*Trigger warning for discussion of food* - just in case! I don't want to upset anyone who may be struggling with cravings etc ?

Hello everyone!

I have been on this site for a few months now, and my surgery date is getting closer and closer.

I've just had the sale of my house finalised which means I can now officially pay for my surgery so it all feels a lot more real now! ?

I am curious to know if anyone had a pre-surgery bucket list? I am talking things like, final meals they wanted to have or things they wanted to drink! Given that after surgery a lot of these things are going to be a no-go for a while.

I just thought it would be a fun thing to talk about!

I am thinking about Kokoro chicken katsu curry...?

I didn't have a formal list, but about a week or two before I started the liquid diet, I did make some plans to go out to eat at favorite restaurants. I ordered a particularly rich meal at a local Italian place that I love, and at one place I split a bunch of appetizers (all fried, naturally). I also had a couple of big breakfasts at diners because I love diner food. Oh, and I accidentally ordered a Wendy's Baconator hamburger, which is three meat patties and a ton of bacon. I say accidentally because I'm not a person who goes to Wendy's on the regular, so I had no idea of the menu and had to make a quick decision because I was in the drive-thru. A burger with bacon sounded nice. I had no idea it was the size of a house! It was the only thing I ate all day, but I was laughing when I unwrapped it because I knew I would not be ordering another of these in the future!

My only advice is not to let your "last meal" turn into a month of "last meals." Allow yourself a limited amount of time. You can do a lot of damage in a month!

2 minutes ago, NickelChip said:

I didn't have a formal list, but about a week or two before I started the liquid diet, I did make some plans to go out to eat at favorite restaurants. I ordered a particularly rich meal at a local Italian place that I love, and at one place I split a bunch of appetizers (all fried, naturally). I also had a couple of big breakfasts at diners because I love diner food. Oh, and I accidentally ordered a Wendy's Baconator hamburger, which is three meat patties and a ton of bacon. I say accidentally because I'm not a person who goes to Wendy's on the regular, so I had no idea of the menu and had to make a quick decision because I was in the drive-thru. A burger with bacon sounded nice. I had no idea it was the size of a house! It was the only thing I ate all day, but I was laughing when I unwrapped it because I knew I would not be ordering another of these in the future!

My only advice is not to let your "last meal" turn into a month of "last meals." Allow yourself a limited amount of time. You can do a lot of damage in a month!

Oooh all of that sounds so nice! They recently opened a Wendy's here in my town in the UK and I haven't tried any food there yet - but at least I know now that the portion sizes are massive when it comes to the Baconator ?

Your advice about making sure it doesn't turn into a series of "last meals" is really helpful - I am already trying to rein myself in a bit as I can imagine eating so much food that it turns into a month-long binge!

Isn't it the worst thing that we have to raise our own funds to get healthy but in the long run I have to say its worth the thousands of pounds. I wish the NHS was in better shape but I think that those days have long gone. So congratulations on getting your ducks in a row, even if you had to sell your home to do it.

I had two very full weeks of food funerals, my dietician actually told me to go for it. So I did. I had my favourite takeaways, Chinese 3 times, fish and chips and a very hot and spicy curry or two. I ate at a few of my best loved restaurants, Italian and Thai. I made barbecued ribs and had baked spuds with lots of butter with them. Its a while since but there would have been ice cream, chocolate and cake involved and a full English with plenty of homemade bread with Lurpak butter. Hehe I really went for it didn't I

Yes, I absolutely did this. I was (and still am to some extent) a binge eater and I literally made a spreadsheet of all my favorite binge foods to "check off" before surgery, spreading them out over a couple of binges. The thing that really amazed me is that most of them... weren't very enjoyable.

I had lost about half of my excess weight before surgery and although I was having occasional binges throughout, they were generally the same few foods. So trying the old favorites, some of which were hard to get, I thought that they would taste amazing. But, frankly, junk food is usually disappointing.

I also traveled to the city where I lived for a long time to go to some of my favorite restaurants and have some of my favorite non-binge meals. Again, sort of disappointing. The city was still amazing and I really enjoyed the non-food portions of the trip, but the food part was just sort of meh.

I'm glad I did it. I was very worried about being one of those people who can't eat anything after surgery and literally never being able to eat any of my favorite foods again. The thing I was most worried about was salads. I had a big restaurant salad nearly every day up until my pre-op diet. That was the only thing that wasn't disappointing. I'm very, very glad that I can eat salad again!

I didn't do this at really. I was a chocaholic so I just ate my usual (industrial) quantities of that. I rarely eat it now but I'm sorry to say that when I do I still adore it. I wish I'd lost my taste for it but I never have. What I do have though is a steely determination not to be obese again - it's working so far.

I didn't really get a chance to do this because my surgery date changed and I had to immediately start the pre-op diet. So the only thing I had was 2 slices of a really, really good pizza and a few wings. Oh, and a mixed drink! And that was it...

I've found post op that I can still eat a lot of what I loved before with modifications. I can have pho, but without the rice noodles, the sweet little lady at our local shop makes it with veggies for me! I can have korean bbq (which is my favorite meal) but we order ala carte now instead of all-you-can-eat and have leftovers for days. I can have thai curries but I get them to go and put them on heart of palm noodles and have several meals of it. I can't have the carbs I used to have and some days I miss them, but not for too long. I do miss a pastry with my coffee, but I'm working on finding a few decent keto cookie recipes and I recently made keto banana nut chocolate chip muffins that were wicked good and scratched that itch... My partner loves to eat out so I've found a variety of ways to adapt what I get, how to optimize for things that will be good as leftovers, or how to get a smaller portion or leave off what I can't eat...

Enjoy your katsu curry!! I do kind of miss that with a steaming bowl of rice... Mmmm...

15 hours ago, summerseeker said:

Isn't it the worst thing that we have to raise our own funds to get healthy but in the long run I have to say its worth the thousands of pounds. I wish the NHS was in better shape but I think that those days have long gone. So congratulations on getting your ducks in a row, even if you had to sell your home to do it.

I had two very full weeks of food funerals, my dietician actually told me to go for it. So I did. I had my favourite takeaways, Chinese 3 times, fish and chips and a very hot and spicy curry or two. I ate at a few of my best loved restaurants, Italian and Thai. I made barbecued ribs and had baked spuds with lots of butter with them. Its a while since but there would have been ice cream, chocolate and cake involved and a full English with plenty of homemade bread with Lurpak butter. Hehe I really went for it didn't I

It is quite a shame that we have to fund it ourselves if we don't want to be waiting 5+ years! But as you say, in the long run it is worth it, and I know I will feel that way too. I agree with you on that - I don't see how the NHS will be able to improve, given that they aren't getting anymore funding any time soon... ? But thank you, selling my house was going to happen regardless, but now I have a purpose for some of the money which I will be grateful eternally for!

Oooo you have given me things I need to add! Chinese is right up there! A full English too yes! You went for it, rightly so!!

13 hours ago, Nepenthe44 said:

Yes, I absolutely did this. I was (and still am to some extent) a binge eater and I literally made a spreadsheet of all my favorite binge foods to "check off" before surgery, spreading them out over a couple of binges. The thing that really amazed me is that most of them... weren't very enjoyable.

I had lost about half of my excess weight before surgery and although I was having occasional binges throughout, they were generally the same few foods. So trying the old favorites, some of which were hard to get, I thought that they would taste amazing. But, frankly, junk food is usually disappointing.

I also traveled to the city where I lived for a long time to go to some of my favorite restaurants and have some of my favorite non-binge meals. Again, sort of disappointing. The city was still amazing and I really enjoyed the non-food portions of the trip, but the food part was just sort of meh.

I'm glad I did it. I was very worried about being one of those people who can't eat anything after surgery and literally never being able to eat any of my favorite foods again. The thing I was most worried about was salads. I had a big restaurant salad nearly every day up until my pre-op diet. That was the only thing that wasn't disappointing. I'm very, very glad that I can eat salad again!

That is an interesting thing that I hadn't considered - rather than just junk food, but the food that are just favourites! Makes me think of my mum's mac & cheese and some other dishes she makes! hmm...

I am so glad you can eat your salads still! I imagine that helps a lot to still have something you really enjoyed pre-surgery!

9 hours ago, Spinoza said:

I didn't do this at really. I was a chocaholic so I just ate my usual (industrial) quantities of that. I rarely eat it now but I'm sorry to say that when I do I still adore it. I wish I'd lost my taste for it but I never have. What I do have though is a steely determination not to be obese again - it's working so far.

I feel you on that - I love chocolate! Snacks in general haha. I am a bit worried about still craving it all after surgery, but I hope I will have the same resolve as you!

9 hours ago, ChunkCat said:

I didn't really get a chance to do this because my surgery date changed and I had to immediately start the pre-op diet. So the only thing I had was 2 slices of a really, really good pizza and a few wings. Oh, and a mixed drink! And that was it...

I've found post op that I can still eat a lot of what I loved before with modifications. I can have pho, but without the rice noodles, the sweet little lady at our local shop makes it with veggies for me! I can have korean bbq (which is my favorite meal) but we order ala carte now instead of all-you-can-eat and have leftovers for days. I can have thai curries but I get them to go and put them on heart of palm noodles and have several meals of it. I can't have the carbs I used to have and some days I miss them, but not for too long. I do miss a pastry with my coffee, but I'm working on finding a few decent Keto cookie recipes and I recently made keto banana nut chocolate chip muffins that were wicked good and scratched that itch... My partner loves to eat out so I've found a variety of ways to adapt what I get, how to optimize for things that will be good as leftovers, or how to get a smaller portion or leave off what I can't eat...

Enjoy your katsu curry!! I do kind of miss that with a steaming bowl of rice... Mmmm...

Ahh that is such a shame! I am sorry! But at least the pizza was extra good!

Its good to hear your experiences with it all post-surgery, and that keto banana cookie sounds yummy! Would you mind sharing the recipe?

The rice is amazing with it all...ugh I will miss it!

My revision surgery was scheduled for a few days after my birthday (so I was full swing into the preop diet) but my boyfriend planned a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s factory. Well I broke protocol (not recommending this) and enjoyed EVERYTHING. Naturally I had to resume the preop diet schedule right afterwards, but this was worth it for me.

Dupe

Edited March 8, 20242 yr by GreenTealael

2 hours ago, GreenTealael said:

My revision surgery was scheduled for a few days after my birthday (so I was full swing into the preop diet) but my boyfriend planned a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s factory. Well I broke protocol (not recommending this) and enjoyed EVERYTHING. Naturally I had to resume the preop diet schedule right afterwards, but this was worth it for me.

Oooo I would definitely break protocol for B&J haha! I didn't even know they could do tours and that has got me thinking...

My food furneral wasn’t planned, but it’s happened to be my food furneral in the summer of 2023.

I had a family member who was visiting in July and August 2024, and I took her to all my favorite restaurants and favorite food in NYC. NYC really do have soooo much options when it comes to great food. It was during restaurant week and I took advantage of it. I also had a few pool parties… I gained about 10 lbs. After that reflux became an issue and lead to my surgery. And since Oct 2023 I was in a diet till my surgery in Jan 2024.

I would not say all the food I ate was unhealthy, but portion is what needs to be addressed. I believe in the future I can still have them, but in moderation.

some pictures of what I ate.? BEWARE! FOOD PORN!

Edited March 9, 20242 yr by newbegining2024

I didn’t do a food funeral or have a final treat. It all happened pretty quickly. From GP appointment for a referral, to seeing the surgeon, then the dietician & then surgery wasn’t quite 6 weeks. And I think because from the morning I woke up & said enough & made my GP appointment, I was committed. I was ready to make the change for a different life. Maybe if I had a longer time frame until the surgery it may have been different. ??‍♀️ Never thought I’ll never have this food again, or won’t be able to eat at a specific restaurant ever again. I do. Just make more careful choices, watch portions, frequency, etc. Had takeaway fish & chips with my brother’s family last week. Ordered grillled fish & salad & snuck a chip from my nephew’s plate. Actually first fish & chips (well chip) since before surgery. But we’re all different in how we approach things. Doesn’t mean what you choose to do is right or wrong. Enjoy.