WLS and Camping

I have gone out with a woman who had this and she knows that if she overeats she will not be good. Smaller meals will be the order after you get accustomed to the foods on your list. Good Luck.

darsben wrote:


If you had done it earlier it would not have worked as YOU were not mentally ready

Thanks,
you are most likely correct in this statement.
I spent almost as much time researching this as I did when we were looking for a 5er.
randy

byrdr1 wrote:
Thanks you all. This is what I needed to hear.
real life experiences.
I gave up diet Mt. Dew about this time last year and I was 3-4 12 packs a week drinker. NOW I have one in the last 2 weeks. BUT I have drank plenty of Crystal light tea mix and water.
I have lost close to 25 lbs in the last 3 months just modifying my diet and watching what I eat as I get ready for this journey.
The wife is on board as are my 3 kids. So I have a strong support system.
I know based on other's experiences I will wish I had done this earlier in my life. BUT it is what it is.
Thanks again,
randy

randy

If you had done it earlier it would not have worked as YOU were not mentally ready

Thanks you all. This is what I needed to hear.
real life experiences.
I gave up diet Mt. Dew about this time last year and I was 3-4 12 packs a week drinker. NOW I have one in the last 2 weeks. BUT I have drank plenty of Crystal light tea mix and water.
I have lost close to 25 lbs in the last 3 months just modifying my diet and watching what I eat as I get ready for this journey.
The wife is on board as are my 3 kids. So I have a strong support system.
I know based on other's experiences I will wish I had done this earlier in my life. BUT it is what it is.
Thanks again,
randy

randy

Eat with the family as much as possible. Remember in your case your eyes are bigger than your stomach. And it IS NOT a sin to throw out food so you do not have to clean your plate.
Roux N Y fifteen years ago was +300 now 185

I also had gastric bypass 14 years ago. Diane has given good advise in her post. Stay away from carbonated drinks until you are really well healed, they will cause great pain. (ask how I know).

I found there is a learning curve involved with eating and it takes time to learn what causes difficulties. I still cannot eat hamburger, it just doesn't digest, ice cream and a glass of milk, any food with high fructose corn syrup will cause serious gastric distress, I know of other people who can't drink coffee or eat chicken. I think almost everyone has a food or drink that just doesn't work.

As far as what to cook for the family, I don't prepare separate meals, the family and I eat the same foods, I just eat much smaller portions.

Think of this as another new adventure. Best wishes,

I had gastric bypass surgery 15 years ago. I never regretted it. You do need to do EXACTLY what the doctor and dietitian tells you to do. If not you will have major problems. I knew one person who tried to eat a hot dog within 6 weeks after surgery. She was very ill. I ate fairly soft, easy to digest foods for 6 weeks and then they added chicken and fish. I ate lots of tuna, cottage cheese, cheese, crackers and soft vegetables. Salads took a lot longer for me to be able to eat. They told us don't eat coconut. I also found that fresh pineapple didn't work for me. Canned crushed pineapple was fine. For the rest of the family, I learned to cook for them without eating it. It is difficult at first but make the meals easy so you don't spend so much time in the kitchen. For them I would do sandwiches, microwavable things, salads, fruit. Before we became full timers I would cook food at home and take with us so we just had to heat it up in the microwave. Things like spaghetti you can cook the noodles ahead at home, refrigerate and then add the sauce at the campsite. Get the family involved and let them help with the cooking. Explain how important it is to you that you stay on the plan the doctor gives you. You can "undo" the surgery if you do not follow the plan, or you can become very ill. It will be a good time for all the family to learn more about nutrition and eating more healthy. Instead of hot dogs, have grilled chicken. Chicken fajitas are easy when you're camping. Buy the chicken fajita meat in the freezer, refrigerate, get shells and fixins and easy dinner. Depending on where you are in your post op, you may be able to eat a small portion of chicken. If the weather is cool, soups or chili is great for camping - use ground turkey instead of ground beef. My kids loved pineapple and cream cheese sandwiches. Low fat cream cheese with no sugar added drained crushed pineapple. With planning and creative thinking you will come up with great ideas for the family that will benefit them as well as keep you on track. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless.

Seems like the most practical approach is plan, prepare & freeze your meals in advance, then DW cooks for the rest of the family as normal.