Hi folks,

I am contemplating the sleeve gastrectomy and have already started the process which is 6 months of classes and various clearances from other doctors. However, I have been having second thoughts about this because I'm scared. I like to eat. I don't eat healthy. I try to but the taste is often unbearable. Never liked veggies much except for a small few (broccoli, green Beans, corn, yams, collards). I grew up with poor eating habits and a mother who believed food is love. She loved to cook for my brother and I growing up and often I would have 2 or 3 plates of whatever she made. Also, I love ice cream, chips, McDonalds, KFC, etc. I can avoid fast food but I work a lot and I"m in school so having something quick and easy is nice. I hate the time to prepare a meal and cook it when I can just pick something up. Anyone have ideas on healthy fast food?

I'm just really scared because food makes me feel less depressed. I got down sometimes because I'm not a very happy person and I eat to feel comfort. I don't do this every day but maybe 2 days a week of ice cream, chips, or whatever I have in my house. I know the surgery will not allow me to eat all that without feeling sick. I've been told that you have to fill our pouch with healthy food like Protein and fruits and veggies.

I just feel like asking if I don't have the willpower now to eat healthy, how is that suddenly going to change after surgery? I really want to lose weight as I am 40 and weigh 290 pounds at 5'6". I have been very overweight all my life. I have peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and knee pain. I want to enjoy whatever time I have left. My parents both died in the past 2 years - one of heart attack and other of pancreatic cancer. Dad died at 64 and mom at 70. My grandparents both died in their early 70s. My aunts and uncles all have medical problems several with diabetes. I don't want to end up like them. I want to be healthy, happy, and live a long and satisfying life. Sorry that I went off on that tangent. I'm just torn because of the emotional impact this may have on me and I don't want to regret this decision either way.

I guess I'm having fears about not being able to medicate myself with food and I don't know if I want to go through with this because I won't be able to do that anymore. What have you all done to replace food in your lives for emotional support, comfort?

Also, do you get hungry a lot after you have the surgery or does hunger go away. A coworker of mine said he wished he had the surgery years ago. His only complaint is loose skin. He said he doesn't get hungry and actually has to remind himself to eat. I can't possibly imagine that because I'm always hungry, my stomach growls constantly, and I LOVE unhealthy food.

Right now, I am 4 or 5 months away from a surgery date so I decided to try hard to eat better and exercise every day for 30 minutes. I know I wont lose the massive amount of weight I need to lose by doing that but I can lose some so I want to start there to see if I really need to go through with this.

Well you are right to ask these questions, so it's good that you are thinking. Weight loss surgery is a big help but it's not a silver bullet and as I recall about 1/3 of the people getting the sleeve gain their weight back (and/or don't lose much to begin with). So you need to have the right frame of mind. That's something that you need to do, no one else can do it for you. I can make a few suggestions that might help...

First of all, educate yourself on the consequences of being chronically overweight. Yeah, I know you've heard it before, but I mean read and understand all the gory details of: atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, and later in life, worn out hips and knees, cognitive decline, dementia, alzheimer's disease. If you have a clear picture of the future if you don't change your ways, that should help you to do the right things.

Secondly, learn what to look for in food labels, and keep your mind open when you shop for groceries, and instead of buying the same old things every time you visit the supermarket, actively LOOK for healthy choices that you haven't tried before, that might still be palatable and reasonably convenient to make. Do some reading and experimenting with simple recipes for ways to cook veggies to make them more interesting and tasty, and to substitute fruit for Desserts. Learn to use turkey, chicken and fish where you you used to favor beef and pork and how to incorporate legumes into your diet. There are healthy choices that don't require a ton of work and do taste good, but you need to do some work to alter your awareness and habits. Asking questions like these is a good start, don't stop now! :-)

Edited July 7, 201610 yr by Barry W

We all were where you are. But I disagree with a lot of what has been said. This is based on my experience. You will only be able to eat small portions and you will eat nutritious food because you will feel like crap energy-wise if you don't. Your relationship with food is going to completely change. I have heard of people failing but honestly I don't see how. I was a huge binge eater. Food soothed me. I loved the rush of eating something that tasted good. Well guess what, that flew out the window after my surgery. In addition to the restriction, my sense of taste changed so much that many things, even water, tasted horrible! The taste bud issue slowly disappeared for me after about 3 months but by then, my behaviors were totally changed out of necessity. This surgery was a miracle for me. I pray everyone is as happy with their outcome as I am. God bless and best wishes!

Edited July 11, 201610 yr by JCP

@BarryW

A 3rd of the people regain? Where did you read that?

Sent from my Nexus 6 using the BariatricPal App

I'm a veggie hater, too, but that doesn't mean I can't eat the veggies I do like. WLS helps because at first you won't feel hungry. On top of that, many favorite foods taste "different" and aren't as desirable.

That said, I am also an emotional eater. The best thing I did was to see a therapist who specialized in food issues. I didn't want to undergo major surgery and expend thousands of dollars without making darn certain I did everything possible to make this journey successful.

My therapist has helped me so much. I've learned to recognize when I turn to food to relieve stress or even plain boredom. I've identified the times when I'm likely to want food and to understand the underlying feeling/comfort I want. Knowing that, I've come up with several different things I can do other than eat.

You are not alone. You are not the only person who faces or has faced these challenges. The road is not easy, but it is well worth the travel.

ETA: It's possible your surgeon's office or NUT has a list of therapists used to dealing with weight issues. If money is a problem, your state/county might have a mental health department. The one in my town adjusts fees by what you can afford to pay. I can't recommend therapy enough for those of us who need it.

Edited July 11, 201610 yr by songsmith