I realise this is maybe not the best attitude to have one week post-op - but I would feel so much better about this if I knew that one day, when I'm healthy, I can enjoy the occasional bit of fast food like everyone else. Can people who have had a bypass eat a McDonalds if they want to?

1 hour ago, MoominMan said:

I realise this is maybe not the best attitude to have one week post-op - but I would feel so much better about this if I knew that one day, when I'm healthy, I can enjoy the occasional bit of fast food like everyone else. Can people who have had a bypass eat a McDonalds if they want to?

Only you (plus your body & team to a certain extent) will decide your food choices before or after WLS ♥️

13 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

Only you (plus your body & team to a certain extent) will decide your food choices before or after WLS ♥️

Yes, but I want to know if its physically possible (ie can you eat a burger and fries with a pouch stomach).

a burger shouldn't be a problem (maybe not early on, but later). I can't do fries anymore - well, maybe five or six of them, but that's it. Too much fat makes me barf. But some people can tolerate it.

I do eat Egg McMuffins occasionally if we're on the road. 300 kcal and lots of protein.

I'm in maintenance, though - I wouldn't have eaten anything like that in weight loss mode.

Edited August 16, 20206 yr by catwoman7

The short answer is, "Maybe." Everybody has a different experience. Some people can eventually eat anything and other people are unable to eat certain things even years after surgery. I think most people can eventually eat small amounts of just about anything. But... isn't it kind of the point of surgery to make you unable to eat the way you used to? If you can eventually eat a burger and fries and everything else you used to eat, it's going to be hard to lose the weight you want to lose and keep it off.

I won't chance it. It's best if I just never eat certain foods again.

I tolerate a lot compared to some people on here. I have had to resort to a bunless small burger to get protein on a road trip. I tolerated it fine and I also had 8-10 fries. It's a slippery slope so I wouldn't recommend even trying it until you are in maintenance and then it's an occasional thing. The 8 french fries I had were greasy and salty, and I tolerated it fine compared to high sugar foods. The pouch physically limits eating more than that but eating unhealthy food does make me feel blah afterwards, sometimes bloated and gassy but not ill. So immediately I am limited on the amount and 30 minutes afterwards I am reminded that it's not always worth it. That helps me a make better decisions the next time that food is around.

Keep in mind that I have tried a wide variety of unhealthy foods but it is rare that I eat them, as in less than once a week. I can tolerate one cookie, maybe a fourth of a candy bar etc. I feel I am in control and can have that small piece be satisfied and move on. I am also very mindful to not have the rest of the food sitting within reach so the temptation is not in front of me. When i have a craving I also choose "healthier" substitutes like chocolate covered almonds or sugar free pudding vs a cookie or piece of candy.

2 hours ago, MoominMan said:

Yes, but I want to know if its physically possible (ie can you eat a burger and fries with a pouch stomach).

IMHO: Lifestyle/diet change recommendations varies widely from practice to practice and physical tolerance of foods differ from patient to patient.

Unfortunately you will not truly know until it happens But totally ask the Surgeon/Team you choose about the lifestyle/diet they expect you to have post op. Their answers may surprise you.

I'm only 8 months out, but I physically could not manage to eat a McDonald's burger and fries. If I really wanted to, I could probably eat 3 bites of a 1/4 pounder, or 2 bites and maybe 10 fries? I have no desire for fast food burgers and fries though, and this is coming from someone who used to eat McDonalds or other fast food at least 5x a week, if not more. Now it's just way too greasy, and not appealing to me.

When you start on solids, you will see what I mean! Your taste buds will definitely change!! Case in point, I've had a tube of cookie dough in my fridge all week (planning on making cookies with kids), and the thought of eating a spoonful of it, makes me gag. Another thing I used to love to eat!!

I’m 2 years out, (sleeve). I’ve had McNuggets a few times, one 6 piece and a 4 piece. I don’t think I had McD the first year. I might have had their scrambled eggs now that I think of it.
I don’t forbid myself from it, I just really limit fast food. I do avoid fries though, that is a dangerous food for me. I could eat a lot of them.

If you decide to eat a burger, consider requesting a "protein burger" which is wrapped in lettuce instead of bread. It actually tastes a lot better.

Part of this journey is to work out what works for you to maintain your weight loss & complements your lifestyle. If for you, that includes some fast food & your weight loss tool can tolerate it, that’s your choice.

Honestly, I never enjoyed fast food burgers. Give me a real Aussie steak burger any day - steak on a crunchy roll, with lettuce, cucumber, tomato, beetroot, pineapple, cheese, steak sauce,... delicious. Now, because I can only eat a small amount of food at a time, it would take me several meals to eat a single steak burger let alone any chips on the side.

You could always make your own burger & fries. That way you control the ingredients, salt, sugar, carbs, fat, serving size, etc. & way less processed. Just a thought.

Going against the norm ............. I am a sicko for Mickey D's

do the journey and yes once in awhile you can do a double cheeseburger. Now for me the double quarter ponder super sized is over but a happy meal once a month is still a option

but wait for now to early

Now that I'm in maintenance I could probably eat McDonald's (or other fast food), but I'm sure I could never handle an entire burger and fries due to the volume. However, I've never tried and haven't been tempted.

I have found very few foods I can't tolerate at this point. My main problem is overeating from time to time, but as a rule I don't crave the unhealthy foods I used to love.

As Arabesque said, it's a matter of choices, and none of us are likely to make perfect choices for the rest of our lives. It's okay to indulge now and then if you would otherwise feel too deprived, as long as you don't make it a habit. I will admit that I've eaten a scoop of ice cream a few times since reaching maintenance! ?

15 hours ago, MoominMan said:

Can people who have had a bypass eat a McDonalds if they want to?

There are the individual food intolerances to take into consideration, but most likely yes.

In a nutshell: mileage may vary.

Me, I can tolerate about 3/4 of a McDonald's hamburger and a few fries. Not even the kid-size portion of fries. So, while a Happy Meal might be ideal, I just get a hamburger and steal a few of hubby's fries.

My hubby is a fiend for hamburgers, McDonald's or otherwise and where we live there are a lot of well-known local hamburger places. We have them fairly regularly, probably once a week (more if I'd let my husband do it). For a standard 1/4 pound hamburger, I can usually eat about 1/2 of the burger and a few fries. I have also opted for a bunless burger on occasion and can eat a bit more of the burger, but still not the whole thing.

Now, if we are making them at home, I will eat just he patty with steak sauce (sort-of a steak burger) and I can usually eat the whole patty as long as I don't have any sides with it.