Question:
What foods can you eat? Are you hungry?
I heard that your still hungry and that its hard to lose weight, is this true? Also what foods do you eat? — Patricia C. (posted on August 27, 2000)
August 26, 2000
Hi. It's probably easier to put what I don't eat: Beef (until a year
post-op), citrus juices/fruit, sweets of any kind (as advised by my dr,
plus I'm deathly afraid of dumping), caffeine and carbonated
drinks...period.
I do still indulge in a lunch sized bag of cheetos a day or two before my
period...and that usually signals that I'm about to start *s*
If I eat high protein foods and stay away from fatty carbs (cheetos) AND
drink my water...I fill up really, really fast
— Lucky B.
August 27, 2000
In the 5 weeks since I've had the surgery, I have only been truly
physically hungry twice. This is when I was out shopping and hadn't eaten
in several hours. The physical hunger isn't nearly as painful now and the
head hunger is not as constant. In fact, I recently purchased a sugar free
candy bar and forgot I had it...and believe me, I'm not one to lose
chocolate!
— Allie B.
August 27, 2000
I am 9 weeks Post Op, down 53 pounds and really don't ever get a 'hungry'
feeling. I get slightly nausious(?)about 3 hours after eating. This is my
signal that I need to eat. I have never dumped, but have learned that I
need to plan my food intake for a day to make sure I am getting my protein
in and that I have things with me to eat that set well. I have found that
fats and sugars will just make me feel a bit queazy while 'healthy' kinds
of foods just let me go on about my day. Good luck. Jill
— Jill C.
August 27, 2000
I eat pretty much everything I want except some milk products (because of
lactose intolerance) and sugar (because it's too easy for me to get in bad
habits again with surgar). I especially love steak with mushrooms and A-1
sauce. I get hungry every few hours or so and then I know its time to have
a meal or a snack. I get hungry, I eat a little something and the hunger
goes away until my body needs nourishment again. I'm not sure what you
mean by "hard to lose weight." Do you mean hard like it was
during dieting? I don't think it's anywhere near as difficult as dieting.
There's no sense of starving to death like I always had with dieting. I've
had trouble working through some plateaus but overall the weight has come
off pretty easily (so far). I've heard it comes off slower the closer you
get to goal (as it does any time you lose weight).
— Kellie L.
August 27, 2000
I do not have hunger like I use to. Its different. Its not as noticeable
for me. I am struggling right now with having no appetitie at all. Losing
weight is going to happen, period. How much and how fast depends on whether
you are following doctors orders and walking and drinking water and doing
making the lifestyle cahnges that are required. I am sure there are some
exceptions and some do not lose weight but they are few are far between. I
do not eat sugar, or high fat foods. I try to stay at 2oz to 4 oz of food
per meal, some times I am full, some times I am not, but most of the time I
am satisfied. It is satisfying to me to know that I do not have to stuff my
self and that I am doing something good for my body by eating healthy
foods. Excercise is the other other must do. Your food choices will change
as you progress from your surgery date. The beginning is always the most
restrictive. Good Luck. Trina
— Courtrina Amur W.
August 27, 2000
hard to lose weight--hungry--what foods do you eat> I'm 41/2 months post
op & have lost 98#. I do get hungry sometimes now, for several months I
really didn't. Now, when I'm hungry, I know I should eat something &
do. Often times a small amount, like 11/2 chicken tenders, is all I want.
However, the hunger I feel now is different than what I felt pre op. This
hunger has no emotional component or craving to it. I don't crave
"bad" things. I could sit for hours with a candy bar in front of
me & not be seriously tempted to eat it. That would NEVER have happened
before. I can eat just about any food I want most of the time. I have not
dumped ever. I have eaten some sugar--eg I had a small piece of cheesecake
with cherry topping once at a special event. It gave me no trouble, but I
know I can't eat like that normally & have no desire to, either. I eat
hamburger, steak, chicken (as long as it's not DRY), fish, seafood, eggs,
cheese, nachos, vegetables, salads, beans, nuts, very little pasta, rice,
bread or sugar. Sometimes I have trouble eating, so I drink a protein drink
instead. I haven't ever been truly hungry & unable to eat. Is it hard
to lose weight? HAH! I know some people have sabotaged their surgery &
gained weight, but I, personally, think they must put a fair amount of
effort into it! I think the only way I could gain weight would be to
intentionally try to. I would have to eat constantly (graze), which would
probably make me sick. Believe me, this is NOT like being on a diet. This
is a total change in how you eat. I do my part because I want this to be a
success. I walk on a treadmill, I exercise, & I try to eat what I
should. I take my vitamins & supplements & I have my blood tests
done as the Dr directs. I'm now smaller than I have been in 15 years &
have almost 100# left to go. I feel great & would do this again for
twice the money & triple the discomfort! I had open rny distal April
13th.
— Kathy W.
August 27, 2000
I can eat just about anything except sugar. I avoid fried foods also, but
will occasionally have a little. Of course, you will get hungry at
appropriate times (when it's time for a meal). This is natural and is how
the body is meant to work. Usually, while recovering from surgery, people
will find that they don't get hungry like they used to before surgery.
When you eat, you will find that you fill up quickly on a small amount of
food. As far as it being hard to lose weight, I can't imagine any other
weight loss process being easier than this. But, it is a tool. There are
ways to defeat the surgery if you are determined to do so. But, I don't
think people go through this major surgery without being committed to
following doctor's instructions.
— Gina E.
August 28, 2000
One of the things that amazed me was that I did not WANT to eat anything
for the first two weeks. I am now 8 weeks post (open RNY) and still mostly
eat because the clock says it is time. I am now cleared to try any food, I
have learned to try a few bites and wait for 20 minutes or so to be sure
that it is going to be a "safe" food. My "safe" food
list grows daily. After getting sick once (either dumping due to too much
suger or just sick for no reason that I can figure out) you will understand
the importance of the "safe" list, especially if you need to go
back to work.
I hope this helps and Good Luck!
— Andrea P.
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