Maybe I'm overstepping boundaries here or being a little too deep, but I always get concerned when I see newly post-op people talking about "cheating" on their food/meal plan. We've had major, invasive surgery, people - the term "cheating" to me makes me think of being on Weight Watchers and deciding to eat a medium pizza by myself with breadsticks and a 2-liter of Pepsi, and not count the points. "Cheating" after VSG surgery means the possibility of causing infection to the newly-made staple line, which is a good-sized healing incision inside your body. The same "cheating" can also cause leaks.

If I can give a short piece of advice . . . . the first couple months just plain SUCK. Eating applesauce, refried Beans and string cheese every day for 2 months is terrible. I had more than one breakdown. However, I also kept reminding myself over and over again that these foods were needed, required even, to allow my body time to heal.

Sorry if I've offended anyone, I just feel like sometimes people take this surgery too lightly from the standpoint of the healing that needs to take place both inside and outside the body before you can be 100%.

It worries me when i read about people cheating so early out too. Why go through all the pain if you are just going to go back to your old ways in a week? Just because it MAY go down without hurting doesnt mean you SHOULD eat it. Those are the people who complain that the scale isnt moving, the sleeve doesnt work.

I think its good that i had to wait 6 months to have my surgery. it gave me time to really pay attention to my trigger foods, go to foods and start to get a grasp on why i ate what i ate and when. I have thought about junk food too. When i was a week out my MIL and daughter baked a cake and she sent it home with my daughter. I thought about that cake all day and night. My husband got really upset with his mom and threw it away because she told him she was "testing me".

Im sure that eventually i will have something im not supposed to eat, but its not going to be intill I control the cravings, they dont control my anymore. and it will be after i am completely healed, and will be completely worth it, not just because i am upset or bored.

:woot: I will make the sleeve work for me this is my second and last chance!

The woman who bragged about going out, right after surgery, and eating popcorn...shivers. There's "cheating," and there's attempted suicide.

I have to agree with pretty much what has already been said. I know someone who had the surgery right around the same time as me and she was around the same weight as me (maybe 15# higher) and while I realize age and medical issues can and will affect everyone differently, but this person just has one excuse after the other why they can't eat this Protein or that protein, or can't get to the gym. I try to be supportive, but I just don't understand why this person won't take the surgery more seriously. I care about her very much, and I'm not close enough with this person to really have that "come to jesus meeting" with her. I don't dwell on this, but I just wish there was something I could do to help her realize she is her own worst enemy with coming up with all the excuses and then being depressed at the scale. Sighhh..... I regress.....

Oh, I did want to add that I have cheated a few times, but not only does the sleeve keep me in check, I also don't go overboard. Sometimes it is actually a concious thing on my part when I hit a stall to confuse my metabolism. Then, I get RIGHT BACK to the program.

Please understand, I'm not condemning anyone or talking about 'cheating' in the normal sense (like not tracking my food very well and splurging on Christmas treats during the holidays, when I was 4 months out, and stalling for a month!). I am concerned when people are less than 4 weeks out and eating nachos or as the other poster said, popcorn.

I think one of the best things about the sleeve is that truly, most foods aren't off limits once you are at a full, normal diet post-op. I like that if someone brings treats into work, I can have a bite or two without worrying about dumping or discomfort. Do I always eat those things? Nope. But I can if I want to. I just had to keep reminding myself when I was newly post-op and struggling with the blandness and monotony of the pureed/mushy foods diet - I would be able to eat normal things again, and enjoy many of the things I did pre-op (just in more appropriate quantities). I eat very little fast food anymore because it makes me feel icky and the fat/calories isn't worth it, but it's not truly "off-limits" to me, just not the best choice.

I feel so lucky that my doctor has a great dietician for me to work with right in his office. It assures me that I will not be "jumping the gun" and eating someting I shouldn't be. I agree that you really need to follow your doctor's requirements and eat at the stages he recommends. It's true the first couple of months are boring but remember, we didn't gain all the weight in just a couple of months, and we are fortunate to be able to lose at a fast pace after the surgery. We certainly couldn't lose this fast on our own, so we have to weigh the good with the bad and appreciate that we are already much healthier than we have been in years, and that a month or so is nothing to contend with!

In case you thought I was taking it personally, know that I wasn't. I was only wanting to share that controlled cheating once you have gotten further down (as you mention) with the right way to eat, that cheating is likely to happen but that we must be able to keep it in check.

We are on the same page! :-)

Please understand, I'm not condemning anyone or talking about 'cheating' in the normal sense (like not tracking my food very well and splurging on Christmas treats during the holidays, when I was 4 months out, and stalling for a month!). I am concerned when people are less than 4 weeks out and eating nachos or as the other poster said, popcorn.

I think one of the best things about the sleeve is that truly, most foods aren't off limits once you are at a full, normal diet post-op. I like that if someone brings treats into work, I can have a bite or two without worrying about dumping or discomfort. Do I always eat those things? Nope. But I can if I want to. I just had to keep reminding myself when I was newly post-op and struggling with the blandness and monotony of the pureed/mushy foods diet - I would be able to eat normal things again, and enjoy many of the things I did pre-op (just in more appropriate quantities). I eat very little fast food anymore because it makes me feel icky and the fat/calories isn't worth it, but it's not truly "off-limits" to me, just not the best choice.

I agree 100% Indymom!

I think after you are on which ever week the doc says its ok to go to full foods (mine is 7 weeks) it isnt really cheating, its trying to live your life normally. Really who isnt going to eat Snacks or a sweet now and then? Who in this world doesnt have a snack occassionally? (besides my dad its crazy!) i cant imagine going through my whole life never eating a piece of cake or icecream again! its about control, portions and timing. But for those first 2 months you really need to buckle down and try to work on those food demons. Most if not all of us have them, thats how we eventually got to be where we are now!

I'll be two weeks out tomorrow. My cheating is that I ate a plain, no fat Greek yogurt yesterday morning and I tried a little bite of the tofu pumpkin bake I made yesterday to eat when I transition to soft foods officially tomorrow.

The original food list I had for week two included Greek yogurt but a revised list indicated liquid yogurt. I made sure to drink with the yogurt and it all went fine.

No nachos or popcorn for me!

oops!

I am wondering what is normal eating? I know that if I want to continue on my path to losing weight. Then I have to eat healthy and exercise. If I go out and start having a snack here and there, then I am going to convince myself that it's ok and do it on an everyday basis. The end result would be a gain of weight and worst yet, diabetsis. My view of healthy eating is eating nutrious meals, I don't need sugarery desserts or candy. I am working really hard to stay away from them. I have even gone to organic foods now. The last time I was in a restaurant, I ordered baked potato soup, and when it came, it dawned on me that it was full of pesticides. That really turned my stomache. Why would I eat this stuff? Here I had 85% of my stomach taken out to lose weight, yet I'm putting pesticides in my stomach. YUCK! So I am working on making the foods I eat more organic. So for the blurb. But I think we should all eat healthier to nourish our bodies. They are so beautiful! Keep rockin our sleeves and eat healthier.

Normal eating is making healthier choices overall. Keeping in mind what your NUT or Surgeon has told you, but for the most part realizing that high Protein choices will be what fills you up quickest and keep you full longest. Moderating that with other healthy choices like fruits and vegetables. And, if you are far enough out from surgery and IF you think you can control yourself with something off program whether it's sweets or something that doesn't fall into the protein, veggies or fruits, then in moderation and understanding that too much of that will affect the progress of weight loss.

It's a delicate balance, something that each of us has to figure out for ourselves since we are all different. Furthermore, men tend to lose weight more quickly than woman when following this regimen, plus if the men have more physically demanding jobs, that is even more helpful for them.

I am wondering what is normal eating? I know that if I want to continue on my path to losing weight. Then I have to eat healthy and exercise. If I go out and start having a snack here and there, then I am going to convince myself that it's ok and do it on an everyday basis. The end result would be a gain of weight and worst yet, diabetsis. My view of healthy eating is eating nutrious meals, I don't need sugarery desserts or candy. I am working really hard to stay away from them. I have even gone to organic foods now. The last time I was in a restaurant, I ordered baked potato soup, and when it came, it dawned on me that it was full of pesticides. That really turned my stomache. Why would I eat this stuff? Here I had 85% of my stomach taken out to lose weight, yet I'm putting pesticides in my stomach. YUCK! So I am working on making the foods I eat more organic. So for the blurb. But I think we should all eat healthier to nourish our bodies. They are so beautiful! Keep rockin our sleeves and eat healthier. :wink1:

I understood the "cheating" concern to be for the people who are still on a post- (or even a pre-) surgical diet.

Like eating solid foods or junk foods when they've been given a list of specific foods. Usually, because they just couldn't help it. That worries the heck out of me!

Like if on a liquid diet, that means no cake or popcorn. Or anything else, that if confessed to the doctor, would result in a good finger-wagging!

Thanks Lissa! I'm definately rocking it! One year later and a new me. I was super anal about tracking food/carbs/calories at first. Then I got into my own groove. Honestly, there wasnt any other option! I've tried every diet on earth...jenny, ww, atkins, south beach, zone, you name it. I dont eat the junk food all the time, but i do crave it still. For the most part, i take the bun off and eat the "guts". I'm not a lame ad for VSG, but a year out, i never thought id be where im at. Stupid stahls, hair thinning (now growing back out) i'm a year out as of yesterday. I've lost 90+#'s. Mentally, my mind has changed about food. Your body will definately let you know. I used to think about missing my junk food. Now, mentally, my body is trained to eat lighter now! And after yesterdays old "menu" tasting......i'm still at my goal weight. If ww, or any of that food "helped" me in the past, i wouldnt have got my surgery. So, what I'm trying to say, cravings always will be there. Yes, it's not good to give in. My mental outlook on food definately changed! Your system will definately let you know.

I can't even count the times I have felt like cheating. 3 weeks of liquids is really tough. I am getting so tired of Protein shakes and greek yogurt!!

I am just too scared to cheat. I don't want to harm my brand new stomach and I don't want to sabotage something I paid so much cash for.

So far so good!

Christin, it is SO hard. I was miserable for the first 6-8 weeks . . . I had multiple crying breakdowns to my husband, and wondered if I had made a bad decision. I even did the "chew & spit" thing with a few bites of different food just to get a different taste/texture in my mouth.