can you shed some lite on appetite

I have learned so much through this process. One of the key things I've learned was my personal response to sugar and the corresponding blood sugar crash. For years (decades) I never ate breakfast, and one of the main reasons was that if I ate breakfast, I was STARVING (shaky) by noon, but if I skipped breakfast I was fine. I thought this was just totally normal. I now know it was because all of my breakfasts were massive carb loads - cereal, pop tarts, pancakes, waffles, etc, etc.

I now eat breakfast everyday, and I almost never eat refined sugar, or grains (except steel cut oats) and I NEVER feel that way anymore. So easily avoidable, yet for years I literally had no idea!

But I am definitely still grappling with the full/hungry feelings and coming to grips with the fact that I don't really experience either and I may not have for a long time. I feel like I've been living a lie!!!

I'm four months post op, but I haven't had much hunger since surgery. Of course there have been times where I genuinely was hungery and needed to eat. So when I was on all liquids I experienced more actual hunger, but as soon as I got moved to puréed I felt satisfied muuuch longer.

There have been occasions where I have cravings, but it's become much easier to ignore simply because I knew if I did eat it I would be sick.

So while my hunger isn't completely gone per se, it's dramatically decreased. Maybe 90% less hungery.

My appetite never went away. I was hungry right after surgery and felt no restriction for a few months after surgery. Cravings were greatly diminished, but not gone entirely. I am not obsessed with food now though. It's a great relief. I don't seem to enjoy sweet things like I used to, although my "fat brain" tells me I do. Lol. Everyone is different though.

my hunger came back at five months out. I was hoping I'd be one of those lucky few whose hunger never comes back, but no... Things get a lot harder after your hunger comes back, so really milk those first few months for all they're worth!!

Are you asking about hunger or the desire to eat?

Truthfully some type of hunger is likely to return....head ....real...whatever....if it causes you to eat....it is essentially the same.

My feelings of hunger, appetite, and food obsessions completely vanished when I woke up after surgery.

They stayed gone for about 5.5 months, and then the hunger came quietly back, but only when I was truly hungry and had gone too long without eating. The empty feeling goes away as soon as I start eating and stays gone for 4-6 hours, then comes back, which is fine as by then it's time to eat again.

I occasionally crave something I shouldn't have, but it's always because I see or smell it and never for no reason, like pre-op. For example, I'll be bike riding and feeling perfectly fine until I pass a bakery and smell fresh baked bread or cookies, or whatever, which triggers intense cravings and a desire to eat the stuff I can't have...which goes away as soon as I cycle out of the smell zone, and my mind is distracted by something else.

My cravings have also changed, and I find myself craving things I can have, like steak with a bit melted mozzarella on top, or garlic shrimp, or a pepperette with babybel cheese. I guess that's appetite and not hunger, but it's fine as I'm allowed those things and can work them into my plan easily.

What's a pepperette btw? :D kthnxserryforinterrupting

It's like a mini pepperoni; really thin. I like these ones:

Simply put - it depends on so many factors.

I am over 9 years post op. For me appetite depends on my diet, time of the day and my activities.

Eating too many carbs make make me very hungry a few hours after that. More keto style diet - and I don't get very hungry.

Moderate or light exercise may limit my appetite but strenuous may make me very hungry - almost ravenous.

Eating carbs - it also make my pouch less sensitive to "full - hungry" signals. So not only I want to eat - but I want and can eat more volume.

Thirst can mimic hunger. Hydration is critical.

Medication can affect appetite and hunger.

Also - there is real hunger and head hunger. The real one - you will eat food that you may not like that much. Head hunger - cravings- can signal mineral deficiency (i.e pickles - need more salt) or it is way some of us try to deal with life and stress. Or just because.