im am just about the same...I can spend an hour in the grocery store and come out with just a few things, because nothing really appeals to me.

sometimes but I love it!!!! Food is no longer the center of my life. I eat but more of something I have to do but my life now is fullfiled with a lot more things that I couldn't do before!!!
Yeah!!!!

Interesting post.....

I do enjoy food, maybe more now, in some ways, than before surgery, as I'm more selective, eat fresh, tasty foods, and I think make a point to put good tasting foods in my mouth. Since I won't be eating that much of anything....I really want to enjoy it.

But, I also relate to being more thirsty these days. I try and remember advice I got in pre work up meetings, that the body can't always distinguish between hunger and thirst, so we should start with the drink first. I am learning I am more thirsty than hungry most times appetite rears it's head.

One last thought, I do feel like i have little interest in some foods...specifically most beef and pork....don't sit well with me, even at 14 months post op...or they take so long to chew that I get bored with them...LOL.
Cindy

Flmom52,

Interesting.

At 9 months post op, I definitely enjoy food - but I am highly selective these days. Like you, I've lost my enjoyment of most meats - I never eat beef or pork anymore. I do eat fish - salmon, tuna regularly. Chicken and shrimp occasionally.

And I still have some cravings for empty carbs that I have to consciously work at controlling these - though these cravings are nowhere near as intense as they were prior to treatment of my ADHD. I've have also discovered that the intensity of my cravings increases quickly if I don't take my meds.

Some smells I still have to avoid (barbeque, bacon, donuts - these are nearly uncontrolable triggeres for me) but interestingly, some smells no longer appeal to me (steak, fried food, etc.) This is a huge change for me as I was a real "meat and potatos" guy in my former life.

Greek yogurt, salmon, tuna, soy, flax powder, and cheese form the base of my regular protein intake. Eggs no longer appeal to me.

Bread - I used to live at Panera's Bakery - no longer appeals to me. Haven't wanted any bread since surgery.

So I'm much fussier about what I eat and I make no apologies for not eating the things that are provided at some functions - I'll often take my own food and quietly slip away to eat if I need to - or I'll eat before I go. Sometimes I'll throw a small bit of food on a small plate simply to serve as a 'prop' - in order to socialize without really participating in the food orgy.

While I don't eat so much for pleasure any more, I have no problem eating what I need to maintain my weight.

Upnorthguy will be so interested in this post. He is having the same issues. I've researched this problem and really can't come up with an answer for why this happens, but it seems to be a really small percentage. I suspect vagus nerve involvement?

I don't enjoy food at all anymore... much like Jerry says the smell of some foods just plain make me ill and have no appeal whatsoever. Things like greasy foods.. (I was at a carnival recently and the grease smell from the deep fryers made me almost lose it). Even water does nothing for me.. I drink it because I need to.. I dont get an ounce of refreshment out of it.

I think the stomach plays a HUGE role in enjoyment and satisfaction out of eating.. Even on hot days when I come in from mowing the lawn or something and have some cold water.. it is just not the same!.. and I do miss that. I too have a tough time grocery shopping because nothing appeals to me.. and I end up walking around just staring at things.. hehe. The only foods I really steer clear of now are breads and pork... just the things that aren't pouch friendly.. I have learned to use condiments to help some things slide through. I really do think that this has been the key to me being able to tolerate lots of things easier.

I do enjoy the fact I have no cravings, havent experienced "hunger" yet or have any trigger foods (because nothing really appeals to me). I am able to eat some simple carbs on occasion like Dorito's but now one of the small bags lasts me days as one or two is all I want. I anticipate it being good.. but it never really is.. hehe.

I need to look into this Vagus nerve connection and see what I can find. Good post... I look forward to reading more replies!!

@ Luweez and UNG, the grocery people are going to think you're stalkers! LOL!

I still enjoy food, just not to the same volume as before. I haven't been doing well at slowing down my eating speed, so I'm careful to portion out and not go back for seconds on anything.

Hugs! Patricia

I absolutely still enjoy food. My tastes have changed a lot since having surgery, but I don't view food as a chore or an enemy. I love to eat and since I can only eat a small amount, I am very picky that I only eat food that tastes really good to me.

My family used to eat out a lot and nowadays It's not worth it. I can no longer eat at the regular fast food restaurants. Today was moving day so we are between kitchens, my hubby asked what did I want for dinner (meaning what fast food restaurant) I was so disgusted with his question. Why ask me it's not as if I can eat anything anyway (certainly nothing I would enjoy).

I just don't eat! LOL.... I will go all day doing stuff and realize that I haven't eaten anything! Nothing has been appealing to me lately, and I would rather not eat, forcing myself to eat when I am not hungry does not turn out well for me, I tend to get sick. I know I need to figure it out so I am eating more, but even when I do eat, it is only a few bites and I am done. My kids love it though, they like mom's special food! ;)

Yes i can relate. My taste buds and sense of smell have changed so much since surgery. In fact after surgery we were just finishing building our new home and i couldn't stand to even go in I could smell the construction smell and i would throw up. The smell of ketchup is also bad. It depends upon the day. I dont mind not liking food it will make my wl easier. Best of luck Angie

Been away from computer so posting is a little bit late.

I have run into the same thing - there are foods that I couldn't go without before surgery (pizza, potato chips, cookies - just to name a few) which I have no desire to crave. I no longer go down all the food aisles at the grocery store. Am absent mindly buying only "healthy" foods except for dog food, treats and chewies for our dog. My drinking habits have changed too. Instead of diet soda which pr-op a must I drink SF kool-aid & crystal light. And have found myself when running errands - if I get thirsty and have nothing to drink with me - will stop and get a bottled water instead of flavored drinks. Normally keep an old soda bottle with tap water or kool-aid with me. Its funny now for when my adult kids come over they can't wait to leave for "there's nothing good in the house anymore." LOL And I have taste swings (like mood swings) I'll like "X" one day and can't stand it the next. And oh - smells..... There are certain smells (food and nonfood) that I can't stand to be around anymore including my husband's aftershave which he has used for years.

I do, five months out and I really craveTASTE, its not always food I loved before surgery, although I haven't lost my taste for anything in particular except tuna. But I love spicy, give me Mexican, Indian (lamb naan was a bad idea) Chinese etc. ... You can keep the pot roast and even the prime rib and I don't miss baked potatoes. But this was all stuff I never ordered when we went out anyway, I'd rather have something more exotic. Now I go to whole foods and hit the olive bar.
And I think I got enough liquid almost from the start, I've never lost my taste for plain old ice cold water.

Lin

I have found (I am only 3 months out) I no longer care about how food tastes. I am nuch more concerned with what it will do for me. Protein sodium etc... I think it is good, others get annoyed with me because I am happy with a piece of ham and some beans - I forget others eat for flavor still. I also catch myself forgetting to make fun food for my kids. I am forcign more fruits veggies etc - which good or bad I am trying to help them NOT go thru what I am going thru.