Question:
Are there any foods that you feel you can (will) never eat again?
At a recent support group meeting, some earlier post-ops questionned if they would ever be able to eat certain foods (particularly birthday cake and icecream). As a longer term post-op, I explained that I would never return to eating sweets of any kind as I feared that they would be a trigger. Other longer-term post-ops opined that they didn't think that they had any true "trigger" foods and that one taste of cake wouldn't send them into a carb-gourging frenzy. What do you think? — SteveColarossi (posted on March 18, 2004)
March 18, 2004
Steve,there are so many "Sugar Free" cakes and ice creams etc out
there...they taste as good as the real stuff to me..so I dont really find I
am deprived of anything..I am about 1 1/2 yrs out
— NANCY P.
March 18, 2004
I know I had this surgery to be normal. Normal people have an occasional
treat like birthday cake. Last Sunday was my mom's birthday and I had a
small sliver and enjoyed every bite! It did not make me want anything more.
In fact, I WOULD have wanted to eat everything in sight had I denied myself
and felt deprived. Shelley
— Shelley.
March 18, 2004
Ahh I can and do eat anything, in moderation. A small piece of birthday
cake and a bit of ice cream is fine as a treat, but avoid getting addicted.
I will be 3 years out this summer. WLS isnt a sentance to be edured its a
wonderful gift. If its MY cake I would probably select a sugar free one, if
we were purchasing it. But go ahead and enjoy a bite no and then.
— bob-haller
March 18, 2004
Everyone's different. Having a small piece of cake DOES make me want more,
and it took months after Christmas to kick the carb addiction again after I
sampled the goodies. I'm barely back on the wagon... just kind of hanging
on the side with my nails dug in and one leg thrown over. I still do
sample stuff, but I shoot myself in the foot when I do it. Not everyone is
like that though!
— mom2jtx3
March 18, 2004
I have sugar treats every day. The key for me is to control the amount of
sugar. A small piece of birthday cake MINUS the ice cream unless its SF
ice cream is just fine. In fact, I had a small piece of employee-retiring
cake at the office today. As for which foods you will never be able to eat
again, its different for everyone. Some post-ops have trouble with foods
that make you sick, others have no problems. Me, for some reason, Chinese
is a no-no. Everything else is fair game.
— Cindy R.
March 18, 2004
Steve: I would have to agree with some of your support group members. I
honestly believe I have reached the point in my life where I don't have
many trigger foods anymore. For the most part, I have emotional eating
under pretty good control, with an occasional slip-up, and I can say that
was the case pre-op. I worked on my emotional eating issues long before I
considered WLS. I did have a bad couple days this past weekend, but have
been back on track all week. My biggest problem pre-op was the volume of
food I consumed at mealtimes - I didn't even snack that much back then. My
approach, in order to maintain what I've lost, is to be as normal as
possible. I am learning to eat like a thin person - sometimes thin people
eat things that aren't the best for them, but they don't do it all the
time. So, yes I can say that I have occasional sweets, including cake,
pie, cookies, and still occasionally enjoy some of the foods that used to
get me in trouble - like pizza or italian bread and butter. I will always
have to work at maintaining control, but having the WLS tool can make all
the difference, I feel. Everyone has to find their own way to make WLS
work for them - it is not a "one size fits all" proposition.
— Carlita
March 18, 2004
Steve: I can honestly say that I don't have many trigger foods anymore. I
have emotional eating under pretty good control, with an occasional
slip-up, and that was the case pre-op. I worked on my emotional eating
issues long before I considered WLS. I had a bad couple of days last
weekend, but have been back on track all week. I do enjoy sweets
occasionally, like cake, pie or cookies, and sometimes eat foods that used
to cause me problems like pizza or italian bread and butter. My approach
now is to behave like a thin person - sometimes thin people eat things that
aren't the healthiest or best choices, but they don't do it all the time.
Everyone must find their own way to make this marvelous tool work for them
- it is not a "one size fits all" proposition. Some of the
skills I learned over 25+ years of (failed) diet attempts do still serve me
now, and I can still draw on those experiences, even though I was not
successful at keeping weight off. I do intend to be successful and
maintain my weight loss this time, so if adjustments must be made the
further out I get, then I will make them. Thanks for the good question.
Lap RNY 9/11/03, 254/180/???
— Carlita
March 18, 2004
There is really no kind of food that I avoid other then high calorie
beverages. I will not drink a milkshake. I occasionally will have a diet
pepsi or crystal lite slurpee or a sugar free frappucino made out of skim
milk. If I eat too much sugar, I get nauseus which "sometimes"
keep me away from sugar. Other then that, I admit I sometimes eat candy
like m&m's with peanuts or a pay day. (I do the peanut kind because I
can get some protein from it), but if it seems like I'm picking up weight,
I begin to cut those products out. I do believe that some people have
trigger foods, but I really don't think that I do. Eating carbs does not
make me crave more carbs. If I have a food in the house that I really
like, I want to keep eating on it. The best thing for me is to get it out
of the house. Which reminds me, I will now go and throw out my bag of
potato chips!
— Lisa N M.
March 18, 2004
Bagels. Whole onion ones with butter dripping from them. Now, IF I have any
at all, it's about 1/4 of one. The effect bagels have on me is somewhat
like one of those sea monkeys when you drop them in water - insta-bloat.
— sweetmana
March 18, 2004
For me, my pre-op favorite, I can no longer eat, Mac and cheese. Pasta
does not do well with me.
— Oldsoul
March 18, 2004
I am 18 months post-op and have choosen to not eat sweets. I do not want
to find out whether I dump or not, if I never try then I can say they will
make me sick and I do not want them. I'm afraid the temptation might be
too great and I never want to go there again. I do know that bread makes
me ill and my doctor said I will probably never be able to eat it, so I
tell my self that cake and cookies are similar and therefore they will also
make me sick. I do not want to know if I have triggers. If you know isn't
it too late?
— Penny D.
March 18, 2004
My new favorite word is "insta-bloat"-- that was too funny and,
unfortunately, right on the money for me, too. As for an answer to the
question: The only rule that I follow religiously is that I will only drink
water, and decaf coffee with half & half. I will not drink any soda, no
milkshakes, no OJ, nothing of any drink that has calories. That's just my
thing. However, I have found that I can eat sweets (I still love chocolate)
but I can't "inhale" large amounts. It just doesn't sit well and
I can't eat the same amounts that I did pre-op. I think that occasional
treats are fine but I make sure that I eat only the best kind of chocolate
now: a single Godiva truffle does more for me than a king-size Hershey bar
ever could.
— lizinPA
March 18, 2004
Ah, good question. I once belonged to the group that believed that
occasional sugary treats would not send me into a "carb-gouging
frenzy." This is because, for the first 18 months post-op, they
didn't. However, for whatever reason, now they do (I'm almost 22 months
post-op).<P>The only reason I'm not all the way over on your side of
the line yet, Steve, is I'm not quite ready to face that I can't handle
certain foods (read: chocolate) at all anymore. But, I'm getting
there.<P>Based on my reading of postings from many long-term
post-ops, I think there is a definite "camp" of people who have,
or will, develop this problem even post-WLS. Those who refuse to recognize
they have this "issue" can wind up very disappointed with their
WLS results in the long run. Those who don't have that problem, and are
able to live in the world of "moderation," (or to return there
fairly readily), don't have be as strict as the rest of us. Which camp you
fall into isn't hard to figure out, though.<P>I think it is fair to
warn both pre-ops and post-ops about the reality that many of us just
cannot handle certain foods even after WLS -- meaning, the
pouch/malabsorption tools aren't heavy-duty enough to "stop" us,
so we still have to "stop" ourselves with regard to those foods.
Much more doable now (I just stuff my pouch with protein instead, which
still works to satiate appetite), but still something of a chore.
— Suzy C.
March 18, 2004
hmmm.. I don't know that I have any trigger foods... for the most part..
anything like that.. I stay away from.. unless its REALLY good... but i
don't eat ice cream.. no trigger there but a huge weakness... I do have SF
a lot though... alot means.. 1/2 cup every other day.. sometimes.. then I
go two weeks without it. If I do have some cake.. it isn't store bought
birthday cake.. and its NOT something I bring into the house. I might take
the opportunity to eat something really good when presented with it.. and
mostly only a bite or two. .. a third bite maybe, but that might make me
start to dump -- not a bad on, but my heart will begin to pound and I know
that more would have made me sick. <br><br>I waited a long time
to 'test' the dumping... and I'm pretty careful because I don't want to
desensitize it.. and I don't really like to dump.<br><br>That
said, there really isn't anything I can't eat a little of. There are some
things I probably won't eat any more (or I haven't in 1.75 years so far)--
most of them are CRAPPY food that I used to eat. Bad things.. not bad
choices.. still make them.. *grin* but food that I just ate to eat.. white
bread.. not tasty, boring.. why bother? The list is endless, but now when
I eat, you can bet its good.
— Lisa C.
March 18, 2004
I am in the same boat as Bob Haller. I am 2+ years out and I do eat
whatever I want, in moderation. My eating pre op was more quantity than it
was "carb fests" or cravings...it was quantity...gluttony. A
pound of pasta...no problem...a large pizza all to myself...bring it on.
So now, I allow myself to eat what I want...my small tummy keeps me honest
about how much of it I can have. I dump on ice cream, more than 3
bites...but I will, when in the mood, allow myself that 3 bites. A single
slice of pizza...or as much of it as I can get down, I allow it. Even
McDonald's french fries...I allow myself these treats. For the most part,
I have a protein bar for breakfast...a soup or salad for lunch...and
whatever I want for dinner. The one thing I absolutely can not
eat...CHICKEN...for some reason, almost every single time I eat it, I throw
up. Chicken sits in my pouch like a lead sinker...so I tend to stay away
from it. Have a Sparkling Day!! ~CAE~
— Mustang
March 18, 2004
I just wanted to add, that in the end, we all walk our own path and its
different for each of us. Yes, we've all been fat and we all had surgery
-- how we maintain our goals, live our lives and eat is very different. I
notice that often -- I'm amazed at how different we all are. I was in my
doctor's office the other day, with a woman 3 years out, someone 4 weeks
out and me. The 3 year woman said she couldn't and hadn't eaten any white
mean chicken in three years... wow.. I don't love it.. but I can manage it
if its moist... the four week out woman had already eaten chocolates. .. I
didn't any sugar for more than a year.. *grin*. We are all different and
what works for me will not likely work for you. *grin* Good luck!
— Lisa C.
March 18, 2004
I'll be 2 years out in May and I still have a very small pouch - about 1
1/2 oz. There are a few foods I can never eat again - not out of fear of
triggering a binge - just out of fear of dying because they either hurt so
much or I throw up every time I eat them. Any raw, hard veggies like
carrots and celery kill me. Any citrus fruit - especially tangerines make
me throw up. Almost any sugar at all makes me dump. I ate a raisin the
other day and was terribly ill from the sugar in it. All this would be
great except that I still haven't lost all the weight I wanted to. I'm
only down about 90 pound - I had gotten to 98 but had an accident and
couldn't exercise for several months so I gained 8 back and can really tell
the difference in my clothes. I never knew 8 pounds could take up that
many inches in my fanny. Anyway, I finally got released by the physical
therapist and started back at the gym again. Hopefully I'll get off the
last 50 or 60 pounds before Christmas.
— Vicki H.
March 18, 2004
Trial and Error..best way to find out. I am 2 years out and can eat most
stuff..a bite of cake, a cookie here and there. I lost my binging desire
for those. Pasta on the other hand..I will probably never eat spaghetti
again. It is my FAVORITE food but I binge on it and throw up. Most of the
time I can handle pork or steak but I have it rarely as about 1 out of 3
times I will end up throwing it up as it feels like it gets stuck even if I
chew it to death.
— Connie M.
March 18, 2004
I do not live in a diet world. I eat all foods I want or can tolerate but
in much smaller quantities. I know that deprivation is much more likely to
set off problems for me, so I don't go there. I eat ice cream bars but low
carb ones. I won't eat much or any rice because it just does not sit well
with me. Also thick dense fish like haddock, halibut and salmon do not
stay down. I have tried them various times over the last 13 months and
have just finally decided it's not worth getting sick, so I'll eat other
good things.
<p>I went very strict on carbs for about 4-1/2 months and for me I
think that helped break the hold they have on me. That said, I have found
myself eating tons of carbs this past 3 weeks as I recover from my lower
body lift but that was more a convenience thing and comforting my mood.
Things are turning back around and I'm getting back on the protein train
again. Things that are high in sugar still scare me so I automatically do
them in really small quantities. I just don't want to dump. I havent'
fully dumped but came close on 2 christmas cookies. I haven't forgotten
that feeling as it sent me to bed. Even if I do have a carb gorging day I
start the next day over. One of the best solutions is still to buy those
things in small quantities or not bring them into the house and only eat
them when out.
— zoedogcbr
March 19, 2004
I have to say that I think personal will power is more the actor than a
"trigger food." I can eat a few sweets such as a cookie or two
bites of cake...I find I feel guilty when I do and physically I feel
sluggish. So for me it's really not worth it to eat that stuff. There are
foods though that I can not tolerate still...ice cream, steak, pineapple,
oranges, rice, or more than 3 bites of bread. OH WELL is what I tell
myself, I'll take missing food over being fat any day. Good luck to you.
Open RNY 5/9/2003
-164lbs.
— Sylvia E.
March 19, 2004
I have to say that every soul is different! I personally have a small
piece of cake and icecream at bday aprties, if I feel like it. It does not
send me into a binge. Something that never did change since surgery is my
desire for chocolate during my mentruation. That is just purely medicinial
as far as I am concerned! Its all about putting healthy foods in the body
and moderation. I weigh once a week ideally, and keep myself in check. It
works for me, if you are worried about sweets becoming an addiciton, then
limit yourself, and avoid. Only you can know how you stand on that.
— Jenny_B
March 19, 2004
In response to Sylvia, at least in my case, the "trigger food"
issue is not one of personal willpower. (I'll stack my self-discipline,
flawed and human but generally strong as it is, up against the best of 'em
in any area, anytime.) Willpower doesn't come into the picture at all if
you can stop at a bite or two because you don't feel well, or you feel
guilty. And willpower isn't enough when the cravings are unbearably,
relentlessly bad, such that you learn you're better off not "playing
with fire" (eating that food) at all, to begin with. Generally, I
don't think the term "willpower" is a useful one for M.O. people;
if it were, none of us would've turned to surgery. (Did we like hearing
that argument from "normies" who felt all we had to do was push
ourselves away from the table, or "just put the fork down?")
Sorry to jump so hard on this comment, but to me, it suggests that we're
talking about two very different issues here -- foods one can handle in
moderation, and foods that one can't, the difference being very individual,
and not simply turning on the red-herring issue of "willpower"
(in my humble and admittedly passionate opinion).
— Suzy C.
March 19, 2004
I'll be 3years PO on 4/9. I have a few personal rules. They work for me. No
drinking with meals, Protein first, always and always 64oz plus
liquid,(non-caffine) a day. And for me, no sugar, ever! I don't have any
"trigger" foods now, but I remember what they were. Also, very
early on accidental sugar consumption made me very sick. This was GOOD.
After I lived through it I realized my tool had done exactly what I had
hoped. A type of aversion therapy that I desperately needed! My God, if I
had self-control I maybe could've stopped before I reached 360lbs! I
remember having a bad day and "whinning" to my mom that I didn't
even have the comfort of my cheesecake to fall back on! LOL, that really
made me smile. As it's been said, we all have to find the lifestyle that
works for us. I do not obsess about the things I don't eat, I don't look at
it as being denied or deprived. I just eat what I eat, and that's my life.
And Oh Yeah It's a great one!!! Love ya!
— bek4901
March 19, 2004
I will always limit my carb intake and doubt that I will ever eat sugar. I
think that as we get further out the effects of the surgery wear off and we
are left with our old habits unless we have altered them. I have a total
issue with those who say they can eat a cookie here and there. It may be
pessimism or jealousy but I got to nearly 300 pounds by being a total food
addict and definitely have trigger foods that are once consumed not related
in any way to self control or will power. There is, for me, a chemical
reaction that sends me into a frenzy. I wonder if everyone will feel the
same way when they are further out or are we really all that different.
— Carol S.
March 19, 2004
When I had the surgery, I decided I never wanted to diet again. I wanted
to make the surgery work so I can be slim the rest of my life, but I don't
want to feel the restrictions of being on a "diet". So, for me,
there are no good foods and no bad foods, but there are trigger foods which
I absolutely cannot eat because they usually lead to binge eating. I agree
with the previous poster - If I was good at controlling my food intake, I
would not have been 175 pounds over my ideal weight. I do not tempt fate
with sweets. I think the surgery works best when you don't push the
envelope by trying to see just how much you can eat. I would advise you
not to try ice cream and cake. It is easier to maintain control than to
try to regain control after you've lost it.
— Ann H.
March 19, 2004
Steve, I agree with you - there are "trigger" foods mine is pasta
- my nutritionist and/doctor help me learn to restrict my intake prior to
my surgery - by ingest proteins, which make my cravings go away. It still
is a trigger food for me - since after WLS "protein" is a
essential I cannot see myself being hooked on pasta again. Sugar - I was
never a big sweet eater - but I have had a thin slice or cake or something
made with white sugar since my surgery but I alway take a bite and throw
the rest away. This satisfies my "greedy" mental stomach and
obeys my WLS.
— Anna M.
March 19, 2004
Carol.. I wonder why you're so unwilling to allow others to be different
from you... you have trigger food... that's GREAT that you know it.. I'm
sure it will mean you're perfect from now on.. *grin* and never eat them
again... there are others here who approach things differently.. good luck
to you... no need to have issues with me.. I don't have them with you.
— Lisa C.
March 19, 2004
lisa i think you misunderstood carol. she was answering the question asked.
only a rare percent a people become obese because of a medical condition.
there are triggers that cause people to eat. alot of us have wls to curb
those triggers but really never get help in understanding WHY we do it.
weather you have emotional triggers or certian foods send you on a frenzie
, you should understand what your triggers are. carol was very honest in
her answer and said what alot of people won't admit. if you have a
alcoholic and are trying to get them to stop drinking, but give them a
bottle of alchohol and tell them "ok you can have ONLY 1 oz. 3 times
a day". you want them to learn to quit drinking on their own without
any professional help. how long do you think they would last with only
drinking what they were told? i know if i ate sweets and it sat ok in my
stomach i would try and see how much more i could eat and be
"OK". this would be a trigger for me and a quick down fall. i'm
getting help for this now. carol answered honestly, probibly more honestly
than alot of people are privately to their ownself about their triggers.
— franbvan
March 19, 2004
As far as I know, I will never do milk (therefore, ice cream). I didn't
find my trigger foods til 5.5 yrs out. Wow, was *I* surprised! The foods
that got to me were not particular faves pre-op. My faves are still good,
but they don't make me crazy. I get the flower off the cake, but don't
waste my sugar g on the cake. And it's birthdays only. My last flower was
last fall. I think I always have to be aware of my disease--the part that
cannot use carbs correctly and will send my serotonin and blood sugar way
UP, followed by way DOWN. I never avoided the non-sugar carbs or fast
food, but do worry about things like applesauce, real fruit (trigger!),
real juice, and moo. Strange combination, I know. Am I perfect at this?
Of course not. Else, how would I know about these things? But so far, I've
been able to pull the tools out of hte back of the closet to get back on
the wagon. Although I tend to agree that fat folks have more will power
than any thin person will ever know, I can't take credit for having the
super human strength it takes to get off the carbs once the trigger has
been pulled.
— vitalady
March 19, 2004
I thought we were talking about 'food' triggers.. that's what I see here..
at least one person...I think beyond me... feels they don't have them..
emotional is another story... I'm sure she answered honestly Fran.. and
that's fine.. so did I. I feel like we're not all the same.. and for me..
fat or thin.. food triggers are not part of my life... I can eat just one
or NONE of whatever.. now.. emotions are another story. *grin* anyone and
everyone can decide I'm fooling myself.. but since few of you know me.. I'd
like just enough room to be different than you... and you from me.. how is
that? *grin* that's all.. I like to maintain a wider view of what is
really very misunderstood -- this disease we have.. called obesity.. or
however you wish to view it. Thanks...
— Lisa C.
March 19, 2004
I would assume that such a response is indicative of an issue Ms.
Confidential. What I wrote was totally about me and like Michelle said
there is only one way to find what your demons are and that is through
imperfection. As for "allowing" people to be different- I hope
they are because my food issues make me insane. I could ask you the same
and wonder why I cannot have my own feelings on the subject without getting
defensive crap from others. The thought of one cookie frightens me (thank
God) and I have seen the demise of some very compliant people in just that
way. The very thought that Michelle found her trigger food at 5.5 years out
should terrify everyone.
— Carol S.
March 19, 2004
We all share being MO but the underlying problem that causes it appears to
have many causes, plus we may respond differently to treatment, WLS. I
believe in anything in moderation but got addicted to oreo cookie bars, and
started gaining. See my profile. I got up to 205 and was one day ate 11 or
12 of those cookie bars:( I dropped them altogether went back to basics and
got to 191 fairly easily. I admit I have a couple of those cookie bars
since my scary time. Odd they taste OK but I honestly wonder why I got
stuck on them, they just arent that great. I must have a mental defect that
causes such troubles, but I am aware and thats half the battle. What helps
me is if I crave a bad food I try first to drink something then eat a
healthy food limke cheese. If I still rave a bad choice I have a small
amount and get busy doing something. Sitting around bored watching tv is a
wonderful way to eat junk:(
— bob-haller
March 21, 2004
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EAT SOMETHING SWEET IN VERY SMALL QUANTITIES. I KNOW
THAT IF I EAT MORE THAN A BITE OR TWO OF CAKE OR ICE CREAM I WILL FEEL
REALLY SICK SO I DON'T EAT MORE THAN THAT HOWEVER I AM PERFECTLY SATISFIED
WITH THAT BITE OR TWO AND HAVE NOT FELT THAT I NEEDED TO EAT MORE OF IT TO
SATISFIED.
— Denise P.
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