After I post an update to my wee Facebook album, I usually get a few questions.  After yesterday’s post celebrating 10 months since I had my Gastric Bypass, there were more [weird] questions than normal so I’ve collated them and here they are in all their glory.

Got another question you’d like the answer to?  Comment below or drop me an email tinks@allergictosugar.co.nz

But when will you be normal?
I’m going to pretend this is a trick question and just answer with NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVERRRRRRR!!!
Whats happening in my life now is my new normal. Now I know you were referring to booze and junk food so refer below;

Can you drink alcohol?
Yes I can if I want to – but its not recommended for the first 12 months. The changes to my stomach mean it affects me a lot quicker and I’ve kinda lost the taste for it. One glass of red wine is pretty much the limit for me.

Can you eat junk food?
Any foods with more than 10 grams of sugar and fat make me feel sick. Especially sugar. Its called dumping and it ranges from instant to hours later – sweats, headaches, vomiting and the runs. So I choose not to.

What is the most cauliflower you have eaten in one go?
I fucking love cauliflower rice so I shove spoonfuls of it in but as protein has to be eaten first, I’d estimate I’ve probably managed 2-3 tablespoons in one sitting.

Do you poop?
Only when no one is listening! And I’ll be serious for a moment, poop is more of a problem when I can’t – and when its been 4, 5, 6 days. Sitting on the loo at 5am in the morning trying to go is the most alone and regretful I’ve ever felt however it’s totally manageable if I pay attention to how much fibre is in each meal and how much water I drink each day. So you thought you were being a smart arse …

If you did it again, what is the one change that you would make?
I would have done it earlier in my life.

What has been the hardest part?
Not numbing anxiety with food – allowing myself to have emotions and to live as me, not who I thought other people expected me to be. Fat people aren’t always happy, we aren’t all extroverts all the time and we don’t want to be the life and soul of the party. Some times I just want to be left alone.

Can you drink alcohol?
Yes I can if I want to – but its not recommended for the first 12 months. The changes to my stomach mean it affects me a lot quicker and I’ve kinda lost the taste for it. One glass of red wine is pretty much the limit for me.

How long did the surgery take and were you scared?
I think it took a couple of hours. I was really nervous but the team were really sweet to me and I felt quite well looked after.

How much weight have you lost?
Around 70 kilograms.

Have you gained any weight back?
There have been some bumps in the road – I was told that the weight loss would slow down, and it did, but not gradually – it was as if someone had yanked the handbrake on! The wheels then came off a couple of months ago and I put a little bit of weight on but I weigh myself every morning, recognised it happening and then gave myself a bit of a talking to and got back on track – as in following the rules! I journal my food, water and exercise every day which helps see patterns and behaviours and helps correct my wonky roads.

What can’t you eat now?
Lollies, ice cream …. that sort of stuff. They make me sick and just aren’t worth the effort, they have no nutrition and dumping fucking sucks. Cruskits and crackers, they hurt. Steak and chicken breast is a bit of an effort to swallow and needs lots of chewing. Chewing for that long is boring.

What’s the part that you really want people to know about?
Almost everything that is really hard about life after weight loss surgery is psychological. The physical part is by no means easy but the head stuff, if you don’t sort out your relationship with food and exercise, you’ll be successful for a while but not long term.

Have you had good surrounding support from healthcare and if you could tell healthcare providers one thing what would it be?
I researched this surgery for about 3-4 years before I talked to my GP. I found that David Schroeder and his team are almost the only ones in the Southern Hemisphere providing a holistic programme. He operated on my stomach, not my brain, but the 2 year post-op care recognises this and offers counselling and assistance to help me get my life back on track . The one thing I would tell healthcare providers is to look at the long term life goals, not just the 12 months honeymoon period of weight loss.

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