Hunger pangs not going away.

[MPetrelis 5]

My surgery was on September 8, 2015, and very much like my new shape and having a new wardrobe, while feeling a lot more energy. Happy to report my weight is steady at 195-198 pounds, but since Christmas I've had many days when hunger pangs wouldn't go away. No matter what foods I eat or how much Water I drink, my stomach just doesn't feel full. Too often, I feel light-headed from the empty feeling.

At the suggestion of folks at the UCSF bariatric clinic, I am eating Metamucil Fiber bars and downing Water with them, but it's not the solution I had hoped for.

How do I achieve a full feeling? Got safe diet suggestions or other pieces of advice to share? I'd like to hear from you with ideas.

[Daisee68 2,493]

Are you sure it isn't acid reflux? That often mimics hunger pangs. If you aren't taking a prescription PPI, check with your dr.

[SugarFreeMe 293]

I was always told that drinking while eating is a big no-no. Water tends to flush food down and you don't feel full. Try the bar without liquids. If that doesn't work, I'd suggest fighting thru it. You're at a point when "head" hunger will start to hit hard, the beginning euphoric phase is ending and it's going to get tougher and tougher.

[mishi 72]

If you're hungry, eat. Just make it lean Protein cooked in a healthful manner. After a million meals and Snacks of chicken breast, you might not feel like eating so much as starting a 'Save the Chickens' campaign so you never have to look at a chicken breast again.

Also, if I'm hungry between meals I'll drink lots of Water. Getting in all my Water is something I have to work on and when I do, I feel less hungry.

Edited January 27, 2016 by mishi

[Sajijoma 1,324]

You are about a month ahead of me, but I wonder if it could be partially at least acid. I know there are days I have skipped my pantoprazole and it almost feels like hunger! It's crazy! When I do take it though, that feeling goes right away. I also don't know how much Water you are getting in the day, but try to hit at least 64oz and stick to a measured portion at meals with no snacking, because our pouches are still very new and things like eating a Fiber bar with water at the same time can stretch the pouch over time. That's why fiber bars exist is to expand and make a stomach feel full. If you do that to your pouch, over time, it's going to take that new expanded shape and all this will be for naught! Also, eating with water or any drink can flush the food right out and make you feel hungry again sooner. My NUT says to choose the most solid foods you can tolerate to get full and stay full the longest. Avoid things like Soup, soft foods, etc once you are in the final stage of diet because you need to think of your pouch like a funnel and the thinner the stuff the faster it flows through. Always eat the solid Proteins and leave behind the ones that are more likely to run right through. You should never to mix the dense proteins with liquids like in Soups because it can subtly expand the pouch over time or again, wash the whole lot right out leaving you hungry again sooner. I've followed her advice to the letter and at almost 3 months out, I still can only eat about 2oz at a meal, and even then sometimes I am just so not interested in food that it's a chore to have to eat.

[Dar200 285]

I just looked at the Metamucil website to check ingredients on their bars. The second ingredient listed is corn Syrup and sugar was included a little further down. I guess the person who suggested eating theses bars and drinking a lot of Fluid at the same time was thinking the Water would make the Fiber expand in your stomach so you would feel full. It doesn't sound like they know much about post Gastric bypass surgery eating. Way too much sweetener. It makes your blood sugar go all over the place and will definitely make you hungrier. Also, the fact that the bars plus water will probably stretch your pouch makes them a bad idea. Was this person a nutritionist for weight loss surgery patients? I suggest calling your surgeon's office or the nutritionist you saw pre-surgery.

[francheskii 28]

It could be the Protein bars....I've had a problems with certain ones. ...switch em up and see if that helps. I like Quest bars