Sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I know most ppl think about what they will and won't be able to eat post-op and alot of it is the less than healthy favs we might have but I have questions regarding healthier options.

*Spicy foods? Will I be able to eat them post-op? If not right away when? I LOVE spicy foods. In fact I am growing multiple jalapeno and habanero plants, because I love them so much. I know spicy can cause acid issues but are they intolerable? If I can't have spicy I think this is what I will miss most post-op

*Salads? I know salads are really against the rules but when I think protien first, then think about the fact that for several months post-op my sleeve will be the most restricted I wonder if I will have room for the greens? I am also growing several greens that I use in salads, but I could learn to accept this one knowing that eventually my sleeve will relax slightly allowing me a tiny salad on occasion but I am curious how far out it was before some of the post-op'ers were before they could enjoy a good salad without sacrificing precious protien space. I.e- when there you able to have a salad WITH a protien source and NOT end up eating only the protien because there was no room for the greens?

*In relation to the salad question- We are told protien first BUT protien is not the only nutrient we need. We need to get the Vitamins and nutrients provided in non-protien sources as well if the intent is truely to become healthier. How do YOU balance the need for protien with the need for the vitamins and minerals not provided in protien sources with such a tiny place to put it in? I know we have to take vitamins but I'd like to have the bulk of my nutrition come from food not pills and since I have not yet been sleeved I don't yet know what i will be able to consume with a sleeve and protien first mantra. Many say they could only eat a couple bites of protien before becoming full, esp early on... where do the fruits and veggies fit in (pun intended)?

Thanks in advance

My experiences 7.5 months post-op:

*Spicy - I've grown a bit more sensitive to spicy, but I still enjoy it and it does not bother my sleeve. I just can't tolerate quite the heat I could before.

*Salads - I've eaten salads since about 3 months post-op. I just make sure I don't eat any "just lettuce" bites - I always make sure they meat and/or cheese with each bite. No issues whatsoever.

*Protein - My surgeon is not protein-crazy. He believes 60 g daily is sufficient. I have been losing okay and have not lost hair, so I tend to think he's right. Anyhow, I make sure I have protein at each meal, but I don't focus just on it - I very much think that fruits and veggies are important in our diets, and taking them in pill form is not the same as eating them in their natural state. I eat fruit as a snack daily and I eat veggies with nearly every meal. I try to do 2 bites protein to 1 bite veggie. So far, it seems to be working.

Good luck!