Which Foods Can’t You Eat Now?

[Alex Brecher 10,486]

Your diet has almost certainly changed since weight loss surgery. A good portion of the change is because of doctor’s orders: you may not be allowed to eat or drink soft drinks, sweets, fried foods, white bread, and other calorie-dense, nutrient-poor choices.

Some of the changes in your diet may be because of changes in your digestive system after weight loss surgery. With the gastric sleeve and bypass, you might have trouble tolerating sweets, starchy foods, and fatty or greasy foods. This can be helpful for weight loss and may even be a reason why you chose that type of weight loss surgery.

Some of the foods you cannot tolerate anymore may be surprises or disappointments. For example, you might no longer be able to take red meat or poultry, even though you are trying to get more low-carb, high-protein foods. Salads are often a problem after all types of bariatric surgery, and stringy veggies can be off-limits for lap-band patients. Needing to avoid high-fiber, low-calorie foods such as celery and popcorn can be frustrating when you are trying to eat healthy and lose weight.

So, which foods are you unable to tolerate now after weight loss surgery? Are they what you expected? Are you glad you cannot have them because skipping them helps you lose weight, or are you disappointed? Are there any healthy foods that you can’t have anymore?

If you’re pre-op, which foods are you most worried about not being able to eat? Are there any foods you are hoping you won’t be able to eat so that you can lose more weight?

[Ms. Brightside 121]

Pre-op sleever here. I'm concerned about not being able to eat raw vegetables until at least 6 months after surgery. And only thoroughly cooked (i.e. mushy) vegetables at 6 weeks post-op. Even though I'm obese, I do love my vegetables and they make up a large portion of my diet.

HOWEVER, the trade-off of attaining a healthy weight and hopefully being able to avoid the obesity-related diseases that run in my family is well-worth it.

[Introversion 1,876]

I've been sleeved for approximately two years. I can tolerate anything. I have no food intolerances whatsoever.

However, I choose to not eat my trigger foods because I know I will graze my way to the bottom of the bag or box if they are in my house. For me, trigger foods include tortilla chips, corn chips such as Fritos, flavored popcorn, and certain crackers (e.g. flavored Triscuits, Cheez-Its, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish).

[swimbikerun 1,038]

Red meat, fair amount of dairy, lots of things. As long as I am not on a PICC line, midline or anything but an occasional banana bag or fluids, I'm good with it.

[Jen-2+1 131]

I am only 7 months post op, but I have been able to eat all foods without any problems. I don't eat seafood, but I have had all meats, lots of veggies and salads. I don't eat any rice or Pasta, and very limited bread products.

[Daenerys Targaryen 109]

I can eat anything except bananas. I have tried several times but they hurt my stomach with cramping to the point of tears.

[Bon Appetit 41]

I'm seven weeks post op. Raw tomatoes and raw carrots were tough about two weeks ago. I may try them again next week. I tried vinagarete tonite and it was too strong.

[kimberb 323]

I'm 3 months out today. I can't have fruit till I'm 6 months out other than that I haven't come across anything that I can't eat. I eat a lot less now.

[ShelterDog64 2,364]

At almost 11 months out, the only things I've found that I just can't eat are pork, eggs (other than poached) and celery. They cause me to have horrible foaming and sliming. Ugh.

[Lauraazucena 15]

I'm 3 months out today. I can't have fruit till I'm 6 months out other than that I haven't come across anything that I can't eat. I eat a lot less now.

I eat bananas, apples without the skin, mangos, grapes with no peels and I'm 1 month out

Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

[Lauraazucena 15]

At almost 11 months out, the only things I've found that I just can't eat are pork, eggs (other than poached) and celery. They cause me to have horrible foaming and sliming. Ugh.

I can't eat broccoli, pickles and cucumbers

Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

[kimberb 323]

My bariatric team wants us to focus on Protein first, then veggies. No fruit till 6 months because of carbs.

[teacupnosaucer 445]

I'm six weeks out and have really only had one bad food reaction: I went to McDonalds with my kids for Breakfast one day and ate just a sausage patty... and OHHHHH my body was not happy with that! It must have been too greasy for me.

Honestly though other than that I have had no intolerances. As long as I eat slowly and chew well, everything I eat goes down, stays down, and is tolerated well.

There's stuff I choose not to eat though. Carbonated drinks, of course, are an automatic no. Foods I know have triggered binge eating in the past. I still haven't tried alcohol and am not sure when I will.

But then, this is what I'd hoped for myself: that I wouldn't be restricted by a bunch of food intolerances and nasty reactions, but instead that I could use my surgery as a tool to even the playing ground for losing weight and otherwise relying on my willpower and knowledge to actively make good choices vs. my digestive system making them for me. More freedom, but more responsibility too.

[Meryline 546]

Almost 7 weeks out and haven't had a single bad reaction to anything. I have been able to eat food since day 4. It scares me a lot. I have had bread and fruit (all in accoradance with my NUT), dairy, red meat, rice cakes, veggies, hot, cold, doesn't matter.

I haven't had anything with a large amount of fat or sugar, but I have had both, no problem.

[Berry78 4,259]

Strange thing. My first spinach salad (on my plan for 6 weeks out). I ate the salad and some chicken. Everything was fine, but about 30min later, I got the worst cravings. I was shoving more chicken into my face like I haven't done since surgery.

The salad had an oil/vinegar dressing and some tomatoes. Maybe it was too acidic or something. Afraid of salad now