Question:
What foods do you miss the most?
I am still in the researching and trying to get approval stage but during the last week or so I have been wondering "What if I do get approved for this surgery. Am I going to beable to go for the long haul?" I love potatoe chips, ice cream, snickers bars, and Turkey with dressing, mash potatoes and lots of gravy. But I know that I won't beable to have them after the surgery. I know that I will beable to give them up for the 18 months after surgery (that's only 1 Thanksgiving) but I am afraid that I won't beable to give them up for the rest of my life. I know that I will feel 100% better, that my health will be much better but whats to keep me from back sliding? Is your behavior completely changed after the 18 months? Everybody on here is doing so well, and you are all so disciplined I have never been a disciplined person - I am not organized and I am a very impulsive person when it comes to having to make a decision right now. So I eat a lot of fast foods - because I don't have the patience to cook or the energy to shop and I can never remember just what I'm suppossed to be looking for on a label. How do you turn into such a disciplined eater? — K T. (posted on March 5, 2001)
March 5, 2001
I am only 3 weeks post-op, but I can honestly tell you, I don't miss
anything. You will still be able to have turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy
- just not very much of it. I love tacos (Taco Bell). Although I still
haven't eaten one yet, when I do, I will have ONE, not FIVE! Depending on
your surgery type - you may have dumping so sugar/fats may not work for you
but you will learn. No one said this surgery was "brain" surgery
so you will need to learn how to work your new "tool" for a
healthier life. I dump, so for me, it's no sweets. However I found I do
well on fat free/sugar free pudding which for me is a treat. The dumping I
got from a postage-size brownie I had was enough of a built in
"behavior modification" for me to avoid them from now on. Good
luck to you!
— T.L. S.
March 5, 2001
You will still be able to have turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes &
gravy - just in greatly reduced amounts! But you know what? You will
actually taste and savor every bite! As far as ice cream and chocolate I
can tell you that I enjoy sugar free fudgecicles and I know I can even eat
12 M & M's so I haven't given up my favorite foods entirely. Your
stomach forces you to become disciplined about what you eat. You can't
overeat without making yourself sick. I'm only 6 months post op but my
eating habits have done a complete turn around and I have become conscious
of what I'm eating - I focus on eating my protein first and everything else
comes second. This is a VERY big change in your life and not one to be
taken lightly, so if you have ANY doubts about the lifestyle changes
necessary don't go through with the surgery!
— georgiacarol
March 5, 2001
I have no problem eating the things you mentioned (except the ice cream and
snickers) in small amounts. I also eat fast food in small amounts. but that
is such a waste of money I am much better off eating my protein foods in
small amts. I read your profile , you must be as unhappy as I was. What
makes you think you will have a hard time giving up the things that are
killing you? I still eat a few chips now and then . Usually WOW or fat free
pringles , but I've eaten regular. I have never craved sugar. I do eat
protein bars. I think the trick is (I've gleened this from others)is to
keep yourself well nurished ,meaning Protein first (lots of turkey with or
without gravy!) stay hydrated and the most helpful thing I do is exercise
my index finger when I watch T.V. . By that I mean from the day I came home
from the hospital last May I have never watched a food comercial. They are
designed to tease us and lure us into there fat laden store's and I refuse
to go. I'd rather spend my money on my new hobby , shopping for me!! Good
luck. You will be fine. No one was as week or self indulgent as me. And I
did it. With the help of all of the experts here at obesity help.com. This
site has been my best friend.
— Rose A.
March 5, 2001
K- That was a very interesting and honest question to ask. How do you
change from a person that loves food (And the more the merrier), into a
person that must eat healthy? Well thats why the surgery is a great TOOL.
You see, in the beginning there is no way on God's green earth that you are
going to be able to eat high sugar/high fatty foods. During that initial
stage, you lose a massive amount of weight and feel great. I have lost 88
pounds in six months, and couldnt be happier. Until recently, it was easy
(When I say easy I mean "no brainer", theres nothing easy about
getting sick when you eat and enduring the pain of surgery). Now at six
months, I know that I am able to eat more. (Not as much as I used to, but
I'd say as much as a small person) I didnt think it would happen so soon!
I thought I'd buy at least a year of "no brainer" eating. Well,
being that I feel so well, and I like the new me, and I really want to get
to my goal, I have no problem avoiding unhealthy food. I also push myself
to exercise (I am inherently lazy). I guess Ive realized over the last six
months how much I love myself and dont want to go back to the old me. I
NEVER crave chocolate, chips, fat, etc. If I am having company, I often
have some chips in the house, and may eat a couple. But when everyone's
gone, I throw them out. Lest no temptation! Many wonderful people on this
site constantly remind us that this is tool. Used properly, and if you
want it enough, you can do it!.
— Jeannet
March 5, 2001
Hi, I am still new to this I am post-op since Jan 15,2001. Anyways at
first I thought oh my good if I do this surgery than I will never be able
to all the foods I love so much, chips and dip, candy, donuts, ice cream,
2-3 plates fulls of food, cookies and milk. yyyuuummmmm... and 1001 more
foods. But than I looked at this list of food and I had to weigh out my own
pro and cons and I found that because of all these foods and the amounts of
food I ate that this is why my health starting falling for the bad, why I
weight 349 lbs 2 days before surgery. Why I was so misuarble, couldnt
hardly walk because of hip and knee pain daily, at the point couldnt wipe
after a BM (which I can now) and I ask myself do I want to live a normal
healthy life???or do I want to be in a wheelchair because of my hips and
knees failing on me. or even die because of my obesity???? Well I choose
to live and if that meant giving up all these foods than it was worth it to
me. Since Jan 14, I HAVE NOT had any Candy, donuts, chips dip, no fast
foods, no fryed foods,no cookies, no milk (which I do miss my milk I am now
lactose intolant) but I will be ok it is not the end of the world. I do
eat mash pototoes, I have a hamberger without the bread, meatloaf,chicken,
salmon cakes, fish,chilli, soups, eggs, turkey bacon,spreadable spam,peanut
better butter, vegs, as long as they are cooked to the soft side, cottage
cheese, fat free cheese, yogurt.sugar free fudge pops, jello (sugar free).
I also just order the Victoria Cookbook that you can get here that is
receips for Gastric By-Pass Patients. It is not bad and I dont crave those
foods I use to really enjoy. If I had to do it again I would do it.
Because I am feeling better, I am actually walking 1-1/2 miles almost
everyday if weather permits which I never would have walk down a subdivison
before because I did not want people to see my big butt flopping in the
wind, if you know what I mean. Now I cant wait to go for my
walk,,,gggeeeehhhhhsssss.I wish you the best. Just ask your self are you
really sick in tired of being over weight and a prisioner of food....I am
sure you will make the right choice for you. God bless you
DREAMS DO COME TRUE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVES
Jay Biller
— jay B.
March 5, 2001
The foods I miss the most are any made with Eagle Brand milk! I still eat
typical Thanksgiving foods, just not alot.
— Cindy H.
March 5, 2001
1. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy should continue to be on your food
list...turkey later then the potatoes, but you shouldn't have to give any
of them up. Many jar gravys only have 1 gram of fat, and actually taste
pretty good. Potatoes and gravy were one of my first and most delicious
"soft" foods.
2. As far as the rest of your concerns, your body will tell you a lot.
After 1-2 episodes of dumping...a Snickers bar will never look appatizing
again! If you happen to be one of the people who don't dump (like me) You
just have to remind yourself every day why you had this surgery, and ask
yourself if you like the new you, or if you'd rather be the old you...if
you decide you like the new/skinnier you, then you learn to control those
cravings and allow yourself only occassional treats...maybe 1 per
week....normal people do eat candy bars...just not a whole box of them.
Right now I'm about 4 1/2 months post-op. Today I allowed myself 4 peanut
m&m's .... probably not the best food choice I made today, but I know
that if I don't allow myself small indulgences on ocassion, that I'll
break....that's always been the thing that ruins diets for me and many
others I know...depriving yourself of your favorite foods..it NEVER works!!
If you really want it..take a small bite and put the rest away for another
time. If I feel like dessert, I take a bit or two of somebody elses and
leave the table.
Anyway, hopefully you won't find it as difficult as you imagine it might
be.
Good Luck!!
— tlg6056
March 5, 2001
Great question K! I do not dump, so guess what? I haven't given up
anything, but that isn't to say that I eat the amounts I used to. I am
currently working in an office that goes shopping every month for goodies -
I mean bulk-sized bags of Snickers, M&Ms, Hershey kisses and such. Oh,
and that's just the everyday fare. Some weeks there are an assortment of
cakes, cookies, cheesecake, etc. And about every other week, we are
treated to lunch. So, how do I handle it? Somedays, I might eat 3
minature chocolates - a vast improvement over eating 3 full-sized candy
bars in an evening. I have been very good about staying away from the
homemade stuff, because frankly, if I like it, I'll eat more. Some days,
like today, because it was Monday and I was away from it all weekend (#1
TIP: KEEP IT OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!), I didn't even think about chocolate at
all! And then somedays, when I'm bored or stressed, I indulge quite a bit.
The main thing I try to concentrate on is making sure that I get all my
protien and fluids on my 'bad' days and follow that up with a good round of
exercise in the evening. That way, I don't have to beat myself up about
'cheating'. As far as fast food is concerned, I tend to have the bean
burrito at Taco Bell (except the one in town is awful, so I don't go there
anymore!), or a small cheeseburger at McDonald's. I haven't had a Big Mac
in 8 months - because I know I couldn't finish it. Subway has some good
choices, and sometimes I'll splurge and get the seafood sub - which will
last two meals. On the other hand, I have been eating a great deal of fish
lately - which I love grilled outside. You would be amazed at how much
better fish is cooked this way! In two months, I've only chosen a high
calorie, high fat meal in the company cafeteria once - and everyone
complained about the onions so I didn't finish it and gave it to my kids
for dinner. I generally stick with the fish or the Heart Smart menu -
because that's what appeals to me. In a nutshell, my meals are nearly
always compliant with the program, but I do tend to snack and overeat (as
much as one can with a tiny tummy) once in awhile. The result? I started
at 277, 43 BMI and I am just over 7 months out, and have lost 83 lbs - 44
lbs. to go! Not as fast as some, admittedly, but I am very pleased with
the results and that I can still enjoy food, and I look great and feel
great, too! Your tastes will change, your habits will change and this will
be the best thing you'll ever do for yourself! Good Luck and God Bless!
— Allie B.
March 5, 2001
Much of what you are citing as concern is part of what prompted me to have
the Duodenal Switch rather than the RNY. Everything you have named, I have
had, in small protions (except the Snicker bar. I am allergic to peanuts,
but I have had chocolate bars with almonds.) The difference seems to be
that instead of a whole bag of chips, a handful satisfies me. In the
summer, I eat frozen yogurt daily (ice cream gives me too much gas and
tastes too 'thick' for lack of a better term). As for the turkey, mashed
'taters and gravy, well, I have had that since week 4 post op. With the
DS, you do not 'dump'. My eating habits are what I would call normal now.
Healthy, properly proportioned and able to have an occasional treat without
fear of ill side effects. Good Luck to you!
— merri B.
March 5, 2001
You know what this surgery is?? It is forced behavior modification...in a
nutshell. Example: Yesterday I woke up famished, so I went to the kitchen
and made myself a big plate of leftover chicken nachos....was so hungry I
was going to eat them all...well, I got down about 4 bites and I was
stuffed. I COULDN'T eat anymore even if I wanted to. It was great. I
just can't get over how much this has changed my life. I used to have not
one iota of self control...not one! Slowly but surely I am losing that
"food mindset". You will too, hon. Most of us go into this
thinking we will fail at this, like we have failed at every other diet
attempt. And sure, you CAN sabotage this wonderful tool, but if you do
fall, you can just dust yourself off and start again...no harm, no foul.
God bless you on your journey...you will do great.
P.S. I miss bread and bagels most of all...I like to just SMELL
them...mmmmm yummy.
— Lisa J.
March 5, 2001
When I started doing my research almost 2 years ago, I had the same fears
and knew that I would not be able to maintain a restricted diet for the
rest of my life. If I couldn't do it with Weight Watcher's, OA, Behavior
Mod, Hypnosis, etc., why would I suddenly be able to take ANOTHER TOOL and
make it work for the rest of my life. If you can, great. But I really
couldn't see the difference and get real annoyed whenever people talk about
WLS as a "tool". I think WLS is pretty serious and wasn't going
to have major surgery until I felt sure I have found the SOLUTION.
Thankfully I did find a solution in the BPD/DS. I'm no longer a few weeks
or months postop (the time when our body is healing and adjusting to
surgery, and not a true indication of how we will be eating throughout our
lives), but 17 months and at goal or close to goal weight (26 BMI) and I
don't miss eating anything. Yes, in the beginning I couldn't tolerate
soda, sweet things tasted too sweet and I had to be satisfied with a few
bites of some favorites -- but this is a small price to pay for the weigt
that pours off while our stomachs are so small. But now I can tolerate
ANYTHING and have resumed all my old eating habits and eat all my
favorites. Things haven't really changed that much, I have always been a
big meat and potatoes eater, now I just eat more meat than pototoes. The
biggest change is that I no longer feel guilty about my tastes and eating.
Why deny myself extra butter on my grilled cheese or mashed potatoes, when
I don't absorb fat? Before settling on any procedure, be sure and research
Long Term success rate of the procedure because we're talking the rest of
our lives.
— Jill L.
March 5, 2001
I thought the very same thing too: can I make it in the long run doing
without my favorite foods. My answer was yes.
Of course, I gained 11 lbs between the time I was OK'd for the surgery
& the day of surgery. I ate everything I liked and wanted and poohey on
portions...I ate it ALL. I ate Tex-Mex food 3 days in a row one week. Ice
cream, cookies, candy, etc. I got to where I couldn't even bend over and I
actually got tired of eating and couldn't wait to have the surgery. Now
having to eat every 3 hours is a real effort for me. You will survive and
you will love yourself for doing something good for yourself such as this
surgery.
— Betty Todd
March 5, 2001
I am starting my 10th mo. post-op & it still surprises me what I can
& cannot eat. Prior to surgery my favorites were anything w/sugar (ice
cream, chocolate, candy, etc..) I was pretty much addicted to it. Also
pasta & sushi. Now I can eat all mentioned above except for ice cream
& sushi (because of the rice). I don't deprive myself when I'm craving
something sweet. Only now I will have 1 or 2 pieces of candy for instance
& be satisfied. For some reason I also have trouble w/chicken (but not
other forms of protein). I am also still trying to remember TO SLOW DOWN
when I eat. HTH
— Lori_B
March 5, 2001
About 3 times a year, for about 3 minutes each time, I miss hot choc chip
cookies, fresh from the oven with a tall glass of ice cold (been frozen
before) milk. I've never been willing to sacrifice my wt loss for it, even
if I did tolerate it. I do eat the other things you mentioned, however. I
eat fast food daily and do include normal amounts of fats & oils in my
daily eating. We will largely malabsorb fats & oils, so they don't
scare me. Sugar can mess me up in about 2 weeks flat. I do not feel
deprived. I was a volume eater, so sometimes I wish I could eat the
volume, but then I sit there & wonder WHY? By eating more slowly, I
already got more fun out of it than I would've if I'd been able to eat a
shovelfull. When I stop & think, I am actually much more
"satisfied" now.
— vitalady
April 19, 2001
Hi K,
What you seem to be describing, in regards to WLS, is another diet. For
instance, you are saying that you can start eating normal foods again after
18 months of losing weight. The whole point of this surgery for me was to
be able to live a normal life. I am only 4 months post-op, but I am eating
all the foods that I ate prior to surgery, simply in much smaller portions.
I knew that I would never be the kind of person who would eat salads and
carrots the rest of my life, therefore, I had to find something that would
allow me to eat relatively normal foods and still manage to lose weight. I
admit that after surgery I do not crave the same kinds of food as I did
prior to surgery. I used to eat chocolate throughout the day and the only
time I eat it now is when I crave it around my period. Even then, at the
most I will only eat 1 chocolate chip cookie or a hershey kiss. Basically
when I want a hamburger or pizza, I will have them, however I will only eat
half of a piece of pizza or half of the hamburger. I never feel like I am
depriving myself and I always take my vitamins and protein supplements so
my body is not deprived of nutrients. In my opinion, if you deprive
yourself as you are losing weight, the whole experience is just another
diet. Of course everyone is different, but I thought I would share my
experiences with you.
— Cassie O.
April 19, 2001
This is one of my big concerns too. Like you, I eat fast food when I'm
hungry and just don't have the time to eat something "healthy".
The only thing I look for on labels now is sugar grams and protein grams.
If I find something that has a lot of sugar, I know that's a no-no post op.
If something has a lot of protein, that's good post op. I don't worry
about fat or carbs at all. Will this work post op? I think about as well
as anything and it's not the same kind of constant vigilance that pre-op
dieting requires. As a pre-op I'm interested if post-ops think I'm being
to optimistic with this. Thanks
— kcanges
May 29, 2001
Though I am pre-op I have thought about what I will miss the most. BIG
glasses of iced tea, beef, and salads. What surprises me the most is the
fact that not one of these items are the reason I weigh over 300 lbs. Go
figure!
— Marie G.
June 2, 2001
hi there, I am now about seven weeks post op and your post sounds like it
came from me:) Before my surgery I had NO WILL POWER!!! When I came home
from the hospital, all I could think about was fast food and sugar. About
two weeks after surgery the doctor told me to start eating solids but to be
careful. I went home and the first thing I did was have a lick of the top
of a cake. Let me tell you something, I will not do that again! I still
crave things like I did before, but it gets easier as you go because you
get used to portion size and the trial and error phase:)The best suggestion
for people like us is to goin a support group. There should be one in your
area, just call some of your local hospitals. Thank You for posting your
question, I was starting to feel like the only one:)
Good Luck and remember YOU have the power NOT the food!
— Kelley W.
July 27, 2001
Without a doubt, I miss the sugar the most. Frosting, dognuts, cookies,
ice cream. But the dumping is not worth it. I'll have a taste, but it's
hard to gain control. I just figure I have to deal and it is
non-negotiable. I asked to have this done, I put my body and mind, and my
friends and family through this surgery, the least I can do stick to the
rules. But no body is perfect. I didn't gain will power with my srugery,
I gained perspective about tons of food realted issues. Good luck!!
— Julie C.
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