Weight loss surgery makes you change so many things. In fact, if you are (or were) in the position to get weight loss surgery, there’s a good chance WLS will make (or made) you change almost everything about the way you eat. There are so many things you can’t do anymore after WLS.

You need to get rid of most, if not all, of the fast food and other high-calorie Snacks and meals. You can’t eat “the whole thing” anymore. You can’t ignore the nutrition facts panel and serving size. You can’t eat a bunch of sugar or refined carbs because it’ll make you sick or lead to cravings.

There are some other habits that you might have had that just don’t fit into your new lifestyle, too. Maybe you can no longer hit the bar and go drinking on Friday nights with your friends or coworkers, or you can’t even enjoy a glass of wine every night with dinner. Or maybe you’ve had to give up late-night TV to be able to get up early enough in the morning to take a walk or pack a lunch.

For me, I did not have too much trouble giving up a lot of my bad habits because I was so ready for a change. I was sick of my ridiculous diets and weight struggles, and was pretty much ready to do anything to end the fight. I enjoy healthy foods, so didn’t mind giving up most of the junk, and I am lucky in that now I am able to recognize a craving, plan to satisfy it, and then satisfy it without much damage.

What I think was the hardest habit for me to break is a simple one: cleaning my plate. I automatically always ate everything that was in front of me without considering stopping. I now, of course, consider portion sizes and work to keep restaurant portions reasonable. I do still get a sense of satisfaction from finishing whatever is in front of me, so I just try to keep “whatever is in front of me” small – I don’t serve myself much.

So, what is the habit that has been the hardest for you to break? What are your strategies for getting over that bad habit?

I dip my finger in a sauce and I eat 1 bite of macaroni. I want to make sure it tastes good and/or it's done . I don't do measurements, just by eye only. I track it using the least amount that is listed or whatever is closest just so I'm keeping track. It's just what I do because I want to be accountable

I don't consider it a habit that is hard to break, I was just replying to someone that does

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@@VSGAnn2014 for me it is because I use a lot of ingredients that can vary - fresh herbs and home grown tomatoes just as an example rather than cans of stuff and dried ingredients.

but I don't really worry about tasting things while I eat. if I taste, I eat less when I sit down, or just sit and enjoy company.

I don't track my food every day, and really I do a lot of batch cooking on the weekend, so I'm not tasting all the time either.

@@VSGAnn2014

Similar to above, I've never been much of a recipe follower...I don't like other people 'telling me what to do', so to speak. If I turn out a good dish, I want full credit!

There are a few things I've made that have turned out and gone over so well that I've taken the time to develop an actual recipe so I remember how I did it.

For the most part, however, cooking is one big experiment, and I do need to taste to be sure it's palatable. I may not be so concerned if I hadn't had more than a few 'down the disposal where's the takeout menu' nights...

But I have. So I am.

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I really don't understand why y'all have to keep tasting while you're cooking. Is that really necessary to produce a good dish?

Assuming that you're lifelong cooks / chefs and that you've been cooking some of the same dishes for so long, don't you know what the ingredients and amounts are? If not, couldn't you figure that out?

I also don't understand how MFP could tell you with any accuracy what a "taste" of anything is. Surely, "tastes" range from licks to tablespoons. ???

Inquiring minds want to know.

It's about preparing the very best food for my family within my ability to do so. I use only fresh herbs, so the taste varies each time. When preparing an appetizer, salad, Soup course, Protein, starch, veggies, cheese course and then dessert, I am now using a baby spoon to taste each course.

By the time the meal is ready to be presented to the table, I am done. I can eat no more.

I guess I will be content with my family enjoying my food at a formally set table (learning opp for the grandsons) and conversing with me.

-

-and no, this is not every night. This is Sundays, Wednesdays and special occasions.

My biggest issue is still eating too fast. Portion control is being strictly maintained by my sleeve, and I have learned to read the signs, but when you eat too fast, the signs come too late.... I have tried putting 20-30 seconds between my bites with the hope that I can develop the habit, but it only works when I do it consciously - despite months of effort, the habit hasn't stuck. When I don't pay attention, I wolf down food.

Another major issue is lack of motivation to exercise. I did it consistently for months, but then dropped off and the weight kept coming off, so the incentive fell away. I am hoping that now that I am reaching maintenance, I can find the motivation again.

Night eating is still hard for me to let go of some days - and one nibble SO easily turns into a whole lot more. Now I literally say it out loud to myself as I finish eating for the day; "I'm enjoying my last bite of food tonight, and now I'm not eating anything else!" Sometimes I have to repeat it if I need to go back into the kitchen to make my lunch, lol!

Also, I miss the pleasure of having a good single malt scotch on a weekly basis - used to be a really nice pleasure. Now I have it maybe quarterly if that. It's not like I miss the booze really (and it gives me no ill affects in small doses) but I know if I have it more often one will turn into two, and with two my well-thought-out eating plan seems to float out the window. sigh.

I have not had my surgery yet but I'm already weaning myself from Diet Coke and it's HARD!!! Lol after the gym is the hardest bc I want a ice cold Diet Coke or on a hot day.... Lol

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To wean myself off of the Diet Coke habit, I switched to iced tea (I drink mine plain, no sweeteners, no lemons, nada) for a week until I no longer had the cravings for Diet Coke. This also helped with the caffeine withdrawal headaches. After a week, I was able to go to just plain Water. I've done this twice with January 2016 being my 2nd (and last) time of beating this addiction.

I'm still pre-op but I think the hardest habits to break will be like others before me, drinking while eating. It's something I not only enjoy but feel is necessary. The other one is going to be the chugging of Water. I'm a chugger as well and drink a gallon of water a day currently.

We'll just have to see how things go post-op. If these are my biggest habits to break then I'll consider it a win/win.

ETA: I just had lunch and think the bigger challenge won't be drinking while eating. It's the waiting before and after until I can drink that will be.

Edited May 24, 201610 yr by determinedtolive

I have heard acupuncture can be effect to break addictions.

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Drinking with meals so far

I already know... mine is gonna be popcorn - I'm a popcornaholic. I seriouly am - I can withstand almost everything else turn it down and ignore it... but popcorn... I'll just have to make sure that work extra hard to resist that urge after my surgery.

I can't wait! I'm sooo excited that I finally got my date and start this part of the journey!

I already know... mine is gonna be popcorn - I'm a popcornaholic. I seriouly am - I can withstand almost everything else turn it down and ignore it... but popcorn... I'll just have to make sure that work extra hard to resist that urge after my surgery.

I can't wait! I'm sooo excited that I finally got my date and start this part of the journey!

While you may need to give it up for a while you may not have to forever. This is just me but I am almost 8 months out and I eat 1-2 measured cups of smart life light popcorn everyday. I lose pretty consistently and for me it's not a slider food, I do eat a bit of cheese for Protein with it because I never eat anything unless I have protein. I have lost 115lbs so far.

Now I will say if having a bit of popcorn for you opens the door to overindulge then it's probably best to stay away from it. For me I am good with a measured out bit to satisfy that crunchy desire.

I'm hoping that if i measure it out - and my hand hits bottom with nothing to come up that I will NOT get up and go get more. We'll see. I'm into the sweet types or hot types - just everything in between, I can do naked with minimal salt even. I start my 2 week pre-op next tuesday... this is gonna be a fun ride and honestly I really am looking forward to it even with all the ups and downs I know I'll have.

@@reree6898 almost 8 mths and 115 lbs is amazing-good job! I sure am hoping I have those kind of results!

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@@reree6898 almost 8 mths and 115 lbs is amazing-good job! I sure am hoping I have those kind of results!

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Thank you I'm sure you will do great. Just stick to your program.

Edited May 26, 201610 yr by reree6898