Hey everyone. Have been reading BP for a couple of months now, but this is my first post.

Still early in the process-have attended the required info session and am awaiting my consult. I'm on the smaller side of eligibility with BMI of 38 and severe obstructive sleep apnea. Original thought was VSG but will trust in surgeon's advice.

At any rate, as I go through all the pros and cons of this process in my head, I feel like i can take on and handle just about everything, but one glaring issue pops up....food and drink. I've spent most of my life with a love for great food and drink. I run the gamut on food from high end to low, ethnic to not and on drink all across the board from single malts to expertly made cocktails and obscure micro-brews. I simply love good stuff.

This love for food and beverage has been such a big part of my interests for so long, I fear how compromised this will be post-surgery. Has anyone out there been in a similar boat with the same interest? How has your involvement with food and drink been after surgery?

Thanks in advance for any input!

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Addiction is REAL!! Be it food, alcohol, sex, shopping whatever is real!! Cross addiction happens to many after WLS. For sure. My hubby was hoping and praying that I would have SEX as my cross-addiction!! NOPE didn't happen, now shopping watch out. LOL All joking aside, I had a very hard time justifying going out to eat!! I felt the same about cooking because when you can only eat a few bites it was hard!! Notice I said WAS. My hubby has said all along that I should look towards QUALITY, not QUANTITY!!! It was such a SMART thing to say!! I'm not saying that I'm like all cured of the examples above but it is much better. Now I am not a fancy foodie I was just raised on the OL SOUTH GOOD FOOD!! But, I can deal with having them ever once and awhile. Heck, one of y very favorite meals could more than likely cause most of you foodies to go into a swift HEART ATTACK!! LOL My old fav used to be fried potatoes, Mac and cheese, corn and a buttered piece of Wheat bread (the bread was more than likely the healthiest part of the meal) of course even if I fixed it I wouldn't be able to eat but a few bites. LOL Just a thought. Oh, BTW I always loved a cold beer before my WLS now I like wine. Does that make me more sophisticated? Just kiddin

Addiction is REAL!! Be it food, alcohol, sex, shopping whatever is real!! Cross addiction happens to many after WLS. For sure. My hubby was hoping and praying that I would have SEX as my cross-addiction!! NOPE didn't happen, now shopping watch out. LOL All joking aside, I had a very hard time justifying going out to eat!! I felt the same about cooking because when you can only eat a few bites it was hard!! Notice I said WAS. My hubby has said all along that I should look towards QUALITY, not QUANTITY!!! It was such a SMART thing to say!! I'm not saying that I'm like all cured of the examples above but it is much better. Now I am not a fancy foodie I was just raised on the OL SOUTH GOOD FOOD!! But, I can deal with having them ever once and awhile. Heck, one of y very favorite meals could more than likely cause most of you foodies to go into a swift HEART ATTACK!! LOL My old fav used to be fried potatoes, Mac and cheese, corn and a buttered piece of Wheat bread (the bread was more than likely the healthiest part of the meal) of course even if I fixed it I wouldn't be able to eat but a few bites. LOL Just a thought. Oh, BTW I always loved a cold beer before my WLS now I like wine. Does that make me more sophisticated? Just kiddin

I'm a mac n cheese connoisseur. I prefer it with gruyere.

HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Edited December 15, 20169 yr by KristenVSG2014

Addiction is REAL!! Be it food, alcohol, sex, shopping whatever is real!! Cross addiction happens to many after WLS. For sure. My hubby was hoping and praying that I would have SEX as my cross-addiction!! NOPE didn't happen, now shopping watch out. LOL All joking aside, I had a very hard time justifying going out to eat!! I felt the same about cooking because when you can only eat a few bites it was hard!! Notice I said WAS. My hubby has said all along that I should look towards QUALITY, not QUANTITY!!! It was such a SMART thing to say!! I'm not saying that I'm like all cured of the examples above but it is much better. Now I am not a fancy foodie I was just raised on the OL SOUTH GOOD FOOD!! But, I can deal with having them ever once and awhile. Heck, one of y very favorite meals could more than likely cause most of you foodies to go into a swift HEART ATTACK!! LOL My old fav used to be fried potatoes, Mac and Cheese, corn and a buttered piece of Wheat bread (the bread was more than likely the healthiest part of the meal) of course even if I fixed it I wouldn't be able to eat but a few bites. LOL Just a thought. Oh, BTW I always loved a cold beer before my WLS now I like wine. Does that make me more sophisticated? Just kiddin

Well if we are gonna turn this into a food porn post, I will see your mac n cheese and raise you a nice buttered baguette freshly warm out of the oven...oh and mmm maybe some baked Brie, a little pâté...

Edited December 15, 20169 yr by Travelher

The best way for me to describe my Foodie life post op is quality versus quantity. If I am going to have 1/2 cup of food, it's going to be the best I can possibly make or find.

Sums it up perfectly. I think I actually enjoy food more now.

I forgot to add- regarding drinking.

Before surgery I loved wine. I still do, but less. I will have a good quality dry wine, maybe one glass every few days in the evening. I just don't want it like before. Also, your tolerance for alcohol goes way down so you will get intoxicated from a fraction of what you were used to.

I echo the sentiments so many have said here: Quality over quantity post-op.

For people who really enjoy drinking you need to be careful because weight loss patients have significantly higher rates of alcoholism, especially if there is a family history of that. it puts you at a much greater risk.

Almost every on line article about this came Rom the same small (and IMO flawed) study.

The belief that WLS patients have a higher risk of alcoholism than anyone else is not so cut and dry.

It's true that people who overcome one addiction, be it food, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, shopping or even religion or exercise, are more at risk for a new addiction.

However, the actual number of people who have WLS with no previous history of alcohol abuse is small. People who enjoy drinking alcohol are not always alcoholicc. And, like many obese people who don't enjoy eating, many alcoholics don't actually get much pleasure out of drinking.

@@Vinasu

That is my kind of party! I will sometimes make my own little meat and cheese board for dinner. Of course there are always some raw veggies then too.

@@Vinasu

That is my kind of party! I will sometimes make my own little meat and cheese board for dinner. Of course there are always some raw veggies then too.

It was a great party. If you're ever in the Portland, OR area, PM me and I'll give you tour of the best we've got. A little Olympia Provisions Pork and Pistachio Pate and Rogue Creameries Bleu will rock your world!

Thank you all for taking the time to respond! I'm starting to see some light in the other side of this topic.

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All that said, you mentioned trusting your surgeon and having initially considered VSG. Doc suggest otherwise? Reasons? That may affect some of the advice received.

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Well, really just based on my own research and info session. Lower BMI, no history of GERD, experience of a friend that was of similar stats and had VSG. Haven't had consult with surgeon yet, so actually meant as I move forward and have that appt, I'll certainly trust the Doc opinion. (Dr. Baranov at Saratoga Bariatrics, Saratoga Springs, NY)

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Edited December 15, 20169 yr by Slick300

It is soooo much cheaper to be a foodie post surgery. You no longer need a pound of organic grass fed beef, 1/4 of a pound can make two meals for me. Restaurant meals = three meals. Do the math. I figured my surgery paid for itself after a year based on the savings in dining out.

It is soooo much cheaper to be a foodie post surgery. You no longer need a pound of organic grass fed beef, 1/4 of a pound can make two meals for me. Restaurant meals = three meals. Do the math. I figured my surgery paid for itself after a year based on the savings in dining out.

Actually, I still make the same quantity but I freeze half for easy weeknight meals. I love it! It makes life so much easier. I also love to cook a base meat like an entire chicken or pork butt and then create different meals throughout the week with the meat. Tacos, Soup, frittatas, etc. It forced me to be more creative.

HW 290+/SW 261/GW 160/CW 159

Not much to add, but when I first contemplated this surgery, I thought my cooking days were over. That is not the case. I am just cooking things a little differently. And like @@OKCPirate says, a little bit of food goes a lot further now.

@@Vinasu

That is my kind of party! I will sometimes make my own little meat and cheese board for dinner. Of course there are always some raw veggies then too.

It was a great party. If you're ever in the Portland, OR area, PM me and I'll give you tour of the best we've got. A little Olympia Provisions Pork and Pistachio Pate and Rogue Creameries Bleu will rock your world!

Hey, a fellow OREGON Peeps. I live in Roseburg, Oregon.

I live be in Salem but we have a condo in Portland. Maybe we can have a get together?

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