Question:
After surgery, how do I avoid falling into my old habits - snacking, wrong foods, etc
I'm always amazed by the incredible weight losses that I see everyone acheiving. What I can't help wondering is how do you avoid doing all the things that got you to your starting weight in the first place? Diets have never worked for me because I'm a snacker. If my kids want the crusts cut off their grilled cheese then I have to eat them. I'm sure that there are MANY post-op people here who were like this. Why is it that after the surgery, you were all able to DRASTICALLY change your eating habits. I understand about dumping and intolerace to certain foods. The way I am now, I would just find other foods that didn't bother me. I'm scheduled for surgery on 9/26 and know that it's the right choice for me based on everything that I've read. It obviously works, I just want to know HOW! It comes down to - IF I HAVE NO WILLPOWER NOW, WHY WILL I HAVE WILLPOWER AFTER SURGERY?? — Terry M. (posted on September 6, 2000)
September 6, 2000
Terry,
I am sorry that I don't have the answer to your fabulous question. I too
am a Pre-Op (10/6 Duodenal Switch) and can't believe this question isn't
asked constantly. Thanking you for "raising your hand" to ask
it! Best of Luck to you!
~Kjay~
— Kjay H.
September 6, 2000
I don't have the total answer yet because being only 4 months post op, I
still have a long road ahead of me. But at this stage I can tell you that
because I can only eat very small portions before feeling incredibly full,
this prevents me from overeating. I can eat more now than when I was
immediately post-op, but it has been a gradual process, and my portions are
still very small. I am not the best person to ask the medical reasons why
it happens, but the physical tools this surgery has given me make it much
easier to say no to foods I shouldn't be eating. I am not hungry all the
time like before. And often when I think I am, after 1-2 bites, I have had
enough. Prior to WLS, any time I made an attempt at better eating, it was
ALWAYS such a struggle. And eventually I would get tired of the struggle
and give in to bad habits. WLS gives me real tools to fight this. Having
said all this, it's possible to saboutage yourself and blow it. Medical
science hasn't found the perfect answer to weight loss yet. If you mis-use
the tool, you can harm yourself. Good luck. You'll do great!!!
— Paula G.
September 6, 2000
Hi Terry: I had this very question too when I began my inquiry into WLS.
People would tell me you just don't want all that old stuff anymore, and
here I am 6 weeks post-op and I see it's true. I have nibbled here and
there to see what I can tolerate, and I've even nibbled because I THOUGHT I
wanted a piece of cake or a bowl of ice cream, and I found that a bite
would satisfy me, even while everyone around me was going for seconds.
Last week, I bit the top of a Hershey's kiss...an hour later I bit half of
the bottom. The rest ended up in an ashtray. And two more are sitting on
my night stand being pitifully ignored. It just didn't appeal to me
anymore. Perhaps it was the weeks of artificially sweeten high protein
liquids I had to endure, but I truly do not have the desire anymore. A Big
Mac does nothing to tempt me either. In fact, right now, I am finding
there isn't a lot of food I really want to eat, although I can tolerate
anything. Yesterday I only pulled in about 500 calories and 1/2 my
protein. When I do want a snack, a small portion of cheese or sunflower
seeds will satisfy me. I have heard that a high protein diet curbs
cravings, then again, when you lose 10 or 15 or 20 pounds in a week or two,
you see the results very quickly and stay encouraged - something that
'diets' fail at miserably. Even though there is always a way to get around
the success of WLS, chances are you'll do just fine. Good Luck!
— Allie B.
September 6, 2000
Before surgery I was a big "emotional" eater. I ate to sedate,
comfort and celebrate. What I can say about that is that I still have all
those old urges and desires after surgery. The first few months --- it is
easier to stay within the guidelines because you cannot eat much at all.
Then, the fantastic weight loss kicks in and you are motivated to stay with
it because of that. But, eventually, at least for me, the old habits and
desires start to haunt. I have found that the best way for me to deal with
this is to replace those urges with something more positive --- I have
found that riding a bike, taking a walk or writing in a journal have worked
for me. I had my surgery last November. I've lost a total of 200 lbs.
I'm doing things I haven't been able to do in years. The rewards far
outweigh the negatives. I hope this helps.
— Jari M.
September 6, 2000
— Victoria B.
September 6, 2000
Terry, I was one of the WORST before surgery. I had ZERO willpower. If
the thought of some kind of food came into my head, I had to act on it. I
never felt full, even when I stuffed myself. I certainly was never
satisfied. I loved, loved, loved food and didn't discriminate: fats,
chocolate, grease, salty, it's all good! I think I was addicted to fries,
probably ate them at least every day. Now, four and a half months post op
and down 84 pounds, it is an effort for me to meet my daily requirements.
I feel like I have been set free from a terrible prison and I don't mean
just my physical body weight. I have freedom for the first time in my life
from the horrible eating disorder that ruled my life for almost 20 years.
I just don't WANT those things anymore. I can't explain it more than that.
And certain foods, like fries, taste terrible to me, or if they are baked
I will eat two or three and I am satisfied. I don't know if this control
will last forever, but I certainly want it to. I hope this helps you.
— Beth B.
September 6, 2000
I agree with the others, this was a good question. I am only a month
post-op and have overeaten once and that did it for me. Its painful and it
hurt just long enough for me to realize that I did not have this surgery
for nothing. Its true what the others have said, you just will not want
some of those foods. Now I will not tell you that you won't have cravingsin
the beginning but they will pass if you use the methods that the others
have mentioned. Get rid of the plate, exercise move away from the food. I
never thought I would be able to form a healthy relationship with food
because of my lack of Willpower but I have started to and so will you. Good
Luck...Peace, Trina
— Courtrina Amur W.
September 6, 2000
If you are certain that this is right AND you've obviously done some
research AND you're asking this question, why do you think you might
sabotage yourself? Sounds to me like you are smart enough to check it out,
so you'd probably be smart enough to stay on target 98% of the time. NONE
of us is perfect, you know? Neither are normies. I look at everything
from a nutritional point of view, of course. Why do I want to eat a
________? Am I skimping on my supplements so I need some nutrient, so my
body sends me out shopping for any kind of calories? (Get labs, adjust
accordingly, or in my case, it usually means taking in more protein
supplement) Am I anxious over something, so what i really want is that hand
to mouth thing? OK, so eat popcorn, Not enough damage there to hurt me,
won't hurt my pouch and I can satisfy that busy thing without guilt. Do I
just want some because they have some? Do I miss certain textures? Hunt
down the sugar free version of it. I want somethign cold 'n sweet? Sugar
free popsicles will work usually. I mean, there are ways to work with the
interest in food. Most people DO like food. It just works on out bodies
differently than on other people. I find it challenging to find
"safe" ways to get what I think I want and still maintain the
integrity of my surgery. And I assure you, I'd be at the head of the line
for those standing under the sign that reads: NO WILLPOWER WHATSOEVER
pre-op. The only difference that I see now is that I am nutritionally
balanced, so I don't crave. I was always dieting. I can't even THINK of
the damage I might've done for so many years! However, I am healthier than
I ever was in my life and now I control the food and it no longer controls
me. I'm about to hit my 6 year anniversary and that's not forever in the
scheme of things, but it's about 5 years longer than I had coming to me
before! And by keeping my nutrition balanced, I don't spend a lot of time
on working on will power issues. I just don't feel as I once did.
— vitalady
September 7, 2000
Hello...thats a question I had before my surgery and never asked...now I'm
10 1/2 months post-op and can tell you. I had the RNY (proximal)and was
told it would take care of my cravings for sweets...wellllllllllll it
didn't. I still crave sweets. I was a snacker also! I still snack only now
I'm not starving all the time (in fact I hardly ever get hungry) and thats
what helps. You are able to control what you eat after surgery. I still
crave chocolate and sometimes I don't even deny myself. I just eat a bite
and am satisfied. Now I crave fruit and salads all the time. You will be
fine...this surgery gives you the ability to be choosy with what you eat.
I've found that since I eat so little that I like to eat foods that are
healthy. I've lost 110 pounds so far and I have been far from perfect in my
diet. I'm not giving you the "go ahead" to snack...I'm telling
you don't be too hard on yourself if you do try something. Also...if you
get too full it really really hurts and that keeps you from doing it
again...oh and another thing...best wishes to you on your upcoming
surgery!!!!
— SherP
September 7, 2000
Like most people on this site, before my surgery I was on the "see
food" diet -- see food, eat it. The major food groups? Sugar, salt,
grease, chocolate, and cake. Now nearly 5 months post op (and down 90#), I
marvel at what little attraction food has for me. Most of the time, I'm
not hungry at all; in fact, I'd have to say that, most of the time, the
only meal I'm really interested in is breakfast. The "willpower"
after surgery comes from the fact that your stomach is the size of an egg,
that a cup of coffee will fill you up for half a day, and, to use the
slogan from Brylcreem, "a little dab'll do ya". Food just isn't
a priority. It's very difficult to explain to those who haven't had the
surgery, but it's true. You'll do great, I'm sure ... nearly everyone I've
talked to post-op who was worried about willpower pre-op says the same
thing!
Good luck and skinny thoughts,
— Cheryl Denomy
September 8, 2000
I am 8 months post-op and to date have lost 131 lbs. It just so happens
that I still cannot eat more than 4 or 5 ounces at one session. The
surgery is a mechanism which enables you to have physical will power. A
tool which breaks the major cravings. It's not that this or that won't
sound yummy any longer but rather you'll have three bites instead of enough
for four men like I used to. You'll get full from the small amounts you
eat then forget about food for hours afterward, I guarantee it. So this is
something more than willpower. Diets for me always consisted of willpower
(aka suffering) but you will now be armed with a full feeling so it's less
hard.
— [Deactivated Member]
September 9, 2000
YOU HAVE HIT MY WORST FEAR! LOL! And thankfully, I just talked to my
surgeon about this question. He said that the RNY has a couple of built-in
backup tools (and this is based on his procedure): 1) The stomach is so
small, it prevents you from overeating, first of all -- One bite too much
and you will basically 'spit up', 2) The intestine is bypassed by 3 feet
and he said that they are finding that, while it used to be believed that
you ate until you were full and your stomach eventually sent a message to
your brain saying, "OK, I've had enough", but that they have
found that's not so. He said that there seems to be a 'trigger point'
approximately 3 feet into the small intestine where, when food reaches it,
it either triggers receptors or sensors that send this message of satiety
to the brain. He admits that, for all the advancement in medicine, they
aren't exactly sure WHAT occurs, but he explained that bypassing that first
3 feet of small intestine really helps with feelings of SATIATION, as well
as the added benefit of a safe level of malabsorption. He said that many
post-op patients (not all) describe changes in tastes, in cravings (he said
many no longer crave sweets at all, which is a blessing for ME!), and many
patients have a depressed appetite for months following surgery (I can hope
I am one of them! ha!) Hope that helps!
— Michelle F.
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