No hunger or full feelings?

Hey all,  Continous lurker here. Not by choice,mostly cuz you guys are clarivoyants. Every time I have a question or problem and log on to ask someone has asked already. And as most of us newbies have discovered you guys are truly a fountain (Hell, a deep wide reservoir as far as I'm concerned) of information.     I'm about 5 1/2 weeks out from lap RNY,following the Dr's rules(mostly) and everything is going smooth for the most part. Lost 45 lbs before the surgery and I'm down about another 30 since. Now heres where I run into a problem. When I sit down to "eat" I always make sure I have not taken a drink of anything for at least 30 minutes and wait 2 minutes or so between bites but no matter what I try I'm not getting my "full" feeling UNTIL I stand up. This is frustrating me to no end because when I stand up to check my levels I've usually gone a bite or 2 too far and know I'm going to feel like crap in a few minutes.   Anyone else ever have or hear of this issue? Obviuosly it would be smarter to stand up sooner but if I get to talking with the kids or the wife during the meal I lose track of things and before I realise it its too late.  Thanks again for all the help and inspiration you guys have given me ever the last few months. Bill  

Hi Bill,  I thought the same thing. I had most of my questions answered without even asking. I think it is important for guys at every point of WLS to be active. That is why I started to jump in every now and then. Plus I have gotten so much from here I felt the need to try to give back.  I have not had your problem, I don't really get a full feeling like before surgery. I am almost 7 months out and I pretty well know how much I can eat. It takes a little trial and error but you will get the hang of it.  Sounds like you are doing good. Keep up the good work. pan head

Yeh, it is trial and error.  But that is part of the process of retraining your system.  If you are normal, in a few weeks your pouch will expand a little.  Then those last two bites will fit in the pouch.  But I remember the crummy feeling of taking one too many bites.  No fun until the pouch empties.  Cheat and your body catches you.  Brian

Mr. Baron sir, You are in the middle of a new revelation.  I had a similar experience only to realize I was looking for the wrong thing.  The full feeling isn't the full feeling we use to have.  If you are cautious and alert, your system is sending you signal but you are not identifying them as such.  Mine was a bit of a painful air bubble or difficulty/bit of extra effort to swallow.  I would get it and still try to finish my portion.  You know,...clean your plate? Can't keep doing that.  Gotta stop when you get that signal or visit the sink/trash can/toilet for 30-60 mintues after the meal, reverse swallowing what just took 15-30 minutes to eat.   What is yours to discover is waht is that signal you are getting and not paying correct attention to,..just yet.  It is sutle but its there.   It may even be frustrating early on or " I haven't eaten enogh to be full" but that will vary depending on what you are eating (density, moistness/dryness, fat/carb/sweet content, etc. etc.). Welcome to your new life.  It will also get better as you progress out.  At 10 months for me I can eat a satisfying amount of (less) food and the same food a few days later will fill me up after two or three bites.  I just have to wait 15-20 minutes if I want more or its only coming back up which isn't pleasant, convienent, desired, samrt or attractive to others.  So learn not to do it or we just work ourselves back into the same old situation we had surgery to reverse.  Its the new you, the new choices, the new quality of life,...and its all worth it. May the FARTS be with you.  Sounds like you are progressing very nicely and the learning curve has started kicking in.  Listen to and realearn how to be friends with your body and your new digestive tract.  It can be fickle but if you don't torture it too much, it will progress and there can be peace.   Joe

As has been said, it is a learning curve. Take your time and you will figure it out. 2 minutes is a rather short time between bites according to my doctor. He has us wait 10 minutes between bites and it is a habit I have gotten used to. It takes over an hour to eat a half sandwitch or nearly 2 hours to eat an apple. I cut it into quarters and eat one third of a quarter as a bite. that is 12 bites or 120 minutes! Breakfast takes about 2 hours at work. I eat 1/2 cup of oatmeal and about 2 oz of meat mixed into it. Take a bite, do some work, take a bite, do some wor****il it is done. Lunch is the same way. The hardest time I have is at home when I watch TV. I used to eat nonstop watching TV before surgery and that is a hard habit to break. I now eat SF popcicles and drink Chrystal light when watching the tube.