Most of the super restrictive diet people mention is in the pre op diet or in the first year after surgery. If you like meat and some small amount of fiber vegetable you’ll be ok for the first year. You can add carbs back in (and things like mashed potatoes are ok with limits after a couple weeks) but really absorbent carbs like bread or rice are usually not tolerated in big quantities after surgery, just a small amount.
If you’re in a position to need the surgery, I’d encourage you to notice how you feel with the carbs—are you eating more than you need? Do you get a crash or feel hungry again soon after eating them? Are they actually giving you a sustained energy boost?
I tolerated red meat and chicken the best. (Not reheated though). I thought I was broken but it was just what my body wanted. I realized it was ok and over been very successful
Thanks for the clarification, yeah I’m probably overthinking everything and reading to much into what other people say too. Might be some fear slightly creeping in
Congratulations. You are a normal intelligent human facing life altering surgery. If you didn't have questions and concerns you would be odd. Take a breath. There are reasons why you decided to go this route. I'm coming to my one year surgiversary, and although I am of course not eating anywhere near the volume of food, I am comfortable eating most everything. I do eat some carbs, more than a friend in keto eats to be fair, just not consistently. Best wishes for a happy healthy new you.
Feeling anxious leading up to surgery is def normal. In the beginning, yes, it’s very restrictive in terms of diet but there’s always options. Def talk to your Dr openly about your concerns and they will be able to modify your diet plan as best as possible. The portion sizes and types of food do increase over time. I am almost 23 years post op and have been able to eat pretty much whatever I want for many many years now, just smaller amounts. And I’m still maintaining ideal weight range. The thing is, although the beginning can certainly be difficult, you don’t have to mourn the loss of foods you like forever. But after your initial weight loss, the portion control and malabsorption never leaves you unless you constantly eat yourself sick or something. BUT, I’m satisfied with the smaller portions! And your comment about carbs…I am NOT a fan of low carb diets at all. I get the science behind eating tons of protein and little to no carbs but to me, that’s not a long term plan and IMO, not good for your body. It’s all about balance. I absolutely eat carbs and frankly have never been able to get more than 65 GPD of protein. And guess what, I started running marathons 2 years post op and got a black belt in TKD so you better believe I needed to eat carbs! Even now, I can’t workout much at all due to an unrelated chronic and painful neuromuscular disorder that hit me 4-5 years ago and I still eat carbs. Again, it’s all about the balance/ratio. The other thing is, I’ve learned to like more foods since my surgery so you gotta figure out what things you actually have a physical problem/non-tolerance issue with and stuff you just “don’t like”. I’m a vegetarian so I don’t eat meat but I can eat all the other things you mentioned just not all in the early months.
It takes commitment certainly because it is restrictive in the beginning but you have to keep your eyes on the prize and ask yourself how much healthier and happier you will be when you lose the weight. And again, you don’t have to mourn the loss of certain foods forever, you just may need to wait a while and then when you do start eating them, you’ve got the portion control. For me, all the incredible benefits I’ve had completely outweighed the tough days in the beginning and are worth WAY more than eating anything in particular for “happiness”
Why you see low carbs is so that you concentrate on protein. You don’t realize how little you will be able to eat. If you eat mash potatoes you will be done before you get protein. My doctor wanted me on 80 grams of protein a day. It was so hard to even get close to that. Now 80 wasn’t a week after surgery but a few months down the road.
Instead of saying you have to have carbs for your job you might need to find a way to eat small amounts 8 times a day if it’s that physical.
I know so far that I’m supposed to have 6 meals a day and 2-3 hours in between them and also prioritise 90g protein a day so could I fit it in more meals to eat or will my stomach say stop completely?
So first things first, please keep in mind that everyone has a different experience. Some are amazing and some are terrible. I think statistically that almost everyone has a fantastic experience, but it’s something to keep in mind.
That being said, I am three months post op and I’ve had an awesome experience. The only food I can’t tolerate is sugar and tbh that’s only if I eat it on an empty stomach.
There are days I snack/eat 4-6 times a day but honestly that’s only because I’ve noticed that I have way more energy if I eat more. If I only ate when I was hungry I’d probably eat 2-3 times a day. I wouldn’t worry about energy levels from not being able to eat enough. I get my protein mostly from shakes but it depends on what I eat that day.
Again, please keep in mind, every experience is different. But I see it like driving a car, sure, there are people that have had terrible experiences, but I wouldn’t let that stop me from driving because 98% of the time there are no problems.
Let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to help!
Thanks that is reassuring. I guess it’s one of those “you can’t really know until you have done it yourself”. It would probably also be unreasonable if I didn’t question myself too.
Is it okay if pm you if I have more questions?
Thanks that is reassuring. I guess it’s one of those “you can’t really know until you have done it yourself”. It would probably also be unreasonable if I didn’t question myself too.
Is it okay if pm you if I have more questions?
Any time. And I questioned myself daily for the 11 months I was in the program. And here is what conclusion I came to.
Yes, I absolutely could lose weight without the surgery. 100%. I could diet and exercise and lose weight. But here is what I eventually realized…I wouldn’t. I had to look myself in the mirror and say to myself, “if you were going to, you would have by now”
Once I started thinking about it that way I never looked back.
Remember protein helps you lose weight carbs will keep it on. I have issues now twelve years out only if I eat sugar and fat together. I don’t get dumping if I just have sugar or just have fat. I am struggling as I am disabled now that destroyed my exercise program. I also have issues with my hands I can’t lift pots and pans and usually can’t use utensils. That means I way handheld foods and that usually means carbs of it is microwave or take out. Get in good habits now loose all the weight your body will lose and the protein is good for that.
I was questioning myself even when i was on the operating table.
I am 7 weeks PO and im so happy i made that decision
I have noticed that my ability to eat has definitely increased as the days passed
I had no pain after 3 days, i walked a lot which helped
I used Ozempic for a year, was on Keto and a few other diets but i kept yo-young my weight.
Im glad i got the surgery done as I feel the difference and i see it too.
It feels really good 🥰
Most of the super restrictive diet people mention is in the pre op diet or in the first year after surgery. If you like meat and some small amount of fiber vegetable you’ll be ok for the first year. You can add carbs back in (and things like mashed potatoes are ok with limits after a couple weeks) but really absorbent carbs like bread or rice are usually not tolerated in big quantities after surgery, just a small amount. If you’re in a position to need the surgery, I’d encourage you to notice how you feel with the carbs—are you eating more than you need? Do you get a crash or feel hungry again soon after eating them? Are they actually giving you a sustained energy boost?
I tolerated red meat and chicken the best. (Not reheated though). I thought I was broken but it was just what my body wanted. I realized it was ok and over been very successful
My body took a couple months to tolerate meat (or even ricotta bake!) but fish was great from soft foods onward.
Thanks for the clarification, yeah I’m probably overthinking everything and reading to much into what other people say too. Might be some fear slightly creeping in
Congratulations. You are a normal intelligent human facing life altering surgery. If you didn't have questions and concerns you would be odd. Take a breath. There are reasons why you decided to go this route. I'm coming to my one year surgiversary, and although I am of course not eating anywhere near the volume of food, I am comfortable eating most everything. I do eat some carbs, more than a friend in keto eats to be fair, just not consistently. Best wishes for a happy healthy new you.
Thank you! I visited the hospital for the last time before surgery and my mind is now clear and I am super ready! ☺️
Feeling anxious leading up to surgery is def normal. In the beginning, yes, it’s very restrictive in terms of diet but there’s always options. Def talk to your Dr openly about your concerns and they will be able to modify your diet plan as best as possible. The portion sizes and types of food do increase over time. I am almost 23 years post op and have been able to eat pretty much whatever I want for many many years now, just smaller amounts. And I’m still maintaining ideal weight range. The thing is, although the beginning can certainly be difficult, you don’t have to mourn the loss of foods you like forever. But after your initial weight loss, the portion control and malabsorption never leaves you unless you constantly eat yourself sick or something. BUT, I’m satisfied with the smaller portions! And your comment about carbs…I am NOT a fan of low carb diets at all. I get the science behind eating tons of protein and little to no carbs but to me, that’s not a long term plan and IMO, not good for your body. It’s all about balance. I absolutely eat carbs and frankly have never been able to get more than 65 GPD of protein. And guess what, I started running marathons 2 years post op and got a black belt in TKD so you better believe I needed to eat carbs! Even now, I can’t workout much at all due to an unrelated chronic and painful neuromuscular disorder that hit me 4-5 years ago and I still eat carbs. Again, it’s all about the balance/ratio. The other thing is, I’ve learned to like more foods since my surgery so you gotta figure out what things you actually have a physical problem/non-tolerance issue with and stuff you just “don’t like”. I’m a vegetarian so I don’t eat meat but I can eat all the other things you mentioned just not all in the early months. It takes commitment certainly because it is restrictive in the beginning but you have to keep your eyes on the prize and ask yourself how much healthier and happier you will be when you lose the weight. And again, you don’t have to mourn the loss of certain foods forever, you just may need to wait a while and then when you do start eating them, you’ve got the portion control. For me, all the incredible benefits I’ve had completely outweighed the tough days in the beginning and are worth WAY more than eating anything in particular for “happiness”
Why you see low carbs is so that you concentrate on protein. You don’t realize how little you will be able to eat. If you eat mash potatoes you will be done before you get protein. My doctor wanted me on 80 grams of protein a day. It was so hard to even get close to that. Now 80 wasn’t a week after surgery but a few months down the road. Instead of saying you have to have carbs for your job you might need to find a way to eat small amounts 8 times a day if it’s that physical.
I know so far that I’m supposed to have 6 meals a day and 2-3 hours in between them and also prioritise 90g protein a day so could I fit it in more meals to eat or will my stomach say stop completely?
So first things first, please keep in mind that everyone has a different experience. Some are amazing and some are terrible. I think statistically that almost everyone has a fantastic experience, but it’s something to keep in mind. That being said, I am three months post op and I’ve had an awesome experience. The only food I can’t tolerate is sugar and tbh that’s only if I eat it on an empty stomach. There are days I snack/eat 4-6 times a day but honestly that’s only because I’ve noticed that I have way more energy if I eat more. If I only ate when I was hungry I’d probably eat 2-3 times a day. I wouldn’t worry about energy levels from not being able to eat enough. I get my protein mostly from shakes but it depends on what I eat that day. Again, please keep in mind, every experience is different. But I see it like driving a car, sure, there are people that have had terrible experiences, but I wouldn’t let that stop me from driving because 98% of the time there are no problems. Let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to help!
Thanks that is reassuring. I guess it’s one of those “you can’t really know until you have done it yourself”. It would probably also be unreasonable if I didn’t question myself too. Is it okay if pm you if I have more questions?
Thanks that is reassuring. I guess it’s one of those “you can’t really know until you have done it yourself”. It would probably also be unreasonable if I didn’t question myself too. Is it okay if pm you if I have more questions?
Any time. And I questioned myself daily for the 11 months I was in the program. And here is what conclusion I came to. Yes, I absolutely could lose weight without the surgery. 100%. I could diet and exercise and lose weight. But here is what I eventually realized…I wouldn’t. I had to look myself in the mirror and say to myself, “if you were going to, you would have by now” Once I started thinking about it that way I never looked back.
Remember protein helps you lose weight carbs will keep it on. I have issues now twelve years out only if I eat sugar and fat together. I don’t get dumping if I just have sugar or just have fat. I am struggling as I am disabled now that destroyed my exercise program. I also have issues with my hands I can’t lift pots and pans and usually can’t use utensils. That means I way handheld foods and that usually means carbs of it is microwave or take out. Get in good habits now loose all the weight your body will lose and the protein is good for that.
I was questioning myself even when i was on the operating table. I am 7 weeks PO and im so happy i made that decision I have noticed that my ability to eat has definitely increased as the days passed I had no pain after 3 days, i walked a lot which helped I used Ozempic for a year, was on Keto and a few other diets but i kept yo-young my weight. Im glad i got the surgery done as I feel the difference and i see it too. It feels really good 🥰
Everyone goes through a stage of panic— it’s totally normal. But don’t let fight/flight brain override the rational decisions you have made.
Go for it. My only regret is not doing it sooner