Hungry

[Imvalentine 5]

I feel like I'm going to br the exception.... On this surgery.... I'm hungry!!! I rarely get full.... Surgery eas May 19 down maybe 25 lbs.... scale stopped.... I just ate 2 Quest bars.... Not full!!! I'm getting depressed.... Really fast here.....

[NICU-RN 31]

Try to drink a Protein shake instead of eating a snack. Protein shakes are your friend. Keeping your Protein intake to at least 60 to 80 grams a day is essential at this point and will help you fight any hunger as well as feel hungry less often. Get a good quality Protein powder. I use powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury and I've not found any that taste better. 3-4 shakes/day gives you 60-80 grams of protein and if mixed with 8 oz. skim milk it gives you 84- 112 grams. I am unable to tolerate lactose in the milk and use an almond/coconut milk instead so don't get the extra protein. But I still am drinking 3-4 protein shakes/day along with eating a protein rich meal. I had my surgery in January and am currently down 76 lbs. Yes, I feel hungry and sometimes I feel as if I will die if I drink one more shake, but then I cheat a bit and eat 1 or 2 unsalted crackers and that helps me get past that feeling. You can do this. I don't know anything about Quest bars, if they have a lot of carbs in them, that is just feeding your hunger rather than helping reduce it. Eat until satisfied, not full. Full is not the goal, satisfaction is. They are two separate things. Also realize that as obese persons, our sense of "full" is extremely skewed, so you are in the process of changing your perception as well as reducing the amount of food you actually need. You are still very early in your journey, don't let yourself get discouraged. Does your surgeon offer nutritional counselling? Seeing a nutritionist at this point might really help you. Also a local in-person support group can be very helpful as well.

Edited July 17, 2014 by NICU-RN

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

I am 2.5 years post op and have had hunger ups and downs and so I have some suggestions I hope you will try.

#1 take a good PPI! You may not think you have reflux but acid feels like hunger and many surgeons prescribe PPIs for everyone those first 3 months since it takes time for the tummy to produce less...smaller stomach needs less.

#2 Quest bars are like candy with Protein. I love em and can't keep them in the house. They are not filling and really are sliders for me. Don't eat slider type food...it is not satisfying and can trigger over eating.

#3 eat dense Proteins first! In the early months I was advised to eat 5 mini meals a day, always starting with dense Proteins. If room, veggies. So a snack mini meal might be a Greek yogurt or a bit of sandwich meat or beef Jerky or a bit of roast chicken. (I eat less often now, but it worked well at your stage...ask your NUT for a plan)

#4 eat until no longer hungry. FULL is not the goal. It takes awhile to reset the brain on this one but over time this will payoff big time.

#5 stay hydrated. Follow the rules about not drinking near mealtimes but load up when you can. Thirst feels like hunger.

[boccob81 244]

I was sleeved may 30 still on soft foods I see the dr on 31 but I seem to stay hungry all day or at least a 1 hr after I eat something I get hungry again . It might be acid but I take Pepcid and nexium twice a day I think it's acid more then anything but feels like hunger pains ..

[par1959 470]

One hint, dont eat Quest bars and switch to real food. 25 grams of carbs per serving. Thats worse than most breads. Read all lables, Protein is only one item to watch for. And I recommend logging all food. Its the only way I have found to keep track of what works and what doesnt. I have found there is no such thing as a free lunch or should I say fast lunch after surgery. Sure, some things require less prep , but if you want protein go for lean meat or eggs. There is protein in dairy, but you want to limit dairy to one serving a day. Remember to eat your 3 to 4 OZ of protein first. Eat slow and stop when you are satisfied not full. Its easier than it sound, but with practice following the rules becomes almost a habit. One will still make mistakes and have bad days. One last thing if you cant cook start educating yourself. Purchase a good set of pans and knives, take lessons and have fun with it. Just because one is on a diet doesnt mean food has to be boring.

[gomekast 559]

Cowgirl is right. Your hunger levels will and do change. Track it now....then you'll notice a pattern and be better prepared come those days each month so you can plan meals a little differently. I have 2-3 days each month where I feel like I could eat the whole fridge. It's the same days each month so I knows it's hormones. I just increase my portions and use that opportunity to have more fruits and veggies.

Good luck.