I am in the pre-surgical stage for a sleeve. My question is after you are healed and able to eat solid food do you eat like a normal skinny person or do you always have to follow bariatric recipes? Does meal planning get easier?

Once in the maintenance phase, some eat like a normal person but just not as much. Others stick to limiting or excluding certain "trigger" foods in addition to not eating as much. I'm close to my goal weight so I will be entering the maintenance phase. I plan on eating like a normal person but will continue to monitor quantity and make sure I'm getting in my daily protein. But it's very important during the weight loss phase that you following your plan.

Edited December 30, 20205 yr by Guest

I've been in maintenance for four years. I eat about as much as many of my never-been-obese women friends who are constantly watching what they eat. In other words, if I go out, I'll get something like a salad or an appetizer. Or if I order an entree, I'll take half of it home (or maybe 2/3 of it if it's enormous). If I'm out and we order a pizza, I'll eat one or two pieces. So yes - I'd say I eat like your normal "light eater". No one would be able to tell at this point that I've had bariatric surgery, just by observing what I eat.

this is NOT true the first year or so (and definitely not the first few months). But once you're in maintenance, yes.

Just now, catwoman7 said:

I've been in maintenance for four years. I eat about as much as many of my never-been-obese women friends who are constantly watching what they eat. In other words, if I go out, I'll get something like a salad or an appetizer. Or if I order an entree, I'll take half of it home (or maybe 2/3 of it if it's enormous). If I'm out and we order a pizza, I'll eat one or two pieces. So yes - I'd say I eat like your normal "light eater". No one would be able to tell at this point that I've had bariatric surgery, just by observing what I eat.

this is NOT true the first year or so (and definitely not the first few months). But once you're in maintenance, yes.

P.S. before surgery, my husband and I would order a large pizza, and I'd eat half of it. I physically cannot do that anymore - at least not at one sitting, anyway. I can eat one or two pieces, though. But then, that's about what my skinny never-been-obese women friends eat, so...

It always worries me when people ask will they still be able to eat ‘real food’ or eat like a ‘real person’.

It is real food you are eating & will eat. It’s just healthier & more nutritious than you likely ate before. Remember the food you used to eat contributed to the weight you were when you decided to have surgery. You are a real person too. You just have to choose food that enables you to lose weight & then maintain your weight. But we’re all different & what works for someone else may not work for you regardless of their weight or if they’ve had surgery or not.

While in the weight loss stage, especially the early stages, yes, you will be on restricted diet. But once you reach the third & fourth month post surgery you will be testing what foods your tummy will or won’t tolerate, exploring healthier food options & healthier cooking methods. Yes, your portion sizes will be small, they’ll be protein heavy & you may need to include supplements or shakes to meet your protein goals but this will settle in maintenance. You’ll still be able to eat out & socialise with friends. You just may have limited choices during your weight loss phase.

I’ve been in maintenance for a year & I just eat smaller portions. (Most people eat very large servings of food that are above recommended portion sizes so your meals may seem really tiny.) I really don’t make or eat meals that are different to other people. There are foods I avoid or limit because they don’t work for me or contributed to my weight gain in the first place but I still have lots of food options. Sure I don’t eat bread, pasta or rice but there’s always alternatives on menus if you’re out. It doesn’t stop me dining out, eating with friends, or hosting dinner guests.

I ensure I get all my nutrients from the food I eat not from supplements, shakes, or alternative foods like low carb breads or plant based proteins, etc. I can eat any meats, vegetables & dairy products. I can eat most fruits ( though some are a bit hard on me like mangoes). I eat small amounts of whole or multi grains. I avoid a lot of sugar & sweet foods. I don’t eat spicy foods because I have a sensitivity to them but I’ve always had that so no change there. This is what’s working for me.

Congratulations on starting your journey. Good luck.

I had bypass 21 months ago, but the principle is the same. I can definitely eat like a normal person, just smaller portions. Mind you, I have dramatically altered the eating habits that made me obese in the first place. I now am very careful to avoid carbs, fat and sugar. (I can eat all of those things without any ill effects, which surprised me.).

One of my biggest reservations was having dinner with friends after surgery. At this point, I can order off the menu and eat a healthy dinner without anyone being able to tell that I've had surgery (although I don't usually finish my meal or order dessert).

In short: yes, I can eat like a "normal" person.

Agree with what everyone else has said - At 4.5 months out, I've been one of the "lucky" ones - I haven't found much that I can't eat, but I just can't eat much. MOST days I follow the plan as I'm obviously still in the WL stage. That being said, I didn't follow the plan over the Christmas holidays. I had a few cocktails and ate food that I "shouldn't" have with friends and family. My portion sizes were probably 1/8-1/4 of what i would have eaten in the past. I enjoyed every second of it and not once did I regret the surgery over the holidays.

Holidays are over, and I'm back on plan. I travel for work quite a bit and many evenings involve dinner with teammates. So far, even these haven't been an issue.

All of this being said, the first month or so can be rough - You do wonder if your life will ever be "normal" again. It gets better very quickly! The weight starts dropping off, clothes fit better, then clothes fit worse! (YAY!)

I eat anything I want to eat - But Way smaller calories - Heck I just ate a Mc Rib a few weeks back

You will be able to eat anything you want to eat, just in smaller portions. But you'll focus on protein.

12 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

I've been in maintenance for four years. I eat about as much as many of my never-been-obese women friends who are constantly watching what they eat. In other words, if I go out, I'll get something like a salad or an appetizer. Or if I order an entree, I'll take half of it home (or maybe 2/3 of it if it's enormous). If I'm out and we order a pizza, I'll eat one or two pieces. So yes - I'd say I eat like your normal "light eater". No one would be able to tell at this point that I've had bariatric surgery, just by observing what I eat.

this is NOT true the first year or so (and definitely not the first few months). But once you're in maintenance, yes.

Thank you so much-this answer was extremely helpful; I had wondered about that as well.

17 hours ago, Jaye W said:

My question is after you are healed and able to eat solid food do you eat like a normal skinny person or do you always have to follow bariatric recipes?

I don't know. How does a normal skinny person eat? And what is a bariatric recipe?

I think some of the above posts answered my question. I would like to be able to eat a meal like a slice of pizza and a sensible salad after I am fully recovered and at goal weight. That is a typical meal my “skinny” friends might order if we meet for food and drinks. I have been looking at a lot of different websites and appreciate the creative recipes people have come up with ( ricotta bake in a teeny tiny cup for instance) and understand the usefulness of those recipes right after surgery, but just wanted to hear from some veterans on this forum that they can eat foods from a standard menu within reason.

I also think that it was helpful to hear some say they are still able to eat in social situations and it is not obvious he/ she has had surgery. Maybe my use of “normal” was not correct, but I do acknowledge the eating habits that have gotten me to this point are not “normal”.

7 hours ago, Jaye W said:

Maybe my use of “normal” was not correct, but I do acknowledge the eating habits that have gotten me to this point are not “normal”.

Just asking because many skinny people I know make less-than-ideal food choices to express it in a friendly manner, especially if they're still quite young. They all too often don't make these "sensible diet choices" and don't have these "healthy habits" so many of us think thin people do.

Maybe it comes with the territory though - many medical workers in hospital settings have horrible diet/food habits regardless of their weight.

On a side note this makes me wonder again what we're referring to when we're talking about "skinny" or "thin". Anything under BMI 19 or 20 maybe? Serious question because that's about the body frame and weight class coming to my mind then.

On 12/29/2020 at 11:07 PM, catwoman7 said:

I eat about as much as many of my never-been-obese women friends

Same here. Albeit, I eat much slower than them (and I don't drink while I eat).

8 hours ago, ms.sss said:

Same here. Albeit, I eat much slower than them (and I don't drink while I eat).

Yes, not drinking while eating is something that people do tend to notice when I'm eating with friends--particularly breakfast (which is my favorite meal to eat out). I get a coffee to start and ask that my meal be a bit delayed so I can finish my coffee first.