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I’m just wondering how my fellow foodies have navigated things since surgery and how are things going weeks, months, years out.

I went to school for culinary arts and though I no longer work in the food industry I still looooooove cheffing up some gourmet meals for my family. It’s truly my passion.

I just need reassurance that I’ll still be able to indulge in my passion even if I am only able to take a bite or two of my filet mignon or scallops. I just love having dinner parties and cooking for my people. If that makes sense.

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I still enjoy cooking BIG special meals for the family at holidays, which is about the only time everyone shows up. If it's something I like I can eat my small quantities of it and be satisfied. If not, I'll do something else on my own. We also do the gourmet outings occasionally and I'll eat a couple bites of the courses that appeal and talk during those that don't.

One of my daughters loves cooking and like you went to culinary school. I spent a lot of time with her honing her skills and I pickup up a lot of techniques that I still employ when I cook. During this period she and I did a lot of cooking for the family together. Good times.

Now the kids are gone and my spouse can't really do much physically so I do all the cooking and house duties. She did it for our first 25 years so I'm taking care of it from about 15 years ago on out. I so enjoy cooking for her that it's not a chore and get to employ the skills I learned with our youngest.

I find I enjoy good food every bit as much as I did when binging was the order of the day. If I feel compelled to binge on something wonderful, I do it over the course of several meals, and still follow my rules.

TL;DR: Yes, you can still enjoy cooking and enjoy eating.

Good luck,

Tek

Edited by The Greater Fool

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the food restrictions and only being able to handle a couple of tablespoons of food at a sitting is temporary - a few months at best. Once you're about six months out, all food restrictions are lifted - it'll be more a matter of moderation, plus what your sleeve or pouch will tolerate.

at seven years out (and actually, for quite a long time), no one would be able to tell I had bariatric surgery by the way I eat. I'd probably be considered a "light eater" - and I really don't eat any differently than many of my never-been-obese women friends. When I go out - I'll order an appetizer. Or order an entree and take half of it home.

so yes - after the initial few months, you should be able to indulge in your passion again. You'll just have to do it in moderation and watch your portion sizes.

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On 06/27/2022 at 10:21, The Greater Fool said:



I still enjoy cooking BIG special meals for the family at holidays, which is about the only time everyone shows up. If it's something I like I can eat my small quantities of it and be satisfied. If not, I'll do something else on my own. We also do the gourmet outings occasionally and I'll eat a couple bites of the courses that appeal and talk during those that don't.




One of my daughters loves cooking and like you went to culinary school. I spent a lot of time with her honing her skills and I pickup up a lot of techniques that I still employ when I cook. During this period she and I did a lot of cooking for the family together. Good times.




Now the kids are gone and my spouse can't really do much physically so I do all the cooking and house duties. She did it for our first 25 years so I'm taking care of it from about 15 years ago on out. I so enjoy cooking for her that it's not a chore and get to employ the skills I learned with our youngest.




I find I enjoy good food every bit as much as I did when binging was the order of the day. If I feel compelled to binge on something wonderful, I do it over the course of several meals, and still follow my rules.




TL;DR: Yes, you can still enjoy cooking and enjoy eating.




Good luck,




Tek


Tek, this was great to read! Thank you for being so informative! I appreciate your response it’s so reassuring!

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On 06/27/2022 at 10:33, catwoman7 said:



the food restrictions and only being able to handle a couple of tablespoons of food at a sitting is temporary - a few months at best. Once you're about six months out, all food restrictions are lifted - it'll be more a matter of moderation, plus what your sleeve or pouch will tolerate.




at seven years out (and actually, for quite a long time), no one would be able to tell I had bariatric surgery by the way I eat. I'd probably be considered a "light eater" - and I really don't eat any differently than many of my never-been-obese women friends. When I go out - I'll order an appetizer. Or order an entree and take half of it home.




so yes - after the initial few months, you should be able to indulge in your passion again. You'll just have to do it in moderation and watch your portion sizes.


Thanks so much for this! This is very reassuring! My worries have been settled.

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Of course you can still enjoy cooking anything but why not challenge yourself to make healthier versions of things that still taste great. I for one would love to hear of any recipes you come up with

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On 07/11/2022 at 12:11, ShoppGirl said:



Of course you can still enjoy cooking anything but why not challenge yourself to make healthier versions of things that still taste great. I for one would love to hear of any recipes you come up with


The challenge has been accepted for sure. I used to work at a spa resort where I had to cook healthy versions of everything so I’m very familiar with cooking healthier cuisine.
I just really hope I can still enjoy some grilled filet mignon 🤤 I know it can sit heavy in some peoples pouches.

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30 minutes ago, Edmira said:

The challenge has been accepted for sure. I used to work at a spa resort where I had to cook healthy versions of everything so I’m very familiar with cooking healthier cuisine.
I just really hope I can still enjoy some grilled filet mignon 🤤 I know it can sit heavy in some peoples pouches.

Ooh I absolutely have filet mignon with no issues. My hubby makes it on the grill with yummy grilled onions. One of my favorites. I just have to eat it again because he doesn’t really like steak and of course I have leftovers. I usually have it on a salad or make fajitas or quesadillas the next day with low carb wraps.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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