Diet concerns--opinions please!

Last month at my 3-mo visit with my nutritionist, she said to eat 3 meals a day with 1 snack if needed, and to space them out 5 hours apart. This is hard for me to space them out 5 hours apart, but I had been doing that without a problem until lately. My nutritionist isn't around this week, so I thought I would get everyone else's opinions. Now, I am not very hungry in the morning, so I have water first, then a protein drink, then more water. I have a very late 1st meal (11 or 12), then afternoon water x2. I feel hungry before I exercise at 3 or 4 p.m., and have something to eat then. Have water again after exercising. I have to fix dinner around 6 or 7 at the latest for the family and I eat then. That is 3 meals. I then have more water in the evening. I am hungry after that for an evening snack, which I have as late as 9 or 10 p.m. I am actually hungry 1 or 2 hours after each meal. I am just not hungry in the morning. I am getting in more than the minimum amounts of protein, water, etc. My concerns are: 1. Eating meals too close together. Do you think this is a problem? 2. Eating most of my food in the afternoon/evening. Do you think this is a problem? I have it ingrained in me from my preop diets that it is not good to eat later in the day like this. Does it affect us the same way since we had surgery? 3. Is anyone else hungry 1 to 2 hours after they eat? Thanks for your help! SueZ

i WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...WHEN I WAS AT 3 MEALS A DAY, I TRIED IT FOR A WEEK,,DID NOT WORK FOR ME..SO I INVENTED THIS FOR ME. 500 AM DRINK 32OZ OF FLUIDS 700 AM BANANA AND A YOGURT 1000-1030...PROTIEN DRINK OR BAR 1200-1230...SNACK OR LUNCH,,,USUALLY LITE 200PM -330PM GYM DRINK USUALLY DRINK 30-40 OZ OF WATER DURING THE TIME THERE 500PM DINNER, TONIGHT WAS SWORDFISH 6 OZ PIECE..50 GMS PROTIEN 730PM - SNACK USAULLY ICE CREAM CONE WITH SUGAR FREE ICE CREAM THIS WORKS FOR ME AND IT IS ANYWHERE FROM 1000-1300 CALS A DAY AND 75-95 GRAMS OF PROTIEN COUNTING ON WHAT I EAT, I PLAY WITH THE TIMES AND THE MEALS HERE AND THERE BUT PRETTY MUCH STICK TO IT...IF I AM REALLY HUNGRY I WILL WATERLOAD BUT I NOTICED I HAVE TO DO THAT LESS AND LESS SINCE I HAVE STUCK TO 5-6 MEALS OF SOME KIND. I HOPE THIS HELPS A LITTLE....THIS HAS DEFINITLY WORKED FOR ME...I NEVER EAT AFTER 730PM AND SINCE I STARTED THIS PERSONAL SYSTEM I HAVE NEVER BEEN HUNGRY AFTER MY LAST LITTLE TREAT AND SOMETIMES HAVE SKIPPED IT BECAUSE I WAS NOT HUNGRY. 403 / 316 / 225

Thanks Tom. It is nice to know that I am not the only one with this issue. Your plan sounds good. It is obviously working great for you. You have done wonderfully so far!! SueZ

Hi SueZ, I usually get hungry like that if I drink too soon before I eat. Try waiting about 1/2 after drinking to eat your meal, and wait 1hr+ after eating to drink. This has helped me to keep down those hunger pangs. I do the same thing with the protein drinks. Hope this helps. Take care, Syndi

Thanks Syndi. I do always wait at least 1/2 hour after drinking to eat my meals, but I only wait 1/2 after eating to drink. So maybe I will try waiting longer after a meal to drink and see if that helps. Right now, I wait longer to drink only if I get really full at a meal, because it is very uncomfortable to drink if my stomach is too full. Thanks for the response. It helps to hear what others have to say, and I am glad that you and Tom took the time to respond! SueZ

Hey SueZ My nutritionist wants me to eat 5-6 meals a day which I typically do, so that helps me to not feel so hungry, however, it seems that as soon as I start drinking water after I eat I do feel hungry. I wait at least 1 hour after I eat before I drink any water, sometimes a little longer if I can tolerate it just so I won't feel so hungry too quick. I try not to eat after 8pm, but if I do feel hungry then I'll eat a mouthful of nuts or just something small to take away the hunger feeling. I've heard so many people comment about not being able to eat until after 10am because if they do they feel a little nauseous. So these people end up eating later in the day like you describe. Everyone is so different and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for someone else. I guess what I'm trying to say is try not to worry about your eating situation as long as you're losing, getting in all of your protein and water etc. I don't know if that helps or not but hang in there girl Deanna