starving ALL THE TIME!!

I expected to feel everything in the world from this surgery EXCEPT hunger!  What the F!@#* is going on?  I have horrible hunger pains all day and evening.  I'm losing and I feel great BUT on the other side, I'm so depressed because I didnt expect to feel THIS way.  I'm 3 months out and follow the rules for the most part.    My stomache is so little then why does it feel empty constantly?  Please someone help me!  I'm soooo sad.  :(

That is a hard one honey. I have only felt hungry a couple times and I'll be 4 month out on the 1st. I notice the hunger feeling when I'm bored. It reminds me of before surgery when I was always hungry. I'm not sure what to tell you or what you can do. For me when I feel this way, I make myself something hot to drink like hot protein chai tea...It smells so good and it relaxes me. And before I know it...I don't feel hungry anymore! I'm starting to think it's just in my head.....

I wish you the best sweetie...I know this has to be frustrating for you!

I'd like to second what Lisa said.  We've all struggled with emotional eating otherwise we wouldn't have gotten to the place where we required such drastic measures such as surgery to control our eating/weight issues etc. When you feel those hunger pangs calling,  do what I do.  I call it my STR (Stop - Think - Respond)  I delay eating for a bit to think about why I'm feeling hungry.  I ask myself if I'm tired, bored, angry, hurt, lonely or something else?  Is there anything other than true hunger that's triggering my need for food?  When did I have my last meal and should I be hungry now or not?  Use the process of elimination to work through all those other possibilities first and decide if you are really hungering for food or is there something else going on inside that's triggering emotional hunger.    If you determine you are truly hungry, then eat a little something and don't feel guilty for doing so.  Feeling guilty will only trigger more emotional hunger and make you feel worse inside.....  Providing you are eating enough throughout the day, more often than not, I think you'll find there's something else that's perpetuating that need for food.  

Remember - STR!  It works for me everytime.  Wishing you all the best!

Hugs,
:) L

Hey Jill. I'm sorry you are so hungry. I know this has been going on for a while and it must be so disappointing. I wondered if you talked to your surgeon about it and if they have any ideas about what/why it is happening and what to do? Have you tried the lap band trick of solid proteins before you eat anything else? Maybe it can fill your pouch up and move through m ore slowly to take care of your hunger longer?

Hang in there buddy. You have been really brave. 

 My hunger varies widely during the month.  Pre-period, it is horrible!  And, the cravings come back too.  I am just now recognizing my lack of skills for "I can control my eating".   . . . I'll taste one Christmas cookie turns into eating multiples.  I'll have some Reese's Pieces at the movie, turns into a whole theater box, 600 calories later.  Did you know that a Quesadilla Explosion salad at Chili's has 1260 calories.  I am still in the "grace" period but I don't want bad habits to restart.  Slow, chewing and portions!  So, I don't think we get no hunger forever!  It comes back.

Hey Jill,

I'm sorry you're feeling so hungry and the depression over it is completely understandable.  The levels of hunger are different for each type of WLS.  RNY has the least amount of hunger and Lapband and VGS have higher levels of hunger just based on the "new" digestive system.  What I do know is that if you drink more water that will help you with a feeling of being full.  You can also plan ahead with healthy protein snacks.  You can get those small snack size ziplock bags and fill them with healthy protein snacks for yourself.  Always keep one with you just in case you start to feel hunger.  Keep some snacks in your desk at work, in your car, and some in the kitchen as well.  Then when you feel the hunger you can reach for a guilt-free snack that you know will serve you.  Also, make sure you always have a full bottle of water with you.

I would also suggest going onto the VGS forum here and post there as well about this.  Talk to other  VGS folks for their experience.  You'll get through this.  Oh and about the depression, I totally get it!  I too have fallen into a depression over the past couple of months for a few reasons and no longer have the old crutch of emotional eating to comfort myself.  So my dr put me on anti-depressants for a few months.  It's really helping.  You might want to talk to your doctor about that as well.  It's very common for WLS folks to experience depression.  Don't try to go it alone - get help.

~Maryn

 Almost 5 year out, and i have learned that 
IF:
you are NOT taking your protein and LOW LOW carb in the morning you willhave hunger pangs
drink all your water every day,
avoid SF stuff and Sugary stuff too, Aspertame,made me very hungry...

Thank you for your reply.  You don't know how desperate I am.  I actually feel the hunger burn as Im eating as well.  That just doesnt seem right.  I feel like the food is bypassing everything.  BUT, the aspertame thing really rang a bell because I have been using it soooo much to make up for taste!  So,m I'm going to watch out for that for sure ;)  What do you suggest I eat in the morning?  I eat a bowl of cream of wheat with 3 packets of sweet n low and 1 tablespoon of grounded flaxseed plus skim milk.  I wish I could find a web site that tells me simply day by day what to eat.  Like layed out for me like a 5 year old, lol.  Anyway, thank you so much for helping.  I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, all of you!!!  MUAH!!  Jill

 YIKESSS NOOOOOOOOOOOO no cream of wheat EVER in the AM..

Bariatric Docs have researched this,,, and those people that eat carb iin the AM are more likely to overeat in the day.. try to eat protein, and low carb, make it a protein that is thick to get down, like chunks of turkey... or so... and try to stay away from the HIGH GLYCEMIC INDEX foods,, easy to burn foods like oatmeal, bread,...etc etc THE STUFF WE LIKE A LOT... try 
to do this for a few days,,
NO SUGAR FREE PRODUCTS
NO CARB IN THE AM>>> just protein, egg, meat, tuna...etc etc..

DO this for 3 days,, and see....get checked for Diabetes... you may be HYPO or HYPER glycemic...

DUDE OMG I loveeee my cream of wheat, but, ok I got it.  I dont like eggs so, what do you suggest I eat in the morning?  Is turkey bacon ok?  Or just regular bacon?  This is so difficult and I know Im being a pain in the ass :(  Do you suggest a book I can reference to for meals?  I'm a mess.  Thanks a lot for your help.  Jill