Question:
I'm still hungry and I've been on a plateau for over 1 yr post op
Am I alone in still feeling hungry all the time post RnY? I lost only about 30 of the 90 pounds that I needed to lose and have been at a plateau for over a year now. I've never "dumped" and am not sure how much I malabsorb. Did something go wrong with my surgery? — wasbux (posted on September 16, 2009)
September 16, 2009
What you are feeling is head hunger.
— Kristy
September 16, 2009
Thats not necessarily true kristie I share the same problem I am about 5
months out and lost about 125 lbs but have been on a plateau for about a
month and am definitely able to eat more than i should now im not totally
disagreeing with you I would say most of it is head hunger but some of it
may be something is not the way its supposed to be. I to have never dumped
and am able to eat bread steak chicken all this stuff without broth or
blender or anything i pretty much eat what i want but obviously i restrict
myself because i wanna lose weight but i have yet to find something that
bothers me when i eat it and i usually eat only once a day but a big meal
and i would say that you should really go talk to your doctor like i am
going to friday because maybe something is not the way its supposed to be
if you can eat too much and the proper post wls amount of food is not
filling you up just my 2 cents worth
— JaVin70
September 16, 2009
are you at a "plateau" or are you eating too much/not the right
foods? RNY isn't an "eat what you want, your intestines will not
absorb what you eat" kind of thing. it's more of a "the ravenous
hunger pangs in your belly will go away so you can control yourself"
kind of thing. you might want to try a support group meeting.
— greenpunchbuggie
September 16, 2009
Oh, Honey, that's not a plateau, that's the middle of the Great Plains!
It's time you look for some sign posts to point you outta there! Keep a
food diary for a week...put down EVERYTHING that goes into your mouth and
the amounts. Then take it to a nutritionist, preferably one who works with
your surgeon or other WLS patients. If their food suggestions don't work,
ask them to put you on a vitamin therapy to reduce your leptin levels. I'm
not going to say the dreaded "E" word here, but do try to
increase your activity level just some...don't go overboard... just to get
you loosing again. Also, look to see if what you have IS head hunger (does
it go away if you distract yourself?) If so, then you, my friend, are a
food addict like me and you need to treat it as an addiction. You can
still do this!
— jtoothman
September 16, 2009
Afraid I can't offer much solution but just say "No, you are not
alone!" I too feel hungry pretty much most of the time but the
problem is, not knowing what to eat that I actually can! And I have been
at a plateau since February. I don't do the "dumping" either.
When I asked my surgeon he just said I was doing fine & was on track
with the weight loss expected! So I do know how you feel!
— ditzyangeluk
September 17, 2009
You for sure need to see your surgeon and yes food journaling is EXTREMELY
important. I use Nutrimirror.com for foods journaling. Log EVERYTHING U
eat, even the condiments and salad dressing etc...something is not right,no
plateau lasts that long. Please see your surgeon and a nutritionist.
— chell1957
September 17, 2009
I had gastric bypass 7/22/09 - was losing slowly, and then hit a 10 day
plateua where no matter what I tried, not an ounce came off. I told myself
I was in too much pain to walk, until day 10, when I decided enough! Since
I was too overweight, with bad knees to walk around the block, I got on a
treadmill and started with just four sets of 1/4 mile walk slowly, with 5
minute breaks inbetween. Now I am up to 1.5 miles but stay on it for at
least 40 minutes straight each day. As soon as I started walking, the
weight starting coming off, about 1 lb. a day!! I read "6 Day Body
Makeover" by Michael Thurmond and that is what got me motivated. He
explains clearly what works for each body type, based on weight, age, and
body frame. He also explains how different types of exercise effect us and
why! That made the difference for me! Slower walking, longer length of
time breaks down fat more quickly in my range. The key is to burn off more
fat than sugar and he explains how to do this, and why it's important. I
hope he's right. It's working for me!
— summerbabies77
September 17, 2009
Greetings Tiny Tim: Oh, where to start! Jen D. and Jackie Toothman gave
you good advice. Don't listen to what Jacob wrote. He, like you, is
making serious mistakes. ALL of us need to have 5 to 6 SMALL (s-m-a-l-l
meals) meaning the total amount consumed is around 1/4th cup to 1/2 cup
total. Not more. Jacob, is starving his body and his body is acting
accordingly, saving onto every single morsel he eats because his body
doesn't know when it is going to be fed again. Not good. Your thinking
that dumping and knowing your body malabsorbs is NOT a good thing to use as
a tool for weight loss. What malabsorption means is that you need to
dramatically increase the amount of supplements and vitamins to ensure your
blood draws show you are getting sufficient amounts of supplements and
vitamins. Otherwise, you face hair loss, more sagging skin, extremely poor
health, and lots of other ills, besides a shorter life-expectancy. What
you want is vibrant health. Dumping is never pleasant, and why would
anyone want to dump as a way to lose weight! Do you really want to beat up
your body some more? Keeping a precise food diary (there is one now
available here at OH, or use the one available at fitday.com), take the
5-day pouch test to get your body thinking properly (and your head as well)
which will show you dramatically that your tool is still there and still
functioning perfectly. Although the 5-day pouch test isn't designed to
have you lose weight during this period, many people do. This test truly
helps you feel the size of your pouch and to get back on track. Also, I
have found from experience that if I do not get sufficient vegetables
(green ones preverably) in my diet, my body doesn't feel its best. When I
get the vegetables (by jucing them), my body sings and I feel so vibrant
and alife. So increase the amount of green vegetables you consume. This
means, you JUICE the vegetables because your RNY tool only allows you to
consume a small amount. But, 2 1/2 cups of vegetables juiced equals 6 oz.
at most. That much, you CAN consume. Get a Vita Mix (expensive but worth
it) to do the vegetable juicing because this way, you get the fiber as well
and in less than 5 minutes you can even turn the juice into a hot delicious
soup. Also invest in a top-quality fruit juicer such as the one
recommended by the Juice Lady Cherie Calbom. Go to Amazon.com and query
her name and purchase ALL her books. Also, do go to my support group web
site where you will find information helpful to you in knowing how much
protein and what types of protein you need daily. This information can be
found at www.obesityhelp.com/group/BellevueWA. You also need to consume a
miminum of 100 grams of whey protein simply to maintain your weight. If
you wish to lose weight (and you do) your protein consumption needs to
dramatically increase. I still have 30 lbs. to go and this means that I
must consume 132 grams of protein daily -- which is hard to do because our
RNY pouch sizes are so small. But, my health is vibrant and I certainly
don't look or act my age of 72. Another consideration is to say positive
affirmations daily to change your mind set. Once you have your laundry
list of positive affirmations written out, you can easily turn them into a
personally-developed self-hypnosis tape that truly helps you. My positive
affirmations I say daily are listed at
www.obesityhelp.com/member/christinegibson. I did exactly what I am
recommending you do, and I have my own self-hypnosis tape I play when I am
getting ready to go to sleep at night and my positive affirmation tape
which I listen to and say while I'm driving around or puttering around in
my own home. Last, I am almost 5 years post-op RNY, and know the
importance of eating the right foods, getting the 5-6 meals daily,
consuming sufficient liquids (for me, and my exercise level, this means 96
oz.), and getting sufficient exercise of various types. 30 lbs. weight loss
with 60 to go must have you pretty discouraged; but, you reached out to all
of us to help you. All of us have assumed we know what the problems are
with why you have only lost 30 lbs. The other recommendation listed by
posters is for you to join a support group. Do it! Let us know how you
are doing as you make these changes in your life. Blessings, Christine
Gibson, MS., MA., Bariatric University Coach, Obesity Help Coach, Obesity
Help Support Group Leader.
— Christine Gibson
September 17, 2009
You need to talk to a doctor about why you are not losing. Check what you
are eating. Make sure you avoid sugars and carbs even if you do not have
dumping
— trible
September 19, 2009
Yes, you need to talk to your doctor and your nut. Also, I heartily
recommend you read The Beck Diet Solution by Judith S Beck
— cydthekid50
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