Question:
If I can't control eating now - how will this help me control it later??

Curious to know that if I routinely overeat now (prior to surgery), what is to keep me from overeating after the surgery and stretching the pouch back out? I realize the pain and naseau would be there but is that the only thing that keeps you from eating too much?    — Stacy L. (posted on July 12, 2002)

July 12, 2002
I had this same concern as a pre-op. I had the fear that this surgery would just be another failed attempt and that somehow I would screw it up by over eating. Well, I am 2 1/2 months postop and let me tell you.. I CAN'T overeat! I can barely get in the food I HAVE to eat just to get protein in. It sounds too good to be true, but it is. Besides the fact that once you've gone through the surgery and learn to deal with your "new lifestyle" of eating.. you won't want to over eat or ruin what you've worked so hard for. best of luck to you!!
   — sunsect

July 12, 2002
I am 3 months post ob and my husband and friends can not get over how little i eat. I can not over eat lol if u fill that tummy it is going to let u know with a feeling that you will learn fast to avoid . I get filled fast and I feel really good better then I have in a long time . You will do fine do not worry :-))))
   — sallie P.

July 12, 2002
Pain and nausea aren't the only things that happen but believe me that is enough... You can also experience a rapid heart beat... sweating... weakness... None of it is fun... I am almost 3 years post op and I told my surgeon he must of operated on my brain as well because I go for quality of food moreso than quantity... It is weird... but I became very protective of my pouch...
   — California J.

July 12, 2002
I am two weeks postop and prior to surgery I couldn't really fathom the feeling of fullness or tightness in the chest that people described. I too thought that maybe I could overeat, stretch my pouch, etc. Well, now that I am postop, I KNOW what they were talking about. I can barely fit 2T. in my stomach, feel like I just waddled away from the Thanksgiving table. This feeling lasts for hours. Combined with three meals, it is terrifically hard to get in all that water. I am lucky to get in about 30 ozs! And I can handle only two servings a day of protein drink. The serving size? A 3-oz dixie cup! I feel full now, just describing it to you. Don't worry. You will experience the same thing. Cindy
   — C. C.

July 12, 2002
I don't think I ever really realized what people meant when they said, "I feel so full all the time." I read this daily, from many many people, but only as a post-op can I say I understand. As an overeater, prior to my surgery, I never ever really felt "full." Now that I have had surgery, my body is much easier to read. I get the "this is the last bite, because the next will make me ill" feeling. I am still wondering how my pouch can stretch, with the very little amount of food I can put in it! I have read that people can sit down and eat 8 ozs. at a time of food. To me, that's a ton. I wouldn't say it's the pain and the naseau that keeps me from overeating, it's the fact that I find it impossible to do.
   — blank first name B.

July 12, 2002
You're right, it isn't a magic cure. The tiny pouch really won't allow you to eat much initially. If you do overeat or eat the wrong things you will feel sick. But beware, around 6 to 8 months post op, you will be able to suddenly eat more...and it's scary. You have to take those first 6 months and train yourself to eat healthier. It is possible to regain your weight. I'm 14 months post op, down 135 pounds but know that if I do not watch it closely I could be right back where I started.
   — Brenda H.

July 12, 2002
I just want to agree with what the previous poster stated. You must retrain yourself. Yes, during that "honeymoon period" there will be nothing for you to satatoge. Come 6 months out, IT starts. You find that you can eat more. Not that you'll be able to eat what are eating now but the quanities are much higher and can get dangerous. If you don't use the "honeymoon" as a reteaching period, it can cause a problem. I can tell you, my step-dad gained weight and he is a year out. He never tries to stick with any "diet" or moderation. The surgery, diet, exercise with support group and/or private therapy is the way to go. This is no magic bullet.
   — Jeannet

July 14, 2002
I'm 3 1/2 months post-op and like you, I didn't really understand how this would change my thinking. A LOT of my tastes have changed, and lot of food doesn't even taste good anymore. I've never dumped on suger, because I've been very careful, but I have dumped on too much fat. Let me tell you, I just did it yesterday, it's not fun and the thought of putting more food in my stomach has completely turned me off of eating all together. I've suffered (and still suffer today) through a lot of pain to have this surgery, and I don't want to sabotage it. I'm still a new postie and losing weight is easy right now, but I know that it won't always be. So I started counseling before surgery and I continue on with it, because I want to work through the issues of why I overate and why I didn't care enough about myself to eat healthfully. Good luck on your journey!
   — Christine L.