Comments on: Thoughts of Food?!?

By: Helena Buck

Helena Buck — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 21:05:39 +0000

This is another YMMV type thing but here’s my situation. I am 10 months
post-op and eating much more like a “normal” person. My volume is more than
it was, I don’t dump, I can eat almost anything though steak and bread does
still bother me most of the time. For me what is the BIGGEST (and best in
my opinion) change is that I no longer CARE about food. I don’t crave
things. I have a hard time choosing what to eat because I just don’t care
what I eat. I know it’s time eat, I do feel hunger, but most of the time I
just don’t crave anything or yearn for foods as I did in the past. So far
for me, it’s easy to pick the “good stuff” because I have it in the house
easily accessible and I just want SOMETHING to eat to fill me up. That’s
it. Last night for example I had a meeting in a restaurant. I hadn’t had
anything to eat in almost 5 hours and was hungry. It took me FOREVER to
decide what to order because there was a lot of junky type foods, I’d had a
salad for lunch so didn’t want another, and there was lots of bread options
(burgers). I ended up ordering an appetizer of baked potato skins with

extra cheese and shredded chicken and ate 3 of them. Took the other 5 home
with me and my kids devoured them.
What Jeff describes below was me pre-surgery. I’d wake up thinking about
what I was going to fix for dinner. I’d plan for days what “treat” to
make/take to work for special occasions. I’d drive for MILES to get
something that I’d be thinking about wanting to eat. I’d scrape together
change in the car when I didn’t have money to buy an A&W Rootbeer float on a
hot day on the way home from work right before dinner.
I am so very grateful that I seem to not have cravings. I don’t think about
food other than “how many protein shake bags do I need to take to work
today?” “where’s my Fruit2O?” “Did I get in enough protein today?”. I hope
and pray this never goes away. It is by far the best after effect of my
surgery. I don’t see people talking about this much so maybe I’m just extra
lucky. I remember however reading about that gene or something called
gherin (I think….?) and wonder if my lack of cravings is related to that
as it is affected by or removed during surgery. Whatever it is, I hope it
doesn’t change…
Julie S.
Lap RNY 7/5/02
-120 lbs.

By: Lois Lancaster

Lois Lancaster — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 02:24:28 +0000

Welcome Jeff!
I am almost 5 months post-op and considered myself a food addict pre-op but then
again aren’t we all? We need to be addicted to food to live. However, it’s the
choices we make that create all the difference. Pre-op, I LIVED to eat out in
restaurants, to go to a buffet, to enjoy the different foods at a party! My
choices were not always healthy ones and I would gladly give up lunch for a bowl
of ice cream and trade dinner for a piece of pie!
One of the things about this surgery that truly amazes me is the psychological
changes that can occur due to a physical prodecure. I saw some of these subtle
changes in the weeks before surgery. I had plans to experience many “last
meals” so I could relish and enjoy all those foods I thought I would miss. As I
got closer and closer to my surgery date I was becoming aware that I was
beginning to sever some of my ties to food. Sure, I had ice cream and made some
poor choices but little by little food was beginning to lose its pull. I had
more and more trouble deciding what to eat and where. Eating was not as

enjoyable as it once was. Don’t get me wrong, I savored my meals but the
emotional charge was drifting.
Perhaps I can give credit for this to my work with a counselor in the months
prior to researching WLS and then my preparation for it. I had discovered
EXACTLY why I ate and what payoff I got from it. Then, I worked on taking care
of myself and listening to my body. I rested when I needed a nap, I asked for
help when needed and realized it was ok to take care of myself and doing so was
not being selfish.
I went out to eat 3 weeks post-op. Pizza. Had probably 1/3 of a slice without
the crust end. It was ok but just didn’t have that same energy as before when I
would eat 2 or 3 large slices. Now, pizza is a rare meal for me. Maybe a bite
but that does it and I’ve had my taste. My husband and I usually go out to eat
at least twice per week and have done so since about that point. My surgery has
helped him to change his eating habits. We are both mindful of how we feel. No
need to finish off the plate. It really is ok to leave food, honest! We
usually share a meal. I might eat a spoon or two of his soup or salad and then
I’ll have some bites of his meat, a couple bites of veggies and a taste of the
potato. I’ve had my fill, he’s had his and more times than not, there is food
leftover from one meal! We can afford to eat out more now because our
restaurant bills are cut in half! If we are not in the mood for the same dish,
I might just order an appetizer or order a whole entree and take the leftovers
home for more meals. I do have a card from my hospital stating that I am a WLS
patient and to honor smaller portions or reduced prices. I rarely use it!
I’ve eaten normal foods since the first day home from the hospital. I ate what
the family was eating and CHEWED until the food was mush. I eat what my body
tells me and my tastes tend to go in spells. I’ve been on cottage cheese kicks,
or craved salads, or cheese, or chicken, or steak, or tomatoes, or strawberries,
or cucumbers. Notice the difference from pre-op? My tastes have totally
changed. Now, I can really taste my food and experience the texture. Before, I
HAD to know what was going to be for lunch or dinner or my snack. Now, I know
that when hunger comes (usually after 3 or 4 hours) there will always be a
simple meal available for me to enjoy. What restaurant to go to? Easy, I let
hubby choose! Food has lost it’s pull, I can really enjoy the company of those
I dine with and use food as the fuel it was meant to be.
Like I said before, while I know and have experienced the fact of mind/body
connection, I am still amazed that this WLS procedure has made definitive
changes in my thinking and attitude. I am thankful for the many lessons I’ve
learned on my journey to WLS.
Hope this personal perspective helps Jeff! Good luck in your own journey!
Rev. Pam

By: Lois Lancaster

Lois Lancaster — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 23:23:16 +0000

Janice–
(1) anyone have rashes after surgery? i had surgery 11/04/02 and all of a
sudden, i have rashes. seems i am allergic to something, but we cannot figure
out what. anyone have this?
****I am almost 5 months out and had rashes mostly on my thighs. I’ve been told
by my Naturopath that these rashes are more than like due to toxins in our
bodies. Toxins can be stored in the fat cells of our bodies. When we lose
weight, especially rapidly like after surgery, tons of toxins are released and
our liver and bodies have to work overtime to process and get rid of them. I
got rashes on the thighs and this is a sign of toxicity in the intestines. I
make sure to keep my bowels moving and the rashes disappear.
Rev. Pam

By: lavern_1200

lavern_1200 — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 19:15:29 +0000

In a message dated 5/6/2003 3:18:22 PM Eastern Standard Time, jlsperow@…
writes:
1. check the sugar substitute — it’s from the manitol/sorbitol family, and too
much will give you severe gas and/or diarrhea
2. check the carb content — it’s very high and our bodies store carbs just
like sugars
I’ve seen these at Walgreens, read the label and passed — I’d rather have a
protein bar
Judy
Lap RNY 7/23/02
54/5′3″/257/162/1??
size 22/XXL - 12/M
bmi 46/29
-44 inches

By: Carissa Felicitas

Carissa Felicitas — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 09:29:49 +0000

questions :
(1) anyone have rashes after surgery? i had surgery 11/04/02 and all of a
sudden, i have rashes. seems i am allergic to something, but we cannot
figure out what. anyone have this?
(2) i saw a new product, hershey’s SUGAR FREE candy, 140-170 a serving, high
on fat but no sugar, 2 servings per bag, has anyone tried these yet? what is
the story?
(3) has anyone heard of dr lee of changes plastic surgery in ssan diego on
el camino real near del mar? he was recommended to me and would love anyones
ideas/comments
(4) did anyone have a neck liposuction, ie neck lift ? what was cost? was it
worth it?
thanks for your time
janice
11/04/02

353/220

By: Britt Arielle

Britt Arielle — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 05:00:18 +0000

hi Jeff
As I move toward surgery (August) I find my thinking about food has
changed.
The day I walked out of the surgeon’s office I made a decision. I went
shopping. I bought organic wholesome foods. I bought foods based on
their nutritional value, based on what good they would do my body. (Not
my mind which says: “eat the cream buns, ooh what about chippies and
dips .. yum lookit that Pavlova, go gettim girlie” .. )
I cannot thank the person enough who posted here saying “If it isn’t
good -I wont eat it” ..I’m worthy of the best, and once I have WLS I
will only eat the best because its what my body will require following
the op. So now I am eating perhaps too much still, (quanitities have
always been my problem - I’m an over eater) but I figure I am at least
eating wholesome health giving foods. And I must say, I feel incredibly
smug for my efforts *grin*

My thoughts still revolve around food. I cant quit a lifetime habit. My
days are still “mm yum its nearly lunchtime” (in fact THAT is worse now
I am eating beautiful food instead of any old crap I can lay my chubby
fingers on!!) today I have a stuffed panini for lunch .. feta, pesto,
capsicum, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, red onion and avocado. For brekkie I
will have a vegetable juice - am hooked on them .. 2 carrots, 2 apples
and 1 lemon with a slice of fresh ginger thrown in .. delish! Dinner
tonight is home made vegetable soup with soya / linseed bread -
unbuttered because this bread is so soft I can still enjoy the taste and
sensation without the butter.
See? I’ve got this day’s eating mapped out. I cant quit thinking about
food. I LOVE food. I’m a chef by trade - it stands to reason (doh!) but
I now derive MUCHO satisfaction from planning GOOD meals and from
enjoying tastes, enjoying textures, and strangly - even enjoying
knowing, as I eat the meal, that I am doing my body some good ..
finally.
Gosh what a ramble, sorry .. I just wanted to say I know what you meant
in your email *grin* What I am doing now is an important part of the
journey for me - this discovery phase. Testing myself perhaps, prior to
surgery, I dunno really. I always thought I’d be one who ate nothing but
junk (like a last supper type thing) til surgery but something inside me
woke up and I realised I was doing this because I want to be healthy.
Plain and simple.
And of course - as an added bonus - I am bound to lose weight simply
because its good grub not fatty junk!
Good luck!
Joan