Chocolate...Coffee??

[Karenricha]

Hello everyone,
With the holidays behind us and all the food that was around....I was wondering does anyone have a piece of chocolate or a cookie once in awhile? Or what about coffee? I like regular coffee with a wee bit of cream and sugar - I don't drink a lot of it - but I do enjoy a cup in morning.
I do not eat a lot of sweets - but I do like an occasional sugar cookie or chocolate chip cookie - ....and chocolate - I would have to say - that is my biggest downfall - I do like chocolate.

So I was just wondering - since I have not gone through all the nutrition information yet...or counseling prior to surgery - (I am just beginning my journey) - just wondering if people enjoy some of the "bad" foods they used to eat..but just in a WAY smaller amount?

thanks for your input!

[Sleeve12]

Yes! I drink one cup of coffee everyday. I use nutra sweet and also SF vanilla creamer. Probably started within a week of surgery. And yes have had too many treats during the holidays so back on the straight and narrow now! I have no trouble eating anything!

[jknox65]

I was sleeved on the 3rd of December. I have had to stop regular coffee and go decaf per my DR request. I will try real coffee after 6 weeks. Really miss good strong coffee, and even the best decaf is not really all that good. As for chocolate. I had some in my stocking. All good stuff too and yes I nibbled but within reason. Only 20 pounds blocks each day..LOL Seriously I probably had a little more then I should have but it was the Holidays and it is all gone now. Weight is still coming off.

We can attempt to live perfect lives but the reality is you got to have some enjoyment too.

[shrinkinggirl]

I drink a cup of coffee every morning and sometimes in the afternoon also- about 16 oz with light cream or half and half- I don't use sweetener. I had my first cup while still in the hospital from surgery- no problems with coffee according to my surgery team. I also have a cookie when I feel like it- perhaps once every other week? It really depends a lot on your relationship with food. One cookie will not trigger binge behavior for me because I don't really go for sweets- but I cannot eat one potato chip- not even one- because it will set me off. You have to try to work with your body! The sleeve is a tool for LIFE- it doesn't mean you have to give up everything forever!

[Karenricha]

I'm glad - I felt almost guilty writing this post - here everyone is trying to loose weight - posting they eat chicken - veggies - drink protein shakes and water - but i could not seem to find any mention of things that are listed under "bad foods" - I am pretty realistic. I honestly do not eat a lot and I am very active - my metabolism is very slow so I take a thyroid pill - but have always been very active and have always been heavy. I have never been the type that sits and eats a whole bag of chips - or an entire package of cookies. I have 2 and I'm good - I eat a few chips and I am good - but these are things I do like - and just wanted to see what else everyone is having. thanks for sharing!

[shrinkinggirl]

Karen, in the "food and nutrition" area of this forum, there is a thread titled "what's on your menu today"- about a dozen women post their daily menu, including myself, if you read it you can see that most of us eat a wide variety of foods!

[mike1]

My surgeon and his nutritionist recommend no coffee, decaf included. The reason is the acid, they don't want any chance of an ulcer in your tiny new stomach. Personally I relate it this way, why are we getting this surgery? Didn't we all start out by thinking, well a little of this won't be bad. Hey, that little bit went over pretty good, I can do it a little more, all of a sudden we are over doing it, sound familiar? I don't want to be the rain on your parade type of guy but I am just being real. You will find your tastes and wants will change about 345 degrees after surgery, so now instead of thinking of coffee and sweets, try to think of the new things you will crave, for me it's meats and some new fruits. Yes you will crave new things and that's the beauty of this for me. So try to focus on the new, not the bad.

[pack89]

You will get MANY, MANY different opinions on this. So this is just my OPINION... I still have an occasional treat, weather is be a cookie or a piece of chocolate, or whatever. I know how my mind works, if you tell me I can't ever have another piece of chocolate, that's ALL I will think about! So, if I just have one every once in a while, I'm good. I like to follow the 95 and 5% rule. I eat healthy stuff 95% of the time and the other 5% is my treats. Realistically, I try to only have a cookie once a week. Sometimes it's more, like through the holidays, but that's my plan. To me, this is a new way of life, and my life includes cake, and cookies, and chocolate.

Now there are others that believe "all or nothing" and that is perfectly fine as well. They know that if they give into the chocolate, it will lead them into a downward spiral of cravings. Sooooooo, it's really all a personal preference. You have to go with what works best for your body. As for coffee, I don't drink it, so no help there,

[Dee Leshuz]

My bariatric team says no coffee and no caffiene of any sort b/c the risk of ulcers are too great w/ the reduced surface area of the sleeve (same reason we are told not to have NSAIDs) so I follow that. A lot of people will tell you that they have had coffee since surgery and "are fine" but that's for now. It will take awhile to bear out the long term effects. I personally don't want to take the risk.

I do eat some chocolate, though. I'm told to eat this is moderation for fairly obvious reasons and I agree w/ that, but sometimes I go well over what moderation would dictate-check the Menu thread for details, and I also give myself a small chocolate bar (150 calories) on the first day of my period...helps w/ the pain

[Its_Me]

You will find a wide variety of answers regarding coffee - funny how doctors vary in opinions. My doctor said coffee was ok, but I have weaned myself, I have 1/2 cup coffee a couple times a week. As for treats, I had too many this Christmas, BUT w/the sleeve, it didn't allow me to have TOO many if you know what I mean. Back to my regularly eating schedule. I like the person who said 95 - 5 rule, that's a good one. I know if someone told me I couldn't have "whatever" for the rest of my life, that's all I would think abuot and want.

[Dudu]

Hi! I totally agree with Mike. I'm a big chocolate and coffee lover. I was sleeved on Dec.10th and I was allowed coffee on my 3rd week post-op, no cream, no sweets yet. I've been around chocolate, ice cream an other things I loved before my sleeve, but my taste or desire for them has changed drasticall! So far I have not had any desire to try some chocolate or dessert. I have half a cup of coffee every now and then, regular and with some sweetener.

[niamh]

I'm not a coffee drinker but I do have occasional chocolate. Sometimes it doesn't sit quite right in my tummy - makes me feel acidic, but other times it's fine.

[Karenricha]

I agree with the 95 and 5 % rule. I think everyone before their surgery ate things way out of proportion. I have always considered myself a healthy eater. I am one who loves fruits and veggies and salads but I am also one who likes a cookie or a piece of chocolate. But I am not on "The Other Side" - so its true - I'm sure my tastes will change in ways I can't even think of now...but I just like to see what kinds of things people eat still. Thanks for everyone's opinion!

[bbjackson6998]

I drink my coffee cold as a protein shake every morning. I use a scoop of unflavored whey protein powder, a couple of splashes of flavored creamer, some Stevia in place of sugar, and fill the rest of the blender with cold coffee. It makes about 12 oz and I drink 2 a day. I love it and couldn't bear to give up my coffee.

[sarahjayne823]

I drink 2 cups of coffee daily ~~ love coffee!! My surgeon would NOT allow coffee from my 3 weeks pre-op until 8 weeks post-op. Then, he said "moderation". As far as a treat every now and then ~~ I do not bring sweets into my house. Period. But, when I'm out with friends, I'll share or have a bite or two of theirs just to satisfy my sweet tooth. There's nothing wrong with an occasional treat as long as it stays occasional.