LadyHermit

Hey, I was done on the 9th too! I won't lie it's been a huge challenge. This BariCare stuff they have me on is gross and I have to force it down three times daily. Blergh.

And Protein powder....noooot a fan.
Cheers from the depths of liquid diet hell, lol.

Girl I feel ya! We had surgery the same day! Yesterday was also a tough day for me mentally. InLaws fried all kind of food while we were there and it was so depressing but I think the mental part will get better if we fight through it and lean on our support systems here. Right now they lined out pretty clear for me what I can have but My surgeon has an “in moderation” approach once you go into maintenance. I’m also from the Deep South, like you, where we are born and bread to truly Celebrate all things deliciously. We will get through this girl! Tough days will not get us down!

Full disclosure: I am going through a lot of emotions with this and well...a bit like an alcoholic, the world is full of temptation. My nutritionist and surgeon have an all or nothing approach. Now I very well KNOW that I will never, ever be able to eat at the same level I used to, nor should I be able to. But it was the lack of compromise that got me. It being all or nothing. Black and white. Like...I can't have the things I like in *some* moderation as long as I behave myself? And there may be things I avoid because I can no longer tolerate them.
It just feels like I'll have to miss out on a lot if I want to stick to this diet faithfully. I live in the south, land of chicken fried steak so....yeah.
I may feel differently as time goes on, but I just had to whine and vent. I signed up for this. I knew what I was getting into mostly. But I know the nutritionist won't be sympathetic to my struggles and will be a hard@$$ about it. What's the point of missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures, which is food? I feel like I will barely want to leave my own house without the promise of a treat like Taco Bell or a burger anymore.
Just feeling bitter that I had to do this. Wish I'd postponed or...I dunno. I just...don't know.

Hah, thanks. Yeah, I was supposed to get this done back in oh...November or December, but things got kind of held up. The holidays rolled around, I was mentally prepared to do it but then...well. New years's came and it felt like I lost my nerve. Part of me wants to chicken out. I tell myself it won't be so bad and that I can do it. I talk myself up thinking how miserable it's gonna be and how bad it's gonna suck but really it's....not so terrible. I can do this. I guess it's normal to have some mixed feelings about it. I've never seen anyone that regretted it in the long term. I'll probably regret it in the SHORT term, but that....will pass over.

But see what I mean by the swinging emotions? I can't do this, I can do this....lol.

This is also why I got a therapist. 😛 To help me...navigate some of this post-op.

Hello there!
I was sleeved about 3 weeks ago. It definitely feels like a big sacrifice, and is for a little bit. I was a heavy soda drinker and sweets eater before this and I can tell you, I have NO interest for that stuff right now.
With the sleeve, you can eat some of that stuff again once you are far out enough post op and based on how your sleeve handles food. I’ve nibbled on the crust of a piece of pizza (bread is awful at this stage right now though) and have had a few pieces of macaroni when my boyfriend had it earlier this week. I’m in the soft/puréed food section and my favorite thing to eat right now is mashed potatoes with some unflavored Protein Powder mixed in and string cheese.
My mom had the bypass done years and years ago and she will sometimes eat a small slice of pizza or have some Pasta. She’ll eat a portion of a burger sometimes when we go out.
The main thing to remember is that this is a tool to help you loss weight and get healthier. You’ll maximize all of that by sticking with the post op diet that your dietitian provides you with. But. You also have that option of having the stuff you love, as long as it is in moderation and you’re getting in all you’re Protein.
I honestly just went through the “buyers remorse” phase last week when watching my boyfriend eat French fries while we were out furniture shopping. But then I step on the scale and I’ve lost 30 pounds, my GERD is no longer making me cough consistently throughout the day, and I’m started to not get winded on the stairs. I like seeing myself in the mirror now.
You can do it! And you have this entire forum to help you. I would also see if your surgeons office has an in-person support group for patients, because that has also helped me a lot.