Have you met Goal and Hungry?

HI, This is a question for the grads who have met their goal and maintained it for some time. I am 1 year postop and have hunger pangs. I am wondering if I am really hungry or what. I find I can eat a cup to two cups at each meal. THIS IS QUITE A LOT. I have read that eating over a cup and a half of food at each meal will eventually cause one to gain weight. (Or stated another way) Research indicates that those who have gained weight and no longer at goal are eating over 1.5 cups of food at each meal. I find I am eating, but am hungry. Hunger is defined as my stiomach growling, pains in my stomach which are not dumping, or bloating, etc. It feels RAVENOUS.. I can't really eat much. I eat my portion, and 20 minutes later I am HUNGRY again. This is a poor sign of something. Anybody else experiencing this.? Hopefully I hear from individuals who have met goal and are managing themselves. Please don't tell me to: 1) Eat only what I can and don't eat any more no matter how hungry I am 2) Eat more protein, fiber, etc. 3) Drink water instead of eating. 4) Don't drink with meals. I know these things already, What I am looking for is HOW someone handled the same situation. Surely somebody out there is experiencing hunger and managing it. I mean after 6months to a year the hunger pangs return. So what's up successful weight loss gurus.. Trying to avoid being a "gained it back" statistic.

Is it possible that you have an ulcer? Sandy

Never thought of that one. I don't think so. Base this on: 1) eating a variety of foods 2) spicy/not spicy not giving me trouble 3) No acid reflux 4) No gas or irritating pain of that nature 5) No heartburn/chestpain just HUNGRY. It is the QUANTITY of food that disturbs me. I mean I ate a half a sandwich that was a VERY LARGE sandwich. I was still hungry 20 minutes later. I ate 1/4 of t he remaining.. and then within the next hour I ate the remaining 1/4. I ate because I was hungry not mad, sad, angry, afraid, etc. EATING these portion sizes is making me mad, sad, angry, afraid.

I still would not rule out ulcer. Since it is happening so close to your intake of food. Ulcer pain can manifest itself in many ways. I can tell when my gut is irritated because sometimes I will have a gnawing hunger like pain, thus why I question it as a possibility. The brain says hunger, when it is not. If it continues, follow it up with your doctor. Sometimes we do have true hunger and it is just a phase that passes. Good luck. Sandy

Have you researched a possibly enlarged stoma? ~~Sherry

I am in my 5th year post op. I eat considerably more than 1.5 cups of food for lunch and dinner. I have maintained my weight and not gained. What you eat is of equal importance to how much of it you eat. In other words if you eat 1.5 C of grapes, that is far different than 1.5 C of cream cheese frosting. So...what are you eating? Are you eating a balanced diet? Fiber? Vegetables? Protein? Do your choices have staying power both in density and satisfaction? Could you benefit from eating 5 small meals a day...every 2 hours? BTW, I tried this for a long time and found that all I was doing was thinking about food. I know it works for many...just did not work for me. I measure/weigh every portion of everything I put in my mouth. I count every calorie that passes by my lips. I keep a food log the old fashioned way...on paper that I always have with me, that way I can't forget what I ate in order to record (as in fitday.com) I have done this for 5 years. I hate every minute of it. I love the results. As you likely know by now, there are no secrets. Eventually the "tool" becomes more of a mental crutch. That crutch can work for you or against you. Although I am not an expert I can only share my experience...I realized several years ago that in order to be successful for life I needed to change my behaviors, plan my meals, be prepared, develop my self awareness with regard to hunger (real vs. old habits vs. emotional, etc.), be in touch with who I am, and take responsibility for both my successes and my challenges. I realize this is far more than you asked for...I have not posted for a while...you are the (un)lucky recipient of my visit back to the 'hood. Karen

One of my favorite Oldtimers - dunno why LOL, I just like your style of no bull. Nice to see ya posting again. Michelle

Nice to see you! Never thought about this tool being a mental crutch but perhaps you are right about that. I still do 4 meals....never got to the six that was recommended...in my opnion that was way too much food! But 4 seems to work and I fill up with lots of H2O. Balance is very important in our diets now. If I am not careful I can do a gain quick...Then its a lot of hard work to get it off again! It will be two years for me this month. Its been a good two years! And hunger...I have it from time to time. I also don't get hungry sometimes....those are the times I treasure the most! I have to force myself to eat....I never thought that day would ever come....so glad I still get them! Welcome back to the 'hood'! Debbie

No preaching here, I eat more than 1.5 cups of food. I am with Karen on the food journal the old fashion hand written kind, counting calories, and making the best choices so that I get more bang for my calories, The old is it hunger or is it something else can be tested to an extent. You obviously know the water idea - this doesnt fool my pouch but its a great concept and works for some.. But Sandy has a valid "what if" point. Experiment with antacids, take 2 rolaids or tums and see if this dulls or eliminates the pangs. If that works, obviously see the doc about an ulcer. But in all reality, our pouches do relax, and the density of what we eat affects how much we hold and how long it stays put. I did have what I assumed were hunger pangs after my bowel obstruction, and when I went back on the Nexium, they went away. I dunno if I really every feel hungry now, but I WANT to eat all the time, and I can hold quite a bit. And drinking a protein drink as a meal just doesn't do a thing for filling me. I like my supplements but I need something solid also. How to I handle it? I eat. I exercise. And I keep count on both. If I deprive myself, then I obsess about being deprived. Kinda like a smoker, waiting for a cigarette break, then getting too busy at work to get one for another hour. Lately I have been keeping Boars Head lunch meats, (low fat) in the house for easy finger food that is solid in density and low in carb to curb the crave and fill the pouch. I just grab a few slice right from the bag. 2 ounces 50 calories = not a bad graze/snack. I am 17 mnths out and at goal for 9 of those months. I have lots of mental issues, but I am hanging in here so far. Michelle

For me, post-op life is like dancing w/ a partner. You have to move in concert w/ the other. There is more than one variable here than just intake. Say you eat X amount to satisfy you. To accomodate being satiated, you add some additional exercise. Or if you find that your schedule does not accomodate that amount of exercise, you may have to learn to deal w/ so hunger pangs. There is no single path through this, no formula, no specific measurement (vis-a-vis, 1.5 cups vs 2.0), etc. You have to learn to dance. Get caught flat-footed and you're a goner. Nowhere Man/PH/Jay