layla33

My tastes have changed significantly. I'm 14 months post op. I love spicier and spicier food, hot sauce, etc. A total reversal. Wierd.

You do not have to give up your favorite foods. You have to give up eating huge quantities of your favorite foods. THAT'S what this surgery does. I am 13 months out and I eat everything I like once in while, and in very small quantities. I LOVE eating a high protein, high nutrition diet, and feel like $10 million most of the time. I LOVE feeling like and actually going to work out hard five days a week. Besides, after living in this world among fat-phobic people, you should be pretty tough. Actually, you ARE tough, you just haven't tapped into that toughness yet. Relax a little, and be happy about your healthy future, where food will no longer be the center of your universe. It's might nice.

My surgery was 13 months ago, and I do not think the pain was very much of a problem at all. Remember, this is laproscopic surgery...tiny little holes, and minimal cutting of muscle, which is what causes pain post surgery, usually. The nausea I had was more uncomfortable than anything having directly to do with the surgery. But the meds to control the nausea soon got that well in hand. This is NOT a hard surgery. You should plan to take it very easy for two weeks at the least. Then plan to rest a LOT more than usual for 3 months after that. The main thing, you get through it and never look back. I do an hour of aerobics five days a week and Run circles around people ten years younger than I am (65). Don't let any fear make you worried. This is the best thing I ever did.

I have lost 100 pounds in a year post op and it's STILL no ones business what I weigh, tho' I'm 20 pounds from goal. You are entitled to your own personal space and privacy always...No one is "entitled" to more personal information about you and your body than you are completely comfortable with, thus coming Monday and forever, regardless of anything anyone tells you.

In my experience (1 year post op---lost 100 lbs) the acclimation to lifestyle changes is much less than the acclimation to the pesky physical changes. These include burping, GERD, sinus drip (which I am told is related to the GERD). Now that I have acclimated my body to being able to eat small amounts of pretty much anything, the main acclimation is the few times that I am socially expected to make some explanation for eating so little. This includes dinner parties, and especially when I eat in a restaurant and the server figures that I don't like the food and he/she won't get tipped. I always make a point of saying, "The food was great. I just don't eat too much." But think about it, these few things should be my worst problem in exchange for feeling and looking like $20,000,000 in cash.

What is most interesting and amazing to me is the huge disparity in advice from "experts". I've got some news which I have discovered after 11 post op months...very few docs OR nutritionists have actually had this surgery. And there is precious little research on post op symnptoms, only on outcomes. So the medical literature simply does not support, "Don't eat X or there will be dire consequences!" See what YOUR body tolerates and does not tolerate, taking tiny samples of foods you feel you MUST have. Some of us are really fond of diet sodas. I've been drinking it since post op day 3. I have some tummy issues whether or not I drink it, and no matter WHAT I injest, food or drink. I have lost 95 pounds in almost one full year. I feel pretty great and I'm back exercising regularly for the first time in years. The angst and resentment involved in "swearing off" even small amounts of the things we love are harmful, not helpful, to your ongoing goal of eating in a healthy and sensible way. Relaaaaax a little, folks. Be cautious and careful and eat tiny and often, and the weight comes off. At least all this has been true for me.

You might try the Maic Green Bottle--magnesium citrate. It's a common and easily found laxative and it has never failed me. BUT, drink plenty of fluids (yes, it really matters) and walk a lot. You will be fine.