Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Loss Of Love For Food



Recommended Posts

So, here I am almost 3 months out, down a total of 75 pounds and almost 50 since surgery....YAY me!!!! These first three months have been relatively easy for me. I healed super quickly, I'm hiking 4 miles a day and getting my 100 grams of Protein in each day has not been a problem. I LOVE my sleeve!!!

I posted a while back about how my relationship with food changed much faster than I thought it would. The first two weeks after my surgery were torturous. I came home from the hospital to my family which includes my 18 and 22 year old sons. It was so hard to watch what they prepared and ate....I felt a little trapped because I couldn't lay in bed so I was confined to the recliner in the living room (right next to the kitchen). So, I mourned food and just tried to look forward to the day when I could chew again.

Fast forward to the present. I have no restrictions where my diet is concerned but my little sleeve just doesn't like bread, Pasta, rice or anything else that's white and starchy....and that's probably a GOOD thing!! I guess what's difficult is the fact that I just don't derive enjoyment from eating anymore. In my head I think I want something and then when it's there in front of me it has no appeal. Is this all a continued part of the mourning process? I mean, I feel like I have a more "normal" relationship with food than I have EVER had. But part of the reason I had the sleeve was so that I could still eat foods I enjoyed....just much less of them!!

I guess I'm hoping that there will come a day when I will enjoy food again....and if that doesn't happen, then I hope I'll get over it!! Again, I love my sleeve and I wouldn't trade what I've gained (and more importantly LOST) just to love food again. I'm just wondering.....

Has anyone else lost their love of food? And if so, did you get over it or do you continue to struggle?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I TOTALLY feel the same way!! I see food and I'm like, eh...whatever. That is amazing to me because pre-op I was OBSESSED with food! Now I am just eating to live...litterally! I do have this new found love for cooking though! Wierd.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was just having these same thoughts today. To be honest, I have a little frustration and sadness about it. I used to really love that full feeling in my belly after a subway turkey sub or a big bowl of homemade salad with lots of ranch dressing. Now I just stare at my food and feel like I could take it or leave it. I get full so fast that I don't feel any satisfaction from what I am eating. While I enjoy the weight loss, I guess I am mourning the way it used to be a little bit. This new normal really takes some getting used to.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I SOOOOOOO long to hear those words come out of my mouth!!! I want food to be "eh" to me!! YES! YES! I want to not think about it, and not plan events around what the food is, or take a day trip and not be more concerned about the food than the time with my family. When I eat something I want really bad, I instantly regret eating it. I feel awful physically and spiritually. Once my stomach is full, my brain shuts off the want, so I'm hoping this surgery will hit the spot!

Congrats Lisa! Celebrate your newfound mediocre feeling about food! (you other 2 as well) Oh happy day it will be.....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I can RELATE TOTALLY to this topic. Prior to vsg surgery I was a food pit!!!!

After surgery food is not important in my daily scheme of things. I try to eat enough to acquire enough Protein as instructed. However, most days I just cannot make myself eat very much at all. I cannot believe the change/difference in my outlook on eating!!!!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Even now I when I get cravings (and I do around that time of the month) I can't find anything that really satisfies me. Used to I would eat half a carton of ice cream, but now I eat a few bites and it's like meh, I don't really enjoy this and it's just going to make my stomach hurt. So I have to find something else to do.

It's a loss for sure. I used food to solve all my problems before. Now I have to actually figure out ways to deal with them because I can't use my "drug" of choice anymore. But overall it's a good thing. There is a price for everything in life.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×