Question:
Has anyone been successful despite not having a real sugar/starch intolerance?

Hi: I feel that I dont have a full sugar/starches intolerance. By that I mean I can eat a slice of white bread without feeling sick. I have no problem with wheat breads. I can eat an occasional small piece or bite of candy and I have never dumped. While I am thankful to have never dumped, and have purposely not pigged out as to avoid it, I worry that without a strong sugar intolerance my old eating habits will come back. AFter all they do the bypass part to make you intolerant to sugar to force you to develop new eating habits. Please let me know what you think. Have any of you been successful despite not having a real sugar intolerance. Also, I have had alcohol on 3 occasions. I was warned that I would get drunk really fast and to be careful. The truth is I cant even get a buzz. This also makes me feel that I dont have a real sugar intolerance. Has anyone else had this experience with alcohol? Thanks! Maryann 275/220/140    — MaryannC (posted on February 25, 2004)

February 25, 2004
I dont dump either. I can eat anything. I dont think that is a bad thing. I dont want to eat large amounts of food anymore. I eat my protien first then good carbs and veggies. If I have a little room left I might eat a piece of candy or one cookie once in a while. I think if we keep our portions small it is ok. By small I mean 1 cookie or 1 small ice cream bar, or 1 0r 2 pieces of candy. Pre op 1 cookie or 1 or 2 pieces of candy was just a start, now it satisfies me. If i eat cake it is only 2 or 3 bites, just enough to get the taste of yhe cake. All carbs are not evil. I eat 1 or 2 slices of sara lee low carb bread, sometiimes some potatoes, or pasta.
   — bransonboy

February 25, 2004
Would you dump from bread? A bite of candy won't make anyone dump. I think you misunderstand dumping. It is to prevent you from eating 10 cookies, not one. If I ate 10 cookies I'd probably dump. Dumping teaches you moderation. The people who are unsuccessful are the ones who don't exercise.
   — mrsmyranow

February 25, 2004
I don't dump either. Things like convenience-store cappucino or things with alot of sugar (like peanut brittle) give me diahrrea, but other than that I can eat just about anything. Like a previous poster said, it's really about quantity for me. Instead of eating a whole bag of M&M's, I just eat like 5 or 6 M&M's and that's enough. I have lost 121 pounds so far in 6 1/2 months, so I don't think it has hindered me. Regardless of stomach size, it's still about choices, and you have to choose not to have a milkshake or chocolate bar. It's still hard! :)
   — beeda

February 25, 2004
Lots of post-ops never dump. I don't. There are "degrees" of dumping, too. Some people get the whole nine yards - shakes, sweating, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, and others just get parts of these. I agree with the other posters, it's much easier to control my sugar/carb intake than it was as a pre-op. I can be very satisfied with one bite of a cookie, or one Hershey's kiss, etc. One thing I've found is that when I do eat these things, they "sit" better in the pouch if I've already eaten other food. I treat these things like a dessert now. Eating them on an empty stomach isn't the best way for me. As for the alcohol, I'm not sure why you didn't get any buzz from it. I've had wine on a few occasions, and I can only drink a very small amount before "feeling" it. I usually ice it down real well, and eat some pretzels along with it. Lap RNY 9/11/03, 254/185/???
   — Carlita

February 25, 2004
Maryann like you I do not dump either. I did not experiment with sugar my first year postop but at about 14 months postop I started eating things with sugar and have sense out I have no side effects whatsoever with eating sweets. I can eat a candy bar or a glazed doughnut without side effects, boo hoo !! That makes me cry. I try not to have tempting foods like that in the house but it's real hard sense >>> hubby likes chips and candy bars. I just have to restrain myself from getting into his little dresser drawer where I put his treats. When I have a temptation like that I try to go outside an walk or start ( spring cleaning ) something in the house to distract me. Also sucking on a menthol cough drop in weak moments will deterred you from wanting to eat something sweet as it will not taste as good and be delicious as before. Basically you would not get the enjoyment out of eating it. I'm going on 2 yrs. postop. 230 >> -100 >>> Wt. now is 130. Regarding alcohol I drink real slow and try not to have another to soon. I can get a buzz on 3 mixed drinks in a 4 hr. time and that was with eating too.
   — charanewme

February 25, 2004
I'm almost three years post op, and got hooked on candy AGAIN during the holidays. I just can't stop the sweets even though my heart races from the sugar. I have gained four pounds that I can't seem to get rid of. As far as the Alkie, I usually have a Grasshopper every few years. Heck, I had them make it weak and I was warm after three small swallows! I've had around four since wls not weak ones ether (in three years time so I don't drink often). And honest, I don't get groggy, sleepy or a buzz. NATA! In my case I like the mint flavor not the alkie. But still, nothing happens when I drink now. Weird. My so called father was a drunkard. So I seldom drink as I never want to be like he was. HOWEVER, if I did'nt have this deep conviction about drinking, (or this memory of meeting him when I was four with all the foam in his mouth from booze) I could be in real trouble with not getting any buzz. Be careful, ok? IF we have any predispostion toward alcholizim, we COULD be in REAL DANGER. ;)
   — Danmark

February 26, 2004
An interesting question...and a tough situation that only you can deal with. I applaud you for addressing these issues and knowing were you might have problems. This way, they are 'outed' and you can adapt behaviors to address the potential problems. YOU have to make the mind shift and not eat the foods that you shouldn't. The surgery isn't performed to give you dumping syndrome. It's just a 'nice' side effect that SOME people get from the mal-absorption portion of the surgery. (the re-routing of your intestines)I too have no problems with carb dumping. Sugars, I can really push the limits. I've still succeeded. Re Myra's comment about exercise, contrary to her statement about the only people who fail are the people who don't exercise... Honey, if obesity and this surgery could be that simple, we wouldn't need a discussion/support board. And, I've got some shocking news for you...I don't exercise. Am I a failure? NOPE. In fact, I need to STOP loosing weight at this point. So, while I understand your basic point about exercise, you can not negate the fact that eating and emotions must be dealt with immediately. You can exercise all you want, if you still go home and sugar and carb load, you're NOT going to loose weight. Sorry.
   — LMCLILLY

February 26, 2004
I don't dump on sugar per se'...but, if I eat too much candy I do get that kind of "buzzed" feeling...lol..I kind of like it...lol. Seriously, the only thing I dump on is Dairy products. I was never a big bread fan to begin with, so it is just somethign I stay away from, as far as starches like potatoe and pasta, I never dumped, but they made me feel bad...kind of lethargic and bloated. Now, alcohol...totally different story...no dumping, but a couple of sips and I'm looped...lol. Good luck to you
   — Danielle M.

February 26, 2004
This is one of those realities that makes you appreciate that well-worn, but very true, phrase: "The pouch is just a tool."<P>Many people never dump on sugar (I wouldn't expect to see dumping from white bread). Like Lisa C. said below, they don't do the bypass part to force you to "dump" and develop new eating habits. In fact, "dumping" is not done by a large portion of the RNY population (I've seen it reported as high as 30 percent are non-dumpers, but don't know the source of that.) The bypass is actually designed to help us malabsorb fat (and the cost is, we also malabsorb protein, calcium, iron, and B-12, among other things; that's why we supplement for that stuff, it's part of the price of not absorbing all the fat we eat anymore).<P>Yes, many people have difficulty succeeding because they find ways to eat around the surgery. Eating (or drinking) sugary foods is one way to do it; grazing all day is another. The surgery is not a cure for those things. The pouch really IS just a tool. Fill it up with dense protein foods (even fats ... I'll chose a sugar-free, relatively fatty snack over a fat-free, sugary one, 'cause it works better with my tool).<P>If we don't use the tool right ... and keep on hitting the sugar or grazing, once we learn that we can ... then we do risk failure.
   — Suzy C.

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