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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Angiemae, that would be fun. If we just wanted to meet for coffee or something maybe we could meet up in Salem. That would be fun. Your pretty new out from your surgery right? Anyhow, let's keep in touch. If you want to contact me thru my email let me know. I will post it in a private place. Ok

I'd invite myself, but it's a bit of a commute from New York! I do know someone from Roseburg and have a cousin in Portland.

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Gotcha. I read it as your doc recommended a different surgery.

@@Slick300

I think true foodies, not food addicts, do well after surgery. If you thought you were a food snob before surgery, after surgery it is times 10. I will not eat bad food or mediocre food, not at all. This have to basically be delicious for me to eat them.

The time post off where you are eating very simply for weeks/months cleanses the palette in a very interesting way. When you add food back, good high quality food has the taste amplified quite a bit. You taste everything more. Which is why bad food is so terrible to you.

I enjoy being able to eat at trendy restaurants and not walking away hungry. I can have a couple bites of something, get a taste for it and be satisfied. I really enjoy places with small plates, it completely cloaks my small capacity, and by the time people have realized I have barely ate anything, they are almost done (realizing they pigged out).

I gave up alcohol long before surgery, so I can't really comment on that. I will have a sip of something if it compliments the dish, but it is purely for the taste/compliment. Alcohol does enhance food. I suggest paring with liquor before surgery and not having it, until you have lost over 50% of your excess weight. Some people can do well with alcohol after surgery, but others not so much. It is just empty calories, with no nutritional value. I think about food/drink in terms of how it benefits me, and alcohol just has few benefits and lots of cons.

If you love food, really love, good food, you will after surgery. If you follow your food steps, and change your relationship with food in a positive manner, you can still be a foodie and be successful.

@@Slick300

To prove that post sleevers can remain happy foodies, here's a pick and description of what I made tonight!

^{Butcher’s Steak with Red Wine Reduction, Smoked Goat cheese Crema & Walnuts}

Granted, I could only eat about 2.5 ounces. But it was amazing and so much fun to make. For my husband I also made roasted red potatoes and herb green Beans to go with it. Plus I saved some steak for tomorrow's lunch.

And last night I made Thai chicken Curry Soup. The possibilities are endless!

Edited December 16, 20169 yr by The New Kel

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

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You're in Salem? I was there last week! I was doing a review of the Enlightened Theatrics performance at The Grand. They're a very good company.

We should absolutely do something! We could do my place or a restaurant or somewhere else!

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Edited December 16, 20169 yr by Vinasu

I LOVE BEER. Oh beer and pizza and everything in between. I used to order pizza and drink 4 beers back to back. Post surgery, it hurt bad when I tried even a Soda. I am not a quitter,I was mixing soda with water and drinking it cause of he cravings. Didn't like it. I weaned off Soda pretty quickly. Next came beer. The post op process did a good job on killing the beer cravings, you just can't drink enough without being uncomfortable to make it worth it. So a cocktail? Even those. You can't really drink. If it's between a nice meal or a drink, I usually go for the food. I would rather eat a piece of pizza and maybe a sip of alcohol. The surgery process took care of tha problem for me