6 months--appetite increase?

Hey all 6 monthers: I have noticed my appetite increasing this past week....could be that I got my period again, 2 days after finishing the last one up!!! Anyway, how is everyone doing??? Anyone else noting they are more hungry these days? I am concerned only because per my program, I stay on 800 cals for life....since I have been adding fruit to my diet, I have noted that this has increased my caloric intake... Anyone have any wisdom to share? As always, thank you in advance! Thanks, Megan

Hi Megan, I noticed more hunger right at 5 months. But I still have days (like today) where the smallest amounts fill me up and the other days where I can easily eat a cup of chili.. its so strange. I do get more of an "empty" feeling not necessarily a stomach growl. I eat around 850ish cals a day. I am not sure where I am supposed to be later I will have to ask my surgeon or his PA on my 6 month visit. I am surprised that 800 is your limit for LIFE. Most that maintain I see on graduate board are 1200-1500. Anything lower many of them keep losing so not sure there. But wanted to let you know that I am eating about the same. I do eat a lot of low cal fruits like strawberries, and a half apple once in a while. I still stay in my caloric limits though. Congrats on your success, you are doing great! 328/280/201/140

Melissa: Thanks for the support...yeah, 800 cals for life, per the NUT on the team I have...it seems crazy to me, but it is what it is... I haven't had to deal with hunger yet, so this is a biggie for me...we're also not supposed to have any snacks outside 3 meals, but I can assure you that with what little I actually eat at meals, I do get hungry in between, and usually snacking on a reduced fat cheese stick, a small portion of cottage cheese, or reduced fat block cheese does the trick. Lately tho, I still get hungry. Guess I am just learning to deal with stomach growls again then... Megan

Megan, I've been hungry since the first few weeks but if I stayed away from wheats and too many artificial sweeteners it was very controllable. Like you, I have added fruit back into my life and it seems it has turned the sweet tooth back on again. I'm definitely hungrier these days and starting to want a taste of forbidden sweets. (haven't done it yet and plan not to!) To counterract that I just eat more strawberries. The Strawberry Demon has me in it's clutches, I tell ya. Can't wait till the watermelons start getting sweeter. Natural sugars are my candy now and I'm loving them. But am making sure to get my proteins in first and on days when I don't want to do that I make sure to have an extra protein shake or an Optisource. (gag...that is punishment for eating the strawberries) I haven't been tracking my calorie intake and set up a Sparkpeople account today but it had the same problems as Fitday...my foods aren't in their database and that is extremely cumbersome and irksome to me. Grrrr!!! Molly

I have heard it is supposed to be between 1000-1200 or you may not lose well. Also our Dr. says you are supposed to eat 6 times a day. 3 snacks and 3 meals a few hours apart with water in between which is 30 min before food and 30 min after food. Good Luck though. Jennifer

I eat around 1000 day depends. some of that is cause i do usually have a protein shake a day and thats 200 cal right there. Seems like there is a little increase in appetite and amount i could eat but not much. If someone where to give me a regular plate of food youd still see im only eating about 1/4 and some things looked like i hardly touched it even tho i felt like i ate alot