Sugar
Yes, but it depends on whether or not you are someone who dumps. I am 5 years out and I have some kind of less than 100 calorie treat almost every day, and most days it is in the form of chocolate or full sugar, full fat ice cream. It takes a lot of sugar to make me dump (which is more calories than I am willing to consume on a sweet treat), but I do dump. Sugar bothers me less than the sugar alcohols in sugar free items, so I don't eat a lot of things with sugar alcohols. I stick to things with Splenda or real sugar.
I sometimes share a dessert with someone when I am out for dinner (Imust have 2 or 3 bites), I can eat a cupcake with most of the icing removed with no problem, and I can eat the small snack size candy bars without any problem (those are. Usually what I have as my daily treat).
Some people find, though, that even if they don't dump, it is difficult for them to exercise moderation if they eat sweets so they avoid them even though the sugar doesn't make them sick.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Of course you CAN. Whether or not you SHOULD is another question. (*grin*)
About 30% of people who have the RNY dump---so about 70% DON'T. For some people, this is a good thing. Others see it as a bad thing.
The whole dumping thing, and the thought of never being able to eat sweets again totally put me off the idea of the RNY. I decided I wanted a form of WLS that would allow me to keep my pylorus and therefore a fully-functional stomach. If this sounds like a good idea to you, too, look into the VSG/Sleeve and the DS/duodenal switch.
Thats fine if volume was your issue but mine was ice cream and the only surgery that even remotely can help you beat that addiction is rny. If I still ate a Pint of Ben and Jerry's a day I would be MO, and I don't trust my non-altered stomach to be able to do it on its own. I love to believe I have all this super human willpower but I don't, I get sick and that stops me dead in my tracks. There is a reason that the chocolate covered cherry chip cake balls I made for Christmas are still in the fridge, it's because my fat ass can't eat them all in a day like I would have MO. My personal opinion is in the later rounds the people with VSG's are gonna struggle, they better adopt perfect eating habits early on and keep them or it's probably going to be hard to maintain.
Thats fine if volume was your issue but mine was ice cream and the only surgery that even remotely can help you beat that addiction is rny. If I still ate a Pint of Ben and Jerry's a day I would be MO, and I don't trust my non-altered stomach to be able to do it on its own. I love to believe I have all this super human willpower but I don't, I get sick and that stops me dead in my tracks. There is a reason that the chocolate covered cherry chip cake balls I made for Christmas are still in the fridge, it's because my fat ass can't eat them all in a day like I would have MO. My personal opinion is in the later rounds the people with VSG's are gonna struggle, they better adopt perfect eating habits early on and keep them or it's probably going to be hard to maintain.
I used to be a real sugar **** before surgery, but my DS has actually altered my TASTE for sweets. I can eat all the sugar I want without getting sick, but I no longer WANT nearly as much. So I have to disagree that "the only surgery that even remotely can help you" beat a sugar addiction is RNY. Sorry, Heidi, you're wrong on this one.
Like the other posters said, sure you can..it just may not agree with you.
Alas, I learned early out that I apparently do not dump (although I don't know my threshold, I can tell you I sure tested it over the holiday). My surgeon, who had us on clear liquids for the first week, also had us on 4 caloric clear liquids per day (I opted for full sugar popsicles). I actually wish i DID have an intolerance to sugar. Luckily, I've never been big into sweets so, as long as I stay away from the sugar, the non nutritive sweeteners taste just as good to me.
Sugar is not my friend and I want to stay away from it. Sugar, bad fats and simple carbs got me where I am now and I know I want to give them up. I have put bottles of stevia and coconut oil on top of the back of my stove where they are easy to see and reach. I have my protein powder and flavorings close-by, as well. I have been reading the wonderful blogs that nik and eggface have for good, healthy versions of foods I like. My husband loves things with pasta. I LOVE zucchini. I plan on making sauce for his spaghetti and having mine over some steamed zucchini strips. There is always a way.
One day I was making homemade chicken noodle soup and once the chicken was done and the broth defatted, I divided it into two kettles. I added the noodles to his and to mine, I added kale, garlic, several types of beans and a smaller amount of chicken and it was delicious. I have now done this a couple of times and I love it. I make enough to freeze extra servings.
Blessings, Lynn 
Band to RnY - 3/13/13
I'm like Lora....i dont do well with the sugar free stuff that has the sugar alcohols in them..so i stick to real sugar...but alot less....i make my fresh squeezed home made lemonade with raw sugar, just a tad bit of white sugar and then a stevia/sugar blend....its wonderful...i have found a calyspo lemonade that is made with real lemons and sugar, and it is flavored so now i put some of that in my glass full of ice and then my home made lemonade, to make a southern peach, or a black cherry, or a grape, or strawberry lemonades.... and this is what i drink along with a jug of ice water all day long...i make a 2 quarts of lemonade and it takes me a month to drink it as i dont drink it every day..but for christmas i got a slushie mug and it is great to make slushies in it with my lemonade....so may be drinking more of it...or eating it with a spoon....
i also split desserts with hubby or who ever is getting one..i get a bite or 2, maybe 3, thats it... and i am fine with that, i started doing that before surgery too....i would get a slice of cheese cake from publix the turtle one and it would take me a week to eat it...just a bite at night....
i have some kind of treat daily and i take bites of most anything i want....but my portions have really dropped alot..that is what i was looking for in my surgery..that is what i got....alot of restriciton...but i can have bites of just about anything and everything...i am almost 2 years post, op...lost 100-110 pounds, i allow that 10 pound swing... as it depends on what color undies i have on that day.. lol ha ha...
as far as cakes go..the small cupcake machines or cake pops machines are a great way to go....make those and then just allow yourself to have one..you can have it without frosting...freeze them and just take out 1 or 2 at at time....then y our not tempted to having the whole cake or a HUGE slice of cake....
good luck
debby
