nibble

Food Funerals. Hmmm... I see certain foods on a temporary hiatus, some foods I willingly ditch, and other foods will be modified to fit a new lifestyle. I think about "Cast Away" and Tom Hanks' 4 years of fish and coconut. I don't like either one of those things, but if stranded on a desert isle I'd have to adapt or die. That's it. How do those with food allergies look at things? Do they spend their days wishing for peanut butter, strawberries, or shellfish? We all are making a huge investment in better futures for ourselves. There HAS to be satisfaction and happiness other than food in our lives.

I'm having VSG on July 17, and start the pre-op food regimen 7/7. I had pizza last week and popcorn recently, saying a temporary toodleloo for the next few months. I will probably have a little ice cream, too. I'm enjoying strawberries and freezing them, too, as I cannot eat seeds after surgery for a few months. I began decaf coffee today. I got off diet pop 5 yrs ago, quit "Mexican Coke" (Coke made with cane sugar, not corn syrup) in January. I don't drink my calories and I don't miss soda pop. I can eat processed foods in very limited amounts due to food sensitivities, and make my own food wth mostly organic ingredients. I wonder if I will miss any particular foods. I'm surprised it is not hard giving up sweet stuff, for the most part. I make my own version of Zing: 2T Sweetleaf Stevia + 1 c sugar. 1/2 t. = 1T sweetness for just 8 calories and will use that with Lorann Flavorings to make beverages and generic jello. I, too am both nervous and excited! It seems like nothing happens and nothing happens and then everything happens! What foods do you think you will just have to miss for a while?

SeahawksFan -- this is an amazing array of delicious looking food - there's definitely lots to look forward to when we get through the Valley of Clear Stuff, Valley of Cloudy Stuff, and Valley of Mush. I'm printing these photos in color to see what I can look forward to! Thanks for sharing!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You don’t have to give up delicious foods in moderation. Please take a look at my Instagram. I have some nice examples of options on there. You can do this! Find my page at, “my_tiny_healthy_plate”.

I agree with most of the others -- talking with someone you trust can only help you discover and uncover ways food has impacted your life. I have control issues, too. Big time. I was not ready for this surgery 5 years ago. The thought was like giving up control. At some point I turned that thinking around, realizing I had lost control long before that -- that food had been controlling ME, and I was seduced and enslaved by it, like the moth to the flame. With the surgery I feel I will truly gain both CONTROL and HEALTH, in both body and spirit. Also, with surgery so recent, perhaps feelings and hormones are on a roller coaster just now. Don't do anything hasty or make decisions. Just go one day at a time. Do you journal? Would be interesting to track your feelings as you go. Hang in there!!

I, too, am full of many "what ifs" - fear of the unknown gets the best of us. I just take a deep breath and tell myself it will all work out fine. Just tip toe thru the tulip days one at a time, and some days tip toe hour by hour. I want to enjoy the ride and not be fearful of it. I consider myself a pioneer on a journey of exploration. Issues will come up, and I will deal with them one by one. This forum is great, knowing I am not alone and have many others sharing the same trip. It's been a really supportive group so far!

July 17 for me in Michigan, VSG. Begin pre-op diet July 7. Cooking and freezing broth and organizing kitchen. Cannot eat processed foods or artificial sweeteners so it's been a grand adventure creating a workable food plan and working with stevia. Feeling excited, anxious!

Thanks for the realism! I have pondered the wisdom of having those on hand and now I will definitely get some. I also plan to carry around a handled bucket in case I vomit. Seems like "Be Prepared" is the mantra and planning for all contingencies possible will make this adventure doable. My VSG is coming up 7/17/18 and I'm in process of cooking and freezing 3oz containers of chicken broth, and organizing the kitchen. I cannot eat processed foods and sweeteners so make all my own stuff. You are right -- this IS a wonderful forum. Thank you, Alex!!

Hi, I'm new here. One more hole to be punched to earn my ticket to VSG in July. Looking for others who also do not eat processed foods. Avoid corn, soy, MSG and derivitives, Splenda, Equal, NutraSweet, anything hyrolyzed, autolyzed, partially hydrogenated, enriched, etc- you get the picture. Food is mostly organic and homemade. I have workarounds, but always on the hunt for others. Use stevia powder, make chicken and bone broth, gelatin and Lorann flavors for jello, pudding, etc. Making an adventure out of this in my kitchen laboratory!

I just sampled Premier Clear - orange, and raspberry. My tongue got numb and swollen. Ugh. So it's back to the laboratory to tinker with more recipes. I see you are 7 months beyond surgery - was the food thing difficult in those first 8-10 weeks? How long did it take to get into a new normal with food, or are you still working that out? Seems we both have extra challenges, or maybe they are just different - everyone probably has their own unique set of issues to work out.

Thanks for your response! What kind of protein shakes were acceptable to you, or did you make your own using unflavored protein powder? I can tolerate a small amount of the commercial stuff, but not every day -- my hands and feet will itch relentlessly, then blister, ooze and take forever to heal. It truly is toxic stuff to my system. I'm not veggie or vegan, but eat as clean, non-GMO and organic as possible. I must plan ahead for deviations and weigh the risks. The Unjury is OK, but awfully sweet tasting. I'm working on my own recipes...