so hungry...so frustrated.....so miserable!

I'm four weeks out and I find myself constantly hungry. i know it has a lot to do with the commercials and watching my husband eat, but i still can't even figure out when I'm really hungry or not. Plus when i try to eat,  i find that I get nauseated almost immediately. Should I not be trying to eat yet? I have a list from my dietitian on what to eat, and I've followed it, but nothing really tastes that great after chewing the heck out of it, and I feel like I'm not getting enough to make it worth my while. I've asked my Dr. about protein shakes and bars and she says they have too much calories, but I',m worried, I mean I think I should be getting more protein, I don't want to lose my hair. I don't even know what shakes or bars to eat....or if I shouldn't because i don't want to ruin my weight loss. I'm so lost right now. I'm hungry, and hating myself for doing this to me, all I want to eat is a grilled chicken salad, when will I be able to eat again? what should i do? I'm so miserable.

Oh dear...I'm sorry you are miserable.  I go between being euphoric to being terribly depressed.  I had to have a revision from an old VBG to RNY and I'm 6 weeks out.  I'm not hungry at all and I get most of my protein in.  When I had my first surgery I got lots of protein and still lost my hair.  I have already started losing my hair and I'm getting all my protein most days.  So it may happen whether you get enough protein or not. 

Are you sure you are hungry or are you "head hungry"?  I know the commercial do me in sometimes.  I'm not hungry at all, but I'm head hungry. 

Have you tried fat free refried beans?  Cottage cheese?  These are the 2 things I can eat without getting nauseous.  Keep trying.  That nauseated feeling is the worst.  I know.  Hang in there!!

Rebecca

At one month out your protein should be 60-80g per day. To drink shakes or not seems to be a matter of opinion with drs around the country. Mine was fine with shakes and bars but wanted us to get most protein from food. Its still early for you but in another week or two you'll be able to eat regular food and it might not be such a problem. When I was on soft foods I ate chicken salad, hormel, it gave me something to chew. I also put it on wasa crackers, they have protein and fiber and melt in your mouth. Have you tried greek yogurt? You can mix that into lots of different things, I've had it as dip, and mixed with sugar free syrups and peanut butter. It has 15 g of protein and is easy to tolerate. I am 6 mo post op and can eat anything. Soon you'll be able to start trying more things. Take a deep breath, in no time you'll forget this first month!

I am 4 years out and have an idea for you. When you are hungry, eat 3 small bites of whatever you are allowed to have, chewing until you think you are being rediculous. Stop there, wait 5 minutes and evaluate. For me, even now, the nausea that follows eating means I have put too much in my pouch. Learning what full feels like with your new stomach is one of the hardest parts, but it's possible you are going past full and straight into miserable.

 

I'm sorry your feeling horrible! Don't give up.  After I had my lap-band I was so hungry a few days later.  I get very hungry around my period time too.  I often feel like a bottom less pit.  I was upset because all the research said that I wouldn't feel hunger and so I thought for sure something was wrong with my lap  because I felt so hungry all the time.  I drank a lot of Slim Fast and Atkins protein shakes.  I snacked on Atkins protein bars as well, but only one a day as I would only nibble on the snack bar every so often.

Six weeks after my lap-band I went for my first fill and I had only lost 6lbs.  I was so disappointed because the group I had lap band with, had all lost 20+ pounds.  For sure I thought something was wrong with my band.  I brought this to the attention of my doctor who told me that I was a lot smaller (under 200lbs) than most of his patients.  The doctor explained that I have to have more food in order to lose weight.  Here's the beauty about my lap band, when I gave up the liquids I began to lose a lot more weight.  I started Weigh****chers and have lost most of my weight.  I have about 14.5lbs to go to get to my goal weight of 130.  Now I'm just dealing with the excess sagging blubber on my upper arms and midsection.

I ate more (sometimes healthy sometimes not) and I still lost weight.  I see that I lose the weight faster with exercise as well.  My friends say that I am only losing the weight because of Weigh****chers, but I disagree.  I was a Weigh****chers drop out 6-7 times. Only reason I can do it now is because of my tool...the band which does help me eat less and stay more satisfied longer. 

Its really what you do with the tool was what the doctor told me.  Another piece of advice he gave me was to be patient and not to give up and not to compare myself with  other patients.

Hope this helps...P.S. yesterday I had Burger King, a Jr. Whopper and large fries, I ate half the whopper for lunch, half for dinner and a few fries with both.  Before I could have the double Whopper and larger fries for one of my meals.  Even on Weigh****chers its okay to eat junk once in a while. 

that sounds like my problem, what you explained, i feel hungry all the time, i eat more than i thought id be able to....what do you think might be my problem?  im losing weight, but im just hungry all the time and i tend to "overeat"...i get my fill soon, how much of a difference do you think i will notice?

Remiztical:

I think having a fill will help with you losing the weight as far as feeling hungry, I think that will also slow down.  After I had my first fill I would not feel hungry at all and somewhat a little nauses.  I would drink coffee in the morning and would forget to eat lunch (wouldn't feel the need too) and then around 6 or 7 pm I would have the most intense hunger pains.  It went from 0-10 in seconds.  It wasn't normal I only felt the hunger when I had to bend over in pain. 

My experience was that I had to consume more and more proteins.  The hunger subsides with protein and it will help you lose the weight.  Good luck with your fill!

Much success!