BEFORE you freak about hunger/ability to eat more...

I was talking to a post-op friend about something I’d like to share with you. Some of you probably already know this, but I figured it might help someone.

 

Even if you aren’t an avid meal planner, you have a sense of your eating schedule. Much of it is dictated by what we have going on in our lives: when we work, volunteer commitments, church and our home life are a few considerations. As such, many of us become creatures of habit, eating at the times when we can eat and at the frequency we can eat, which is part a function of schedule and part a function of eating capacity.

 

But we also know that eating capacity changes. I’ve seen a lot of freak outs, in my time here at OH, about being able to eat more. This is a natural part of the healing process. By the time you are two years out you can eat significantly more than when you were a newbie. That still might not be much but in your heads it probably is. But I digress.

 

BEFORE freaking out about hunger/your ability to eat more/your desire to eat more, you might consider reviewing your eating schedule every now and again. It might need to change. Many of us have idiots…er, surgical staff that tell us three meals, no snacks. Whatever. To me a healthy snack that keeps you from diving head first into a bag of Doritos is a GOOD investment. Nobody ever got fat from a carrot stick! (I digress again!)

 

Over the course of my post-op life (3.5 years now), I’ve changed my eating schedule at least a dozen times. They aren’t dramatic changes. If I find I get hungry between breakfast and lunch, I either eat breakfast later or add a small snack in between. If I find later I take too long to want lunch, I eliminate the morning snack or push breakfast up. There have been periods of time when I ate 5-6 small meals a day, times when I at 3 meals and two very small snacks, times when I didn’t eat much before bedtime and times when I had a snack before bedtime.

It’s important to note all this has been done within pretty much the same calorie range throughout the years. I just change how they are broken out. This helps me not go bonkers. It could also help you.

So if you feel hunger (or some reasonable facsimile) take notice and be proactive. Think of what you CAN do about your hunger instead of what you think you CAN’T do (which is eat).

 

That is all.

I think everyone should be an avid meal planner and if you have a handy dandy StickToIt! Magnetic Menu planner you can change your eating patterns as much as you care to with ease. LOL! Told you I was the comedian.

Seriously, I think another thing to consider is the big pouch/small pouch dichotomy. Keeping in mind that not every day is going to bring a voracious appetite WITH the pouch capacity to match helps me not want to go postal when I'm having a big pouch day. Your point is valid. There are no hard and fast rules about how, when, where, what, etc., that we need to eat.

Denise
www.sticktoitplanner.com

I think that is good advice thanks.  I will have to make sure I think about this post op. 

Love you and your wisdom Nik!!!

Yeah, Nik, I think you were writing that partly for me.  I really can't imagine what post-op will be like.  It seems so complicated...this much water, that much protein, these many vitamins, but this vitamin can't touch that vitamin, etc.  I read and take all kinds of notes on what people say and sometimes I feel even more confused.  I got fat partly because I didn't listen to my body, didn't trust my body--I got so out of touch with my body I didn't recognize hunger or fullness.  I just ate.   I know I need to change everything about eating in my life, but one of the things I need to change is to pay attention to my body and how I feel and try to work that in with all the schedules and rules.  So thanks.

 Thank Nik. I can eat so much more than I used to be able to and I have to remember that it is totally normal and I am putting really healthy things in my body so there is nothing to feel guilty about.

 Very good post, thanks for getting our heads on straight!!

GREAT post! I've actually found that if I ignore the "staff" and eat a carrot stick or low fat low sugar cereal bar if I feel hungry I do LOTS better.  I still have to eat every 2-3 hours or I get on the virge of passing out. Sorry staff - but if I'm hungry I'm gonna eat - however my choices are better now ...not as many opportunities so i take em when I get em...and make better choices!