Re: Eating Post Op

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeff,

Eating post op is really an adventure at times. Since my surgery I really don't eat much bread. That is mainly because if you eat bread then there is less room for your protein or veggies. Occasionally I do have a piece of toast because they don't recommend soft bread because if can get stuck. I also eat some crackers. I really haven't had much popcorn because the idea of the hull getting stuck in my stomach doesn't sound appealing. I do know that there are some that have done it. I have eaten nuts but I chew them very well just so that nothing happens. In the beginning fats caused me to dump really badly now I am very careful if it is a little oily I will try to get as much oil off before I eat. Sugar still bothers me. I get these really funny headaches when it is sweet so I don't do it too often. I am sure wraps are considered bread because all the wrap is cold flour tortilla usually. I would be careful about flour tortilla. The most I have eaten of a flour tortilla is maybe a third of one recently. But in all it is a wonderful process that gives you a new lease on life.

Ramona

357/212/?

[Guest guest]

---I can do both popcorn and nuts, but most breads make me very

uncomfortable. I tried to eat a bite or two of a cheese burger and

couldnt. But taco bell steak burritos minus the tortilla are ok. Go

figure !!

In gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients , " Jeff "

<jeff.simons@s...> wrote:

> I have been reading all the latest post and they give me HOPE...I

> love food, GOOD food, and I like to cook..but one of the things

about

> WLS that got me was that MYTH ??? about eating after WLS I

understand

> Fat & sugar causes Dumping...what are, if any are the foods that

> still don't work after let's say a year...I hear popcorn is a No

> No..nuts, anything stringy like celery...and what about bread, now

> Subway has wraps, are wraps considered BREAD ?? Just had to ask..

> Jeff

[Guest guest]

My brother is 2 years out from open RNY. He still can't eat beef

except for hamburger. Also no bread for him either. He can do

sugar, no dumping from sugar for him.

I think each person is definitely different on what they can and

cannot tolerate. Some find sugar triggers dumpings, others fat

triggers the dumping, and some people find both items trigger it.

It seems we won't know until after surgery and then only if we " test

the waters " . I hope I don't dump so I don't eat something

unknowingly and get sick, but I hope that I don't try to test it to

see.

> ---I can do both popcorn and nuts, but most breads make me very

> uncomfortable. I tried to eat a bite or two of a cheese burger and

> couldnt. But taco bell steak burritos minus the tortilla are ok.

Go

> figure !!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jeff:

As you have read, post-op eating varies. I can say that the best

thing, however, is that I feel normal when I eat in public now.

Before I could shove down a lot of food while others were always left

with doggie bags. Well, now I'm the one with the doggie bag. And

after meals, I find myself burping a lot. This can be done

discreetly so I don't find it a problem. And I feel much, much

better after the burping is done.

For me there have been nice surprises post-op. I can eat steak since

almost 8 weeks post-op. However, I only eat filet mignon or very

tender top sirloin. Beef and turkey jerkey are also favorites of

mine. For me, I have to remember to chew, chew, chew, but almost any

protein properly chewed works for me. I love cottage cheese, and

lucky for me, milk is no problem (the first couple of times made me

VERY gassy however.) I also supplement my diet with

mixed nuts (pecans, walnuts, peanut, cashews and almonds), and I eat

peanut butter (only the natural kind that is just peanuts and salt);

the regular peanut butter is now too, too greasy and fatty and sugary

that it makes me gag.

I've also tried popcorn, but I really chew it well and make sure that

there is enough moisture in the mix (if you know what I mean). A

couple of handfuls of popcorn at a movie makes me feel like part of

the crowd of normal people. My partner and I now share a small size,

whereas before, only the huge (free refill) tub did the trick.

Eating post-op is anything but boring if you're creative. Yes, I've

had to give up some of my favorites: carbonated soft drinks and most

rice, bread and pasta. Funny though, I don't really miss them.

However, I have to admit from time to time, I take a bite of a really

great piece of Italian or French bread (at fine restaurants). There

are some Chinese and Japanese pastry treats that I've sampled as well

with no problem. And I love dim sum, but again, my portions are tiny

now. As long as I've had my protein first, a small bite or two of

well-chewed bread works for me. Also, I don't tend to dump (I've

only dumped slightly twice) so I am even able to enjoy a spoonful or

two of my partner's dessert. It amazes me that such a small portion

can be so satisfying.

The satisfaction comes from, in my humble opinion, the overall joy of

having lost 116 lbs. I don't need cake or bread to make me feel good

because I already do. Eating is now a part of my life, not the focus

of my life. Now when planning vacations, I look for adventure and

excitement without the worry that I will be too big or weigh too much

for an activity.

My eating will forever be different. But so is my life. The key for

me is that I exercise in addition to eating less. If I overdo it

slightly, my exercise routine keeps me from gaining.

And WOO HOO for me, I've finally left the 200's forever. I started

out this journey at 315 lbs (08/05/02). At my surgeon consult I

weighed 299 (March 2003); at orientation I weighed 298 (04/03/03). At

surgery (06/03/03) I weighed 264. I now weigh 199 (the scale was

teetering toward 198, but I round up).

I'm planning to have plastic surgery and my goal weight for that

process is 180 (only 19 lbs away!) My weight loss has slowed but I

continue to lose inches: I've lost 14 inches off my waist, about 11

inches off my chest, 6 inches off my neck, 6 inches off my thighs.

I've only lost 3 inches off my biceps, but that is because the area

taken up by fat is now muscle (that's a great thing for us guys) so I

don't need any plastic surgery on my upper arms. My body is now

reshaped and reformed. The other day I was wearing a tank top at

home and caught a glimpse of myself in the dining room mirror. I

was shocked. Geez, who is that guy with the pumped up arms? OMG,

it's me!

Hope this long-winded post answers your questions. I keep reading

all the posts, but my crazy work schedule is here again. We're

preparing for the March 2004 Presidential Primary, and we're working

7 days a week.

Welcome newbies and hope everyone is enjoying a healthier New Year.

Don't let your fears and doubts get in the way. I never thought this

wonderful transformation could happen to me. I thought that I'd be

forever trapped in a cycle of Weight Watchers and weight gains. But

the miracle happened to me because I had faith that it would, and now

I know that prayers are answered and dreams come true.

Francisco

06/03/03

-116 lbs

> I have been reading all the latest post and they give me HOPE...I

> love food, GOOD food, and I like to cook..but one of the things

about

> WLS that got me was that MYTH ??? about eating after WLS I

understand

> Fat & sugar causes Dumping...what are, if any are the foods that

> still don't work after let's say a year...I hear popcorn is a No

> No..nuts, anything stringy like celery...and what about bread, now

> Subway has wraps, are wraps considered BREAD ?? Just had to ask..

> Jeff