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

Recommended Posts

Hi all, I am a newbie and have surgery scheduled for 12-16. My question is, are you ever able to eat real food? To me that means enchiladas, hamburger steak, pancakes, spaghetti, casseroles, chicken strips, etc... Am I going to have to drink Protein Shakes forever?

I'm on day 6 of my full liquid diet so maybe that's where all this anxiety is coming from! Lol! Thanks all

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes we can eat anything after a time.. I'm a year and I can eat most of that stuff you mention, but most of us choose not to or modify...

For instance when I make my family chicken enchiladas I eat the meat filling only not the corn tortilla, because it takes unnecessary space and doesn't have any nutritional benefit same with a hamburger eat the meat and fixings without the bun.

Edited by laura-ven

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all, I am a newbie and have surgery scheduled for 12-16. My question is, are you ever able to eat real food? To me that means enchiladas, hamburger steak, pancakes, spaghetti, casseroles, chicken strips, etc... Am I going to have to drink Protein Shakes forever? I'm on day 6 of my full liquid diet so maybe that's where all this anxiety is coming from! Lol! Thanks all

Lol..... Sorry to laugh........ Yes u will be able to eat real good again.... It's just healthy ways to eating........ Protein will always be in our diet but as time passes u can add different foods in ur diet.......

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Laura for responding. I've read numerous posts from you and respect your insight. We had a "snow" day so I've been cooped up at home all day on liquids and just think I'm starting to psych myself out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm still on full liquids post op, but I've found the thread: "My Lunch: A pictoral attempt to show you life will be normal" I'm the post-op forum to be really fun to read... it helps give me ideas and look forward to real food! :-) I highly recommend checking it out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Laura for responding. I've read numerous posts from you and respect your insight. We had a "snow" day so I've been cooped up at home all day on liquids and just think I'm starting to psych myself out.

Yep your going through all the what's ifs and such.. I'm sure being cooped up doesn't help :)

This phase and early post op are hard, but it's all very temporary. I don't have a "rule" about eating things like bread.. I just don't do it much because it seems not worth it much anymore.

Now I do have a rule about sweets and stuff.

Like tortilla chips! Those devils are still my nemesis!! I still at this point will eat to many sleeve or no sleeve.

Hang in there and you will do great. This time next year you will be a transformed woman!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Laura for responding. I've read numerous posts from you and respect your insight. We had a "snow" day so I've been cooped up at home all day on liquids and just think I'm starting to psych myself out.

Mgr, you are same day as me, and we had a snow day too! I start my pre-op liquids Monday, I would be having a difficult time on them being couped up as well.... Kept busy editing maternity pics from last weekend. It doesn't look like we will get to leave house tomorrow either... I feel for you!!! Hang in there!

Edited by tami j

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, you will be able to eat whatever you chose as your body heals. That being said it is a lifestyle change, your body may not like everything you eat such as pancakes, junk good, and (for me) chicken, so it will basically retrain you. But your hunger will diminish or at least mine did. I am 5m out and I'm able to eat everything I just chose not to.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Another YES here, but the "but" is you need to think about what you eat. In my "fat brain time" I just ate anything... without thinking... anytime, ALL the time. Eat, eat, eat...

Now I plan the day's foods and I track everything that I eat or drink.

Personally, I do not do well with simple carbs / sugars (when I eat them I am FAMISHED for the rest of the day) so, like Laura, I eat a hamburger and skip the bun, etc. BUT, I do go out and eat and nobody can tell that I am eating differently. I focus on Protein and veggies.

Cooped up? Drink Water, it will make you feel full for a little while. Any hobbies (ones that you don't associate with grazing - TV might be 'bad' if you used to eat while watching TV?) Shoot, go out in the snow and ice and yell at some squirrels...

And keep talking to us, we are with you!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, you can eat "normal foods". Once your sleeve heals and you've progress to that point. I can eat what ever i like, but I do not do well with simple sugar either. I choose not to eat bread, Pasta and the list goes on. Everyone is different. But yes, i do eat regular foods. I cook the same foods for the me as the family. I just eliminate what doesn't work for me. I Love my sleeve. Hang in there it gets way better.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all, I am a newbie and have surgery scheduled for 12-16. My question is, are you ever able to eat real food? To me that means enchiladas, hamburger steak, pancakes, spaghetti, casseroles, chicken strips, etc... Am I going to have to drink Protein Shakes forever? I'm on day 6 of my full liquid diet so maybe that's where all this anxiety is coming from! Lol! Thanks all

I have eaten all of that stuff. No problem. Moist things (which is most of what you named) are easy. Try to make them high Protein. I can only manage one pancake with one or two pieces of bacon. It's not a great choice so it is an occasional food. Spaghetti I eat mostly the sauce with about 1/4 the normal serving of Pasta and end up leaving some noodles behind. Hamburger is absolutely great especially with a low fat gravy or sauce.

Of course wait until you are cleared. You can use some casseroles, enchilada, and hamburger in the soft food stage.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you so much everyone!! I woke up this morning in a much better frame of mind. Even though it's been hard, I have NOT cheated. Not even once. I am single so I really appreciate coming to this forum for support.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you so much everyone!! I woke up this morning in a much better frame of mind. Even though it's been hard, I have NOT cheated. Not even once. I am single so I really appreciate coming to this forum for support.

You, my dear, are doing great!

Trust me, it will all be so worth it :)

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

      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!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • 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

    ×