op,
1/2 cup around 10 months, nearly a cup now. If I don't pay particular
attention to what I'm doing, and monitor my stress eating, I could be bad
with portion size and definitely graze. There are still things I can't eat
- steak, pork, and no chicken except Louis Rich strips (weird, huh), but
the glory days are gone. I went to a buffet once in the last week, and
went back twice. But, I got a little of this, a little of that, and
certainly didn't finish but probably 1/2 of each plate, especially since we
lingered over lunch and conversation. It's definitely a lot more than I
should eat, especially since I want to lose another 20 lbs. Pre-op days, I
could've (and would've) finished three full plates. I've only lost 2 lbs
in the last 6 weeks, but it's partially my fault because I've slipped with
supplements, water, and exercise. My surgeon says the surgery has done
it's duty, I've exceeded HIS expectations, but I'm still not at where I
want to be. And, it's up to me to get there. I feel really guilty when I
"fall off the wagon", but am trying to learn to not beat myself
up and realize I'm human, and get back with the program. I've got to use
the tool now to continue to lose and succeed with my goal.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 6, 2001
At 8+ months post op I can tell you there is NO WAY I can eat like I did
before surgery! The size of my pouch prevents me from eating more than 1/2
to at most 2/3 cup of food at a time. I eat pizza - one SMALL slice of thin
crust, I've had a small McDonald's hamburger - only eat 1/2 the bun and
usually can't finish it, and I don't drink with my meals. I don't have the
luxury of being able to throw up if I eat too much like some of the people
in my support group. I develop severe pain that doesn't go away for hours.
If I overeat I really pay for it. And that's a good thing for me because I
used to overeat all the time. I still struggle with grazing between meals
but am trying to make better choices in what I eat for a snack than I used
to (no Milky Ways or Hershey bars for over 8 months!!!).
— georgiacarol
July 3, 2001
I started to re gain last month. I have put on 30 pounds. I have noticed
lately that it seems like I can eat more and I hate the thought of that. I
noticed one night I ate two whole peices of pizza. Before surgery I could
have easily eaten 4 or 5. Untill recently I could only eat one, it scares
me being able to eat so much.I conducted a little experiment on my won just
to see how much I can eat. It was not a comfortable feeling but I was able
to consume 2 whole sandwhiches. Now I am trying to watch it since I know I
can eat so much. I miss the old days when 1/2 a sandwhich was more than
enuf.
— paintnmynails
August 23, 2001
I am a post op of 6 years, I lost 202 pounds,around year 3 i had a regain
of 90 pounds. Which seems to to be in a time period where many people have
15 or more pounds come back.
I was able to eat more the first 2 years, and was shocked by the regain
that only took 3 months. Because of loss of independance i was very
affected by this. I had various adjustments that didn't work moving limb of
intestine further down,and stomach banding which made me underwieght and
fainting,low blood pressure and other extreme side effects, being on iv for
4 months for fluids and calories. 2 weeks ago i had it revised , and am
hoping to be able to feel better and regain health.
— [Anonymous]
March 13, 2002
I know that I can gain if I eat too much of the wrong thing, but can't gain
by eating a large quantity because I had the gastric bypass and I still eat
small portions after almost three years. I like eating like a thin person
now.
— Sue H.
April 17, 2002
I often FEEL like I am 'overeating' .....although, compared to my pre-op
days, I am probably not. BUT..at only 7.5 months post op, I sure can eat a
LOT more than I ever dreamed possible with a 'pouch'.
— Lisa G.
May 23, 2002
Yes you can start eating the way you did before surgery. I'm 2 years post
op and I can eat a double cheeseburger and fries at one setting. I could
eat a big mac too at one setting but I don't like them. I have an
appointment to see Dr. Denning cause I have lots of questions.
— Barbara A.
July 13, 2002
I don't over eat and it has been over 2 years. However, I have gained all
but 20 pounds back. I am going back to the Bariatric Clinic on Monday,
July 15th to ask questions. I am due to see Dr. Lane, who is suppose to be
the brightest doctor available there. Originally, I saw Dr. BC and he just
didn't want to spend enough time with all my questions....it will
happen....that is all I got from him....and now I am so unhappy. I am
willing to go through whatever it takes to get this surgery right.
I have also been told it is my fault. Bull! I eat small amounts and I do
not graze so now it will be the Bariatric Clinic on the line....I will not
accept any stupid small answers this time....it is my health!
— Cathy D.
July 15, 2002
I have found that I don't desire the food I once craved. I am also full
very quickly. My friends who have had this surgery eat a half a burger
when at McDonalds and generally avoid high fat food. The thought of the
large fries is really gross now (LOL).
I can't hold down ice cream very well and get some gastric distress and
dumping from it. Soda is off my list because it stretches out the pouch.
I have taken the carbonation out of diet orange soda and had that...and it
was good.
I don't see how I could ever eat what I did. My body could not hold a rack
of ribs, a large order of onion rings, 3-4 diet cokes, and some ice cream.
If I eat over a few ounces I throw up. So my answer is ...no I can't eat
like I used to and even if the pouch stretches it can't stretch that much.
— Thomas M.
July 23, 2002
Here is an interesting answer. I am 3 years post op and have been at goal
since 6 months post op. By 1 year was able to really really eat. I was so
worried that i had stretched my pouch out because I started gaining weight.
I was able to put away a McDonald's value meal and a pie! I had gained
about 35 pounds back.. and I got this mysterious pain in between my last
two ribs that wouldn't go away. Finally I insisted that my surgeon admit me
for testing and did they ever! But I wasn't able to eat and they had me on
a liquid diet. They never did find out the source of the pain and it still
comes and goes. During my troubles, I lost the excess weight pretty much
and my pouch seems to have "shrunk" with my fast. I believe it
can be shrunk. But anyway, when they did the endoscopy, it was still
normal, I had never stretched it out anyway. But now I can hardly eat a
kid's meal. It's weird how the human body works, isn't it?
~Laura in OHio
— Laura H.
September 16, 2002
Being that eating that way is probably what made a lot of us overweight to
begin with, who would want to start that kind of eating again??!!
— J. W.
December 4, 2002
May god grant me the wisdom to NEVER try that!
— smedley200
October 10, 2003
I started at 400 lbs when I had distal gastric bypass in 1998. I lost down
to 245 lbs and over the past 3 yrs have gained back up to 325 lbs. I can
definitely binge eat and have trouble staying on any kind of diet. I had
an upper GI to check the integrity of my staple line and it was ok but I
had significantly stretched the pouch. I was wondering that if I can
possibly make myself go on a fast or go to the Optifast program will my
pouch shrink back down some. I know it will never be as small as
immediately post op. Any suggestions? FYI,,,,,, YOU CAN STRETCH YOUR
POUCH!!! Make sure that you get help for the psychological side of the
obesity, not just the physical part. If the reason you overeat is not
dealt with you will revert back to your old habits of dealing with life
using food.
— kaffyjo
October 10, 2003
Kathy: Thanks for the warning. I had heard that the pouch wouldn't
stretch too much because it was made from the upper stomach and that
supposedly wasn't the tissue that was as pliable and the lower stomach. I
do think it's possible to shrink the pouch back up, because you could with
the stomach and so it should work for the pouch too. Maybe someone else
would know for sure though. It is a shame they can't also operate on our
heads because it is easy to slip back into some bad habits from preop. I
guess you brought up this old question because you're doing research for
yourself. I say good for you. I wish you the best. S
— sherry hedgecock
January 4, 2004
I've had a Silestic Banded Gastroplasty 10 momths ago and I've lost 75 lbs.
I'm concerned about the fact that I am able to eat bad for me stuff with
total ease. It is annoying that I can get down tortilla chips, ice cream,
and candy like I had never had the surgery. It's sad because sometimes I
have trouble getting the good for me stuff down like my protein. Anybody
else encounter this?
Lianne Reddington
— lianne R.
October 4, 2004
There is no way I could ever eat the way I use to nor would I want to. I
personally chose to do such a drastic thing to get the weight off so why
would I want to go out and eat the way I use to. My pouch could never
handle it, I would get sick and dump. You have to have discipline. I look
at pictures of how I use to be and never want to be that person again.
This is reason enough for me not to want to mistreat my body again.
— lmonroeny
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