Question:
Feeling hopeless...always hungry. Need encouragement badly.
I swore I wouldn't allow myself to get like this, but I can't help it. I need to know that someone out there is feeling just like me right now. I am three weeks post-op today. As far as I can tell I am doing everything right. I get my 64 oz of water in, I stick almost entirely to protein for food. I am already walking a mile+ each day. I eat about three times a day. For example, I had 1/2 cup of soup and 1/4 cup of pureed egg salad when I woke up. Later in the day a whole piece of gefillte fish, and for dinner, another 1/2 cup of soup, 2 oz. of grilled fish and three mashed up, over cooked asparagus stalks. In the evening, I'll have a s/f popsicle. Most days I also have a 20 ounce protein drink. I think this is a lot of food for only three weeks. The problem is, I am constantly hungry. Actual hunger pain and grumbling in my tummy and it is making me so sad. I am so depressed - if I wanted to be hungry all of the time, I could've just gone on a strict diet. I never thought I'd say that, but that's how hungry I always am. You know, that kind of hungry, when you were on a new diet and barely ate anything all day so you were so, so hungry that you just couldn't take it anymore? That's how I feel almost 24/7. On top of it, although I lost 22 pound the first two weeks, I weight myself today nad only lost 4.5 more. I am trying so hard. Before surgery, I imagined that as long as I did everything as I was supposed to, I'd be all right. I'm sorry to whine. I usually don't like to complain at all, but I'm so upset and feel so desperate. Anyone in the same boat, so I know I'm not crazy? — [Anonymous] (posted on March 8, 2002)
March 7, 2002
Hi, first off let me say that you are not alone. I was in the same boat as
you. I tried to eat only 3 or 4 times a day. But my doctor insist on 6
small meals a day with a couple of snacks. It keeps the hunger at bay and
keeps you from grazing. I admit it is hard and it is not exactly cheap due
to the extra meals but it is well worth it. I have lost 71 pounds and
doing great!!!!!! I love my new life. Good Luck and God bless.
— TONYA B.
March 7, 2002
Hi,I just had to answer... this topic comes up so frequently in chat that
usually many people are screaming the same thing all at once. LOL First
at three weeks your new tummy is not even healed all the way, it takes a
few more weeks to have the pouch nerves totally healed..second and this
will sound nuts...If you dont eat enough you wont loose the weight..
it takes at least 800 calories a day to maintain really good weight loss..
and if you are hungery between meals mabey try breaking your meals dowm
into 4 to 6 littler meals a day many have to...No matter what remember
it takes time to heal the insides!!!!!stay off the scale get your protien
and water and relax it will happen good luck
— BBD
March 7, 2002
I want to tell you that in the beginning it is hard to learn what works for
you personally, and you are still at the stage of finding out what that is.
Some doctors will tell you only 3 meals per day, but I couldn't even
imagine surviving like that! Since surgery 9 months ago I have been eating
6 "mini meals" per day, with lots of fluids in between. Since it
sounds like you are still on the pureed stage, foods are moving through
your pouch quicker than when you get to solids. For now, I would suggest
eating more dense foods, even pureed, and not as much soup because that
moves right through and leaves you feeling hungry. Things like cottage
cheese, chicken pureed with some broth and veggies, meatballs, anything a
bit denser with some more substance will probably fill your pouch and leave
you fuller. Also, I would eat more frequently, as it not only keeps you
more satisfied but also keeps your metabolism running more efficiently. You
are walking already, and your body needs you to fuel it properly to make up
for the calories you are burning.Since I have been exercising I noticed
more hunger, and I give my body what it needs, but only healthy foods. It
will get better and you will find your way, I promise! Email me directly
and I will help you in any way I can if you would like. Best of luck to
you!
— Vicki K.
March 7, 2002
Hi, I had the same problem until someone told me to wait at least 1 to 1
1/2 hours after eating before drinking anything. That helps keep the food
in your pouch longer. Hope this helps.
— Janet R.
March 7, 2002
I'll bet you anything you are hitting the postop depression period. Lots of
people go thru that (I did) and it is normal. As far as losing less
weight--your body may be shifting. I went on a plateau from weeks 3-6.
Didn't lose an ounce. But when it broke I went down 2 sizes overnight.
<p>IMHO I think you should eat 6 times a day. No more than you can
eat, you WILL get hungry eating 3-4 times a day. And if your dr says it's
okay, try more soft solids instead of soups. That will make you feel fuller
for longer. My dr allowed thinly sliced deli meat and cheese at 3 weeks.
Also tuna fish on a cracker or 2, stuff like that will fill up your tummy
and allow it to stretch ever so slightly to signal to your brain you are
full. Also, don't combine liquidy stuff with solids (e.g. soup with fish)
because you will wash the solids out before your stomach can fill up and,
YES: you will feel hungry again. The other poster had a good point too
about not drinking for 30-45 minutes after eating.<p>The point of
this is not to feel miserable but to feed your body what your BODY needs
instead of what your BRAIN needs. I think you would probably be much
happier if you added some small meals in there. And by meal I mean
something nutritious--even if it is just 1 oz of cheese or a little
fruit--that will give your body the protein and other nutrition it needs. I
know how frustrating this period of time after surgery is. Feel free to
email me if you want. Good luck and happy losing!
— ctyst
March 8, 2002
I too was hungry a lot, and if I eat too many carbs I'm still a grazer. So
- and you'll hear this repeatedly - when you do eat, try and make it as
high protein as you can, as your blood sugar stays more stable, enabling
you to feel full longer. And of course, no drinking for at least 30 min.
after eating, so you don't 'wash' what you do eat our of your new tummy.
And remember, we all get 'head hunger' out of habit - that's a bit more
work to control, but it's much easier if you eat 6 small meals a day. Good
luck!
— scottiemaam O.
March 9, 2002
I'm 7mo out and I find if I consume anything with nutrasweet I am left with
a ravenous hunger. As long as I stay away from anything with nutrasweet in
it, I have no hunger at all. Its just what I found in my experience. I'm
still learning what food combinations I tolerate. I still keep a food
journal and it helps me detect what foods/drinks do what and the best
combinations I can handle the best. We all have different experience, you
will need to find what works best for you. There is no way I could eat 6x a
day, but that's me. Grazing got me MO to start with, I have a history of
compulsive overeating and I'm afraid of it rearing its ugly head again. Its
a totally new relearning time for us. Be patient, you and your body are
still in the learning phase of eating with your new plumbing. Just remember
you have to get your protein and water and vitamins in, those are essential
to prevent long term complications. Everything else is what works best for
YOU.
— Helen B.
April 4, 2002
I had the same problem with being hungry all the time. I was told it was
"head hunger" but too had gumbling tummy and "pain",
beleive me I recognized it because I hadn't really been "hungry"
in years lol. Anyway, what ended up being my problem was the sugary pain
meds I was taking and too much fruit juice. See the sugar (I think) would
stimulate the insulin production in my body, when there wasn't enough for
the insulin to work on it stimulates the body to be hungry, same principle
they talk about with high protein diets. My solution was to eat a cheese
stick before taking my meds, also started drinking more water and less
juice (even natural sugar was causing problems) From then on no more
problems, unless I forgot to eat high protein before meds. I also never
eat a carb without a protein (cheese always with crackers) Hope this helps
— Brenda F.
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