Question:
Will it be hard to get used to sugar-free food and eating food pureed/blended???
My surgery is scheduled for August 24th and I was wondering from you post-ops out there if this will be difficult to do pre-op Im trying to sip,sip,and sip and chew, chew,and chew my food but its hard to do and Im scared I will be unsuccessful at it post-op. Any suggestions on how I can get myself in gear for this??? Thanks. — flewis (posted on August 14, 2005)
August 14, 2005
Felicia- No one who has ever had gastric bypass surgery has been successful
in dieting. We have all failed and turned to weight loss surgery as our
last ditch effort-- as a result, many of us started the process worried
like you are now. Many of my fears (and I was relieved to talk to many
other patients who had the same fears) revolved around a sheer inability to
envision what a life would be like that didn't revolve around food. As a
result, I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to learn to eat slowly, take
small bites and chew my food to death. However, the first time (or two)
you don't follow the rules and you get sick, you quickly learn to eat
slowly, take small bits and chew your food to death. Yet, having never had
that negative re-inforcement, I couldn't imagine what a powerful learning
tool it would be as I learned to incorporate food into my daily food intake
after surgery.
So, the easy answer is that you don't need to necessarily "get
yourself in gear for this". From my experience leading support groups
for the past couple of years (and from my own post-operative experience),
what will help you find success are the attributes your question already
evidences you possess-- first, you have an appreciation of the importance
of the new behaviors and you have a deep desire to make them a part of your
life. Sure, it might not always be easy, but you are already well on your
way to post-operative success. Good luck.
— SteveColarossi
August 14, 2005
Thank you Steve and Felisha for your question and answer as I was worried
about the same thing. I have been reading alot of message boards trying to
see what different problems everyone has. They really help answer alot of
questions a newbie might have. :-)
— dsivard
August 14, 2005
Felicia, it will be difficult at first, but honestly it becomes old hat
very quickly. After a month or two it becomes very difficult to imagine
what it was like to eat pre-op. Imagine that! I almost cancelled my
surgery a week prior because I found this GREAT new do-nut shop. LOL I had
a bite of one post op (afer a couple of months) and NEVER wanted to eat
there again. It's been 4 years and I haven't. It is amazing how your mind
changes once a certain food makes you ill. My advice would be to remember
that ill feeling (trust me, it's not hard to forget) so that later you
won't be tempted to eat it when you really are capable. Good luck,
Felicia...it really is like waking up a new you. :)
— RebeccaP
August 14, 2005
If it's any consolation, you probably won't have an appetite right after
surgery and by the time you get it back I think habit will have kicked in.
And like the others said, you normally just do it once and once it makes
you sick, you stop and think before you try again. So good luck and we'll
all e pulling for you.
— lharbison
August 14, 2005
You are going to get a big surprise. Your way of eating will change. The
drinking fluids was weird at first. You drink like you did before 1 time
and you will learn not to do it again. You wont have the same hungry
feeling you have now. I am never hungry, I just know I have to eat.
— Kevin R.
August 14, 2005
The old saying "for a good result, we must work hard" really
applies to WLS. All of us "work" at it, every day, just like
life. It is just another phase in your life. You will find what works for
you. Don't be afraid, it is not what you think. Yes, you will eat very
very very small amounts at first, and like others have said, you will
quickly learn what to eat and what to avoid. If it is any consolation, I
am 2+ years out, lost 140 pounds, and today I can eat everything. YOU WILL
TOO. I "choose" not to eat many things, and I find other things
are not pleasing to my tummy any longer. My biggest fear was that I was
going to want to eat something that I couldn't for the rest of my life, and
suffer for it. That is not a true statement. I loved ice cream, and ate
gallons full before WLS. Now, I could care less if I ever had another
bite. For me, that was a blessing, and I thank my doctor every day that he
gave me that (it was my biggest downfall). I do, on occasion have a bite,
and guess what????? I AM HAPPY WITH THAT (can you believe it?) So, as
you can see, I don't miss it, because I don't want it. But I am able to
eat EVERYTHING, in moderation. Good luck, don't be afraid, this is the
rest of the best of your life, I know it has been for me. Hugs, Missy
(268/128)
— Missy H.
August 14, 2005
Hi there...after sugery your tastes change for some reason. Could never
figure that out beings they worked on our stomach but anyway things that
wern't too sweet before surgery will be too sweet afterwards and things
always tasted too salty to me too. I personally don't desire the taste of
regular sugar now and stick to the sugar free stuff. I know my boyfriend
thinks some food that is fine to me is too bland to him. Your body will let
you know what it can tolerate because you'll either get sick and throw it
back up or you'll be very uncomfortable for a while and meaning
uncomfortable is only something another wls person knows how that feels so
you will just have to experience it for yourself. Hang in there and be very
positive about this whole process and you'll do just fine. As a prior
poster said it takes alot of work but it is so worth it....Good luck on
your life changing journey....Hugs...Suzee
— suzeeq
August 15, 2005
Dear Felicia,
You are going to do great. You will be fine. You know what, those
six weeks are going to fly by. I found, that I didn't have time to worry
about the whole sip, sip, sip, chew, chew, chew bit. By time I was able to
get in all of my liquids (with your pouch being so small) there wasn't
really time to worry about the chew, chew, chew. Though that is important.
I also didn't worry about pureeing food. I just ate things that I thought
that I could handle. I love spice, so I did stuff like refried beans,
soups that were mostly broth, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, scrambled
eggs, etc. These things made it much easier. Also, you will quickly find
out, you have to chew, chew, chew or you will vomit. At least, I did. If
I didn't chew enough, the food sat right on top of the hole of the pouch
and wouldn't let any other food in. Up it would come, disgusting yes, but
a couple of those times, and the discomfort is enough to make sure that you
chew. I always did the 35 times on each bite. I also used (and still do,
by the way (I'm an old timer - all of 8 months, teehee)and I have lost 126
or more. I haven't weighed myself in the past month. I use cocktail forks
and spoons to help me manage the amount of food that I put into my mouth.
I also only eat on saucers, if I can manage it. Makes it much easier to
continue to keep small portions. I also use small, very old bowls...the
ones that used to be the size of normal portions of food. Remember those?
I go to garage sales for them, and just keep an eye out for them. Well, I
hope those tips help you some. The best to you. And Congrats!!! Junith
— [Deactivated Member]
August 15, 2005
I agree with Steve. You can't compare your success at eating slowly NOW to
what you'll experience after the operation. Your body will dictate your
habits to some extent in the beginning. You probably won't particularly
want sugar when you can have such a small amount of food in general and
you'll be re-trained quickly with negative reinforcement should you make
the mistake of eating too quickly. In other words, you eat quickly now
because you CAN and because it's habit. You simply won't be able to do
that post-op and if you do, you pay the price and that experience is a
powerful teacher. Good luck, but I'm sure you'll do fine!
— sandsonik
August 15, 2005
It was because of all of the restrictions on eating, drinking, chewing, and
basically living with "a diet with a scar" that got me to
investigate the DS, and once I did, I never gave the RNY a second thought.
I hope you considered ALL of your options before going ahead with surgery.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 15, 2005
I had the same fears as you. Then I started researching and found out in
addition to the RNY gastric bypass that there also are the lapband and
Duodenal Switch (DS). I found out that with the DS you have a normal
entrance and exit to the stomach (it's just smaller) and now that I am post
op DS, I don't have to sip or chew, just eat normally and I can drink with
meals and sugars/carbs don't cause dumping in DS patients. If you are
afraid you won't be successful with gastric bypass RNY, you should check
out the Duodenal Switch option
— Laurie LOVES her DS
August 19, 2005
Felicia-
I just read your question and had the same feelings. My surgery was on the
15th of August. I didn't realize for the first three days that I did not
have any food and only then did I think about it. Everything that has been
said is true your body will tell you what to eat and how to eat, chewing,
sipping, etc. I see this as a new beginning to start over where I should
have been years ago. Right now I cann't stand anything with an odor that
includes ANYTHING. The doctor told me to expect this and that it should go
away within a week of being home-when I was on the way home the smells were
their and smelled great. If you have the luxury to take time off from work
it makes things easier and less stressful for meals-which is what I am
doing. If you have gotten to this point then you are ready to go through
with it. Never forget that you need to listen to your body and do what it
wants.
— 1968 Loser
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