I am not doing to well and concerned for myself....

I am not eating like I should.  What I mean by that, I barley eat.  There are a couple things I like, but I get tired of it quickly and don't want to eat it anymore.  I don't find much food attractive anymore.  This has been going on for a couple of weeks now.  I usually have my Acheive One/Soy Milk in the morning then soy protien chips around lunch and I may not eat again until I get home.  Then I look in my fridge and my pantry and I don't want anything from there.  I don't know what to do, and I know this can't be healthy for me. I am getting all my protien in and my vits, but I know my body needs more.

Glad you are recognizing this as a potential problem.  A lot of people end up having to force themselves to eat.  The desire for food tends to vanish.  If you are getting your protein, vits. & fluids in you are doing better with the struggle than you think.  You are right though, you may end up in a starvation mode, stall out, etc.  Perhaps by doing more protein drinks, focusing on finding more foods you really like, or doing other protein rich foods, you could help your body get what you need.  Talk to your nutritionist.

Melissa,

As Courtney stated...glad you are seeing the problem at the beginning.

Most of us go thru this.  I personally had to force myself to eat for over a year.

My suggesstion is to talk to your nutritionest to get their advice.  I had four or five protein drinks a day back in those days and was drinking a minimum of 120 ouncesof fluids.  I would also chew some meat and not swallow it just to get the nutrients out of it. 

No, it is not healthy but most of us RNY folks go thru it.  It is more normal than not normal. 
Don't buy too much of any one thing and try and intorduce something "new" or long ago loved back into your diet two to three times a week.  Hummus is great for me because it has a lot of flavors and tofu is nice, too because it takes on the flavor of what it is mixed with.  I will mix this in with protein shakes at times.  It has great nutritional value and the taste is pretty good to me!

Hey Melissa,

You are NOT alone doll! I too went through this and am right now! NOTHING seems desirable but I KNOW I have to eat in order to get weight off and keep it off. That is why I posted asking what others eat, how they eat it and I'm sincerely hoping to change my eating patterns. I drink 2 protein drinks per day, am back to taking my vitamins daily and I just need to get the rest of my mindset on board. I am truly NOT hungry even 6+ years out. I HAVE to eat so I try to plan ahead. Things might not "look" good but my body needs energy/fuel and I know what it'll get me to forgo eating.

Do consult with your nutritionist and/or surgeon. I fully intend on doing so at my appointment later this week. I know what a couple issues are for me and I'll get definitive proof from the blood work results as well. Chin up! We're here for you!

Hi Melissa -

I have to force myself to eat too - sometimes it just seems like too much bother to me, or I get busy and forget - Not being hungry all the time does have some drawbacks, apparently!

I agree with everyone else, if you have a nut, utilize them - maybe they can give you some ideas!

Rho

Hey, Melissa: 

I have found myself in the same position many times.  In thinking through it, for me, it seems to happen most when I am either stressed or have so much going on, that all I want to do is collapse...eating seems to take too much time.  That said, what I found that works for me is coming up with "easy" things to eat...things that meet our nutritional requirements, but don't require a lot of preparation.  I will snack on nuts, eat a protein bar, make a protein shake, eat yogurt, get a snack size "stick" of cheese...you get the idea. 

I hope that helps some.  You might want to call Brittany for some other ideas...she is always so good helping out.

Good luck!  :)

I do understand what you're going through.  In the beginning for me, eating was more of a necessity.  Now, more so it's a fuel thing for me.  If I don't eat at my regular times I don't feel so well and poop out.  Maybe you could set an alarm on your watch or set up a outlook reminder for yourself to put aside a couple extra snack times.  I set an outlook task to alert me at work so I don't forget my vitamins.  I know that only solves the remembering to eat, not the wanting to eat, but if you are reminded you an then grab a couple oz's of turkey, cheese or glass of milk to add to your daily intake.  Good luck!

I'm gonna shift gears a little here. 

I found myself in front of the fridge or on the way home thinking where to go get something to eat only to realize I was eating because I thought I was suppose to, or I wanted to unwind and was use to (old habits) needing food to do that.  We don't.  

If you are not hungry, and are getting your protein, water and vitamins, and feel ok, you maybe don't need to eat, that one way we lose so much at teh bginning.  If you feel drained or fatigued, then you do need to eat something.

It is amazing to me how little food we really need to sustain life and lifestyles compared to my mindset before WLS, but that is why I was morbidly obese and why I am not now. 

I still find myself drifting bac****assionally, especially lately with,...hmmm, I'm bored or tired, or overwhelmed,... what can I eat.  And I should be thinking, what can I be doing to not be bore, tired, or overwhelmed?  Whats on my to-do list?  Watch a little tube or read, or go for a walk or a drive. Go spend time visiting with a friend or relative.  I maybe snuggle-up with a bottle water and a protein or granola bar to keep from being tempted to munch out when I'm really not hungry but want food.
 
I quit smoking in 1976, and the urge for a cigarette still occassionaly strikes me but I am able to pass it off because I don't entertain it as an option.  That is part of the reprogramming our brains from mental hunger, that if we don't train ourselves early on, it is harder to maintain our weightloss farther out when we can tolerate a broader range of wrong thngs and in greater quantities.  So consider your options and real feelings and needs before getting too concerned about the amount of food you are or are not eating.  You don't want to starve yourself (and if you are getting your protein and vitamins, you are not) but you don't want to be eating out of habit or head hunger either.

A crossroads and milestone in the post-op journey.
Are we having fun yet or what???

 Good question and real decision issue.

Joe

Hey Melissa!

As others have said, you are not alone. I have been going through this almost since I was put on solid foods. While it gets better at times, there are times that I have to physically force myself to eat. My problem is 2 things. One, I don't have that hungry feeling, so I have to make myself eat as often as I'm supposed to. But because there is no hunger pains, I never really ever get the desire to have anything particular. I do like others have mentioned, stand in front of the fridge or pantry and aimlessly stare with no real plans or ideas. Secondly, I am scared of food. Scared that I wont be able to tolerate what I eat and will get sick, or scared that I can tolerate it, will continue to eat it & end up back where I was. There are many days that I wouldn't get in nearly enough calories if I didn't supplement. I mean, some days as little as 400 calories from food, and without protein shakes, that's all I'd get in. But I'd feel so full. Almost like I've over eaten and then I'd begin to feel guilty.

I have discussed this with members on here and with my surgeon's office and great ideas and suggestions were given. But my surgeon ultimately decided that I needed to speek to someone about my issues so I do. I go see a therapist that specializes in eating disorders. It really helps. I've found more recently that I am more able to try different things so that eating can be enjoyable again. Like you, I don't find it attractive and I get tired of eating the same things, (even though those same things are safe). I am hoping that you got great ideas or suggestions. Just knowing that you're not alone and that there is someone out there you can talk too, hopefully makes you feel a bit better! Prayers coming for you!

Thank you everyone for your response!!  It is good to know I am not alone!! 

Joe, you brought up great points and ones that I was considering, but on Sunday I ate so much.  What was weird, it was not head hunger or stomach pains, it was body hunger.  my body was craving nutrients.  It was probably a 4 hour period in the afternoon that I ate.  I choose healthy food and protien rich foods.  After I had met my body's needs I was fine and actually didn't even have dinner.  Just my protien shake that night.  I feed my family and went about my way. LOL  But when that happened, I knew what I am doing right now is not the best decision for me.  I do know I need to meet the bare minimal requirments for myself.  And my other fear is even though my diabetis is controlled, I am still a diabetic and I have to contend with low blood sugar.  My sugar levels are great but can run in the low 70s.  I need to focus on more as you said Joe, using food for fuel, because that is what it is fuel for my body!  I need to pack my food again and bring it with me and force myself to eat.  With the mentality, this is fuel and I need it to function and be healthy and eat in normal regular intervals.  Even if it is a small amount!  But I do need to contact Brittnay and speak with her on these issues.