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Long story short, I had gastric bypass on 11/29 for bile reflux, not weight loss. My stomach pouch was made a little larger than ones done for bariatric surgery but obviously, my diet is restricted.

However, since my surgery I've begun to realize I have an incredibly unhealthy relationship with food. I am hungry all the time right now, and can't stop watching videos of food being made, looking at pictures of food, googling restaurant menus, and planning out what I'm going to eat as soon as I'm healed. Food has always been very comforting for me, and while I never binged I always, always made unhealthy desicions when it came to eating.

Two years ago I had a Nissen Fundoplication for acid reflux, and my eating was MUCH more restricted than it was now. It was months before I could even drink cold Water. I fell into a deep depression at that time, and as my literal ability to swallow food increased, so did my poor choices.

I was slightly overweight before my bypass and want to maintain a healthy weight when I'm able to eat food again, and I want to make better choices when it comes to eating, especially because of the nutrient absorbtion issue.

I'm feeling very lost and sad right now, and I don't know where to turn. Because I did not have this surgery for weight loss I didn't recieve any nutritional guidance beyond the "week 1 Clear Liquids, week 2 pureed food..." handout.

Can anyone please point me in the direction of some good post op diet and nutritional guides?

Ive had a long, complicated recovery (bowel obstruction, 9 days in the hospital) and I'm still in a lot of pain and feeling very depressed. Any encouragement would mean a lot to me!

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I am going to have surgery this week, I am a nurse. The thing I fear the most is the depression afterwards. I have already thought about the lost of food some how depressing. I realize that looking better will be the bonus. I want less weight on my feet. I want more energy. I wrote a list of reasons I need this and want to loose weight. I promise myself to read it when I am down. At the point you are now you can look how far you come and know that it's only going to be better. You want better health and your working in that direction. Some days are one moment at a time. This is your journey and you will do well.

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there are several web sites for bariatric patients many of them have recipes and assistance with food plans. the emotional part is an area I do not feel is addressed nearly as well as it should be for bariatric patients. perhaps some counseling ( many insurances will pay) or overeaters anon if there is a chapter in your area. they are also on line and have phone meetings and pod casts. it is not for everyone but it has sure helped me develop a healthy relationship with food. you sound like you are really trying to address your health issues and I am proud of you. Depression is normal after any surgery it is just something you will have to deal with and is not a fun time. you have us so continue to reach out and vent when you need to. best of luck to you

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BariatricEating.com, "The World According to Eggface" blog, "Bariatric Foodie" blog are three that I find very helpful.

But if you could find a Nutritionist in your area that specializes in Bariatric patients, it would probably benefit you the most to have a visit or two with one.

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I love the world according to eggface and bariatric foodie to be great sites. I like the posts on Bariatric Eating but find the administraters to be very scolding and harsh. we have had enough of that in our lives. if you can ignore them the recipes and eating plans are super

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BariatricEating.com, "The World According to Eggface" blog, "Bariatric Foodie" blog are three that I find very helpful.

But if you could find a Nutritionist in your area that specializes in Bariatric patients, it would probably benefit you the most to have a visit or two with one.

So excited to check those out!

Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App

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      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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