Eating terrible closer to surgery

[mrsjo 69]

I think I’ve seen mention of “last suppers” and such on here but I’m wondering if this is normal or just me? My surgery is May 24 and for the last month since I’ve found out my surgery date I have pretty much ate terrible! Since Dec. I’ve gained 8 pounds back but I know exactly why. I just feel somewhat nervous and anxious and…etc. my bad habits that were better are now worse. Is this something that happens before surgery? Am I just broken and need to forget about it? I had done so well but now I’m so worried. Any advice?

[Flab-U-Less Forever 140]

I ate horrible the month before my pre op diet started. Trying to get in all the bad foods I love. I've heard it called a food funeral LOL.

[I♡BypassedMyPhatAss♡ 807]

I think "food funerals" are pretty much customary for most people in the weeks before surgery/pre op diet. As long as you have control to get back to where you should be, you'll be fine.

[mrsjo 69]

Thanks you all! I just wanted to get it out and see if others had done this. I just have really felt defeated by it and I know ultimately it’s my control and my decision. So much working up to this-CrossFit for 10 months and 25lbs down to eat terrible now . Plus all the insurance hoops

[fourmonthspreop 522]

Yeah, I honestly struggled the most in the beginning of the journey (a bit before my initial consultation) and then extreme struggle right at the end (just weeks before my pre op diet) because of that constant fear that eating was over and done with forever. Yeah...not the case at all but damn does it harbor the food funeral.

I honestly wish bariatric centers would offer more emphasis and support in that. I think a lot of people go into it believing surgery means no more enjoying food at all in any capacity...not the case. I had a lot of trouble with overeating a month before my surgery. I was working out like MAD so I didnt gain weight but I wanted to eat everything delicious because I believed that was my last chance. It's literally maybe a month to two months until you can eat relatively normal foods again and it goes by fast. I had my surgery in February and I'm already eating everything again accept bread, raw vegetables and refined sugars. I feel plenty satisfied and enjoy what I eat.

One can probably argue all day how to see food post op and how that can benefit your weight loss and weight maintenance but im talking more so about realistic, day to day stuff. For some the all or nothing approach works but for most, it's okay to admit to yourself that you still "enjoy" food while also not letting it take over your life or your weight. I can't stress enough how temporary the extreme dieting is. It's not meant to last. No you can't overeat post op, but you likely won't want to anyway and you can still enjoy a variety foods just like before.

When I needed to get back on the horse pre op, it helped to remind myself that it's not a goodbye forever from food, it's a goodbye forever to overeating. Its merely a "see you in a month or two" to solid foods and complex carbs. Lol

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

[Smanky 757]

"Last hurrah"s or "food funerals" are a normal thing. In the months leading up to my pre-op diet I was baking like a maniac because I enjoy baking, and I knew post surgery I wouldn't be baking much and certainly wouldn't be eating any of it. Cakes and bread (and hokey pokey and vegan meringues - I admit I went nuts!). Had to "get it out of my system", and honestly I did. By the time my pre-op diet came around, I was 100% ready to do it.

By the time I was out of surgery and the following fortnight of recovering from pain, my sugar addiction was broken and my taste-buds had changed to dislike super sweet things. So it all worked out.

For sure I gained a bit extra during the "food funeral", but I don't regret it. I haven't looked back post-surgery, and now will take the chance to bake for other people the second I can. I don't miss eating it. The pleasure is watching others enjoy it.

[hollywrites2u 15]

Hi, as others have said, you're not broken. I'm not even approved for surgery and I've noticed that I've been eating more with that idea of, "I better enjoy it now". I'm hoping to get a revision but my insurance is unlikely to even agree to pay for WLS & I'm eating for two. :-o

Sent from my Pixel 4a using BariatricPal mobile app

[kcuster83 1,505]

Hello. During my preop insurance approval phase I ate whatever I wanted but I did count calories. I stayed under the allowed calories given to me by the nutritionist. I lost 25 lbs.

Then I stuck with the preop diet and did it for an extra 4 days.

4 weeks postop now, sticking to the plan 99.99999%. My only "cheat" was that I ate 1 reese piece! That 1 reese piece cured all my urges to have a treat that I know I shouldn't have.

Eat what you want, but don't go over board because sometimes gaining weight will have your surgery cancelled.

My team, at the final weight check you could not have gained any weight. Didn't have to loose but gaining delayed your surgery date.

[GradyCat 3,697]

You are not broken or beyond repair. Many people have "food funerals" before their WLS, but if at all possible try to start eating NOW like you will be after your surgery and it'll make the transition a whole lot easier.

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

I had food funerals too. Not too many but enough. I was worried about not being able to enjoy my favorite foods ever again. Looking back it was silly because now I can eat everything I did before but if I had it to do over I may make the same choice just in case. Lol. I agree with Gradycat though that it will make the transition easier the more you can give up now in terms of carbs and sugar mostly.

Edited April 20, 2022 by ShoppGirl

[Merill 88]

On 4/19/2022 at 7:53 AM, fourmonthspreop said:

Yeah, I honestly struggled the most in the beginning of the journey (a bit before my initial consultation) and then extreme struggle right at the end (just weeks before my pre op diet) because of that constant fear that eating was over and done with forever. Yeah...not the case at all but damn does it harbor the food funeral.

I honestly wish bariatric centers would offer more emphasis and support in that. I think a lot of people go into it believing surgery means no more enjoying food at all in any capacity...not the case. I had a lot of trouble with overeating a month before my surgery. I was working out like MAD so I didnt gain weight but I wanted to eat everything delicious because I believed that was my last chance. It's literally maybe a month to two months until you can eat relatively normal foods again and it goes by fast. I had my surgery in February and I'm already eating everything again accept bread, raw vegetables and refined sugars. I feel plenty satisfied and enjoy what I eat.

One can probably argue all day how to see food post op and how that can benefit your weight loss and weight maintenance but im talking more so about realistic, day to day stuff. For some the all or nothing approach works but for most, it's okay to admit to yourself that you still "enjoy" food while also not letting it take over your life or your weight. I can't stress enough how temporary the extreme dieting is. It's not meant to last. No you can't overeat post op, but you likely won't want to anyway and you can still enjoy a variety foods just like before.

When I needed to get back on the horse pre op, it helped to remind myself that it's not a goodbye forever from food, it's a goodbye forever to overeating. Its merely a "see you in a month or two" to solid foods and complex carbs. Lol

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you so much for sharing this side of the bariatric scene as I was thinking with all this emotional rollercoaster some of us go through and the 'food funerals' I too was thinking, but in a couple of months we're all going to be able to eat most things but in moderation so it's not all that bad, I'm due for a gastric bypass and hiatal hernia repair on the 16th of May my dietitian has allowed me to have two cups of low starch low carb vegetables with my liquid diet but I still use my own judgement and eat a little bit of everything that's low fat low carb low starch no bread or Pasta like a handful or a bite just so I don't hit that emotional low.

Well all the best to everyone whose press op AND post op lots of hugs🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗