What does full feel like?

I'm 3 years post op and have gained all my weight back.  My bad habits and additional surgeries didn't help but they are no excuse.  I'm trying to follow the fules but I don't think I remember what feeling full feels like.  I eat until it hurts enough to know that it hurts.  My upper GI about 2 years ago showed my pouch was still small.  Can anyone share with me how full feels?

Hi Marcella,

Glad your on this website.  It's awesome for support and encouragement.  I'm 8 months post op and fullness to me rears its head in a few different ways:

-I just don't feel like eating anymore, I'm satisfied with what      I've eaten, the food just doesn't look as good as it initially did.

-Pouch feels like it's full, kind of like having a little bit of gas.

Have you seen a counselor to figure out how/why you gained your weight back and how to get back on track?  How much did you lose?

Take Care,

Tammy

 

 

I haven't seen the counselor in a long time.  They have a fairly significant charge and it isn't covered by insurance, at least not yet.  I lost 45 before surgery and 75 after.  I never got below 220.  I'm 295 now.  I have never clued into the "full" feeling.  Nothing has ever hurt me or made me dump.  I'm beginning to think I have to be on these strict, measured plan and know that is enough.  Maybe I will get to know "full". 

Sorry to hear that.  It's interesting that nothing has made you hurt or dump.  Medically, it makes me wonder why you don't feel "full".  But, you did lose a lot of weight...have you tried going back to eating the way you did to lose the weight?  The strict, measured plan may just be the way for you to go.

 

I think you are right.  It is just hard to get on the wagon. I get so nervous when I try not to eat.

Yeah.  I don't know what full feels like either.  I know if I eat too much I get the hiccups.  I just rely on measuring to know that I have eaten enough but not too much.  I eat 4-6 ounces at a time.  I weigh our 2-3 ounces of protein and then add a splash of veggies and fruit.  I also do this crazy schedule that my pre surgery weightloss program gave us to do after surgery.  It is really helpful.  It seems like a lot but it's really not and if you follow it there really isn't much room for snacking cuz you are so full of liquids.
7        water
7:30   breakfast
8:30   water
9:30   protein shake
10:30 water
11:30 water
12:30 lunch
1:30   milk
2:30   water
3:30   protein shake
4:30   water
5:00   snack
6:00   water
7:30   dinner
8:30   water

At work I have my outlooked programmed to pop up and remind me for each item.  So it's really easy.  On the weekends I don't keep the schedule bc I am not that aware of the time but I do keep count of my water bottles and try to get them all in.  The milk after lunch is a must for me.  I get a real bad sugar craving after lunch and that seems to do the trick.  Also knowing exactly when I am going to eat again helps me to hold out when boredom or cravings strike.  I just look at my schedule and realize I will be eating again soon. 

I did Weigh****chers prior to surgery and realized after surgery I needed some structure that I missed with WWs.  This schedule helps.  I also go to the gym everyday (except fridays usually).  I tell myself it's ok, I know you hate it but we are going anyway.  I treat it like it's a regular part of my day.  I still hate it after 9 months post op but I am glad I did it every time I am done.  Stay strong and keep pluggin along!!

Oh, I do know when I am hungry bc my pouch "hurts".  I get this feeling like someone has there finger poked into my pouch.  Not a bad pain more like a cramp feeling.

Thanks so much for the support.  I like your scheduling idea.  I think that is going to have to be the way I go too.  Marcy

On June 22, 2009 at 7:41 AM Pacific Time, rainbowconnection wrote: Yeah.  I don't know what full feels like either.  I know if I eat too much I get the hiccups.  I just rely on measuring to know that I have eaten enough but not too much.  I eat 4-6 ounces at a time.  I weigh our 2-3 ounces of protein and then add a splash of veggies and fruit.  I also do this crazy schedule that my pre surgery weightloss program gave us to do after surgery.  It is really helpful.  It seems like a lot but it's really not and if you follow it there really isn't much room for snacking cuz you are so full of liquids.
7        water
7:30   breakfast
8:30   water
9:30   protein shake
10:30 water
11:30 water
12:30 lunch
1:30   milk
2:30   water
3:30   protein shake
4:30   water
5:00   snack
6:00   water
7:30   dinner
8:30   water

At work I have my outlooked programmed to pop up and remind me for each item.  So it's really easy.  On the weekends I don't keep the schedule bc I am not that aware of the time but I do keep count of my water bottles and try to get them all in.  The milk after lunch is a must for me.  I get a real bad sugar craving after lunch and that seems to do the trick.  Also knowing exactly when I am going to eat again helps me to hold out when boredom or cravings strike.  I just look at my schedule and realize I will be eating again soon. 

I did Weigh****chers prior to surgery and realized after surgery I needed some structure that I missed with WWs.  This schedule helps.  I also go to the gym everyday (except fridays usually).  I tell myself it's ok, I know you hate it but we are going anyway.  I treat it like it's a regular part of my day.  I still hate it after 9 months post op but I am glad I did it every time I am done.  Stay strong and keep pluggin along!!

Oh, I do know when I am hungry bc my pouch "hurts".  I get this feeling like someone has there finger poked into my pouch.  Not a bad pain more like a cramp feeling. Im going to print this out and set it up on my iphone to remind me to drink water, i think thats my problem too, not enough water... my head doesnt know when to tell me that i need water so it thinks i need food... so what do i do.. i eat instead of drink!

and yeah i know that poking feeling, i felt it this morning driving to work.. it was this weird annoying feeling, it hurt alittle, but i guess that was a hunger pain..
i got a stick of gum to hold me down until i got to work and it went away...

Thanks for your help!

Yeah.  I don't know what full feels like either.  I know if I eat too much I get the hiccups.  I just rely on measuring to know that I have eaten enough but not too much.  I eat 4-6 ounces at a time.  I weigh our 2-3 ounces of protein and then add a splash of veggies and fruit.  I also do this crazy schedule that my pre surgery weightloss program gave us to do after surgery.  It is really helpful.  It seems like a lot but it's really not and if you follow it there really isn't much room for snacking cuz you are so full of liquids.

This sounds like something that might work for me. When you're doing your intake of protein shakes and water, how much are you doing for each (how many ounces)? I like this idea of having something continuously going on how you're doing the actual meals (oz of meat and vegs). Also, what do you tend to have for snacks, and if you don't mind me asking, what's your average calorie intake?

Thanks for putting up with the questions -- I'm 2.5 years out and have re-gained weight so I'm trying to get back on track.

~ Cali

I like the Atkins Advantage shakes.  They come in 4 flavors, are ready to drink and I can pick one up at most Walgreen's/CVS.  I have tried other shakes but found that I come back to this one bc it tastes good, is low in sugar, easy to buy and ready to drink.  For me success also comes with ease of use.  I hit the farmers market on Saturday and then the store.  I preplan what I am going to eat for the week based on what I found at the farmers market.  I eat really simple but good.  Meat seasoned with XX(change it up make it Mexican, Italian, Greek style)  then topped with vegetables (squash, spinach, peppers, etc) and a splash of creamy cheese and then a side of fresh fruit.  I am amazed at what I eat compared to what I used to eat.  I had a chicken breast marinated in Italian dressing then stuffed with spinach and goat cheese and baked or I could have had McDonald's, lol.  I usually get my food all prepped the night before and throw it in the oven when I get home.  By the time I do chores or walk the dogs my food is done.  I cook alot of tin foil fish (fish with vegetables in tin foil pouch backed in oven).  I hear people complain about the prep and not having enough time but the reality is before I spent alot of time eating out, cooking, thinking about food, snacking, etc.  If you add up the time there is not much difference.  I also hear people complain about cost of healthy food.  Before surgery I would eat what ever I wanted whenever I wanted at whatever cost, cost did not factor into my decision with food choice.  So now that I am eating healthy I don't let cost factor into my food choice.   Stay strong!!  And I also recommend the Beck's Diet book for mental motivation.

Sorry that was more than your post requested, lol.  I just wanted to followup with what protein shake I like, lol.