Food Tastes/When back to normal

[Lela Clark 41]

I am about 6weeks out with my Gastric Sleeve. I had the surgery Dec 29,2021. This past week it seems nothing tastes good or right. I’ll get so hungry and ready to eat, take a bite and it just isn’t good and don’t want to eat it. How long does this last?
Also, how long till you get over the regret of having the surgery? I will admit it is getting better it isn’t everyday. I went on errands with the family this weekend and totally got off my schedule and so didn’t feel good that evening. So the rest of the weekend totally depressed that I would not be normal again and not be happy again. How long till you feel normal again or even your new normal? Please no negative comments as I don’t need that right now.
Thank you for any advice

[Tony B - NJ 643]

From a personal standpoint, I found that some foods were not as appealing to me as they were in the past. At the same time I found that some foods that I did not particularly like were good to me now. My tastes did change but mostly went back to where they were before after a few months. I think the biggest thing at your stage that I saw was getting accustomed to eating differently, particularly at restaurants. The traditional, bread, app and meal were not possible for me any longer so I just order a main course or appetizer. I am much more satisfied with that now, and pick off my wife's plate if she has an appetizer.

[catwoman7 11,223]

I pretty much didn't give a flip about food for the first five months. I was never hungry and rarely craved anything. I had to actually remind myself to eat most of the time! BUT...that all usually comes back sometime during the first year, and things get a lot harder after that. Mine all came back at five months out. I wish it never did - it was SO much easier to lose weight when I was never hungry and could give a rat's behind about food! So I know this sounds weird to say, but enjoy it while it lasts! It'll never be easier to lose weight than it is right now.

I had regrets maybe the first month. But I'm so glad I had the surgery and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

as far as not feeling normal and not being able to eat normally - that's really only the early months. I felt like myself at maybe two months out. As far as eating normally, once you're a ways out there are no more food restrictions. There may be some foods you'll have difficulty tolerating, but your surgeon isn't going to limit anything as you get further out. I was able to add more and more foods as time went on - and it six months out, they said I could eat whatever my system could tolerate (which for me is pretty much everything except for really fat-laden meals). I eat normally now - the only difference is I probably only eat half the amount I did before surgery. When I go out to eat, I'll usually order either an appetizer, or I'll order an entree, eat 1/3 - 1/2 of it, and take the rest home. To be honest, that's how a lot of my never-been-obese women friends eat all the time. No one would be able to tell anymore than I've had bariatric surgery - they'd just think I was a "light eater", if they even noticed at all.

[lizonaplane 1,613]

It sounds like you are actually hungry but that food doesn't taste good. I had the same thing. I never lost my hunger and nothing tasted good and I was miserable and regretted the surgery. That lasted almost four months. I feel much better now (5 months out). I've started enjoying eating again, and I've realized that while I can eat basically anything, some things are a LOT easier and more enjoyable to eat. For example, I cook a lot of meals with ground meat, rather than chicken breast/thighs. Also, ground meat reheats more easily. I can make chili, ground turkey stroganoff, taco meat... so much! I don't eat much salad because it isn't very comfortable. I was sad at first, because I used to eat a lot of salads, but I eat a lot of things I do like.

I still don't feel like I did before (I have so many dreams about eating a ton of food!) but this has definitely become my new normal and I'm becoming okay with it. It helps that I've lost a lot of weight!

[pk88 147]

6 hours ago, Lela Clark said:

I am about 6weeks out with my Gastric Sleeve. I had the surgery Dec 29,2021. This past week it seems nothing tastes good or right. I’ll get so hungry and ready to eat, take a bite and it just isn’t good and don’t want to eat it. How long does this last?
Also, how long till you get over the regret of having the surgery? I will admit it is getting better it isn’t everyday. I went on errands with the family this weekend and totally got off my schedule and so didn’t feel good that evening. So the rest of the weekend totally depressed that I would not be normal again and not be happy again. How long till you feel normal again or even your new normal? Please no negative comments as I don’t need that right now.
Thank you for any advice

food tasted really weird to me for at least 6 months post-surgery. I googled it and apparently a percentage of folks who have sleeve and bypass surgery experience a change in tastes. I expect it has something to do with the GI hormones, but I'm not sure. Nothing tasted right and I thought I'd never be able to enjoy food again. Not so! First, don't expect anything to be the same (or similar to "before surgery") for about six months. There are so many physical and hormonal changes taking place. You may not "go back to normal," but you WILL find a new normal and it is wonderfully functional! Right now, just treat yourself as a beautiful child who is learning and growing. Do the program (make sure you are getting plenty of Protein and water), and you will be able to eat again, and even enjoy it. PS- I discovered quite a few of my "favorite" foods pre-surgery weren't enjoyable after because a part of eating them was to overeat them. Overeating now doesn't feel good and sometimes (even still) hurts terribly. I now have my taste buds back, enjoy what I always did, but have learned to eat them in small quantities. Wishing you ALL THE BEST!!

[Arabesque 7,468]

Experiencing a change in your tastebuds &/or sense of smell (the smell of certain foods turns your tummy) is usually temporary. When I first started eating vegetables again my old favourites tasted disgusting but after a few weeks I could eat them without issue. Any prolonged change in your tastebuds usually occurs because you have reduced or removed certain foods/flavours from your diet & when you have them you don’t enjoy them as much. I still find some foods really sweet but that’s because I cut a lot of sugar & sweeteners out of my diet so it’s a good thing for me.

Generally the first couple of months can be challenging & cause a bit of an emotional roller coaster as you’re trying to sort out your eating choices, routines, etc. it does get easier. Because we eat such small quantities to begin it can make us weak, tired, or just blah if we miss meals & don’t hit our Fluid & Protein goals. You’ll work out ways to compensate for busy days that throw your routine too. I always took an electrolyte drink with me when I was going to be busy for an energy boost or you could take a Protein Shake. Zip lock bags with foods you can tolerate can be helpful too like nuts or Jerky as you’re allowed. For a while after goal I kept a Protein Bar in my bag. Maybe keep a small insulated bag in your car with some cheese, deli meat, etc. I also made sure I took a break - sat & had a cup of tea for 20-30mins.

It’s just all new, different, strange, … . Before you know it, you’ll be out & about, socialising, dining, getting on with life & you’ll look back & think that time I struggled was only for a short time really & now life is great.

All the best.

Edited February 15, 2022 by Arabesque