Curious... How long before you could eat your first piece of pizza?

[FINFAN3DP 79]

Curious... How long before you could eat your first piece of pizza?

It seems as if each doctor has a different diet plan for before/after surgery.

For instance, my surgery was 1/29/2021. I am on 2 weeks liquids to include Protein Shakes, Protein Water, Water, Yogurt, Fat free/sugar free pudding and low fat ricotta.

then i go to 1 to 6 months of soft foods, to include ground meat, deli slices, non-fat cheeses, etc

then on to solids again.

My main thing is pizza. I just want to know realistically when I will be able to eat it again. I don't want any lectures on how i shouldn't. I'm only wanting one slice vs the 4 or 5 I used to eat. So spare me the anger.

[kristieshannon 1,685]

No anger here. I think I first attempted pizza at about 4-5 months post op. I’ll still have half a slice from time to time. I’ve been delighted that I am completely satisfied after half a slice. Allowing this kind of “treat” from time to time has made this livable for me long term. I’ve met my first goal weight, so it hasn’t derailed my process overall. I think the key is just keeping these kind of foods (high carb/fat) an occasional thing rather than falling back in to old habits and having them daily.

[GradyCat 3,697]

About 6 months. I can eat one slice now at 2 years post-op but I really just stick to the toppings and no crust now.

[ChubRub 1,709]

It may be a while before you can eat the crust, but the toppings are the best part anyway! Try a ricotta bake for the pizza taste too. I think I ate the cheese off a slice of pizza around 2.5 months post op!

[FINFAN3DP 79]

3 minutes ago, ChubRub said:

It may be a while before you can eat the crust, but the toppings are the best part anyway! Try a ricotta bake for the pizza taste too. I think I ate the cheese off a slice of pizza around 2.5 months post op!

What is this ricotta bake???

[ChubRub 1,709]

1 minute ago, FINFAN3DP said:

What is this ricotta bake???

Here you go! https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1793517

Can tweak the toppings too! It's a bariatric favorite!

[FINFAN3DP 79]

11 minutes ago, ChubRub said:

Here you go! https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1793517

Can tweak the toppings too! It's a bariatric favorite!

Thanks, that sounds good!

[BigSue 1,434]

14 minutes ago, FINFAN3DP said:

What is this ricotta bake???

You NEED ricotta bake in your life! It’s the best thing you can eat in the soft food stage. I’m 6 months out and can eat normal foods, but ricotta bake is still one of my go-to meals. I eat it with turkey meat sauce and it’s basically lasagna sans noodles.

I split the recipe into 8 4-ounce glass bowls (I bake it in individual bowls instead of 1 big dish). It freezes well, so it’s super easy to grab a serving of ricotta bake and a serving of turkey meat sauce out of the freezer and stick them in the microwave.

[FINFAN3DP 79]

12 minutes ago, BigSue said:

You NEED ricotta bake in your life! It’s the best thing you can eat in the soft food stage. I’m 6 months out and can eat normal foods, but ricotta bake is still one of my go-to meals. I eat it with turkey meat sauce and it’s basically lasagna sans noodles.

I split the recipe into 8 4-ounce glass bowls (I bake it in individual bowls instead of 1 big dish). It freezes well, so it’s super easy to grab a serving of ricotta bake and a serving of turkey meat sauce out of the freezer and stick them in the microwave.

Sounds like a plan! Couldn't you use super lean ground beef as well?

[catwoman7 11,285]

yes - ricotta bake. I ate that a lot when I craved pizza.

I think I first ate real pizza when I was about four months out - but I did NOT eat the crust - I just scraped the toppings off one or two pieces. I was probably a year or more out when I ate an actual piece (with the crust). Now at almost six years out, I can physically eat 1-2 actual pieces (with crust) (1-2 depending on the size of the pizza and how my pouch is that particular day. Some times I can only manage one...)

[BigSue 1,434]

7 minutes ago, FINFAN3DP said:

Sounds like a plan! Couldn't you use super lean ground beef as well?

Yes, you could use ground beef. Some people don't tolerate beef very well after surgery, so turkey is a little safer. I found a turkey meat sauce recipe that I love and I don't miss the beef.

Regarding pizza... I am 6.5 months out and have not eaten real pizza since my surgery. Pizza is my kryptonite. Before surgery, I could not resist pizza. I ate a whole frozen pizza every week (Red Baron pizza, which is a bit smaller and lower in calories than, say, DiGiorno, but still, a whole pizza). Even when I was losing weight before surgery, on pizza day, I would fast the rest of the day just so I could eat that pizza. I cannot overstate how much I love(d) pizza.

In November (about 4 months after my surgery), I had a chicken crust pizza. I bought a frozen one (Foster Farms) and split it into 3 meals. It was ok, but not great, and I haven't bought it again. I've heard homemade chicken crust is better, so I'll try that someday. I do occasionally make myself a tortilla pizza using a Mr. Tortilla 1 net carb tortilla, 1/2 ounce marinara sauce, 1 ounce mozzarella cheese, and 5 pieces of turkey pepperoni. 133 calories and it kind of satisfies the pizza craving.

The good news is that I don't crave pizza nearly as much as I used to. Before surgery, looking at pizza, smelling pizza, seeing a pizza commercial, or even seeing characters on a TV show eating pizza would make me want pizza in my belly NOW. But I have found a lot of healthy recipes that I truly enjoy eating enough that I don't care about pizza as much anymore. I eat three meals per day and no Snacks, so I have to choose wisely what I'm eating for my three meals (and one of those meals is almost always reserved for a Built Bar), and there are plenty of things that I would rather eat. I know you don't want a lecture, but I suggest finding foods that are healthy and delicious, and you may find yourself not wanting pizza as much.

[SophieJo 6]

I had VSG on Dec 7th 2020. Starting at about 4- 5 weeks, I have twice eaten small, thin crust (gluten-free), mushroom, Tomato & spinach (any veggies would work) pizza. I take very small bites, chew very well & put the piece in eating down between bites. I've had absolutely no issues! I can eat 1/2 of one small piece (the pieces are already small bc it's a small pizza...I cut them in half). I tried eating a single piece of pepperoni from my hubby's pizza, but I could feel heartburn creeping up after a minute or twenty... Not doing that again...

[Uomograsso 364]

I had pizza about 2 months after surgery, but I made it with Protein tortilla/wrap rather than regular crust. I could only eat a quarter to a third of it. Now one year out i can have two slices from a small pizza. These are great to make your own pizza with.

[Sandramarie1986 7]

Do you like cauliflower? I enjoy this pizza bowl made with cauliflower and I dont miss pizza as much.

[FINFAN3DP 79]

22 minutes ago, Sandramarie1986 said:

Do you like cauliflower? I enjoy this pizza bowl made with cauliflower and I dont miss pizza as much.

Nope. I am the fussiest fat guy you will ever meet. Not many foods that i like or WILL eat.