What's wrong with me?????

Please somebody tell me what's wrong with me today??? I am so hungry!!! I got up this morning and had my usual instant carnation breakfast ( no sugar added) and when I got to work I had my nature valley peanut butter granola bar a few peanuts and a few grapes. I went out to lunch and had 1 chicken (salsa verde) enchilada with a couple of spoons of rice and beans. I get back to work and have another granola bar and I am about to get up and have some more grapes. OMG!!!! What the heck is going on with me today. I have never felt like this before. My co-worker says I must be ovulating - therefore craving salty & sweet. Do you think I have stretched my pouch already???? Because all of this stuff fits!!!!! WHY???? WHY???? I don't want to feel hungry like this!!!!! Edna 255/180/???

Edna, first of all please go easy on yourself. Try to get yourself in a frame of mind where you can think rationally about your (our) cir****tances. There are probably many reasons for your feelings of hunger...you should take some time for yourself to think it through. Decide if this is real physical hunger, or head hunger. Head hunger is typically caused by stress, which can include hormanonal cycles. The other part of the equation is that our entire digestive systems have been overhauled, rerouted, dissected and stitch up again. It's simply never going to work the same again. Now that I am nearing the 6 month mark and considering the "honeymoon" period -- that window of time where we will lose the majority of our weight -- is over, I am terrified that this is all the losing I'm going to do. I am further terrified that I will begin to regain as I start eating more and more and in regular sized portions. I am, in fact, creating my own stress by thinking these thoughts, but I can't help it. I keep going back to my surgeon telling us all in the beginning that we will not lose all the weight, that we will get to a certain point and stop. Why??? If I continue to do the right things with food and exercise, why will I stop? Yet, he insisted on it. At that time, I didn't have the presence of mind to question him, I only thought "HA! Not me! You jus****ch me lose 100% of my excess weight and maybe a little more!" Well, here I am...I've been down 90 lbs. for about a month with no movement. In the meantime, I'm beginning to make poor food choices and most importantly, I've lost my motivation, my drive to keep losing. Is this because of my head??? Or is it because of my new system, which has done its job and is now over. I don't know. All we can do is keep moving forward, keep making the right choices. And keep talking to each other. Take care and God bless. Maureen

Ahh, well coupled with the fact that our hunger is supposed to increase at about 6 months (and don't be fooled into thinking it's an exact 6 month thing), you are also eating sugar/carbs for your meals and that stimulates appetite. Sugar and carbs are processed quicker and don't give satiety. Go with protein for a snack instead of the granola bars and I will bet you last longer. Try jerky or something like that....see how you do. OH - and one other thing: I have found when I have hungry days regardless of my protein intake that I generally lose weight that day or the next. Dina

You haven't strectch your pouch, this is the time your appetite starts to come back. You just have to be aliitle more careful in what you eat, and drink lots of water, it will help fill the void you are feeling. Hang in there, it goes away!! Marilyn, the bearlady

Edna, Oh dont be so hard on yourself. You are perfectly normal and going through the same thing the rest of us are going through. Yep those hunger pangs can be sooo severe!!! I too am getting my apetite back... Can I just say that I just ate the BEST protein bar I ever had!!! lol... its Glenny's Slim Carb peanut caramel 140 calories a bar and 12 grams of protein and it is sooooo good and it tastes like a rice crispy treat. You know how some of them are gooey and hard to bite? this is just light and crispy and soooo good See... I am obsessing right now. I completely digress here... Anways I am feeling it too. I eat then like a few minutes later I am starvin again. We still will have these issues to deal with. At least this time we know what our bodies require in order to stay healthy. We are going to slip up but we will get back on track. Its been a month since my scale has moved but I am not giving up or into the fact that its 6 months and thats all im going to loose, although it sure does cross my mind alot and cause me little bouts of panic. You hang in there! Try to go back to the basics! buy those protein bars and not the granola bars and slow down on the fruit and extra little bit of sugar... that always puts me into attack food mode! I wish you the best and we're here for ya! Elizabeth M