Feeling famished

[sweetnell 6]

Hi, I have not posted in along time.I had R bypass April 2013. I have lost 120. My Doctor would like me to lose about 50 more pounds . I don't think I want to lose,. but 20 maybe 30 pounds. I am slipping back into some old eating habits. During the day I do well I find I can't eat too much, but about 4pm I become famished. I seem to graze. I will eat a little and after a little activity I am hungry all over again I don't know how to stop this. Has anyone had this problem, before surgery I don't think I knew what it felt to be hungry . I am not sure if this is binge eating . Someone share with me . I sure don't want to start gaining weight.

[mskami77 295]

Try getting more Protein in the morning. Then have a piece a fruit when you feel hungry. If your still hungry try a beef Jerky or your favorite protein snack. Maybe even popcorn if you're craving crunchy and salty. You don't have to gain to satisfy the cravings just be creative and mindful.

[James Marusek 5,244]

I am 28 months post-op RNY. The approach that I use I put in a short article. Here is a link. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf

[kimvox66 91]

I am 28 months post-op RNY. The approach that I use I put in a short article. Here is a link. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf

James this was a great read, thank you so much for posting it! It really gave me great information and motivation (just started liquid pre-op with surgery scheduled a week from today -10/2). Continued success and happiness to you!

[toasty 371]

@@sweetnell I hope you are not offended by a newbie giving you advice. I am not a veteran, being only two weeks after surgery, but I have some ideas. These are some of the things I was taught will be lifelong habits I need to maintain.

Are you drinking at least 64 oz. of fluids (preferably water) per day? Are you eating three meals, with half the meal being Protein, one-quarter fruit and veggies, and one-quarter other carbs? Are you watching your portion sizes (for instance, generally 3 oz. of Protein at each meal)?

If you are eating the recommended amount of protein, you should not be experiencing physical hunger. Could you be experiencing "head hunger"? If so, you will need to deal with that somehow, maybe through therapy or some other mechanism.

They tell us that the #1 cause of weight gain after surgery is grazing. You need to figure out a way to stop that. Maybe talking to a NUT would help.

[SAD HATTER 122]

My therapist says (God I never thought I would start a sentence like that) that grazing can be stopped with mindful eating. This is what she had be do before surgery, so I would know how to handle it after if it came up.

Pick up the food you want. Look at it. Smell it. Touch it. Take a tiny teeny itsy bitsy bite. What does this food feel like in your hands, smell like, look like, taste like. What emotions does it bring back. If you take another teeny bite, does it change the emotion?

If you do this, and you still think eating that food will lead to a happier you, then eat it. But most of the time, it leads to regret, and I end up putting it down.

Once I licked doritos... the struggle is real.