Hi everyone! I'm pre-surgery and I have a major sugar problem that I'm trying to get under control. I see it as probably my biggest hurdle in conquering my obesity. Would any of you post-surgery people please share your stories about slaying the sugar dragon? How did surgery help you? Did the cravings come back? If so, when and were they as strong as before surgery? Do you eat sugar in moderation now or have you just never picked it back up again? Thank you for any insight you can share!

I'm 6mos post op an d I realized after my surgery that a lot of foods were now to sweet to even be desirable to eat, now I just try to steer myself away, but I have not been able to give up or avoid sugar in my occoasional coffee. But it does sometimes require a very motivated mindset to deal with.

Apparently not everyone gets dumping, even with bypass. But I've read a lot of people do lose their cravings for sugar after sugar and don't even like the taste of it, at least for awhile. It's very important to take advantage of ANY help in that regard, I think, and build good eating habits for later on, when the "honeymoon" is over and cravings return, as well as being able to eat larger amounts. I know for me, sugar is just like a drug and it's something I need to stay away from entirely, probably forever.

I am one with a bypass who has no negative reaction to sweets made with white sugar. How do I know this? I had a piece of pie and no reaction. Greasy mexican food, white flour carbs, too much fruit, oatmeal, all cause negative reactions. I think DrMeow is right. My nature is to try things and find the limits of my pouch, but also to then make conscious choices to build a lifelong set of habits. Now that I am almost never hungry at 3 mos out, I have been given a gift that eliminates cravings and allows me to practice healthy eating. I know three people (friends or relatives) who have gotten bypass in past years, and have regained a majority of the weight. I asked each how they regained it. One said "Soda -- addicted to Coke"; the other said very gradual increase in amount being eaten until the pouch was back to stomach size; the other said not able to switch off white sugar, white flour etc. and go to healthy fats, grains, veges, fruit -- but the good news is that I know more people who have kept the bypass or sleeve weight off, by building good habits during this honeymoon year after surgery...

Hi Letitbeatles9,

I am a very bad sugar addict. If I'd have chosen the sleeve, I would have eaten nothing but frosting and frosties for the rest of my life, and never lost any weight. This is exactly why I choose the MGB (mini gastric bypass). Now I can eat whatever I like in small portions so I don't have to deprive myself of anything, but if I eat too much, I immediately feel sick and can get dumping which is a great governor for me. Also, I don't crave the sugar badly like I used to do, and believe me it's not because of willpower.

Thank you for allowing us to share with you, and best of luck in your weight loss journey.

Sugar addiction is really tough. It’s different for different people. Some people choose gastric bypass specifically because it makes you sick (gives you dumping syndrome) if you eat sugary foods, so it basically forces you to stop.

Some people are able to get over their sugar addictions by building new habits. I think that’s probably the premise of the whole30 program krisrpaz posted a link to, and similar programs, and also the idea behind the WLS diet – stop eating sugary foods, and you won’t crave them anymore.

Some people always crave sugar, but use the new habits to stay stronger than their cravings. Once you get used to choosing healthy foods and make a habit of grabbing string cheese instead of Cookies, you find it easier to ignore the sugar cravings. At least, that’s the hope!

@@drmeow

That was perfectly said!

Are you having bypass? Probably recommend that since you get sick eating sugar.

My family had chocolate cake with Peanut Butter chocolate icing tonight... they offered me some and I gave them this crazy look like "No way in hell!" Although I appreciate them asking me because I prefer to turn down an invitation rather than being told I can't have something. Makes the rebel in me crazy!

We can all beat this sugar addiction, one "No way in hell!" at a time!

I was sleeved July 2nd. I used to be a sweets eater, loved me some cookies and chocolate. Since the surgery, I have not craved the sweets. My craving as crazy as it sounds is chicken wings lol. I have had some no sugar added ice cream. But 2 -3 spoonfuls and I'm fine. I think to use the time of pre op and post op as a retraining of your brain is so important. I am still early on in my journey, but that time has allowed me to realize food doesn't control me, I control it. Good luck to you.

If you use the word "addicted" then that in itself is not healthy and you may want to consider eliminating it just for that reason.

That's why I posted. I've been trying for years, with some successes and some failures, but I've not been able to kick it for good. That's why I wanted to hear how those who were in my boat used WLS as a tool and combined it with other tools to beat the sugar monster.

Every time I eat anything with sugar I get sick and have diarrhea within 15 mins of having eaten it. I avoid sugar for that reason. But I get my sugar/sweet fix with sugar free Popsicles and Greek yogurt. And if you will drink GNC total lean Protein shakes, they have lots of flavors and are really sweet. Take advantage of the first few months to kick that habit

It's called "Dumping" and it sucks, I get severe cramping, nausea and diarrhea, and you learn after one time lol, look up gastric sleeve, dumping

I am two years out. Initially I was unable to tolerate any sugar, then by about six months out I could tolerate a little sugar. I am now once again a full blown sugar addict. The good news is that I can't eat all the sugar I want in one sitting, however it can easily be consumed throughout the day. My best advice is give up sugar when you have the surgery and NEVER touch it again. Honestly, for me it has been a very slippery slope and I have now regained 15 lbs. The surgery will not prevent you from returning to your sugar addiction. Sugar is a toxic substance and we grossly underestimate how addictive it is and what it does to our bodies.

Yes and this is the problem. I had the lap band (does anyone have this anymore?) and to be truly honest with myself I have to admit that I NEVER gave up sugar entirely. I stopped eating certain foods but never completely gave it up even while I went through surgery. Now, over 6 years out, I have gained most of my weight back and am as addicted to sugar as I have every been. I feel I should have gone with the RNY. But at the end of the day I have to give up the sugar.

I go into months-long binges after eating sugar. In fact I think I've had enough sugar to last me the rest of my life - literally! After VSG, just a few short weeks from now, I plan to follow a diabetic type diet and avoid sugar as though my life depended on it. Which it kinda does.

Oh, and great thread! Thanks for starting it and thanks to all who have contributed.

Edited August 3, 201511 yr by byebyedarkpassenger