Question for the post-op gastric bypass folks..

Hello,

After you had your gastric bypass, do you still have the feeling that you want to eat a lot of food or binge eat, such as before surgery, or does the eating cravings slow down?

it all depends on the individual as I have seen it go both ways.

 

myself I could def eat before surg and had the same worry that's in question.

i'm 7 months out and every so often I get hungry but a shake or cheesestick subdues the hunger  I have also followed the rules my nutritionist set up for me and I think that helped alot to retrain my body to eat for the right reason.

hell most of the days I never get hungry and I only eat because I know i need the protien.

Sometimes I want to eat a lot, yeah.  I can't eat that much because my stomach physically cannot hold that much.  But surgery did not make the cravings go away.

I honestly never get really hungry, I spent 12 hours at work on Sunday and only ate one 190 calorie protein bar all day and didn't feel any different.  My boyfriend on the other hand was starving, I stopped and got pizza at 9pm, ate one slice and went to bed I was so tired.  I did eat quite a few mini snickers when they were at the house before halloween, but lately with all he stress going on I have not been eating much.

- I never experienced hunger for the first two years.

- During that time I worked with a therapist and I really explored my past eating habits and my relationship with food. (I can't imagine success without doing the work about why one over-eats or uses food to deal with emotions).  Awareness is unbelievable!

- Checking in on OH is another "tool" I use to remind me of what I need to do and helps me focus and get back on track when I've become complacent. (Yes, even with the best of intentions - we are still human)

- I find that when I'm on a cruise or see people at a buffet - and see how they pile the food on - it's like a smack in the face of "wow, that used to be me!"

I always say that I'm going to write a book entitled "Live Was So Much Easier When I Was Fat!".  Because, for me, it's true.  I never thought much about what or how much food I put in my mouth.  I never felt guilty because I didn't exercise.  I never looked at something and thought "do I really want that?"  I never had to guess which size I wore. 

Visual cues about the changes we experience after WLS are all around us - if we only pay attention.

Sandie

 

Well said Sandie! I couldn't agree more!

Hi there, based on my own experience only. I don't have the same type of cravings as I did pre surgery. I believe that is part due to the differing way I eat. 

Cravings for binge eating doesn't happen for me any longer. Some of my favourite comfort foods I no longer care whether I eat them or not.

This may be due to the new eating habits, the vitamins, the fact that I am no longer on several differing types of medication.

My regimen is breakfast, three hours later, snack, three hours later, lunch etc. for a total of 6 meals/snacks per day and the rest of the day is spent drinking. There is never time for your stomach to be empty enough to crave food.

Now if the cravings are emotional hunger, you will still have to find a way to deal with that. Stress levels haven't changed but I no longer let things get to me. 

Hope this takes away some of the confusion about how things will be for you after surgery (Not, as every one is different)

I have not most of the time I am not interested in food but I am only 4 months out

If I eat carbs then I want to eat and eat an eat... but following low carbs high protein diet - I want to eat more than my actual pouch would let me.

For me, it depends on the day.  But I will tell you this -- I don't think I was "hungry" at all for the first 6 months.  When hunger came, it was a feeling that I needed to eat something, but I was not ravenous.  And I was full on a small amount of food.  Now, a little over 5-1/2 years postop, I sometimes feel ravenous, but fortunately am still full on a small amount of food.  My tool works.