I love to eat. Will I be happy after being sleeved?

[bert 2]

Hey friends, I have a love affair with food. And I'm having the sleeve done on 6/1/2011.

Am I going to feel miserable if I do this? Any regrets?

[Disney 20]

Hi again, Bert!

I can honestly say I am never hungry. Truly hungry, that is. Head hunger gets me sometimes, but then it's over as soon as I eat a couple bites of something. I am still amazed at how full I get after only a few bites.

[bert 2]

Thank you Disney, that makes me feel much better. I'm so looking forward to the surgery. It's been such a long struggle. My weight has kept me from attending celebrations, and making new friends.

Thank you again.

[kwikwits 20]

Hi Bert,

I love to eat too. I will still be able to eat after my June 1st surgery, just not

in endless quantities like I do now (well, not now because I'm on the pre-op

liquid diet). My surgeon suggested the sleeve to me because I was worried

about feeling hungry all the time -- but he explained how the reduction of

gherlin reduces feelings of hunger.

Good luck to you...only 3 more days.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I've been sleeved for 2 years and I basically eat anything I want. I can't eat very much of somethings, of course, but I never feel deprived.

[bert 2]

Awesome ! Thanks y'all

[juliarh 35]

Hey friends, I have a love affair with food. And I'm having the sleeve done on 6/1/2011.

Am I going to feel miserable if I do this? Any regrets?

I loved food too. It was my best friend and my worst friend at the same time. I could eat anything and everything and in mass quantities. Do I miss it? Hell no. It's there for one reason only now -- to live. I don't obsess about it, I don't care about it. Yes, I enjoy a good meal when I have it. But that's it. IT'S BEING NORMAL. And frankly, it's wonderful. I get to enjoy the food that I eat, but after I'm done, I'm truly done -- mentally and physically. So, you will still get to enjoy food (maybe not right away, but when you're down the road a bit) but just not in the mass quantities or the number of times you currently eat. I can eat anything now (I'm almost 9 mos. post op) -- there are somethings that I don't eat because I'm reluctant to try them (alcohol being one), but I'm sure I'll get over that hurdle someday too. But really, I can eat ANYTHING. The thing is, is that I really don't WANT to eat everything like I used to.

For instance, yesterday, we went to a BBQ -- I ate steak and salad. I was happy. I didn't really have room or the desire for dessert, so I had coffee. I was happy. For dinner we went out, and I had steak again (it was a steak day) -- I was really really happy. I came home and made us all a low carb dessert with Jello pudding and real whipped cream -- it was great, but I couldn't finish it all. So I didn't feel deprived, I ate what I wanted and then stopped when I was full. And that's what will happen to you too.

Hope that helps!

[sunnyd 32]

I was right there with you! I loved food (too much obviously!) and once I had surgery I was like "what the h$@l did I do to myself"? At first you are very limited to what you can eat- that was the hardest for me. But everyday gets better and better. Now at alomost 3 months out I can eat pretty much anything- just in small amounts of course. Sometimes my demented mind wishes I could have more of what I'm eating but thank goodness can't! Seeing and feeling the pounds melt away is definitely worth it!

[bert 2]

Thanks for the pep talk guys. It's very much appreciated !

[kellyw74 258]

I am freshly sleeved (20 days today) and was a foodie too! I could eat all day long before my surgery. I was always hungry!!

I love the fact that I can not do that now. I love that I can only eat small amounts of things and I am done! I know that one day, I will be able to eat more, but I absolutly love the fact that in less than 3 weeks, I have lost 16 lbs!!

I thought that I would have huge issues with not being able to eat, but I have not! I take a few bites of stuff and I am truely satisfied.

I do still feel hunger, but not like before. I use to get ravenous hunger and now it is just a twinge of hunger to let me know that I need to eat. I go for hours too before I feel that feeling. Before surgery, I was hungry an hour after a meal. I hope that one day, I will lose my hunger all together, but if it stays like it is now, I can live with it!

This surgery is a true blessing to me and I am sure you will feel the same!

Good luck to you!

Kelly

[mb20mom 9]

I remember very early out having a strong feeling of sorrow for the way I used to eat. food was my friend all those years, and all I ever thought about, so what was I going to do with my time now? It was an odd feeling of disgust and regret (that I had the surgery) at the same time. I think it's normal to go thru a bit of depression towards food right after surgery, so be prepared for that. Not to say that you can't eat whatever you want, but food was a big part of our lives, so it can be a shocking adjustment to get along without out it all of a sudden.

[Loooou 30]

I think Julia said the most important word here along with everyone's great advice

DESIRE

it truly fades away, you wont feel the need of having all. you will be amazed at the constant conversation you will have with urself about can I order that? OH NO! I am full! I dont really need it, u may just feel like you are having a lot of free time, which u used to occuppy with happy eating ( OR SO CALLED) time. Thats what U will be battling with! thoughts.. about how much time food use to consume out of ur life. But the biggest urge to eat wont be there cause u are truly not missing on any food, u can eat whatever u want just in a reasonable amounts. Dont worry!

[MegInNOLA 531]

I did experience a strange kind of mourning after surgery--not necessarily mourning food, just missing my routines. I missed the routine of stopping for Breakfast at that cute little place on the way to work; I missed stopping in the coffee shop after work for a coffee and croissant; I missed going to dinner with my husband and enjoying all kinds of delicious food (we live just north of New Orleans). But really, I couldn't eat after surgery for a few weeks (liquids, thank you!), and during that time, I developed new routines and new habits. I still would like to do some of the things that I did before, but thanks to the sleeve, I know I will be able to be healthy and make healthier decisions. And I know that I will lose weight and keep it off, even if slowly, and I know I wouldn't have ever done that "on my own."

Best wishes!

Meg

[Brian66 85]

Hi Bert,

If you are anything like me, you'll find that is a big adjustment not being able to eat the way you have up until now. I think I went through a bit of a mourning period in the beginning. I always thought I was just a "big guy who loved to eat," but after the surgery, I was forced to look at the way I ate and I learned that I was really eating emotionally - I ate when I was happy, sad, angry, mad, bored, lonely, frustrated, etc. Once I had the surgery, I had to deal with all of those emotions without the support and comfort of my best friend -- food.

I think the first one to two months are the hardest, as you learn what and how much you can eat and it can be frustrating. A lot of it is trial and error and the errors are not pretty. Don't be discouraged, it gets easier and the rewards are amazing. Here I am, just about 11 months out and 120 pounds down. Although it was always my goal to lose this much weight (and perhaps a little more), I don' t think I really thought it was going to be possible in such a relatively short period of time.

At the end of the day, this surgery is the best gift I could have given myself and my children.

Good luck to you on your journey.

Brian

[bert 2]

Hi Brian,

Thank you for your insight. Tomorrow is my surgery, and I've become more comfortable with my decision, thanks to this website. Knowledge is the key, and now that I have your insight as well as many others here, I'm prepped and ready for this.

I love food, but during my time spent on my pre-op diet, I am learning to appreciate other things around me - besides food.< /p>

Thank you - bert