Nervous About Craving

[Excited4WLS 0]

Hello friends, because of the virus, I have no one groups or anyone experienced to talk to. I’m still a few months away from my surgery because it’s elective, which aren’t being done here at the moment.
Since childhood I’ve lived on sweets, less nutrition the better. Donuts, cake, Cookies, ice cream, bread, rolls...I’m afraid my cravings will cause me tremendous grief. If I know I’ll “someday” be able to enjoy a bite of dessert or bread, I think I’ll survive. But if I’m told never again, I’m afraid going to chicken out.
I’m 205 at 5’4 so I know some of you might think I’m a lightweight, but I do have some health problems already related to my weight.
I know, I know, Protein and good carbs must be my focus and they are what I should have been eating anyway. But I’m scared the cravings will make me regret WLS. I’m also very freaked out about nausea/vomiting. Does everyone have that?? I HATE to throw up. I’ll appreciate help from you all who are experienced. Thanks so much.

[Recidivist 1,141]

I was also a "lightweight" (5'8" and 250 pounds). I loved sweets prior to surgery (part of the reason I got so big) but had no craving for sweets at all within the first six months or so afterwards.

You'll find that your tastes and cravings will change dramatically after surgery, and I think I kicked my sugar addiction by the time I was able to start eating normally again. When the time comes, there are plenty of items on the market with artificial sweetener that you can eat instead of "real" sweets. (I'm a big fan of Jello surgar-free chocolate pudding.)

I think you'll find, as I did, that most of the things you worry about before surgery will not be an issue once you are on the other side. Having surgery is the best decision I've ever made!

[catwoman7 10,846]

vomiting hasn't been nearly as awful since I had WLS (at least not for me and a lot of others I know - but I can't speak for EVERYONE, of course). There's not much to vomit up since your stomach is so small, and because there's a lot less acid in your stomach now, you don't get that awful taste in your mouth, either.

also, vomiting isn't uncommon during the early days and weeks because you're figuring out what foods you can tolerate (or not...), how much you can eat, etc, but after I got through that, I don't think I vomit any more than I did pre-surgery, as long as I don't stuff myself or something (and...you learn...)

and yes - if you're like most of us, you'll eventually be able to eat pretty much everything, but unless you want to gain the weight back, you have to monitor that. A couple of bites of it or an occasional treat is fine. Eating a lot of it every day is not - you'll gain the weight back.

[ChubRub 1,696]

I used to binge on sweets on a daily basis prior to WLS. Now, the thought of most sweets turns my stomach. I was seriously shocked how my taste buds and cravings changed.

As for vomiting, it happened a few times in the first 2 months after surgery. It was always from taking one bite too many. When it comes back up, it's not like gross vomit/stomach bile, etc, it's just chewed up food coming back up. After it came back up, I felt better actually. It taught me to listen to my body, eat slower, and stop as soon as I felt full.

Edited April 27, 2020 by ChubRub

[ms.sss 14,637]

I loved dessert before WLS, and still did afterwards (and still do 1.5 years later).

The real question is whether my stomach loved it.

In the early months, anything with even just a little bit if sugar (even a sip of a mixed drink with sugary mixer) would result in serious dumping episodes and have me on the bathroom floor.

I learned early that I had to keep sugar at a minimum (not that I had very much during weight loss phase anyway - just a handful of times, all of which I regretted soon after).

Now, I can have a little more without getting as sick as I did. Not much more mind you...just last week I had 1/2 a donut fritter too quickly and I felt awful, heart raced for over half an hour and ended up passing out on the couch for over an hour.

So i indulge once in I while, and in small amounts, eat it slowly, and when I remember, to have dessert NOT on an empty stomach (i find the dumping symptoms much worse on an empty stomach).

P.S. i also want to note that i am done with weight loss phase, and I probably wouldn’t recommend doing the dessert thing until after you’ve reached goal. Take advantage of the rapid weight loss first, you can always try a bit of cake later. You may also find you won’t even care for it, like others said above.

Good Luck!

[New&Improved 1,780]

Well depends on the surgery you have?

But now I'm in maintenance mode I can indulge a little