Help! Do U have to Give Up Beef?

My husband's WLS date was changed to Aug 23. He is saying he is NOT going to do it. He actually has said yes, no, yes, no. I don't want to make this total lifestyle change. I Do not want to go through life never eating sugar, beef, pasta or bread ever again. Is this true. Can you NEVER have beef again??? Help, I have cried a million tears over this. A Desperate Wife Who loves her husband Paul, Debbie

Who said he cant have beef??? Never heard of that before....

I'm 3 months (a little over actually) out and have had ground beef, some bread, pasta, and a bite or two of sugar. I don't make a habit of any of these things, but I think moderation is the key. I can't have steak for at least 6 months though. I've heard its' hard to digest. give him a little room to think about things, and maybe he'll change his mind. This is a decision he'll have to make for himself. No one else can do it for him. Best of luck to you both, Take care, Ashleigh

Yes, you can have beef.

I eat ground beef all of the time - chili, hamburgers with cheese (not fast food), etc. I have only had a couple bites of steak so far. I eat very much like what I ate before surgery (healthy stuff I mean, chicken, turkey, etc.), but I am one of the lucky ones. A lot of people find they don't tolerate certain foods. I have eaten a bread stick here and there, I eat a couple crackers with my lunch every now and then. I don't eat sandwiches, but I do eat wraps. If you aren't committed to everything that goes along with surgery, don't do it, but I can tell you that I definitely do NOT regret doing it. Life is SOooo wonderful with 100 pounds off. J.J. Lap RNY 12/21/04 311(HW)/280(SW)/185(CW)/164(GW) No complications, very happy!

You can have beef! I was eating chili at four weeks out. And I was told I could eat bread...but it was recommended that I pick more nutritious grain breads and toast the slices well-done and eat a half/slice. As for pasta, my nutritionist recommends the brand called "Barilla" and said to get their "Barilla-Plus" kind. It comes as spaghetti, elbows and the little curly type that I can't recall the name of. It's all fortified with the good things we're all supposed to be getting. It was also suggested that we switch our plates to put the sauce down first and then use the pasta as a topping on the sauce. It works for me and satisfies my pasta cravings. Best wishes, BS

Tell Paul to send me an e-mail, and I'll set him straight. Beef is no problem. All kinds of dense proteins are on the list. I had a big lunch today, with shredded beef omlettes, rolled up and served like little enchiladas, with cheese and sauce and beans. It was a killer, manly-man lunch. I will probably grill up shrimp and steak kabobs tonight and have them with roasted corn on the cob, veggies, and feel full enough to be very satisfied, and light enough to go for a walk with my kids and dogs afterwards. He's mourning all the foods he will miss before he even understands what he can and cannot have. Whole grains are on the menu, but in moderation, and will slow down WL, but they don't have to go away entirely. It's all about making good choices. Starting with the choice to go through with it. It's worth it. For YOUR sake.

Debbie, I was able to enjoy ground beef Early on, and now have steak, pot roast, etc... With no problems. Same with bread and pasta. But, It doesn't sound like Beef Or other food items Is the problem for Paul. Love Him, Love Him, Love Him, But you can't make this decision For Him. It is a Complete Lifestyle change. Those of us who have made that change I think would Say- "YaHoooooo! Thank Heavens!" But if fear of the "unknown" Is keeping him from it, That is something HE will have to Overcome. Make sure he's "getting" the clear signal That your support is just that- Support. If it feels like even the slightest Push or Pull, his desire for control over his own life Will Manifest as Resistance. Best Wishes- Dx

Debbie, My husband had surgery on 8-16-04 and he has lost 230 pounds in the past year. He eats steak, porkchops, chicken, hamburger, you name it, he can eat it. Not at first of course but over time. Things he still can not tolerate are pasta and rice. They tend to become gummy on the way down and get stuck. He doesn't eat much bread but that is by choice. In the last year he has only gotten sick about 8-10 times on something he ate. Like everyone else has said, use your common sense and eat in moderation. If not you can wind up back where you started from. Kris

I'm three months out tomorrow and I eat beef (had a serloin steak tonight for dinner), pasta and bread....... the main thing is that you HAVE to get the protein in FIRST!!! I had a couple of bites of mashed potatoes tonight too. I cook for my whole family and we all eat it!!! I dont cook seperate for me. We're just eating smarter. Like wheat rice and not white; whole wheat bread, etc... Next week is my birthday and WalMart has sugar free cakes, pies, etc. I plan on buying one. But I'll probably only be able to eat a couple of bites. For me, it's enough to satisfy my craving. Get your husband on this board and have him read a bunch of profiles!!! It's NOT never!!!!! It's temproary and when you eat it again it will be much smaller portion. Good Luck on the WLS journey Laurie 262/191/135