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Does the sleeve make food a non issue?



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I wonder if you are able to meet your Protein, Fluid, and supplement needs without obsessing,.craving, and logging all intake as time goes by? My hope is that I won't wake up thinking of food, be driven by my cravings and appetite, and won't feel that I have to eat what I see on TV (right now!) Has your gastric sleeve, even after the honeymoon period, allowed you to put food in it's proper perspective? Does the diet after surgery ever become...well...routine? Thanks...I am so tired of being ruled by food and wonder if this is a way to end that lifelong struggle.

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Yes and no. For many people, the hunger is still there but gives away faster. For others it does go away. I still get just as hungry and have to respect it for what it is. But if I do eat I get full fast and stay full for longer than ever before.

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Well, the sleeve is just a tool, it doesn't address your mental issues, and why you eat when you aren't hungry, etc.. That being said, I find I no longer really care about food, so it is much easier to concentrate on eating the right things. It has become very routine for me at this point (6 months out). I pretty much eat by the clock, 3 small meals a day, with some Snacks (cheese sticks, nuts, etc) in between the meals.

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8 months out and everything seems "normal" and "routine" for me - that's a good thing! I don't feel like I'm doing anything really different or special. I just make better choices now and eat in smaller quantities, not because I feel like I "should" more like because I "have to". It's just the way it is... so yeah, total non-issue!

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One thing I'll say is that even though I'm eating less than ever before, it really doesn't feel like a "diet" at all. When I'm hungry, I eat! But after a few bites, I'm full and enjoyed the food for what it was.

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Your stomach will be smaller. And you may have hormone changes that help (Ghrelin). But it is not magical and your stomach is NOT your brain. You (we) MUST deal with our brain, up to and including TV ads. Whenever I see food on TV, it goes in my mental book of "Don't go there"... "EVER!

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Good question and good posts.

The only time I think about food is when I am shopping for it, eating it, or talking on this forum.

No longer do I lay in bed dreaming up concoctions to run down my neck. No more endless drooling at the food Network trough.

Food has taken it's rightful place on a lesser shelf right next to my multi-Vitamins.

It is energy first, enjoyed but not worshipped, the vast majority of my pleasure in life is derived elsewhere.

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This is forced life habit change which we clearly couldn't do with our full stomach. Eventually, you learn to embrace it and not let food determine if you're having a good day or a good time. It's hard though...the psychological aspects are understated. The doctors tell you about it but I recommend spending good time, ongoing, with your psychologist.

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Before surgery I was obsessed with food. I'm a little over a year out and my head hunger is about 90% gone. I hope that never changes!

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Your looking at it all wrong.......Try this. After the sleeve, picture yourself staring at a very small table right next to you with very small portions of healthy unappetizing foods on it. (just enough to keep you alive) Then right across this, not so very large expanse, is a Large Buffet table loaded with every kind of delicious food and dessert you can imagine. Only the expanse is bottomless quicksand teeming with quicksand sharks ready to devour you. (really, I've heard they really do have quicksand sharks). -- my analogy of course is the quicksand and sharks is my sleeve bursting and causing my dimise--

Can't picture it ???? Well, I can and I'm count'n on them sharks keeping me away from the buffet...........so don't spoil it for me. :unsure:

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Does it make it a non issue??? In a word no.

I think for some of us only a lobotomy would do that..

Bwa Ha Ha... How much do they cost, and will my insurance pay for it???

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Bwa Ha Ha... How much do they cost' date=' and will my insurance pay for it???[/quote']

No.. Not covered.

But I hear there are a couple of doctors in Mexico that offer it with the whole package real cheap!

It's called the supermodel package!

You get taller, better looking, skinny and... well.... slightly dumber.,

All for 8759.89 !!

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Does it make it a non issue??? In a word no.

I think for some of us only a lobotomy would do that..

Bwa Ha Ha... How much do they cost, and will my insurance pay for it???

I would go for it, but I've been told, in my case the change wouldn't be that noticeable..............what's up with that?! :blink:

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For me it has worked - so far at least. i do get hungry but with just a cracker and a slice of low-fat cheese I'm fine. I don't crave sweet things anymore - and i used to be an addict. Actually when i tried eating some dessert it felt too sweety almost disgustingly so. and that goes even for comercial juices. So yeah, i eat healthier and that is the only kind of food i want. I also don't care for coffee and I used to be addicted to that too. My whole sense of taste has changed for the better. :)

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    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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