Since I am still in the getting knowledge stage, I was wondering if any of you who had the surgery are chefs or avid home cooks? Do you still cook? Do you like too? I'm a self proclaimed home chef and I love to entertain. Will I still be able or want to do that?

I am wondering the same thing.... I love to cook and entertain...... tonight I have a stuffed chicken breast with low fat ricotta cheese and spinach a quarter of a baked potato with only pepper and garlic and asparagus..... I guess thiswill be out of the question LOL

I love to cook. In fact my husband and I do "chopped" challenges to each other all the time. I agree that this was something I had to think long and hard about. I'm just in the supervised diet phase, so I can't speak to after the surgery, but I've just shifted my focus a bit and find that I still like to find recipes and modify them and cook...I'm just looking for different stuff.

I am learning all new recipes, and it is challenging. It's kind of fun to learn new dishes though and my taste testers seem to enjoy it!

I have always loved to cook and have guests over. This has not changed since surgery almost 9 months ago. I love to try new recipes and make family favorites with fewer carbs and calories. my three boys and husband seem to get upset if I do not cook. I still make cakes, Cookies, brownies, dinner rolls, and other goodies. I just choose not to eat them. It does not bother me at all. I use splenda when baking instead of sugar. I have slowly changed things with how I cook and its better for everyone.

I think I love cooking even more now. I love to entertain and make my meals "pretty" and delicious. There's something liberating in cooking not not constantly licking the spoon , lol!

i LOVE to cook and am known at work, in my family, and in our social circle for certain dishes that are favorites.

i have wanted to learn MORE about cooking for a long time. specifically, how to pair things, how to make more advanced things, etc...i learned to cook from my grandma and most of what i cook is just good home food, plus dips, Desserts, etc. i want to learn to REALLY cook.

i have been looking around and there are virtually no cooking classes in my area but there IS an online "Top Chef University" that is classes online, video lessons, etc. I'm thinking about doing that. i think it would be a TON of fun!

btw- if anybody knows of any great DVDs or online type classes that would be helpful, i would appreciate the info!

I only cook for myself. I usually cook a big pot of whatever - that will last 5 or 6 days - and just eat on it all week. I only eat out 1 meal per week, on Saturday night. I haven't had fast-food for over 18 months, just no desire for it anymore.

I'm a pre-op who loves to cook. I got this book, which is called Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery which has great recipes. The best thing, it shows you how to prepare each one for each stage of the surgery.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569244537/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i am a foodie and i do personal cheffing. honestly, i am way less focused on food now a year post op. i still love to eat and feed other people, but i just dont care as much about food as i used to. when i spend time with people, i focus on them. i look for things other than eating to do as socializing now. i still like to have people over and feed them, but its just not as big a deal for me as it used to be with the food.

I was a total foodie and like to cook before surgery- now am even more so! The difference is now I try to cook healthy things and focus on new healthy recipes and use a ton of spices for flavor.

Ah, this is on my mind too. I have been a professional chef for the past 15 years and have now decided to pursue medical school. I am leaning towards getting the sleeve but since food and beverage has pretty much defined me my entire adult life, I feel like it is going to be particularly difficult for me. But hey... what even convinced me to check out the surgery was seeing that Graham Elliot got it, so I at least try to tell myself I can still stay close to the profession I hold near and dear.

Edited August 9, 201412 yr by chefemt

if you are lucky and work at it, this surgery can give you a reset to allow you the space to develop a healthier relationship with food. one where it has an appropriate place in your life. but its not something that happens automatically. there are plenty of people who have this surgery who never address their food issues...