Real hunger has returned/please help!!!

I'm about 6 & 1/2 mo post-op, have been losing weight just fine, have lost over 100 lbs as a matter of fact and am very happy about that. However, "real hunger" has shown it's ugly face and it's so painful. Can someone please give me some details on how to fight this battle so that I'm not in so much pain all the time. How do I eat and drink right to keep from feeling this way and keep myself from falling back into old habits?

Oh Tanya bless your heart. I am still a preebie, but am currently in my 6-month supervised weight loss plan. If you'll write me, I'll try to send you a copy of the program that I'm on. It's very simple- three regular meals per day where you watch the fat, carbs, and portion sizes closely but don't have to really count anything except for measuring portion sizes. In other words, it says you can have 4z chicken - it's up to you to cook it without adding a lot of fat or carbs. Of the three meals, breakfast is where you choose a set menu. For lunch and dinner, you choose foods, one from each catagory list: protein, starch, and veggies. Again, it's up to you to choose how you prepare those foods so as to not add unnecessary calories. Then between meals I have three of their protein snacks a day. Think in terms of Atkins or Myoplex bars, or a protein shake. In addition, I can have three servings of milk/yogurt (same restrictions about adding more calories to the plain food) and 2 sm pcs of fruit. Then it gives you a list of 'extras' - 2T of FF cool whip, 1 T olive oil, etc...you can use these in the cooking process. When you figure in 64z of water with it, I'm actually allowed more food than I can eat. And I started losing even before I started exercising. Ultimately, it's nothing more or less than a VERY healthy eating plan that would be good for anybody. I realize that you already have portion issues and your portions would probably have to be restricted by your stomach volume. But the point is that this is enough food to eat, but few enough calories to still lose. I have scanned the page of instructions ( Yes, a diet plan with only one page of instructions!) and would be happy to send it to you if I can. The file came out pretty big and it's a little hard to send, but I'd be happy to try if you want it. You'd need to adapt it to the restrictions of your surgery, but it shouldn't be difficult to do that. Part of the advice my diet counselor has given me is to NOT be hungry, but plan the day's eating so as to stay satisfied even with a lower number of calories because it will slow the weight loss by slowing the metabolism if you spend too much time being hungry. And of course there's the issue you already brought up - if you're very hungry, it's too easy to chuck doing right in favor of being satisfied. The other thing you might consider is trying to exercise. I resisted exercising but, again, it's forced on my by the program. So I joined Curves and have been SO pleased. It doesn't take too long, 1/2 hour is doable for me although an hour of aerobics would finish off my poor already-nearly-crippled feet. Half of that time you aren't even on your feet, you're sitting on the machine. And it has made a TREMENDOUS difference. I don't believe in living a highly restricted diet - it's just not real life. So, even though it was holiday time and I wasn't sticking to the straight and narrow, once I started exercising I was still losing. The diet counselor wasn't a bit surprised. And guess what - I'm not a sedentary person to start with, so it's not even like I was going from nothing to something. It STILL made a difference. I can tend to overdo some of the exercise, feeling a need to show others in the room that I can work hard even though I'm MO. When I overdo, I'm famished - absolutely starved. But if I keep my workout at the 70% heartrate level that they recommend, it's become obvious that the opposite is true, and I don't get as hungry. So you might think about some way of adding *moderate* exercise 3x a week to your routine and see if that helps. I hope you get to feeling better soon. When I saw all of the stories of how many people were fighting to avoid regaining their weight and the kinds of measures they had to do, it scared me. What a pity it would be to go through the expense and risk of surgery, only to find yourself in the same miserable pit as you'd been in previously. There's nothing to offer by my hopes here, but I hope that you can find a way to satisfy your appetite and not be miserable, eat a very healthy diet, and stay the course with the newer, healthier you. Denise in Ark

Hi Tanya I am 1 yr out as of 12/27/05 and I have been battleing the same monster. I found that so far the only thing that really helps me it to stick with a routine of 3 meals that include a high quality protein like baked chicken or a weigh****cher truth about carbs meal because the meat will push against my pouch wall and i get full fast. I usually eat as much of the meat as I can then nibble on the vegetable then a couple bites of yogurt or a bite or two of a banana. I drink 4 protein drinks a day. My downfall is cheese and crackers late at night when watching tv I can sure put it away! I do stray from my plan a couple of times a week. Like yestereday I ate almost a whole double decker taco supreme from taco bell. I find if I do stick to my plan I don't feel hungry enough to graze or hit the chips ect. Everyone is different. You will find what works for you. The prev post is very good too. Hang in there Michelle R OKC 368/215/?

Before the holiday feeding frenzy, I did well by eating 6 times a day & planning those times out..Gave me the realization that I only had to wait a little bit to eat & never felt deprived.

Hi Tanya! I understand how you feel, I go thru this one sometimes too! When are you most hungry? I'm fine until mid afternoon, and then the munchie fever hits. I really need to lose about 50 more lbs, and I'm finding it difficult (I'm 7 mos out). I have found nibbling on beef jerkey helps, it takes awhile to chew, so it keeps me busy. Sunflower seeds are good too, it takes time to shell those babies, so I never really fill up, but I'm not starving either. Hope that helps, I feel your pain!!