I have to know, does the hunger/appetite REALLY disappear?

[KK66 61]

Yes, but not the same as pre-sleeve. If I go more than three hours without food, I am hungry, but not the growling stomach, weak, shaky hunger, more of just, my stomach is empty, feed me hunger.

I believe it takes a week or so for the ghrelin hormone to dissapear after your sleeve, so you should see a huge downturn in your overall hunger. I don't think about food that much anymore, and eat really because I have to.

[*Dean* 1,594]

Greens is kind of a generic term for things like collard greens' date=' mustard greens, spinach, etc. You can buy them pre cooked (they're really mushy) in cans. Pepper sauce is basically any sort of hot pepper, though commercially it's usually jalapeno in vinegar that's been bottled and left to sit so you've got this very mildly hot vinegar to put on it. It's primarily a southern US thing.[/quote']

Ahh, thanks. Pre sleeve I was into American style BBQ in a big way, which isn't that common in Australia. I did my first pork butt in months last weekend. Felt good just having a small serve and not wanting to demolish the whole thing. I do a red Carolina sauce with it. Sounds like that would fit in the 'pepper sauce' category.

[TheGamer 406]

Ahh, thanks. Pre sleeve I was into American style BBQ in a big way, which isn't that common in Australia. I did my first pork butt in months last weekend. Felt good just having a small serve and not wanting to demolish the whole thing. I do a red Carolina sauce with it. Sounds like that would fit in the 'pepper sauce' category.

We'd call what you make a type of BBQ Sauce. Pepper sauce is a little different, where it's pretty much just peppers soaked in vinegar. It's clear or lightly colored and the consistency of Water. Here's what pepper sauce looks like: http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Pete-Green-Pepper-Sauce/dp/B000M0QWM8/ref=sr_1_3?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1356658819&sr=1-3&keywords=pepper+sauce

You can make the same thing by putting vinegar and peppers in a jar and letting it sit. There are recipes available online for making your own.

[GeauxForIt 659]

We'd call what you make a type of BBQ Sauce. Pepper sauce is a little different' date=' where it's pretty much just peppers soaked in vinegar. It's clear or lightly colored and the consistency of Water. Here's what pepper sauce looks like: http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Pete-Green-Pepper-Sauce/dp/B000M0QWM8/ref=sr_1_3?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1356658819&sr=1-3&keywords=pepper+sauce

You can make the same thing by putting vinegar and peppers in a jar and letting it sit. There are recipes available online for making your own.[/quote']

The biggest challenge is finding just the right little bottle!

[timetobefree 74]

I am 7 weeks out tomorrow, and I have been hungry constantly since surgery. However, I also revised from the band, and I have a slightly dilated esophagus which is what my surgeon thinks is causing the hunger.

I keep hoping it'll go away some day. I know what it's like to be free from hunger, as I had many months like that with my band. Fingers crossed...

[HalfTheWoman 107]

We'd call what you make a type of BBQ Sauce. Pepper sauce is a little different, where it's pretty much just peppers soaked in vinegar. It's clear or lightly colored and the consistency of Water. Here's what pepper sauce looks like: http://www.amazon.co...ds=pepper sauce

You can make the same thing by putting vinegar and peppers in a jar and letting it sit. There are recipes available online for making your own.

I am from Alabama and we call it pepper sauce. I just by a jar of sliced jalapenos that's perserved in vinegar and eat it on greens, pinto Beans and in chicken stew and Soups. I also love Frank's Hot Sauce on everything else...LOL! Corn bread soaks it all up well!

[Mason 122]

I completely lost my hunger drive by the fifth day post-op. What I experience now is a sensation of emptiness, which is not the same as hunger at all. It is this empty feeling that alerts me that it is time to eat.

[Ola Tess 21]

I didn't have an appetite for a couple wks but now I get hungry. But it's different. I get restless and irritable if I don't eat every 2-3 hrs and then I recognize - shoot I need to eat something. A couple bites later I'm good! I started carrying stuff in my purse in case and that's a lifesaver

[Catracks 865]

Right after the surgery I really had no appetite. A little later it was mostly head hunger. Sometimes I just ate because it was about time to.

Now after a year, I can tell you that I do not experience the ravenous hunger that I used to. I think what I feel now is the normal "I think I need a bite to eat."

[kirst 1]

I'm 6 weeks out and do at times feel hungry, but I think my head hasn't caught up to my new stomach, you look at the small amount of food and feel a little deprived but you quickly realise you can't eat much at all before you feel like you used to pre-surgery after Christmas dinner! I'm getting my head around it and am very careful to take my time as you fill up super quickly. So yes, you probably will feel hungry but it doesn't take much at all to fill you up.

[Holly5.3 423]

It's funny, but the growling, burping beast inside me is my alarm clock that I should be hungry - I need to eat something, it's empty. I could go all day like never before without eating, so I'm glad that a little discomfort in the form of the burping is a reminder that I need to take a sip of a Protein Drink or a bite of a Protein Bar. When I ignore the burb, the other physical symptons occur - headache, short-temper/cranky (the beast needs a treat!) The "head" hunger or maybe even "memory" hunger has been more of a problem during the Holiday Season than I thought it would be. Just remember your body still needs fuel and since we can consume such small amounts, it's going to burn through it fast - we're lighter now, moving more and our metabolisms are speeding up as we lose the fat. When I've had some food, it's easier to be around people eating the foods you would love to be able to eat again, but can't. But some days are harder than others, too, depending on stress, etc. But listening to our bodies and getting to know when to eat, what to eat, and more importantly when to stop before any discomfort occurs is a skill worth having and will be worth it's weight in gold when we reach our goal! Happy New Year's everyone!

[ashelaine 383]

I am 7 weeks out- I get hungry when I should be. It's not necessarily "hunger" it's more- my tummy is empty and I need to eat. It's soo much different. I eat my 2 oz of Protein 3 times a day and two snacks- and I'm content. Which is seriously amazing- I was a bottomless pit pre- sleeve. I mean really- I could out eat my boyfriend (an ex college fb player!!)