Maybe I am atypical, but the sleeve didn't help with hunger

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

@ ... if you're hungry, eat.

But eat what will assuage your physical hunger.

Protein is great for assuaging our physical hunger.

But highly processed carbs (slider foods) just make us crave more of them.

Before I had surgery, I heard this a lot from my surgeon, his team, and online: The sleeve will not fix all your eating / weight / health problems. The sleeve is not the only tool you will have to use to lose all your weight and maintain your weight forever. Other tools available to you include: Nutrition education; meal planning; food tracking; exercise; counseling / therapy (for a variety of reasons -- you don't have to be "crazy" to benefit from counseling); patience; a positive attitude; personal discipline and accountability; etc.

As my surgeon said: "The sleeve isn't magic. There is no magic."

BTW, "head hunger" is a general term used around here that means a number of things, including: emotional eating; self-medicating uncomfortable feelings with food; eating out of habit; eating in response to environmental cues. Not every impulse to eat comes from unpleasant feelings either: Some people have learned that they are cued to eat when they are happy or in a celebrating mood. A lot of people (me included) learned very, very well to eat when we "deserved" a treat. food = rewards for a lot of us. Yeah ... no.

[Noragretz 28]

Ugh I'm so there with you on this. I've been hungry the whole time! Im 8 months out. I was on an acid pill for 2 months prior to surgery and 6 months after for duodenal ulcers. So I know it wasn't acid, I can now tell the difference in acid "hunger" feel, and real hunger. This is real hunger with actual growling like it did before surgery (no growling with acid). Only thing now when it growls and spasms in hunger - it doesn't hurt like it did before surgery. What I found helps is eating solid Protein, (poultry, beef, fish, eggs) instead of processed Proteins like cheese, milk, yogurts, Protein drinks. Cutting out artificial sweeteners, keeping carbs low, and sugars lower. Also I noticed if I stop snacking and reduce eating to the three meals and maybe one snack im not as hungry as often. Drink lots of Water too, Water helps soothe the growling too and chewing some gum. Hang in there.

Try cooking up some chicken and eat 3 oz of chicken every 2-3 hours wether u are hungry or not, then after about a week start spreading the time out to set meals of chicken and a vegetable.

Edited May 17, 2015 by Noragretz

[judyoz 240]

My NUT has instructed me to eat every 2 hours, I love it.

[princess20 60]

How much carbs are you eating? Carbs will make you crave more carbs and make you think you are hungry. It is a vicious cycle. Keeping carbs low and cutting sugar will do wonders for your hunger.

Edited May 20, 2015 by princess20

[Wynnie 186]

My hunger returned but not nearly like it was prior to my sleeve. Beef Jerky, almonds and other nuts, flavored water (I like dasani drops) string cheese, a hard boiled egg. The point here is the quality of the snack, not the quantity. eating it slow and keeping hydrated. Post surgery I've needed to learn how to be smarter in overall food choices. Good luck

[chunkyloverlovesyou 197]

How much carbs are you eating? Carbs will make you crave more carbs and make you think you are hungry. It is a vicious cycle. Keeping carbs low and cutting sugar will do wonders for your hunger.

I eat a lot of carbs, I don't pay attention to what I eat, just how many calories. That's my biggest addiction right now and I am struggling

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

@chunkylover

About the carbs ...

One thing I do watch is Fiber grams (women need at least 21 grams daily). Fiber is found in high-carb foods that are unprocessed, e.g., colored vegetables, fruits, whole grains.

On days when I reach 21 grams of fiber are days when I eat: 2 pieces fruit (e.g., apple, orange, mango, cherries), 2 pieces high-fiber, whole grain bread, 2 colored veggies (e.g., Beans, zucchini, tomatoes).

I find that when I plan to eat "good" carbs that I don't crave the "bad" carbs.

Just a thought ....

[fitRN 18]

I am freaking starving all the time!!

[miller1109 116]

I thought I was hungry a lit until I started taking acid reducers...don't feel that way anymore unless I'm truly hungry.

What do you use for acid reducers? I think I need something. I am nine ,on this post op and have been at goal for 3 months. But dang I am hungry.