Hey!

For those of you who are or were avid chefs/home cooks how did weight loss surgery change that for you?

How did it change exploring new recipes?

Grocery lists?

Not being able to make or eat certain things?

I'm also quite scared of this. I love cooking, cook all my meals, am working on a cookbook, make food for people all the time. I've lost 25 lbs and just got approved for surgery. Having trouble understanding how my relationship with my love of cooking is going to change over time. I know I won't be able to cook and eat much the first year, what about after that?

I loved cooking before and I still love it after. It's really just the first few months when you have to deal with a lot of restrictions. The only thing I really can't tolerate anymore is highly fatty meals. But then, I never made those before surgery (it's just when I went out - for example, Friday night fish fries - loaded with fat - no way I could tolerate that now).

I eat more protein and fewer simple carbs/starches now (although I do eat some), but otherwise, the difference is mostly in my portion size. I eat probably half the calories I used to, give or take.

I’ve actually been cooking since week 1 po! Just not for myself but for my husband ? (now week 7 po)
I really enjoy making his food and I was so worried beforehand that I would lose that completely, or feel envious of other people’s food options/portion sizes but I am actually completely unbothered!!
At first I would make a tiny and uncomplicated separate dish for myself, but now I am progressing I am more and more able to ‘merge’ our food ?

I am sure not everyone feels like this, and you never know how you will end up feeling until you get there, but maybe this gives you a little hope! ?

I had a similar worry, so know you aren't alone. I'm 2 yr 6 months post rny. Maintaining goal. I am a culinary grad, certified dietary manager. I'm always in a kitchen.

I found my experience and love of cooking to be a great tool in my continued success. Sometimes it is hard for me to cook for myself because i eat such small amounts and some foods aren't accepted by my pouch.. it can be frustrating to cook something and not be able to eat it at times. But I came up with some great recipes and I continue to innovate. I even made some money selling protein bars! Be patient with yourself and accept some foods might be different to you. This journey changes your relationship with food. My tastes continue to change but I'm along for the ride and loving my new life.

Edited October 17, 20214 yr by Chefmeglj

I am two months post-RNY.

To echo what other people have said, the surgery did not change my love of cooking. It probably increased my love of cooking for others. I am married with four kids and my in-laws often join us for dinner. I focus on cooking foods for them that I can handle eating in small portions. I am looking forward to cooking Thanksgiving next month, even though I will only be eating a small plate of it. And I still experiment with recipes and foods that I have not cooked before (been learning how to cook seafood better since my stomach handles it well and it is high protein, low calorie).

You will still get a lot of joy from a perfectly executed recipe, you just won't eat as much of it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. This helps me a lot! I think for me it's the jumping over the hurdle of the first couple of months that are the most restrictive. I am alone and cook for myself most of the time so I worry about the opportunities to cook for others but hopefully with my new found confidence I will be able to introduce myself and mingle with more people so I can still celebrate cooking and have others eat my food/not go to waste.

5 minutes ago, fourmonthspreop said:

Thanks for sharing your experiences. This helps me a lot! I think for me it's the jumping over the hurdle of the first couple of months that are the most restrictive. I am alone and cook for myself most of the time so I worry about the opportunities to cook for others but hopefully with my new found confidence I will be able to introduce myself and mingle with more people so I can still Celebrate cooking and have others eat my food/not go to waste.

If you spend a lot of time cooking for yourself, also focus on how to make the best version of something post-surgery. For example, early on, you will be eating soft, "boring" foods like oatmeal. Put your talents toward how to make the tastiest version of oatmeal you can. Or how can you make a different oatmeal every day for five days? How many ways can you "dress up" a can of tuna fish?

Spices/flavorings will take on a big role in your post-surgery life for those moments where they are about four foods that you can consistently tolerate and you need to make each meal slightly different to hold off boredom. View it as an opportunity to flex some cooking muscles.

Edited October 18, 20214 yr by Splenda

Im sort of the opposite. I truly disliked cooking pre-op. It was just a chore.

Now i love it. And everything about it (shopping, planning, researching, plating…as well as smelling, looking, watching others eat, watching cooking shows, lol)

For the first year and a bit I didn’t even eat anything I cooked for the fam. And honestly it didn’t bother me in the “missing out” sense one bit.

After a while, in maintenance, i would eat a bit of what i made for them, but i still prefer cooking/baking over actually eating it.

Im more of a salad person…the fam is not.