I figured it would be nice to have a section where we could just confess to some of the potentially dumb things we've done, pre or post op. Just so others can see we are all human. I want this to be kept as civil as possible, where people can own up to things without anyone else chiming in with anything negative, we all know what we did wasn't "right" but I'm sure we ALL have done something we shouldn't have.

I'll start.

I cheated on my pre-op diet a few times. I also like to find loop holes and exploit the crap out of them. I drank beer for a week+ on my pre-op, because it didn't say I couldn't. I only stopped after I was forced to, because my wife asked my surgeon and of course they said "no"... boo. I also ate a whole slice of French Meat Pie at my Dad's 60th birthday luncheon.

I cheated on my post-op diet/puree stage a bit too. I ate rice cakes and protein chips or other veggie chips. Not a lot, but it happened. I "pureed" a steak and cheese sandwich once. I ate a few fried ravioli on my puree stage as well.

This past weekend, I had a beer. My wife and I took my parents out to dinner at a local casino, it's Restaurant week, so we found a good looking location and went out to eat, part of the deal was that you got a draft beer with your meal. So, I had a shipyard summer ale with my grilled chicken parm sandwich (only ended up eating 3 bites of the chicken and none of the bread).

I did all that thus far and nothing bad happened.

I understand the changes are to ensure we stick to our diets, but understanding that we are all human and WILL either slip up or just stray from our diets on purpose like I did. It's good to see that, it's possible to still live and be able to enjoy a few things we "shouldn't" without any negatives happening.

So, what's your WLS confession?

Edited July 16, 20188 yr by Matt Z

I'm struggling through drinking filtered tap Water. I'm trying to psych myself out by pouring it in a fancy foreign bottle...

VSG2017 HW 249 SW 238 CW 167

Had a pretty bad moment of weakness last night. I could go through all the excuses, but they are just that, excuses. I ate a piece of cheesecake last night, plain for the most part except for the half a strawberry and 1/2 teaspoon sized drizzle of chocolate sauce. Not sure what I'm more upset about... that I just folded and ate a piece... or that there was no dumping caused by it.

35 minutes ago, Matt Z said:

Had a pretty bad moment of weakness last night. I could go through all the excuses, but they are just that, excuses. I ate a piece of cheesecake last night

Believe it or not, I don't count this as "cheating" per se. There are few things that I will indulge in, and cheesecake is one of them. It can't be a walmart cheese cake sampler of course, but if it is a homemade cheesecake I find no guilt in having some. Tres Leche cake, pecan pie, & cheese cake, those are special occasion indulgences that I never feel guilty about.

You are still close enough to your surgery date that your weekly average calorie deficit should more than cover the cake. As long as you count it in your calories for the day and don't make it a common occurrence, be proud that you had a sensible portion instead of a Cheesecake Factory single serving.

I will admit that I am surprised that there was no dumping though. As awful as it is, it is a wonderful pavlovian teacher.

4 minutes ago, BigViffer said:

Believe it or not, I don't count this as "cheating" per se. There are few things that I will indulge in, and cheesecake is one of them. It can't be a walmart cheese cake sampler of course, but if it is a homemade cheesecake I find no guilt in having some. Tres Leche cake, pecan pie, & cheese cake, those are special occasion indulgences that I never feel guilty about.

You are still close enough to your surgery date that your weekly average calorie deficit should more than cover the cake. As long as you count it in your calories for the day and don't make it a common occurrence, be proud that you had a sensible portion instead of a Cheesecake Factory single serving.

I will admit that I am surprised that there was no dumping though. As awful as it is, it is a wonderful pavlovian teacher.

It's less a "cheat" and more a "failure of will power". The Cheesecake was handmade, my wife is a bartender at a hotel, so it was made by the chef there, not sure how much of what was in it. I was actually upset a bit that there was no dumping... because, I wanted there to be some physical repercussions to my slip up. I guess I should be happy that it didn't... maybe it was "better" than other cheesecakes.

And yeah, I'm under my BMR still.

35 minutes ago, Matt Z said:

It's less a "cheat" and more a "failure of will power". The Cheesecake was handmade, my wife is a bartender at a hotel, so it was made by the chef there, not sure how much of what was in it. I was actually upset a bit that there was no dumping... because, I wanted there to be some physical repercussions to my slip up. I guess I should be happy that it didn't... maybe it was "better" than other cheesecakes.

And yeah, I'm under my BMR still.

I make cheesecake (NY style) most holidays. As cakes go, it's higher in fat and protein, but lower in sugar than most, depending on the type of crust and the toppings, of course. That may have affected whether or not you experienced dumping.

In my mind (and❤) that is the ONLY kind of cheesecake, all others are pale paltry imitations of it!

3 hours ago, Matt Z said:

Had a pretty bad moment of weakness last night. I could go through all the excuses, but they are just that, excuses. I ate a piece of cheesecake last night, plain for the most part except for the half a strawberry and 1/2 teaspoon sized drizzle of chocolate sauce. Not sure what I'm more upset about... that I just folded and ate a piece... or that there was no dumping caused by it.

I'm upset that I probably would have dumped had I eaten it... I'm sleeved lol

Enjoy it for the rest of us

My homemade cheesecakes are also QUITE low in sugar as we like them to be nice and tart and just put fresh fruit on top. I think if you're trying to eat lower carbs then there are MANY worse "cheats" than a cheesecake, the higher fat and protein to carb content (assuming it's lower sugar of course) make it a much better option than, say, a piece of chocolate cake. If you guys do want to indulge with a cheesecake dessert, it is one of the EASIEST things to make keto. I don't do sugar alcohols though, so mine will also just be .. not AS bad, haha.

2 minutes ago, aery said:

My homemade cheesecakes are also QUITE low in sugar as we like them to be nice and tart and just put fresh fruit on top. I think if you're trying to eat lower carbs then there are MANY worse "cheats" than a cheesecake, the higher fat and Protein to carb content (assuming it's lower sugar of course) make it a much better option than, say, a piece of chocolate cake. If you guys do want to indulge with a cheesecake dessert, it is one of the EASIEST things to make keto. I don't do sugar alcohols though, so mine will also just be .. not AS bad, haha.

What do you use for a crust keto-style?

5 minutes ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

What do you use for a crust keto-style?

Almond flour, melted butter, a dash of cinnamon and if I am feeling extra, a tiny bit of SF Torani (s'mores flavor works well here). I usually don't sweeten it if it's just for home though! I also ONLY do the crust at the bottom and don't take it up the sides.

31 minutes ago, aery said:

Almond flour, melted butter, a dash of cinnamon and if I am feeling extra, a tiny bit of SF Torani (s'mores flavor works well here). I usually don't sweeten it if it's just for home though! I also ONLY do the crust at the bottom and don't take it up the sides.

Thank you! Although I think the family might complain big time if I ditch the crushed Lorna Doones!

4 hours ago, BigViffer said:

Believe it or not, I don't count this as "cheating" per se. There are few things that I will indulge in, and cheesecake is one of them.

oh lordy! I keep telling myself that "you will dump"... "you will dump"... *saying it out loud as I type this message* The further along I get, the more "risks" I seem to take with food. I haven't outright eaten a piece of homemade anything. Only when I can look at the label and know how much sugar I'm ingesting (most of the time 1/3 of the serving size). For example, I've had 1 twizzler or 1 square of dark chocolate. But I'm afraid to take a bite of birthday cake, or anything that I can't predict the sugar content.

I guess its keeping me on the right track for now *fingers crossed*.

I allow myself buttered popcorn once or twice a week

I haven't cheated with food just yet that I know of, but my mentality is starting to change a bit. I am not that far out of surgery but I have already found myself becoming more focused on what other people are eating around me. Maybe it is because I don't have enough to do at the table anymore? Either way, for the first time I have started watching what other people order and what they eat and kind of judging them for it. I of course don't say anything, but I am thinking, "oh, that is why you are having a hard time losing", or "that is how you stay so thin".

I feel horrible about this. This was honestly one of my fears when I was gaining weight and then super morbidly obese. I didn't want other people to see me eat because I thought they would judge me for it. I don't want to be someone that judges others either. I think the only positive is that it is helping me to observe and learn so maybe I can be more cognizant of my own behaviors in the future when my appetite returns.

Has anyone else developed this or any other habits like it?

15 minutes ago, SueperGal said:

Has anyone else developed this or any other habits like it?

Definitely! We're just like reformed smokers! It's hard to bite your lip when you see others going down the same path that led you to misery. But you have to. We didn't want to be judged and we have no right to judge others.