Met with the Social Worker today

Hi Kristie

I am almost identical to the carboholic you used to be - I can identify with your carb choices for each meal - that is SO me! Same with the cheese. Why do you no longer eat cheese - can we not have it after surgery? Sorry, a lot of this is new to me. Actually, my husband really doesn't eat bread too often, now that I really think about it. He cut way back on bread and dairy products to try to lose weight. Right now, I'm just going to try to eat half the amount I've been eating, just as you did - I know that I am just not ready to go cold-turkey on the bread yet. One change at a time to start with. Thanks for sharing your tips with me, Kristie!

Deb

Hey Deb;

We can have cheese post-op, but it is best to have the 'light' cheese with less fat and of course we can only eat a small bit anyway.  It does sit a bit heavy in my pouch even though I chew, chew, chew.

The reason I stopped buying it pre-op was because I just couldn't say no.  Out of sight and out of mind.  If it was in the house while I was Optifast I don't think I would have had the will power to say no.

Take care,
Kristie

Thanks Kristie - that's good to know that we can still eat cheese - I would really hate to have to give that up completely! Yep, there will be a few things (cheese included) that I will have to clear out of the house also once I'm on the Optifast or I will be too tempted to have "just a little taste".

Deb

Hey Deb,

Bread is my nemesis as well!!!

well...and cookies but thats a whole other story ;) 

When I read your sentence I don't think that will work yet as my husband still likes to eat bread once in a while  I see a problem there already. Now, dont take offense at this because I certainly mean it only in the sense of being helpful - its something I had to really work to struggle through the guilt issues of it all but what I have learned...or rather whan I am 'learning' is that - YOU are not responsible for your husband/children/parents/anyone else. If he wants to eat bread, then let him go buy a sandwich. If the freezer thing works, then great....but try not to get it in your head that this "might not work" because you are already leaving yourself an opening to allow failure instead of creating an enviroment for success. If bread is a trigger food for you, then I would suggest to just NOT have it in the house at all. Think of it this way; if you were FATALLY allergic to something, would you still keep it around just because someone else migth want it-even though it could kill you?

Not likey.

Good luck and kudos to you for beginning your journey BEFORE surgery too! I am hoping this will be a key to success for us! Why didnt we do this years ago??? ;)

I absolutely loved bread before surgery, but 4 months out I still can't eat it - even crackers make me feel sick.  I have tried tortillas and I'm ok with them.  I'm actually very glad I can't eat bread because I loved it.  These new artisan breads in the stores are looking pretty good to me too lol.  I'm very surprised that I can't eat some things and my tastes have changed too.

Hi Sue,

So, eating bread/crackers makes you sick, huh? Boy, that's strange - is this a common occurrence amongst people who've had WLS? I wonder if your pouch will tolerate it better as time passes? So much to learn about with this process.......

Deb

I know a few who can't eat bread - but it would be too many carbs anyway - so it's probably a good thing.

Hi Jennifer

Believe me, I take no offense at all with your words - I know where you're coming from and I appreciate hearing your advice on the situation.  I agree - I can only be responsible for myself and not my husband. As far as not having bread in the house goes, well, that will likely be my eventual goal, but I'd be kidding myself and you if I said that I'm going to get rid of it all this weekend. Trust me, I'd be out there buying it on Monday if I did that! No, I have to work towards that goal in smaller steps, not cold turkey. That's why I wanted to start these lifestyle changes now, to allow myself time to get used to the changes, before my surgery happens.

You're so right- we should have done all this years ago! Ah well, just lok at how smart we are now, right? Good luck to you also Jennifer, on your own journey! 

Deb 

I think it's artificial to say - No bread in the house. Certainly not if you have others living with you. You need to decide if you want to be successful and develop the will power to see bread and not eat it - or if you do eat some- just the right amount and as a part of a balanced diet. I had this surgery so I would not be constantly on a diet. I have a new way of eating. For example - in my fridge is a bar of dark chocolate. It's been there for months. Every now and again, I have some. I also have wine gums in the house- I eat them as a treat. In the past, I'd eat a bag in an evening. Now I have 7 or 8 and that's enough. Extremes are very hard to stick to - so NO Bread ever, is likely to lead to failure, in my opinion.


My approach to eating post WLS might not suit everyone, but it's working for me. I eat bread, crackers and cheese every day. Small amounts of the first two and normal amounts of full fat cheese. Cheese is a good source of protein, and calcium. We need fat in our diets, we are told our food intake should be balanced - 40% Protein/ 30%Carbs /30%fats.

Hi Louise

Like you, I feel that it's unrealistic to declare bread "forbidden". In the past I've found that the fastest way to make me crave something is to tell me that I can't have any of it, however small the amount. Well, of course I want it even more when I hear that! I can be quite happy and satisfied with just a "taste" of it - a spoonful of ice cream instead of a whole bowl of it. I make sure to take one portion, then put the rest away and sit down and enjoy my serving. I'm glad that you mentioned the ratio for our food intake - that's something I was wondering about. Thanks for your input on this, Louise.

Deb