Let me first say, I don't regret this. I got the sleeve for my health and wellbeing and I knew it was going to be hard. I just didn't realize the depth of my love for food.

I'm 10 days post op, living on cottage cheese, re fried beans, protein drinks and water (along with some other puréed food).

I had a relationship with food that is gone now. Tostino pizza rolls won't be there for my next Netflix binge. Chips and dips won't comfort me after a hard day at work. I can't sneak away to breakfast with my husband while the kids are still sleeping and I'm sad about it. I'm sad about losing food.

And I'm tired. So very tired. And emotional. I get my walking in, I go to the gym when I can and I do stretches at home but dang it. I am tired.

I know it's a process and it gets better and all that but I'm just being honest and open and transparent because that's what we do here.

It will get better. We have all been there. I was able to eat a half a deviled egg, very small amount of ham and au gratin potatoes and a tiny piece of cake. The cake was divine. I normally would have had several eggs, picked at the ham, lots of potatoes and a ginormous piece of cake. You will get to the point when you will be able to eat small amounts of holiday food too.

With that said, I am fortunate that I don't have to cook for a family and then eat my chicken and broccoli. That would be rough. My hubby and I ate out all the time before my surgery and we still pretty much do.

Not drinking with my meals is the hardest part, especially because we are trying to eat slowly.

Allow yourself to be sad about it and then pick yourself up and maybe look for new recipes that sound delicious and are on point with your meal plan.

I promise you it gets better! I felt the same way and still have a moment here or there but am at the stage that I can eat anything I want, just limited quantities. And because the real estate is small I make much better decisions. I do still have things I enjoy but appreciate it so much more. Nothing is completely off limit to me.

1 hour ago, Clarevoyant said:

I promise you it gets better! I felt the same way and still have a moment here or there but am at the stage that I can eat anything I want, just limited quantities. And because the real estate is small I make much better decisions. I do still have things I enjoy but appreciate it so much more. Nothing is completely off limit to me.

This is the kind of thing I like to hear. It is crazy to think that we will never eat anything bad for us ever again. It's all about moderation and small portions. I know that I can't eat french fries twice a day every again. But knowing that I can have a few every once in a while helps me get over those moments of depression about food.

It will get better, I felt exactly as you did starting out. I thought I would never feel normal again. I worried my monthly dinners with my girlfriends would never be the same, date night with my hubby or birthday parties with my kids. But it does get better.

I was sleeved 12/30 and at almost 4 months out eat a regular diet, in moderation. For Easter I had grilled kielbasa, brussel sprouts, apple sauce and a little homemade mac and cheese. I went with protein first and added a small taste of the other options.

The first month or two is SO HARD, and it seems endless when you're in the middle of it. But it does get better, SO MUCH better.
I had my surgery right before the July 4th holiday, which is a big BBQ/beer/more beer fest with our friends and family. I locked myself in my bathroom and cried twice during the day and evening; the BBQ smelled awesome, the beer looked fabulous, the corn, the cupcakes...good grief. And I had a Premier Protein that was making me nauseated
Fast forward to where I am now...went to Easter brunch with friends, and it was a buffet. I ate what I wanted, starting with my protein. I had some prime rib, 3 shrimp and smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers. A couple of brussels sprouts and a couple of tiny braised carrots. And when my husband came back to the table with a piece of carrot cake, I had 2 delicious bites of it. I didn't feel weird, left out, hungry or unhappy. I'm also 89 lbs lighter and very close to goal.

The beginning of this sucks, quite frankly. Just know that down the road, your NEW normal is going to be good, too...and it's going to be healthier and something you can sustain.

Good luck to you, I hope today is a better day

This is exactly how I feel. Just exhausted emotionally and physically. I was diagnosed with a eating disorder before this surgery but I never believed I had a problem with food. Until these last 2 weeks. I've cried so much but I talked to my therapist about it today and we're working on it. I just keep hoping it does get better like everyone says.

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This is exactly how I feel. Just exhausted emotionally and physically. I was diagnosed with a eating disorder before this surgery but I never believed I had a problem with food. Until these last 2 weeks. I've cried so much but I talked to my therapist about it today and we're working on it. I just keep hoping it does get better like everyone says.

Well, since writing this post, it got better for a couple of days and then it got bad again. Keep talking with your therapist. I had one for a while, different problem, and it really helped me. In fact, I'm now realizing I probably need to go back.

This post has defiantly got me through some very hard days. I know if I keep myself busy I cope better but I am very much looking forward to pureed food on Monday Thank you everyone for the encouragement to stay strong and look forward to better days!

Let me first say, I don't regret this. I got the sleeve for my health and wellbeing and I knew it was going to be hard. I just didn't realize the depth of my love for food.
I'm 10 days post op, living on cottage cheese, re fried Beans, Protein Drinks and Water (along with some other puréed food).
I had a relationship with food that is gone now. Tostino pizza rolls won't be there for my next Netflix binge. chips and dips won't comfort me after a hard day at work. I can't sneak away to Breakfast with my husband while the kids are still sleeping and I'm sad about it. I'm sad about losing food.
And I'm tired. So very tired. And emotional. I get my walking in, I go to the gym when I can and I do stretches at home but dang it. I am tired.
I know it's a process and it gets better and all that but I'm just being honest and open and transparent because that's what we do here.

I totally relate. I'm only 6 days out but I feel the same way. Can't wait to be far enough out to be able to eat real food again, even if it's only a few bites.

I totally relate. I'm only 6 days out but I feel the same way. Can't wait to be far enough out to be able to eat real food again, even if it's only a few bites.

After reading all of the responses I'm so encouraged. Thank you guys for coming back and giving of your time to encourage those of us just beginning the journey.

Refried beans sounds pretty good right now, but I digress. You should enjoy those things again at some point but with a new tool and knowledge that helps you to not eat portions/quantities that don't make sense. And that's a good thing. A really good thing.

Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.

Well, since writing this post, it got better for a couple of days and then it got bad again. Keep talking with your therapist. I had one for a while, different problem, and it really helped me. In fact, I'm now realizing I probably need to go back.

I've had her for 5 years lol guess I have lot of problems haha the first time talking about it and just that session has helped alot.

I've seen all the benefits of this lifestyle change just in pre-op so I'm not sad whatsoever nor am I missing the garbage foods like soda (what I was seemingly addicted to). My commitment to having a better life far supersedes the desire at this point to submerge myself back into the habits that result in misery.

Part of it is I just had far too much disgust in seeing what this weight gain had done to me (180 pounds in 5 years), a lot of contempt for what I had done to myself when I looked in the mirror, and the desire to life a normal life after being lucky and catching this food-caused liver disease before it was irreversible. Never again.

Edited April 20, 20179 yr by PatientEleventyBillion