Hungry?

Hi! Am I the only person here that gets hungry? I see lots of posts where people don't even feel hunger, but I have to tell you, if I don't eat for 3-4 hours, I am aware of it. Like, starving. Anyway, I was just wondering.

Hungry all the time. But mine is more of a mind hunger. I swore I would not restrict my husband or daughters diets as much as mine so once a month they get chili cheese hotdogs, or somthing along those fattening lines...and I fel like I am starving even after my 2-3 oz. of salmon...or whatever...but then I go try on some new cloth and feel all better and not hungry. I have a cupboard full of sugar free gum seriously...inbetween meals I chew gum...it helps with all the hunger stuff...or even lifesavers the sugar free kind. Question though are you sipping water inbetween meals all day? The water is what usually keeps me full all day long, or my diet lipton green tea, or my crystal light I even found a light hawaiian punch which low in sugar and tastes very good. Hope this helps...you're not alone. Have a great day.

I agree with Rosario. It's not so much hunger as an awareness that the pouch is empty. It isn't unpleasant, but it is there. Hard to explain. Anyway, as a result, it's been very easy for me to think "Ah! Stomach is empty so I must be hungry" and go look for food. Harder to resist that urge. What has been working for me is to (usually) start my day with a bottle of water (I always put crystal light in my water), nurse that to empty, wait a half hour, then eat. This process usually takes about two hours. While I'm fixing my food, I put another bottle in the freezer. After eating (about 15 minutes) I wait a half hour. That works out to about 45 minutes to an hour in the freezer and it's now cold, so I start the process again. I wind up, end of the day, with three-four bottles of water in (depending on my mood) and all of my meals. While I'm drinking, I am not hungry. I feel the pouch just about the time I have to eat again.

I'm similar to Greg. I don't get hungry, but I can tell when my pouch is empty. I also am either eating or drinking (mostly drinking, I still am not eating as frequently as I should) almost constantly throughout the day, so I never really even get that empty feeling. The only time is when we are running errands for several hours and I don't have a bottle of water with me. Other than tha****er keeps me full. Hope this helps. Chris S.

I'll have to try the gum chewing, maybe that will distract me I have been doing ok sipping my water, I've noticed when its icy cold it seems to have some staying power. I'll have to try to kick the water up a notch or two I guess. Thanks for the suggestions!! it helps to know I'm not the only one who is hungry ~Genny 358/309/170

Whether or not it's an old wive's tale, I've heard that icy cold water is better to drink anyway, as your body has to warm it up internally and that burns more calories. It seems to make sense, but none of all that ice cream seemed to burn more calories. SIGH.

Be very careful with the chewing gum. If you accidently swallow it, it will block the opening of your pouch and you will have to have surgery to remove it. My surgeon won't even let us chew it at all! One way to stave off a feeling of hunger is to schedule your meals at specific intervals. Eat one ounce high protein every 3-4 hours. Take your time and eat as slowly as you can stand. That has been the challenge for me, slowing down. One of the things I do is cut up a protein bar and snack on it through out the afternoon. It's almost like getting a treat. Toni 267/210

Hey we share the same surgery date! I have felt hungry maybe twice. My stomach makes alot of noises sometimes but in terms of hunger, not really aware of it. I do realize when I haven't eaten anything and I make myself eat. I'm eating about 500-700 calories each day and have yet to feel tired since surgery. I fill up pretty quickly when I eat and hope it stays that way. I'm not losing fast but my clothes are hanging on and I have to move to suspenders this week to keep all of my pants up! Dave

If I don't eat breakfast soon after I get up, I feel hunger. It only takes a few bites for it to go away. And, for the rest of the day, if I don't eat lunch, dinner, or snacks on time, I get hungry until I have a few bites.

I posted a while ago about having hunger pains. They were as real as real to me. So, even if they were just "head hunger", they were real enough. The funny thing is, they're gone!!!! My stomach growls now and then to let me know the pouch is empty, but no more of that starving feeling. Hope yours go on their way, too. Not fair to have them this early in the game. They promised me a honeymoon of at least 6 months. Hang in there, and push the water!!! Cheryl