Do you miss eating? Like the comfort of it, not in an emotional eating way, just the joy that comes from really good food. I understand the new mindset is to eat for fuel and I'm fully on board with it. But I also have 40 years of programming that is opposite to that way of thinking.

Sometimes my food is gone from my place sooner than I anticipated. I have to remind myself to chew my food more, eat slower & enjoy the food more.

I still enjoy eating really good & delicious food & I still love cooking & going out to fine dining restaurants. I just look at food differently. Of course food still has to taste good. I wouldn’t eat something only because it was good for me if it tasted awful or unsatisfying. But it’s almost like food being yummy is the bonus to the nutritional benefits. I don’t eat it just too make me happy or feel better.

The other part of this is portion control: this is delicious but I don’t have to eat more than I need. This is how I manage the rare times I have dessert. I don’t need to eat a full slice, multiple scoops, etc. A couple of bites is fine & just as enjoyable. In some ways I value those couple of bites more.

Don’t be afraid to try new foods & ingredients during this process. You may also discover foods you didn’t enjoy before or didn’t think you’d enjoy are actually quite delicious.

Oh & I had almost 54 years of programming ?.

3 hours ago, Arabesque said:

I still enjoy eating really good & delicious food & I still love cooking & going out to fine dining restaurants. I just look at food differently. Of course food still has to taste good. I wouldn’t eat something only because it was good for me if it tasted awful or unsatisfying. But it’s almost like food being yummy is the bonus to the nutritional benefits. I don’t eat it just too make me happy or feel better.

The other part of this is portion control: this is delicious but I don’t have to eat more than I need. This is how I manage the rare times I have dessert. I don’t need to eat a full slice, multiple scoops, etc. A couple of bites is fine & just as enjoyable. In some ways I value those couple of bites more.

Don’t be afraid to try new foods & ingredients during this process. You may also discover foods you didn’t enjoy before or didn’t think you’d enjoy are actually quite delicious.

Oh & I had almost 54 years of programming ?.

Same here for me. I've never been very strict on what I eat except for the first month or so and immediately after the surgery. I was not given any specific diet to follow only some guidelines for the first month after the surgery and that I should cut down / reduce carbs thereafter.

Now I only eat when I'm really hungry and I don't get sugar cravings that much. I try to increase my fruits and vegetables intake and cut down on the carbs. I still enjoy (almost) all the foods I used to eat before just in small quantities. It helps that I cook my food myself so I can control what goes in into my food and also the portion size. That said, I can't seem to tolerate some foods (pasta, scrambled eggs etc) which is not a bad thing haha

Edited January 29, 20233 yr by omrhsn

3 hours ago, Arabesque said:

I still enjoy eating really good & delicious food & I still love cooking & going out to fine dining restaurants. I just look at food differently. Of course food still has to taste good. I wouldn’t eat something only because it was good for me if it tasted awful or unsatisfying. But it’s almost like food being yummy is the bonus to the nutritional benefits. I don’t eat it just too make me happy or feel better.

The other part of this is portion control: this is delicious but I don’t have to eat more than I need. This is how I manage the rare times I have dessert. I don’t need to eat a full slice, multiple scoops, etc. A couple of bites is fine & just as enjoyable. In some ways I value those couple of bites more.

Don’t be afraid to try new foods & ingredients during this process. You may also discover foods you didn’t enjoy before or didn’t think you’d enjoy are actually quite delicious.

Oh & I had almost 54 years of programming ?.

59 years of pre-surgery programming here!

I agree with everything Arabesque said above. I think I probably enjoy eating more than I did before, because I do it in a mindful way and savor what I'm eating.

I also wanted to say that my tastes have definitely changed. Not only do I not crave sugary foods any more, I actually find overly sweet food disgusting now (including things I used to love). Most of my cravings now are for "good" foods that I should be eating as part of a healthy diet.

being restricted on your food choices is temporary. When I hit the six-month mark, any and all food restrictions were lifted. After that, it came down to what my stomach could tolerate (and I can eat pretty much anything except for really fatty meals). I just have to eat smaller portions than I used to, otherwise my weight will start heading north again.

I should add that I was a pretty healthy eater even before surgery (although granted, I ate way too much of it). I did enjoy occasional treats, but I mostly ate pretty healthy. If you're used to eating a lot processed food and sugary or fried things, then you'll be dealing with bigger changes than I had to and might miss some of that - but I don't miss anything since I can eat pretty much anything I want to again (although there are times when I'm eating some fantastic pizza or barbecue and wish I could shovel more and more in like I used to be able to do - but it would be physically painful for me to scarf up half a large pizza or a huge pile of BBQ in one sitting with this tiny stomach). But to answer your question, no, because I eat pretty much what I did before - I just eat a lot less of it.

I love good food. Problem for most of my life was that I ate far too much of it, and then a whole heap of sugar right on top of that again for good measure. I am 14 months post sleeve surgery and I can eat almost everything I could before, so I really don't miss anything at all. When I eat out I eat about half a main or just get a starter (which are often the most interesting dishes on a menu anyway!) Honestly it brings me just as much joy as it always did. I hope it's the same for you.

I love everything about eating out at nice restaurants; the social aspect, the food, the atmosphere, etc. I always order with the mindset that I'll be bringing at least half (if not 3/4) of my meal home with me, so I do try to order in a way that the meal with keep best (like if it's a salad, I'll get the dressing on the side). I love ahi tuna, so if there is an ahi tuna appetizer or poke bowl on the menu, I usually get that and eat as much of the tuna as a I can, and bring home the veggies/slaw/salad for later.

I always have a fun selection of leftovers in the fridge! Right now I have shrimp tacos in there, that I plan on eating tonight!

Thanks for your insight everyone!

To me, the food tastes way better now. Before I used to be all about volume. Now it's so nice to chat, hang out and to savor the taste of great food one bite at a time. [emoji492]

41 minutes ago, Tomo said:

To me, the food tastes way better now. Before I used to be all about volume. Now it's so nice to chat, hang out and to savor the taste of great food one bite at a time. [emoji492]

Totally agree. I now enjoy and appreciate food better. I also believe cooking small portions yields better food somehow.

No bc I still eat good food! I'm having beef stew for dinner tomorrow & today I had chicken kebabs, & yesterday I had tri-tip. The only difference is that the portions are smaller & the sides I usually had are now different (im 4mos out so I still have some limitations I have to follow) I still very much enjoy eating!

Do you miss eating? Like the comfort of it, not in an emotional eating way, just the joy that comes from really good food. I understand the new mindset is to eat for fuel and I'm fully on board with it. But I also have 40 years of programming that is opposite to that way of thinking.

I'm 3 weeks PO and I'm struggling. I miss eating so much, food is always on my mind now. Pre-op days I'd forget to eat and gorge in the evening.

Hoping this will get better

On 01/28/2023 at 21:24, LindsayT said:

Do you miss eating? Like the comfort of it, not in an emotional eating way, just the joy that comes from really good food. I understand the new mindset is to eat for fuel and I'm fully on board with it. But I also have 40 years of programming that is opposite to that way of thinking.

I'm 2 weeks post op, and I'm still on a liquid diet. I very much miss eating, to the point that I feel less energetic all day since and more depressed. I think I regret having this surgery.

Also never stopped eating good food - I just eat small portions and am satisfied with that. I still get excited about food, still love cooking, still love going out to eat. Only difference is the quantity I eat, and I no longer feel guilt afterwards. I find that lack of guilt because I'm not gorging myself completely liberating.

Pre-surgery I didn't slow down to actually enjoy anything I was eating. It's the reverse now - I finally have a good relationship with food. I can stop and actually appreciate the flavours and the skill that went into making it, without making myself ill from eating too much of it.

I think folks really latch onto this idea that post-surgery eating is punitive, but it isn't. It may feel like it when you're in those first months of the plan, but that's temporary while everything heals.