Indifferent to food

I am just wondering if I'm alone. I am currently really struggling to eat. I just don't want to. It's not that I'm afraid to eat or anything - heck I love my post-op food choices. But the desire to eat is gone. I'm indifferent to food and it's actually starting to frighten me a little because it's the last thing on my mind (and it's not like I'm super busy or stressed being a SAHM who doesn't work). I am a hard core rule follower and get my minimum nutritional needs but it's getting really hard. I am supplementing a lot because I would rather get a protein bar down in 3 bites then enjoy a meal. That isn't normal IMO. Plus you don't get everything you need nutritionally from protein supplements alone.  I am still in the weight loss phase and will be for some more time. My concern is my lack of appetite impacting my waistline and making me actually gain because I'm not eating enough.   Does anyone think supplementing further out is a bad habit to get in to? If I don't I barely get any calories and my metabolism is going to go into the toliet. This is the first time I have experienced this post-op. I have always had a desire to eat even way in the beginning but this indifference is really making me crazy. I hate to say it but I can handle a post-op binge fest better then lack of hunger!   Anyone else suffer from severe lack of appetite anytime in their experience? My whole purpose of surgery was to be healthier. Being healthier means eating a wide variety of foods to gain the most benefits from all the food groups.  I hear people all the time say they wish they were never hungry but I am quite the opposite. I hate this feeling. It frustrates me to no end.  Thanks for any and all feedback, Jenny

I went thru a phase like this too, but it did pass. I still go thru it from time to time, but then again I also go thru phases of having too much "food fun" as I like to call it from time to time. I always seem to get back on the right path eventually though. I agree that dropping your caloric intake too low is not a good thing for the metabolism~I truly believe this is a big part of how I ended up at 328lbs! As far as supplementing, I know there are lots of people much farther out than us that still supplement daily. My surgeon is a big supporter of getting your intake thru "real foods" rather than supplementing, but that's just one man's opinion. I know there are many dr's with differing views. I still use supplements when needed~had to give up protein shakes due to the severe constipation they caused, but that's a whole different thread, LOL. I do, however, enjoy a protein bar (or part of one) pretty much daily. In fact, I'm waiting for my supply of Supreme bars from VitaLady as we speak!!! Just having a "snack" like that helps to get me thru the day and hey, if it keeps me away from the snickers and rolo's than it can't be that bad, IMO!!!! Anyway, you hang in there and I'm sure things will get better. I do find as the weather heats up I have a harder and harder time eating so I usually drop a few extra pounds for summer which is nice! Good Luck!!!

My surgeon also feels that as a graduate I should be getting all my nutritional protein through my diet but I do add some protein powder to my malto meal occasionally...Just as a precaution, I get at LEAST 120 grams of protein a day as a rule. I went through that and often wondered if there was such a thing as "head NON-hunger" like there is head hunger. I think supplementing when you can't eat enough or don't feel like eating enough is okay. I mean if you have gone the whole day and didn't think about eating enough, at the end of the day, have that protein shake. I have a couple of times when the protein levels are too low for my liking.  I don't like protein bars early in the day cuz they cause me too much gas and in a public office...alittle too embarrassing for me. At home, that's another story so afternoons the protein bars are fair game cuz I'll be driving home by the time they "hit". LOL Happy to see you Jenny! I hang out here most of the time..

I go through that A LOT. Especially lately. It's not good because it's hard enough to get in all my calories in a day and I find myself eating just because I know I have to. But then I have a day or two where I'm really snacky so I guess it just balances out?

I've never had a very healthy relationship with food and this swing of the pendulum is no exception. It's dangerous and I'm trying to overcome it and live like a "normal" thin person.

I do use supplements every day - if I didn't I'd be WAY low on my caloric intake so I feel it's a necessity for me.

Good luck Jenny - I hope you (and I) can figure it out!

Bekah

I'm with Tracy on this...I went thru that phase too...and sometimes I can go weeks without eating many calories at all...and other times I just don't have a clue where in the heck my appetite comes from!!!!  I'm not consistant at all with my calories...I try so hard to keep them within 100-200 cal difference...But One day I might eat less than 1000 and the next I am trying to stay under 1600...Forget about it , if I start grazing at a party or all day barbeque type event...l can just eat non stop when someone places a wide variety of foods in front of me ...Yikes.   But I did go thru a time when I just forgot to even eat.  That doesn't happen much these days.  Eventually you do get your "hunger pangs" back...I had zero hunger for probably two years.  Then one day...I just felt hungry.  That's when all hell broke loose and it triggered some old habits...ie hunger= let's get nice and full....Well that full feeling doesn't feel all that satisfying after surgery...but it was hard to control the urge to feel full.  I finally got it....but things happen along the way in stages and phases...and you finally get things somewhat "normal"....But the maintainence is just tedious.   You have the vitamin regime...The yearly labs, the exercise, the carb monster buster (SF crap), will today be gassy or quiet...Stinky or just rumbly...Will things "come out okay" or will we have to work at that too...Will it be a grumpy pouch day or a happy pouch day....OMIGOD!  It's never ending...but you get used to it and it's worth the trouble to pull on a little tiny pair of jeans that you couldn't slip your up to your elbows a few years ago... Don't worry too much right now, unless it becomes a problem one way or the other...I didn't barely supplement protein at all the last two years...and recently substituted protein powder in my coffee rather than the fattening non-protein sugar filled  fru fru....It was a good change...and I am guarenteed 31 g of protein to start my day with.  And that keeps me quite full and happy for several hours...Gave up my grain cereals and steel cut oats too....I just like protein powder better for breakfast these days over food.  Otherwise I was one that didn't really believe in protein supps...but that was also when I thought that 60 grams was enough for a day...It's just not!  I hated protein bars...I still hate using them over fresh, cooked or raw foods...They seem like a waste of precious nutrients for someone like me who is a real earth person.  I buy most of my food fresh and organic so protein bars are just so, not natural! LOL But...I have come to enjoy their quick easy travel friendly sweet candy like satisfaction...I really hate myself for admitting that!  I finally gave into them because the more I fought them the more I wanted to try every one out there!  I'm weird like that...So now...I just don't care about them again!  LOL Oh the mind games I play with me self!  Oh hey...I wrote another novella here!  Sorry so long. But hoped it helped in some way...

Nope - I totally hear ya on the unnatural aspect of protein bars. And they are totally lacking in the nutrition component where I want to be really good (having rearranged guts and all...LOL) Thanks for your feedback! I'm actually feeling a little something right now so I'm going to eat. It's just really weird because how everyone says they never felt hungry in the beginning - I always have. I was able to identify head hunger versus true physical hunger and now that BOTH are quiet it makes eating a PITA! 

I'm totally jealous!  I have NEVER been indifferent to food.  I would sooo love that (for awhile anyway!) Wanda

Jenny, been there done that and I'd love to have that indifference again.  If I'd listen to my body still and quit stuffing my face to deal with things I'd probably never say I'm hungry, I really don't feel hunger in any way that I did pre-op. I don't believe supplementing is going to hurt you.....in fact I think it's important that you/me/others supplement if necessary.  I know of others that were told to supplement with shakes for life.  So it really is what works for you. Hang in there......it's probably a phase right now......you might want to call your surgeon or nut and get their professional opinion.

I am supplementing a lot because I would rather get a protein bar down in 3 bites then enjoy a meal. That isn't normal IMO I have meals like this too.  Sometimes I just have soup because that's quick and easy to eat. It doesn't bother me and since I'm not scrounging for snacks later either its not like I'm negatively impacted.  I dunno about your protein bar, but mine (Pure Protein) has quite a few micronutrients:

Vitamin A 25% Vitamin C 20% Calcium 25% Iron 10% Vitamin E 25% Thiamin 25% Riboflavin 25% Niacin 30% Vitamin B-6 25% Folic Acid 25% Vitamin B-12 25% Biotin 25% Pantothenic Acid 25% Phosphorus 10% Iodine 20% Magnesium 8% Zinc 25% Copper 30%