Always feeling hungry.. :( HELP

So I'm 4 weeks out from having the sleeve and I'm eating pretty well! But I feel like I'm ALWAYS hungry.. I'll be hungry like two hours after a meal. Doesn't anyone else experience this? It's hard not to snack since I feel hungry, but I know I just ate... Help..

What you are perceiving as hunger may be something else.  Not that you can't get hungry but early out you are healing and the nerves have been cut and the signals you are getting may be a bit messed, like people who say that don't feel full early out.

Also, it could be head hunger, which is basically a way of grieving your loss of food as entertainment, a coping mechanism, social outlet or just having the freedom to eat whatever you want, when you want, in the amounts you want.

Are you measuring out your food?  How many calories are you consuming a day?  You may be eating too little.  Are you working with a nutritionist?  It may be time to make an appointment and discuss things.

Are you getting in your protein first?  Usually, even to this day, when I start out with a dense protein like meat I am satisfied much sooner and much longer then when I eat other things.

Another way you may be able to tell if you are experiencing head hunger is if you are hungry for a certain item.  That is head hunger.  Real, physical hunger can be satisfied with most anything.  Head hunger is very specific.  

Also remember the goal isn't to be stuffed.  The goal is to be satisfied.  You may  have days where you forget to eat and other days when you feel like you are a bottomless pit.  Those are common, too.

And finally, are you eating refined carbs like bread or things with sugar?  Those things are less satisfying and can cause cravings.  I could sit down and eat a box of crackers even with my limited capacity because it chews down to nothing and it never seems to fill me up.  If I am having something like (gluten free for me) crackers, I save them for after the protein or I use it to load up on the protein.  

Good luck and hang in there.  It does get better.

Hi I'm havin gastric bi pass nxt week, I'm afraid of feeling hungry after surgery or having cravings, it's such a big decision I've made and really want this to work, all my life I've wanted to loose my weight. What u hav said has really helped me in understanding why I want to eat, thank you I will re read this many times after my surgery. 

What LadyTazz said!  For the first few weeks post-op, I felt like the surgery failed, but made sure I weighed and measured my food .  Now I feel stuffed. if I try to eat a small chicken thigh.  I'm so happy with my surgery!  Be patient and follow your plan - things will fall into place¡

Thank you SO much for posting this question.  I am having the same issue.  I'm four weeks out today and since the surgery I have lost 13 lbs; 40 since June.  I also feel hunger and have found myself eating more than I should at this point.  Dr's orders say 1/4 c, working up to 1/2 cup for the next three weeks.  No meat, only eggs, flaky fish, tuna fish, soft cooked veggies, soft fruit, soft cooked beans, hummus, tofu, oatmeal.  I feel it's important to get my fruit/veggies in but that would mean only 1/4 c. protein and this seems like too little.

If you are taking your required multi-vitamin daily, you don't really have to worry about getting your fruits and veggies at 4 weeks out.  You can't get protein from a vitamin. Protein and at least 64 ounces of fluids should be the most important part of your diet right now.  Protein is what will keep you feeling satisfied and it is essential to helping you heal after surgery. You may have to take a fiber supplement for constipation until you can eat more veggies and fruit.

At this point, you need to focus on protein. You don't need veggies, fruits, or oatmeal. Until you can eat at least 60 grams of protein EVERY DAY, you don't need to be eating anything but protein.

Right now, your stomach is still healing from having nerves severed in surgery.  You can't trust anything it tells you.  So even if it tells you it's hungry, it's lying.  Work on ignoring it - once you're fully healed, it'll be more trustworthy.  

Acid can also mimic hunger - are you taking a PPI such as nexium or prilosec?  If you're not, this might be something worth talking to your surgeon about.  

If you are feeling hungry 2 hrs after eating it is most likely acid not real hunger. It also doesn't always feel acidy because like others have said you won't feel correctly at this stage. So try some different PPIs and if one doesn't work try a different one, not everyone is the same.

I am 5 weeks out and find this new tummy a fickle thing. Sometimes I have hungrier days (although never the old-famished-or-starving) other days I take 3 or 4 bites and I am good. 2 hours isn't "just" ate either. Food doesn't stay in the stomach that long. Keep drinking your water until it's time to eat again. Good Luck!