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Real Food - Is it worth the effort?



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OK so surgery at 430lbs (highest preweight was 475) on 4/15/13. I've lost 45lb in the first 45 days. Lately I'm wondering if regular food is worth the effort. Does anyone else struggle with going through the process of preparing a meal only to find you eat 3 bites and can't stand the sight of left overs? Not to mention if I don't eat slowly enough then bleh and no WAY I'm eating any more of it? I'd rather just do Protein shakes/bars (and I do have the occasional chicken "nugget" from KFC). I want to make sure I'm growing my healthy habits but I just get frustrated at making food only to throw it away. Anyone have healthier choices that don't require a lot of prep?

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OK so surgery at 430lbs (highest preweight was 475) on 4/15/13. I've lost 45lb in the first 45 days. Lately I'm wondering if regular food is worth the effort. Does anyone else struggle with going through the process of preparing a meal only to find you eat 3 bites and can't stand the sight of left overs? Not to mention if I don't eat slowly enough then bleh and no WAY I'm eating any more of it? I'd rather just do Protein shakes/bars (and I do have the occasional chicken "nugget" from KFC). I want to make sure I'm growing my healthy habits but I just get frustrated at making food only to throw it away. Anyone have healthier choices that don't require a lot of prep?

I would try a big day of cooking and then freeze individual meals. Like DIY lean cuisines! You will have healthy food that just needs to be microwaved when you're ready.

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OK so surgery at 430lbs (highest preweight was 475) on 4/15/13. I've lost 45lb in the first 45 days. Lately I'm wondering if regular food is worth the effort. Does anyone else struggle with going through the process of preparing a meal only to find you eat 3 bites and can't stand the sight of left overs? Not to mention if I don't eat slowly enough then bleh and no WAY I'm eating any more of it? I'd rather just do Protein shakes/bars (and I do have the occasional chicken "nugget" from KFC). I want to make sure I'm growing my healthy habits but I just get frustrated at making food only to throw it away. Anyone have healthier choices that don't require a lot of prep?

I would say this is just a phase you are going through. At some point you will be able to eat more than three bites. I hated leftovers before my surgery and now I eat them with no problem. Usually what I get is so good that after just eating a small amount I want more so I enjoy the next day of eating left overs.

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Low carb yogurt, cheese sticks, meatballs, tuna, salmon, eggs....

Cook yourself the "meal" and immediately freeze portions and label them. I rarely have "meals"- I'm past 3 months out. We have a big family so I will have a serving of what ever it is I have made for everyone. Protein first, then if I have room a bite or 2 of veggies.

The first 2 months I focused on the Protein shakes and then would nibble on "real food". Now if I'm short on Protein I will add in a shake.

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I would be staying away from KFC for sure !!! That is only setting yourself up for failure. There are tons of great healthy foods you can prepare in short time without going to KFC !!!! Pick a healthy food you like an build off of that. Example... I love portabello mushrooms I stuff them with spinach, cheese, bread crumbs and bake = yummie. I go on like and find all kinds of quick receipes.

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Some days I have to force a "meal'... but I do prepare meals and then use small portion containers to freeze them. That way I always have something I know I can eat without a lot of fuss.

Faliure to plan is planning to fail!

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It is very difficult just prepare a small amount of a Protein fish eggs chucked refried Beans are also good my Dr & nut said when you get to solids you need to eat solids because liquids go straight thru you it's hard for a while but it's just one of the things we have to deal with Freezing is good you can make chili or tortilla Soup or there lots of other good recipes on what were eating tonight or on the world according to egg face just rember protein quality not quantity it hard but in the end it's worth it

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My surgery was 2 days after you (4/17)

Yes - I AM WITH YOU

I am going through same thoughts

I have some days where I am content to barely eat much, then for a moment I will crave a KFC nugget.

I am COMPLETELY ambivolent about food. I could care less what I eat, when I eat, or even if I do eat.

I have also become a little turned off by the quantities of food I watch my family consume - even the 2 tiny family members eat a MOUND of dinner. I dont get it, though I suppose it was me at times.

Even my past favorite foods are not interesting to me.

I am only down 17 lbs in 6 weeks. Still better than gaining!!!

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I've fallen in love with meatloaf and meatballs. My meatloaf is lean ground chuck, finely chopped onion, garlic powder, regular ketchup and egg beaters. I cook it once a week and eat it all week long. Meatballs are the same mix but sometimes I add cheese.

I'm in love with a couple of pieces of roast beef wrapped around a motz stick and warmed in the microwave. Sometimes I eat that on a plate with a little BBQ.

I've found Condiments don't bother me. I don't use enough for them to...or maybe I'm not sensitive to sugar. I also can drink milk...so. I don't know.

An avocado made me vomit and early out so did a soft scrambled egg. eggs no longer make me sick.

I've had a picky pouch today...just isn't happy with anything and eating is almost not worth it. But I did eat and I'll continue to. I want to stay healthy.

I love love love the healthy choice greek frozen yogurt. LOVE. I have all the flavors. vanilla might be my favorite. It's creamy like cheesecake. Anyway...

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I felt the same way a month ago... Now, not so much! I HATED eating!!! It seemed like a chore! Now it's not so bad! I think it's a phase we all go through on this journey!

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Yeah i hate eating too! What a mission . Glad i am not alone ;-) thought perhaps i was having some mental issues.. Just not cool to be hungry for food, then eating something, and then to either have stomach ache or feeling nauseous. Not cool man!

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I'm doing some better with this. I have found a couple of things that work. I don't freeze because I'm just not going to go back and eat it later. My Program recommended Wendy's chili and I get a large and make two meals of it. That's about the only thing I can repeat but I like it cold.

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    • 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
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    • 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.

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