REGAINING HUNGER/APPETITE

The first year after gastric bypass is usually very rewarding, but this time can also be confusing, frustrating and frightening. The function of the stomach pouch "tool" changes almost continuously over the first six months, and continues to change periodically over the first year or so. Just when the patient feels they have begun to understand the stomach pouch/tool and how to use it, things change all over again. There is an especially frightening change that takes place around 6-9 months after the surgery. The stomach pouch softens and expands slightly so that a patient regains a regular appetite and can "suddenly" tolerate a significantly larger amount of food. Patients frequently worry that something has pulled apart or broken on the inside, though this is rarely the case. This increased interest in food and increased capacity for food is a very natural and appropriate part of the recovery process after gastric bypass surgery. The reason it frightens patients so much is that they had previously felt they had control of their weight for the first time in their lives, and the renewed appetite threatens that they are losing control once again. The first thing to realize is that for the first six months or so after gastric bypass you did NOT have control of your weight. The pounds were going to come off almost no matter what you did. The stomach pouch could not handle enough calories to maintain weight for the first few months - we call this the "honeymoon" period after gastric bypass. The return of appetite and the increase in food capacity signal an end to the honeymoon period and the transition to the rest of life.

Thanks for the info and making me even MORE conscious about everything! I'm already depressed about this stall again! You know how it is when you compare yourself to someone else (yeah I know I must stop)!!! Anywho..................my friend..............have a great night and I'll talk to you later. Take care of yourself and that husband of yours!! Keke

NOW MS KEKE, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO READ THAT ARTICLE & SAY TO YOURSELF, "OHHHHHHHHHH NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S A TAD BIT HARD, THIS WLS JOURNEY. IT'S NOT ME; I'M DOING FINE ... BUT THE PROCESS IS TOUGH." IT SHOULD HAVE MADE YOU FEEL BETTER CUZ YOU'RE "NORMAL" & DOING FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE COMIN' FROM ABOUT BEING DEPRESSED OVER STALLS ... I'M IN MY 25th WEEK & SINCE THE 14th WEEK WHEN I HIT A BRICK WALL, I'VE ONLY AVERAGED 1 # A WEEK LOSS ... I ABOUT DROVE MYSELF CRAZY ... THEN I REALIZED THAT I JUST HAD TO MAKE PEACE WITH THIS PROCESS. I WILL LOSE WHEN MY BODY IS READY BECAUSE I'M DOING THE "RIGHT" THINGS ... THIS IS A LIFESTYLE, NOT A BITE-BY-BITE DIET THAT DRIVES US TO INSANITY ... WE HAVE A LONG TIME TO LOSE THE WEIGHT & IT MAY TAKE THAT ENTIRE TIME. BUT, SO WHAT? IF WE LOSE IT, WE'RE THE WINNERS ... BUT IF WE LOSE IT & HATE THE JOURNEY, WE'VE LIVED IN MISERY INSTEAD OF SUCCESS & JOY. I'M ONE OF THE SLOWEST LOSERS ON THE BOARD, BUT SO WHAT? I'M STILL LOSING ... &, MY HEALTH HAS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY ... &, I'M SO MUCH MORE ACTIVE I CAN'T BELIEVE IT ... &, I'M REALLY LOOKIN' SO GOOD NOW ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO HOW I LOOKED PRE-OP ... JUST THINK OF ALL THE GREAT SUCCESSES YOU'VE EXPERIENCED, MS KEKE. IT'S TIME TO MAKE PEACE WITH THE PROCESS & ENJOY EVERY DAY OF THIS SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE ... THIS IS A MIRACLE; EXPERIENCE IT THAT WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DO UNDERSTAND, HONESTLY I DO; I'VE BEEN WHERE YOU ARE & I CAN TELL YOU THAT ITS WONDERFUL TO BE WHERE I AM NOW, BUT I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION TO CHANGE MY MINDSET & ATTITUDE ... BE THANKFUL & AT PEACE MY DEAR FRIEND.

As always..........you manage to say something to make me relax and let loose. Usually it's with your sex comments but this time it was with your words of encouragement. I'm trying to make peace but I guess I'm scared of being a disappointment. But I will continue to pray about it and you keep me in your prayers. Thank you so much for your words and I am truly thankful that our weightloss journey has meshed our lives together. Keke

Hi Lady D, Nice to see you! Boy am I glad to see this post. Just today I was thinking about how much more I can and am eating. Healthy and good things, but none the less, more of it all. When I go on Fitday, I can see that my calorie intake in more. My carbs are still down and so are my fats but my calories and protein are up. After my protein shake in the morning, my morning snack is cereal with the Hood FF Carb Countdown milk. I am eating the Weigh****chers cereal because it does not have sugar as an ingredient and some mornings I really enjoy the cereal. I was just saying to a friend if she thought that eating 1 cup of cereal with 1 cup of the milk is too much. I have no problem eating it. But it scares me to think that I can eat it all. But then some days, I can't get 3 bites of food down without some discomfort. It's weird! My weight has slowed also. I went 5 weeks without losing anything and now the scale has started to move in my favor again. It will be 7 months shortly and I am down 82 lbs. I also feel wonderful and do not freak about the scale not moving as much as I think it should. I believe one of the reasons the scale does not move as often is due to the fact that I do not exercise. I go in spurts with that. I am trying hard to get myself motivated, yet again. I know I am getting ready again to hit the gym - I can feel it! The only thing that bothers me is that I KNOW this is the honeymoon stage. I was told this stage lasts about 15 months with the slowness showing itself as each month passes. So knowing this, I should be doing all that I can to get the most out of it. Hey, I think I am getting motivated here! YES!!!!! In any event, thank you for posting what has been on my mind. Hugs, Loretta