How do I get that full feeling??

So I am over a year out in RNY.  I'm doing pretty good, staying around 200#.  Do most of you remember pre op when you had the desire for the full feeling in your stomach?  And when you didn't get that feeling you would eat until you got it.  It was sort of a comfort thing.  Well I have that feeling now.  I've had it for a few months now.  Again it is not hunger pains, but it is the lack of "full" feeling that I crave.  Do any of you post op get that feeling and how do you fill it?  I can tell I have stretched my pouch.  That is a given.  Will carrots and celery work like pre op or are there any tricks of the trade that work for you?  Maybe I just need to up my water intake.  Thoughts?  Brian

When you have an RNY, your pouch is Not going to stay the size of a walnut forever.  Eventually, it will grow to approximately the size of your fist.  That's a lot better than it's pre-op size.  For many of us, the pre-op sizes corresponded to larger sizes like the size of a softball, punchball, football, etc.   If it doesn't decrease your protein intake, I'd suggest having a salad for the first course of your dinner.  If you don't like salad, you may want to increase the amount of cooked vegetables or legumes with your meal. I have my own problems with eating, but I've never had the problem with the feeling of being full.  I just assume that I'm taking at least half of my dinner home with me for a future meal when I go out to eat.

Hey Brian Boy do I hear that! I struggle with the same thing. In my preop days it was that need to feel full that made me so fat. I'm coming up on my 1 year surgiversary and I've already had to break some bad habits I was starting. I think my biggest mistake was eating too much fruit and drinking too much fruit juice. I've started eating more often so I don't get myself so hungry and I try fill up on protien and vegtables. If I just need to "eat" something I will sometimes have a can or part of can of green beans. I'm not a big fan of green beans but with me its not about eating something that tastes good, its just about achieving that full feeling. I also drink quit a bit of decaf coffee with splenda and about 2 oz. of fat free chocolate milk in it. There seems to be something about the warm liquid that helps. Also my cravings for sweet and chocolate are held at bay as well. I also snack on nuts even though I know they have fat in them. But as I remind myself its the good fat and better than snaking on things that are mostly carbs. I'm pretty sure there are gasps going up now as other guys read this. I doubt that what I'm doing is correct but its the best I've been able to come up with so far. Hope this helps a little and maybe someone else has an idea.  Doug

Pre-op I was always chasing that full feeling and it seemed it always took more to get it. Now I try not to go there, plus with the slicing and dicing they did on me I don't get the same feeling any more. Full feels different now.  I honestly try to get satisfied. By that I mean I usually try to measure out my portions or I should say put what ever I am going to eat on my plate and only eat that. If I go to get more food I try to stop and ask my self if I am really hungery or just bored or pissed off or something like that.  If I don'****ch my self I will start to graze and I can eat a lot more than I realize, when I do it over a long period of time.  I also plan snacks through out the day. I cut up cheese in 1 oz. squares and keep in the fridge and put 1oz of almonds in snack size baggies.  pan head

I've been getting the same kind of cravings lately....last night I checked out something on the WLS Grads forum and found something that made so much sense! A lady did a website about a "five day pouch test" or 'reset" the idea is to tighten up the pouch and get you back to that stage early on when you felt full quickly...there was a lot of good info, but the thing that made the most sense was classifying some foods as "slider foods" We're talking about textures, things that slide right through the stoma and quickly absorb. Things that are creamy, or easily become "gooey" or "slimey"....So if you can eat heavier or more solid proteins, it will stay in your pouch longer and give you a chance to fill up....I tested this theory last night, I ate some stir fried but still relatively crisp vegetables and a chicken breast...guess what? I felt full after about a cup and half....just thought I would share, it seems like this could be a key for me in curbing that "not-satisfied" feeling....

Brian, My “Old Self” idea of what “Full” meant Was clearly out of touch with reality.   My “New Self” sense of “Fullness” Is far more sane. I find that if I eat stuff with a higher liquid content- “Steamed Veggies, Soup, Yogurt, chili, etc…” I can eat a lot more of it, And it doesn’t “stay with me” very long. BUT, if I eat dense solid proteins like Chicken breast Or Pork tenderloin, steak, etc… I fill up on less and stay full longer. “Pouch Stretching” is a topic where folks will say- “Impossible, Doesn’t Happen!” and just as many will say- “My Doc says it Does Happen! And I have the articles to prove it!!” And Both are right….. *see post above. I’d say go with the basics when you eat for a while. Protein first- Don’t drink with your meal, And after you’ve consumed all of the meat, then jump to the veggies, And if still “Hungry” (and Hungry is different than “could eat more,” Yes?) Then have some lower glycemic Carbs. See how that works for you for a while. It seems to work for me, yet “your mileage may vary….” Best Wishes- Dx

 

Thanks guys.  I posted the same question on the Main Board, here are some of their responses.  Up your water...Water, then dense protein.  No carbs...They make you hungry.  Go back to plain nonfat cottage cheese (boring but filling).  With those and your ideas, I think one or two can defeat the beast.  Brian 

hey brian,

i'm with panhead and dx on this one. i found protein is most filling. like panhead i cut up cheese slices and take them to work. i try not to do nuts to much because i'll go crazy. i know if i have protein shake i feel full and stay that way for hours. so like dx says, dense protein is probably good. i'm going to try the other suggestions i've just read though. sound pretty good to me! carbonblob