Leaderboard

I really think i had an advantage when it comes to this having been a previous LB patient. Its a whole lot different when you CAN'T eat it vs SHOULDN'T. As the band got tighter, bread, rice, grits, some potatoes, drier meats like port, white chicken, veggies like asparagus, fruit like apples.... just would not go down. If i even tried it would get stuck and have to "uneat" it. So i just stopped. I really thought it would be harder, but after a few times of throwing up... you learn to stay away. Now with the sleeve, it's super easy as i have just gone back to that way pretty much. a few weeks ago i found myself dipping my toe in the deep part of the pool..... realized that it was/is a dangerous place to be. So back to the kiddy pool so to speak. Last night i cooked one of my favorite meals..... smothered chicken (boneless thighs) green beans and rice.... I sooooo badly wanted the rice.... but i stayed away. I found the wanting of these things never go away, but the acting on them can.

You have a big job of mentally reframing what is "good" food. I agree with the others that you will be able to have those foods again, in limited portions, but the bigger job is to start training your brain to love the healthy foods and start despising the unhealthy ones. Ice cream and simple carbs are the seducers that got you into trouble in the first place. You have to start thinking about them in term of what they actually do to your long term health. An exercise of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) in overcoming addictive behaviors is to make a list of all the benefits of healthy foods (lower cholesterol, lower glucose levels, lower BP, weight loss, anti-oxidants, vitamins, etc) and a list of the bad things unhealthy foods will do (increased weight, BP, glucose, lipids, depression, loss of quality of life, higher rate of heart attack, cancer ,and stroke, decreased longevity, etc.) If you practice this daily, your brain really will start to "re-wire" to seek out a delicious food choice rather than a poor one, and you will have increased endorphin release by making the choice. Healthy choices are part of the lifestyle changes you agree to tackle when you agree to WLS. Don't obsess on the ice cream. You'll have it again, eventually. But use this first year to make the lifestyle changes and rewire your thought patterns so the sweets and treats will never take you down again. PS: Another thought. Before surgery, I cannot count the number of times i would pray, "Please, God, I'll give up anything if You can just help me get this weight off." Then I had surgery and the weight came off. I am dead serious in saying that if I NEVER can have a bite of ice cream or sugar again, it is a sacrifice worth every single day of being a normal weight and having my life back. The fact is that you have to be willing to give up the junk if you want the health. You can't keep flirting with the food that made you fat in the first place. You can't have it both ways. Until you really hardwire the healthy habits and healthy food, don't put yourself in the way of temptation by entertaining thoughts of the junk food.

The guidance that I can find gives the following limits: 1. Take no more than 1000mg in one dose 2. Optimally, take no more than 3000mg in one day 3. With a doctor's permission and oversight, take no more than 4000mg in one day (this is a hard limit due to the risk of liver damage). https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/acetaminophen-safety-be-cautious-but-not-afraid#:~:text=However%2C in some people%2C taking,check with your doctor first. I hope that helps but you should definitely talk to a doctor.

Do you have a psychiatrist or therapist outside of the bariatric office? What do they think? As long as you are not suicidal or self harming, I would move ahead. I also have chronic pain and depression and I'd rather have them without also being obese. How many pounds of ugly fat would you lose if you lost your husband? Good luck and feel better.

Congrats! But, being on the pre-op diet during thanksgiving... I don't envy that. It'll be hard! I felt hungry CONSTANTLY on the pre-op diet. I did lose 16 pounds in that two weeks though so... was definitely worth it.

Thank you everyone for the great bag ideas! I'm counting down the days and cant wait to start my new life!

Water you are dehydrated or your vits/mineral levels are messed up Get electrolyte powders add them to the water i have the same issue. I bet you are light headed also

Its going to change with Time Just plan your meal volumes carefully

I gave these a try tonight and they were actually pretty good. Its sliced mozzarella baked til its golden, then you roll whatever you want in it. I used shredded chicken, and some seasoned black beans and corn. I was only able to finish like 2 if them lol, but that's because it's been really hot and I haven't eaten much. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

it's just temporary. I just skipped going out the first month or so since it was too challenging to do. After that, when I was on soft foods, I'd get something like chili, or a pureed soup, or shrimp cocktail. The further out you get, the more options you have. Once I was several months out I could eat most things except for really fatty meals (I still can't handle those). and you won't be on a half cup forever. I've been in maintenance for a few years now, but I'm sure no one can tell I had WLS. I eat like my thin friends do who are watching their weight - in other words, I'm a typical "light eater", but nothing out of the ordinary. When I go out, I'll get an appetizer, or split an entree with someone, or get an entree for myself and take half of it home. Same as my never-been-heavy friends do who watch their weight.