Confessions of The Goat Girl.

(Still pre-op, still following doctor's pre-surgery diet to a T although I haven't lost an ounce yet... grumble... but isn't that why we have the surgery in the first place, because we can't lose weight? I think I will do more aerobics tonight!!!)

I am addicted to hot sauce and I eat it on everything. No, seriously, everything. I dump it over my vegetables too. At the office Crimmus party, I shamed myself by dipping tater chips in it. Then I ate a handful of chili crickets on a dare in front of the CEO. (Yes. I'm sorry, society. I have failed you) I'm doing the 3 oz. of chicken thing at meals, and that chicken just isn't gonna go down without a couple tablespoons of Sriracha on it. Can of tuna or sardines? Louisiana is my choice. But that's how I usually eat anyway - all my food is usually slathered in something burny. I have managed to keep my mitts out of the curry, no "Flamin' Hot" Cheetos and all that, but I just can't imagine eating... bland... white... chicken.

I plan to ask my surgeon on the 27th, is this going to be a problem - but I wanted to hear from y'all as well. Do I need to bequeath my hot sauce collection and quart jars of spices (oh how I wish I was lying) to my brother and his own goatlike stomach? I know that we're supposed to be learning a new way of eating... and y'all, I have come SO FAR what with the quitting of the soda and the no carbs and the veggies and protein shake thing... but... d'ya think I'm gonna have to give up my hot sauce too?

THIS IS PART OF MY IDENTITY AS A GINORMOUS FAT PERSON AND HUMAN GOAT CREATURE/WILL EAT ANYTHING ON A DARE GIRL. I'M HAVING A CRISIS, HERE.

I'm no expert - but I would say, yes you will most likely need to give it up or at LEAST tone it down. It's not uncommon for people to have problems with acid reflux after surgery and I would imagine hot/spicy foods would not help. Plus, when your stomach is healing post-op... I can't imagine it will enjoy sauces and spices that are hot!

I would also imagine that hot sauce has a lot of sodium in it too, so that's something to consider. 

I would also speak to your surgeon about how you've been following the "pre-surgery diet to a T although I haven't lost an ounce yet" - that doesn't seem to be normal. How long have you been following it? Is it still early out? Are you weighing/measuring everything you are eating and tracking calories, protein, and carbs?

I'm going to mention how the pre surgery diet doesn't seem to be doing anything. BUT... it's only been a week, so maybe I'm impatient? I've got 3 more weeks to go before D-Day. The calorie count is 1200. I weigh and measure EVERYTHING. I have a digital food scale, measuring cups etc. so I know exactly how much I'm getting in. I purged my house of junk food YEARS ago, so there are no "nibbles" in between meals. I don't have a problem with snacking at work or anything, at least outside of the holidays when we do all the parties. I'm actually rather proud of myself for reining in any holiday weight gain - gained about 3 pounds - still better than 20!

I track all my calorie counts on Fitday. I guess if I have to lose a certain amount of weight, it could push my surgery date out if this is a requirement. But yeah. I'm mentioning it. "Hi, doc. Welcome to my life. Remember when I said in the consult that I dieted and would not lose an ounce? This is it, this is my problem. This is why I originally asked for a DS. You laughed, thinking that it was just me unable to keep my hands out of the donut box and that I'd be fine with a VSG. No. This is me sticking to my diet not losing an ounce for months at a time."

Hopefully, this doesn't kill my chance at getting WLS in February! And I still have hope that if I'm able to drop my calories SUPER SUPER low like below 500/day for a long time post-VSG I'll be able to start losing some weight.

I figured I'd have to stop the hot sauce for a while, at least while my stomach is healing. The hot sauce/curry won't be an issue for at least 6-8 weeks. After that, I'm not sure. I'll be disappointed if I could never have it again. But, I know I can live without. A long time ago I gave up sandwiches, spaghetti, pizza, cake, cookies and fried chicken, so this is just one more thing.

I am 18 mo post surgery... I say "keep" .. maybe right at first tone it down as your stomach will be healing. But I really have no issues w/ hot stuff. (and I had GERD pre-surgery)

 

Did your GERD resolve following surgery? I really hope I'm one of those who doesn't have GERD issues post-sleeve. I've heard it's a thing.

I currently get GERD, but ONLY when I eat/drink the wrong things or in the wrong amounts. If I stay away from very rich chocolate cake, for instance, and pizza, and spaghetti, and such foods - which I have no business touching in the first place because they're much too carby/starchy - the GERD isn't an issue at all. I've suspected I have a bit of a wheat allergy since wheat seems to trigger heartburn and reflux for me. That probably won't change post-surgery, which gives me all that much more reason (in addition to weight gain) to avoid white flour.

I have not had any GERD issues since VSG..... So I would say it was resolved post surgery for me.

You will be fine with hot sauce. You may want to wait until you get the green light on full foods but I have been eating spicy stuff since I got to full foods. The capscacin from the hot peppers is really good for weight loss. In fact there are not many things I make that do not have jalapeno, or thai chilis, sriracha, or cayenne in it.

You may want to lay off the crickets though. They might have some protein but their carcass has an unknown carb count. Goat on the other hand is a great source of protein!

The crickets were a bit of fun at a party... but not a regular thing. Someone brought them in and a few of us had to show everybody how tough we are. I don't imagine they'd work well with a sleeve!

I had some reflux and heartburn issues for the first few months after surgery, but 6 months out spicy foods don't bother me any more. You might have to take a break, but it won't be forever!

 

That's good to hear. I have had some reflux, but only when I ate things that I had no business eating in the first place. I plan to slowly introduce spice down the line once my tummy is healed up.