once in a while foods

Perhaps in addition to "once in a while," everyday," and "sometimes" foods, I should include a category for "trigger" foods.  I have a list of those, too.   And I do better if I just stay away from them because I find it very hard to keep them in the"once in a while" category.

It's peculiar how some of us have trigger foods.  I cannot eat mashed potatoes.  They were my absolute favorite pre-op and I know that if I ate them now, especially since they would go down so easily, I need to just stay away from them.  However, I did have them once at my mother-in-law's house because it was one of the only things she serving that I could eat.  I also had green beans that day.  Not much protein in that meal!  I only took a little of the mashed potatoes and I felt like I was still hungry when I was finished, but I wouldn't let myself have any more, as much as I wanted it.   I had a healthy snack with protein later on my way home.  Now I always bring a Quest bar with me when I go to someone's house just in case there's nothing there I would care to eat.

I've been thinking along these lines also. Since I am type II diabetic my thinking follows the diabetic diet and limitations.  I think it is an excellent nutritional plan for everyone and it focuses on portion size which many weight challenged people don't follow.  Even though I'm off my insulin and all meds, I am a diabetic.  Rather than think, "I can't have this or that", I plan meals and grocery shopping on what I can have and develop recipes around that.  The WLS guidelines of 1 cup quantities for a meal is really good for me and I have come to love it.  I would not have thought that before surgery.  We have saved so much money at restaurants and on groceries, not to forget medicine.  OMG, I've saved thousands of $$$$ on insulin in 18 months.  

I agree that a "diet Mentality" is guaranteed to fail...for me at least.  This journey is a mental exercise; common sense, honesty , and a continuous conversation with myself.  I know of too many failures, in my local community, that I can't let myself down by getting sloppy with bad decisions.  It is up to everyone to set limits and understand their weaknesses.   

  Many of us have genetic factors, chemical imbalances, hormone imbalance, medicines that slow our metabolism.   So to a certain degree​ it isn't going be detrimental to have a small portion of cake or ice cream but it should be with total understanding that it might backfire if it becomes a habit.  

Which brings up a pet peeve I have when a patient of 4 to 6 weeks posts "when can I start eating normally again?"  I think to myself...What have you learned?  This surgery is giving us a second chance.  Why sabotage it?  There is a lot of information online about metabolism.  It is everyone's responsibility to spend the time to learn and figure out what your system can or cannot tolerate.  We aren't all equal in that department.  I'm not disagreeing with Kelly, I'm just saying that if and when you decide to veer from a successful plan you need to have reasonable limits.  

Sorry about the bold type...I can't turn it off.  :-(

I would be hesitant to veer from a successful plan, too.  My plan of allowing occasional treats has been successful for me, so far.  But if it stops being successful, then I will certainly re-evaluate.

Another thing for me to consider too now is my pouch won't  let me eat all I use to eat in one setting prior to the surgery.  So now maybe I can just have a small portion of something and move on!!  I guess time will tell!!

That's how I think of things too. I've long since abandoned the "never's." 

I didn't even START with any "never"s... knew it wouldn't work for me, so I just HAD to find a way to make moderation and healthy choices work.

Lora

I think you capture my view of it all really well here.   I stick to everyday foods...well, every day!!   And for the most part even if I'm out at a restaurant or a party, I'll try to find the everyday foods and go to them.  But Its okay to mix in the sometimes foods ....perhaps a food that is still protein based but a little more caloric or carb filled than an everyday food.   And once in a while its okay to try that piece of cake or cookie and then move on.   

Personally, cake KILLS me.   Even a few bites and I'm sick as can be.   I went to a retirement party at work today and it was really easy to just sip water and say no to the cake, because the lovely taste would do me in within 15 minutes.   But I don't think its so bad if I go for an occasional NSA frozen yogurt with some toppings on them.   As long as I don't make it a daily thing.   

That's another thing: I don't dump.  Not that I've ever tested my limits.  I haven't, so I don't know for sure how much sugar I could actually take.  Theoretically, however, I could eat a bag of chocolates and not get sick.  So for me, it's best to avoid that stuff altogether.

However, I will have a teeny bite of a cookie when my husband buys a couple of them on occasion.  I get my tiny bite, he eats what's left.  All gone: out of sight, out of mind!  :)

You know it's a good post when the response goes on to more than one page...I read every single reply and I have absolutely no idea what to think.  Three months out, I am not hungry and pass up temptations easily.  I get a brain freeze trying to guess how I should vs how I will handle food temptations when the time comes (veterans make it very clear, the time will come).  I understand so many different points of view.  Why is it so confusing?