Things I wish I was told to be prepared - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Smittymo · 05-09-2009, 08:39 AM

I am almost a month since my surgery and I have lost 30 pounds and am very happy about that. The thing I am not happy about is I did not expect it to be so hard to go without eating. I guess I knew it would be a big change for me, but for some reason I thought that since I could not eat a lot of food that I would not miss eating. Boy was I wrong. Everyone who had surgery that I read about and spoke too talked about feeling better and so glad they did surgery but I never heard much about the feelings of wanting to eat and missing the flavors of food. Watching my family eat and wishing I could eat it also. I knew it was not a magic pill, but I really thought I would not have such a hard time missing food. It is hard at times and have cried because I missed certain foods.

I did get sick from eating too much of a certain food, guess it was dumping and boy do not want to do that again. Going into week 4 it has gotten easier. Learning what to eat is hard to understand, trial and error. So afriad to eat something bad and get sick I am sticking to soft foods and afraid to try new things.

So just wanted to pass along to pre-ops. This surgery is not the magic pill. You have to work hard to changing life long habits. But I am happy to say that I totally enjoy the wonderful comments on how good I look with 30 pounds gone. I cannot imagine what will happen as more pounds are gone. I am so happy that I can do stairs without dieing to catch my breath, being able to bend over and touch my toes...little things mean so much!!

So it is a wonderful thing to help change your life for the better. Yes I would do it again and yes it gets easier. But wanted to pass along what I was feeling. Thinner Times is a wonderful place that allows you to write about what you are feeling. It helps you vent and makes you feel so much better. And all the other wonderful posts to read and help you through the new ways of life.

Ms. Readytobehealthy · 05-09-2009, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smittymo

I am almost a month since my surgery and I have lost 30 pounds and am very happy about that. The thing I am not happy about is I did not expect it to be so hard to go without eating. I guess I knew it would be a big change for me, but for some reason I thought that since I could not eat a lot of food that I would not miss eating. Boy was I wrong. Everyone who had surgery that I read about and spoke too talked about feeling better and so glad they did surgery but I never heard much about the feelings of wanting to eat and missing the flavors of food. Watching my family eat and wishing I could eat it also. I knew it was not a magic pill, but I really thought I would not have such a hard time missing food. It is hard at times and have cried because I missed certain foods.

I did get sick from eating too much of a certain food, guess it was dumping and boy do not want to do that again. Going into week 4 it has gotten easier. Learning what to eat is hard to understand, trial and error. So afriad to eat something bad and get sick I am sticking to soft foods and afraid to try new things.

So just wanted to pass along to pre-ops. This surgery is not the magic pill. You have to work hard to changing life long habits. But I am happy to say that I totally enjoy the wonderful comments on how good I look with 30 pounds gone. I cannot imagine what will happen as more pounds are gone. I am so happy that I can do stairs without dieing to catch my breath, being able to bend over and touch my toes...little things mean so much!!

So it is a wonderful thing to help change your life for the better. Yes I would do it again and yes it gets easier. But wanted to pass along what I was feeling. Thinner Times is a wonderful place that allows you to write about what you are feeling. It helps you vent and makes you feel so much better. And all the other wonderful posts to read and help you through the new ways of life.

Thanks for posting this Smittymo. I am a pre op going through the liquid diet stages now of my diet. This really places a perspective on how things are after surgery. I really never thought about missing eating but that is a reality. Your posting touched me in more ways than one and again THANKS for posting.

mistymee · 05-09-2009, 08:46 AM

I think you should add this to the sticky thread in the pre-op section... it's titled "thinks I wish I'd known" or some such..

Head hunger is talked about quite a bit around here.. it's a big problem for a lot of us, particularly early out.

CrazyElvis · 05-09-2009, 09:01 AM

I guess I'm the exact opposite. I really don't miss anything....I thought I would but the trade off of being 140 pounds lighter 6 months after my surgery is a much better feeling than thinking I might want a foot long subway sandwich.

Are there times I think something looks good.....Yes.....but you know what I do......I have a little tiny bit of whatever that is. Tiny bit!

Personally I feel if you exclude yourself from pataking in those foods you'll be miserable.

What I think you need to do is change your thinking from "I wish I could have this or that" to "Do I really need that" or "Is that food REALLY going to make me happy?"

Smittymo · 05-09-2009, 09:06 AM

I am not sure how to do sitcky mistymee. Can you pass along how to do it.

mistymee · 05-09-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smittymo

I am not sure how to do sitcky mistymee. Can you pass along how to do it.

You can't do a sticky.. there is already a sticky post with the subject I mentioned before.

Go to the pre-op forum and you'll see there is already one there... copy your original post here and paste it to the end of that one so your comments will be added to it for others.

Here, I am posting that thread here.. read it and paste your comments as well:

The things people wish they had known beforehand

Smittymo · 05-09-2009, 01:34 PM

This surgery was something I really wanted and will continue to learn and grow from it. As they say, you cannot grow without some pain.

H20Ski Kelly · 05-11-2009, 10:11 AM

THIS was an awesome post! I feel the exact same way! I took a course for six months to be prepared for this and I had no clue how difficult the "missing food" part would be. This is bare bones honesty here. Thank you SmittyMo!

Vikkator · 05-11-2009, 01:44 PM

I am six months post op and the missing food part is actually just starting to hit me now. It's things like going out to eat that are the hardest for me. I don't want to tell the wait staff that I had WLS, but damn, I get some funny looks when I only order an appetizer or cup of soup for dinner. "Is that all you want?" or "is that all you're gonna eat?" or "is everything ok with the food?" I'm getting used to explaining that I don't eat much. The world doesn't need to know why.

It bugs me sometimes that I can't eat everything on my plate and I want to. I don't believe there's anything you can do pre-op to prepare for this feeling. As long as you're aware of it ahead of time, you can learn to deal with it.

Jeweld · 05-11-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyElvis

I guess I'm the exact opposite. I really don't miss anything....I thought I would but the trade off of being 140 pounds lighter 6 months after my surgery is a much better feeling than thinking I might want a foot long subway sandwich.

Are there times I think something looks good.....Yes.....but you know what I do......I have a little tiny bit of whatever that is. Tiny bit!

Personally I feel if you exclude yourself from pataking in those foods you'll be miserable.

What I think you need to do is change your thinking from "I wish I could have this or that" to "Do I really need that" or "Is that food REALLY going to make me happy?"

This is a great way to think of it, although since I am still pre-op I guess there is no way of knowing how one will actually feel until the time comes. I do think of this too...I enjoy cooking and cook for my husband almost every night, so I think it will be about relearning how to cook very small portions just enough for him and a tiny bit for me. Food is everywhere it is not like alcohol where you can just completely stop drinking - you have to eat to live and I think this makes it difficult. When you go to a party or to visit someone - what do they do - offer you something to eat... I know it will be a big adjustment, especially around my family to say NO or just have a bite. I think it is important to think of all the things you are gaining rather than the food you are losing...what would happen to us if we just kept going without WLS...this is why I am doing it - because I don't want to end up at that place that I know I will if I don't, so keep ya head up TT Family!