Food Stages Question

[mactrio 41]

I am in NO way an expert. I was sleeved on Monday (2/25/13) but I do have a question.

If your doctor, nurse or nutritionist told you to stay on Clear liquids for 1 week post op and then to do creamy liquid drinks (no food) for week #2 and then to do creamed/mushy foods for week #3 then WHY in the world do so many 'cheat' yourselves in week 1? Or week 2?

You have had MAJOR stomach surgery why would you put yourself in danger by trying to eat food before your stitches are heeled? Before your stomach is healed? You had this lifestyle changing surgery to help you to get healthy, why try to intentionally eat and hurt yourself?

Like I said I am in NO way an expert, but I chose my doctor based on research and I intend to follow his directions and suggestions. I must be one of the lucky ones because I have had 'no hunger' so far. (6 days out) now maybe tomorrow I will be starving, who knows; but I am COMMITTED to making my surgery a success and I will follow my dr's orders.

[No game 14,437]

That, my dear, is the 64 thousand dollar question..

My personal opinion?

I think a lot of us here are food addicts.

And as an addict they are looking for any loophole they can find to eat something outside of their diet. We all know what OUR surgeons said, but from reading here we also find out that other surgeons allow food early out.

As a food addict is struggling they are looking for an "enabler" so when they write in, a lot of times they are just looking for the one or two answers

That say "my doctor said it was ok because I was starving" or "my doctor clears his patients after a week for food"

Does this surprise me?

No.... I'm a food addict too.

[maharet111 544]

Oh man...where's the popcorn? ?

[mactrio 41]

LOL - I'm very new to this board, and I have received so many great tips & recipes and wonderful advice.

I just realized that as I have been reading in the past few weeks, it is mostly about head hunger. I worked on that more than anything in the weeks before my surgery.

I suffer from insomnia and head hunger plays into that. So in the weeks prior I drank Water, ate ice, ate sf Jello and the stuff I knew I could have during my Clear Liquids stages. IDK if it will help 7 or 8 weeks out but I'm trying my best to remain positive and to use my liquids for my head hunger.

I'm not perfect and I hope I didn't offend anyone with my subject topic. I'm just trying to understand why they don't want to follow orders?

[No game 14,437]

I'm not offended

[SMO 193]

I am not offended, however, the post does strike me as a bit judgmental and veering ever so slightly into self righteousness.

As Laura points out, we are all here because we lacked the ability to exercise self control when it comes to food. Presumably, that includes you. It may be premature for you to judge your fellow sleevers. As you pointed out, you are less than a week out. Your stomach is likely still swollen and the nerves have not yet come on line. You might find yourself feasting on crow yet.

[Kristina J. 581]

Well, in all fairness she did say she may be starving tomorrow! So I think she's more than open to the possibility that her mouth will be open for crow at any moment... But she's willing to do anything possible to fight it off.

I know with my first WLS I was hungry and let my food addiction get the better of me. I started looking for what "other surgeons" allowed instead of sticking to what my surgeon dictated for me. However, after failing last time, this time around I have accepted that my food addiction is just as much a problem as my inability to control portion size and I have been working with my therapist on it for a few months leading up to my revision which is still 70 days away (not that I'm counting).

I have worked on maintaining a pre-op diet that restricts things that my head would love to have or feels like I'm dying for that I know my body doesn't need to survive so that I can get through those moments that I know I've failed in the past.

The honest answer to your question is pretty much what Laura said, because again, she's pretty much a rockstar who knows it all. We are food addicts who will look for an excuse to break our diet. It's the same reason you can find a hundred threads comparing pre op diets and how fair or unfair it is! We are emotional eaters in transition.

But with all that said... Please be sensitive. It's easier for some than others. You seem to have your head in the right place. For some of us (me lol) that takes failed weight loss surgery, a divorce and remarriage to the right person, a few years of therapy, VST and the right revision surgeon to figure that all out!!