Am I really hungry?

Hi all, I Know it been forever since you have heard from me..... Sorry. But when I have a question I know where to come. I am almost 10 months out, and all the sudden... it's about food. I noticed that I am eating when I really am not hungry. I am maintaining my weight loss but, I want to kick it up again and loss about 10 more pounds. Any ideas or similar experiencing. Karen 310/179/170

Hi Karen, I am not to far behind you and I am experiencing the same thing. I am hungry more often now. But the way I think of it is I can eat more (as long as it is healthy) but I will also have to exercise more. I log everything on fitday.com and barely ever go over 1000 calories so I think I am okay. My weight loss has slowed tremendously in the last month so I need to step it up as well. You are doing great! Just hang in there and hopefully this will pass. Other August surgery daters are experiencing the same thing, I have seen some posts on the August board. Take Care and keep up the good work! --Marianne 256/152/140-goal 120-dream

This brings to mind a question... You say you barely go over 1000. Now, normally a person can go 1400 - 1500 and manage to lose weight (albeit slowly if you are like me.) Does this change after surgery? Does the whole calorie scale slide downward such that those with smaller pouches must not exceed much more than 1000 calories to maintain or lose weight? How does that work?

Hey Vicky - For Kligman once we are in the regular food stage after 7 weeks our calories eventually are 1200 - 1500. 1000 does seem very low to me that far out but everyone is different. It's very important to work with your RD to find the right caloric level especially if weight loss stops for a while. RD's will look at your current weight, basal metabolic rate and energy expended during physical activity if you provide accurate and honest logs to them. It's also helpful to have your body fat percentage. If you are doing everything consistently - exercise, eating the right foods, eating the right amounts at the right times, then the RD will probably will adjust your calories if you stop losing weight. If you are at 1000 and that many months out my guess is they would probably adjust up.

Wow, how do you manage to get in 1500 calories at 7 weeks? I could do that in my sleep at this point, but from how people tell it up here... it must be a chore to get in that many post-op. I guess small snacks throughout the day, because it doesn't sound like you can get in 1/3 of that at a single sitting. I suppose some of your high protein foods have a lot of cals... cheese, cottage cheese, etc. Now are you still aiming for the low-fat and fat-free stuff at this stage or low carb... or is the goal primarily to get in your protein however you can? Or do you basically do the whole lifestyle change from the beginning and stick with it (low cal, low fat, low cholesterol, etc.)

I'm going into my 5th week and I am doing about 850 - 1000 calories right now. I can get it 4 - 5oz of food at a time. Example Meal: I just had an 1/2 low carb english muffin, 2 egg beaters, 1oz smart balance lactose free cheddar cheese. You work up to the 12 - 1500. It still really isn't that much especially when you start to add in real food. I don't think it happens instantly at 7 weeks. You split that out over three meals and a protein snack before bed/evening. No snacking between meals. Just focus on fluids. This is the plan for the rest of your life. Again, everyone is different and every surgeons plan seems slightly different. Fat free stuff tends to have more sugar in it so I go for low fat... ie low fat yogurt versus fat free yogurt. You really have to read your labels. Goal is still to focus on lean protein/lower carb. You avoid sugar and high fats. You also need good carbs and healthy fats. His diet is very realisitc. You eat real foods. Just smaller portions.

i guess it is all relative. when i hear people say they take 3 bites of something and are full, it seems impossible to ever reach 1400-1500 calories... but then obviously i have problems remembering what a REAL single serving of food should look like anyway, and i sure feel like i'm deprived when i have to restrict myself to 1400 cals. i can't wait to feel physically full after an honest serving of something. i eat a lot less than i used to... my husband and i look at a plate of rice at the Indian joint and marvel at how we ever ate half of it let alone the whole thing and then some... but still i eat too much. when i'm doing my jay robb diet, a cup of boring cereal looks glorious. there is a point at which my physical fullness will not let my mental hunger surpass it, and it would sure help for that moment to arrive sooner than it does now. i totally understand what you all mean by calling this a "tool" and not a "cure all". while one can't lean on it to solve mental hunger problems forever, WLS sure seems to gives one an honest chance at developing some good stable habits. if you do something long enough, there is a better chance for it to become a habit. without the WLS, i just don't think some people are afforded the luxury of enough time. how exasperating is it to put in a few good months and watch the scale creep a few measly pounds. all the effort and investment for not much of a return. it's like standing there cranking out a casino slot machine at times. occasionally you break even... sometimes you're up a dollar or two... but in any case you eventually get tired, frustrated and bored enough to wonder why the hell you are bothering. i can see standing at that slot machine a lot longer if i had a tool that would help me pry a small jackpot out of it now and then. ... now pardon me while i go asses the fact that i've just likened my outlook on food to the wonderful world of gambling.

Karen, I too, get hungry more often. I have gained some of my weight back, But think that is because I have been having other medical problems. Think the doctor will be running some test to make sure that everything is ok. Hang in there you are doing great. Just remember that to get the protien in first and don't forget the water and exercise. Linda Dr. Paul Lin 8/16/02 278/170/130 my goal

Karen, I just wanted to say hi. I can't advise you on the hunger issue other than to say it could be head hunger catching up with you. At 2 months you know I don't know for sure but call or email Cathy if it's really getting to you. You are doing fantastic and will continue to do fantastic. Hopefully pool is going well, I miss seeing you at the meetings. Email me when you get a chance. Denise

Hi Karen. I go through this as well. I am 11 months out and some days I feel like all I do is eat and others I feel like it isn't enough. One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of times when you think you are hungry you are just thirsty so grab a water, drink that FIRST and then go from there. I am not sure how much you are able to consume - I know for me it isn't very much so Im thankful that even when I feel like I am eating all day it is still nothing like I use to do! And I just make sure that those days are filled withprotein or healthy snack! You are doing great, keep up the good work! Patty 279/157/150 (hope to be at goal)