So I was just reading the pamphlet my NUT gave me about the stage 4 diet, or real food, that I will move to next week (yay!) and I am shocked by some of the things it says I still can't have! Is this true? Does anyone eat these things without issue because some of these are my favorites!

Coconut

Membranes of oranges

Stringy Pasta like spaghetti

Skins of fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, and potatoes

Stringy vegetables like celery, asparagus, and spinach

Untoasted bread (not real worried about this)

I am 8 months post op and still cannot tolerate apple peels, the membranes of oranges, spaghetti.

I barely tolerate bread unless it is toasted but I don't enjoy it anymore Anway.

I have been able to eat celery if it is chopped very small in a salad or if is cooked in a Soup or stew.

Now I can eat an egg noodle if is is cooked completely but I rarely do.

The things that are important especially in the beginning is good Proteins, good carbs like vegetables and fruits. You really don't have room for much more.

I'm 29 months post surgery and can eat all those things. Some, like celery, I dice very small. Others like orange pith I limit. I love clementines--no problem with that. I can eat Italian bread untoasted, but toast regular whole wheat bread. ( I don't eat much bread).

I can eat sugar-- not good and try to stay away from sweets.

I have been on "normal" food for about a month now. I can't eat apple peel, it kills me. Celery, asparagus or other stringy hard veggies I'm scared to try. I have eaten spinach, cabbage, and squash both raw and cooked successfully. I have not tried any pasta, bread or rice. I was told its carbs I don't want. I have been focusing on my protein so lots of egg, cheese, fish, chicken and turkey burger patties. I do love me a good salad, the one thing that I had for the first time is grits. I was scared it would not settle well, but it did. It was fantastic!

I eat celery cooked and raw (chopped finely) and salads, string beans ... Can't do broccoli...haven't tried fruits except watermelon

I am almost 4 months out and can tolerate most everything that is okay to eat at this stage. Per my drs. instructions, I cannot add Pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, etc. until 6 months. I can do coconut and apples. I have a fav snack with greek yogurt, apples, unsweetened coconut, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and pistachios. Granted, I am only eating 1/4 of an apple with each serving. The very first time I tried it, I had some issues. However, I waited a couple weeks and tried it again and didn't have any problems. I now eat that a couple times a week. I have also had pineapple, kiwi, all sorts of berries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and grapes. Because I focus on Protein, anytime I have something like that it is in very small quantities. I have not had any issues.

I think the most important thing to realize is that everyone is different. What might cause an issue for me may be something that you don't have any problems with at all. Just test things in small quantities and see what happens. If you do have an issue with something, then wait a couple weeks and try it again. Good luck!

I'm about 6 months post-surgery. I have eaten Pasta or bread a couple of times, and they just don't taste as good as they used to and don't sit well anyhow. I don't miss bread at all, and I used to be a fiend for any kind. Pasta I sometimes miss, but the experience isn't the same so it's not hard to avoid.

I just tried lettuce and spinach other raw veggies in the past couple of weeks, and tolerated them fine. I've been fine with celery since about 3-4 months post-op, but I've only ever eaten it sliced into tiny chunks. I also tried cooked asparagus this week and that was fine too.

I was surprised that strawberries are as low in sugar as they are (and that oranges, grapes, and bananas are so high!), so those have been a welcome substitute for other fruits. (Incidentally, this is a great visual: http://www.sugarstacks.com/fruits.htm)

@@anaxila - I am with you on those items not tasting the same. I was just trying to explain this to my two bff's yesterday. We met for lunch and I was explaining why some things didn't really bother me anymore. I have taken a bite of them and they do not taste the same and there is no satisfaction from eating them. One item in particular tastes almost like something metallic in my mouth. I tried it a second time to be sure. I could tell they were having a hard time understanding. I am not sure I understand it myself:) However, I am grateful. I don't want to work this hard and end up having to battle issues with foods that I can't leave behind and that cause me to gain weight.