Pig Feet and Ham Hocks

Has anyone tried these items besides me?  They went down smooth.  I did not get sick at all.  Still lost 5lbs this week.  What others foods can I eat?  Soul food is so good!

(Picks jaw back up off floor)

Ok...so...yes soul food is good. And every Thanksgiving I have my little portion of chitterlings.

I just want to make sure you know these are not great foods for general consumption though. They are mainly fat and the very worst kind for your heart (which still needs care even though we are losing weight). Pig feet, ham hocks, fat back, chitterlings...are all saturated fat. While in the beginning of surgery your system doesn't absorb that fat well, in time it will. So best to knock those foods down to moderation.

Also all are cured pork which means they are higher in sodium, which might hinder your weight loss through fluid retention (and it sort of makes your blood pressure...um...bad).

So in summary I'd say so long as you aren't eating these things often, it's fine to have them as a treat on occasion. But you should be learning to eat lean sources of protein (lean chicken, beef, fish, lean cuts of pork, etc.), complex carbs (whole grains, veggies, etc.), drinking plenty of water and taking your vitamins!

I am very good at cooking both pig feet and ham hocks.  Yes, I tolerate both well.  No problems encountered.  However, as mentioned, they are high in saturated fat.  So, I prepare ham hocks only on special ocassions.  I add smoked ham hocks to greens. 

I slow cook the ham hock in a crock pot.  Then, when tender, I add them to the cooked greens and turnips.  I never pour the cooked ham hock greasy water into my greens pot.

i dont eat pig feet BUT I do eat chitlins on new years and neck bones every black moon. I tolerate it pretty well too.

How long did it take you to lose all that weight, and did you stick to the 3 ounces? I am 6 weeks out and I lost 50lbs already, but still want to eat?  Had you tried fried fish like perch or whitting? How much could you eat?

I lost all my weight in 6 months. I don't weigh my food. I stick to cubes of meat. Fish I can do like 4 to 6 cubes. I also do fried fish but I mainly grill it with some type of sauce.

It's pretty  normal to still want to eat after surgery. Not everyone gets the super small stomach and loses their appetite unfortunately.

But the foods you listed...they are not going to serve you well in the long term. In time you'll be able to have that stuff in moderation (meaning every once in a while) but while you are losing, you really should learn some better food choices and a better way to prepare foods. Because eventually your body will be able to absorb all that fat and chances are you will regain your weight if you eat mainly fried and fatty foods.

I love grilled fish (especially spicy) and grilling it with the skin on keeps it crispy which is almost like fried.

Diva is a special case as she has a very small pouch capacity. At six weeks out most people can eat a few ounces at a time (I've seen some people able to eat at least a half a cup of food, some more, some less).

Your surgeon should have guidelines on how much food you should be eating. Right now, though, you need to focus on PROTEIN. When you deep fry a good protein source like fi**** stops being a good protein source and ends up mainly being a source of fat. So what do you like/know how to cook that isn't fried or fatty? Once you identify that you can build on it to create other food choices.

Thank you, I thought everyone had the same 3 once pouch capacity.  What about soups, I love soups and I can eat about a half of cup minus the solids in their meat, potaoto,etc.  How much of the grill fish you eat?  Plus, I have no problem getting my protein with the shakes.  Do you excercise and how much?