Surgeon and RD follow up visit yesterday

I had my two-month follow visit yesterday.  I've lost 17% of total body weight - woo hoo!  I want to share a couple of highlights:

- I asked about how I could be experiencing physical hunger.  Dr. H said that it is unusual at two months to experience hunger but every body is different.  I cannot tell you how disappointed I am about this difference!  I feel like one of the main benefits for the surgery has escaped me.

-I asked about my dinner the night before (4 oz of turkey-veggie sauce), and shared my fear of stretching my pouch.  Dr. H said that as long as I do not feel discomfort  at the top and side of my belly, I do not need to worry.   He said it is not unusual for people to eat more one day and less the next.  (it's true - my appetite was back to normal the next day)

-My RD wants me to try to eat two types of food at each meal.  Protein/complex carb or protein/veg.  For example, she suggested a eat a couple of crackers with my tuna salad.  I often have a hard time getting in my protein and another food type.  Is that normal at 2 mos?

-Finally, I asked about protein bars.  My RD said that they are not a food of choice but in a pinch opt for Pure Protein and South Beach Bars.  She also suggested babybel cheese which does not require refrigeration.

I hope this information is helpful to others.  I welcome feedback.
Amy

Hi Amy!!

Losing 17% of TBW is awesome!! Great job using your tool!

I agree with you...it is hard for me to get in anything other than my protein but I am trying to add some veggies as a snack. Spinach works well for me...I need as much fiber as I can get!

I have experienced hunger but I think it was more from my blood sugar fluctuating..I haven't had any of the crazy craving type of hunger...yet.

I love Babybell cheeses and throw one in my bag everyday. I usually have half a protein bar every other day or so....usually pure protein, Atkins, Oh yeah wafers or Luna protein. They fill me up fast and are good in a pinch...I only eat them in the car and try to do real meals at home other than my protein coffee every am.

I am really happy so far...food still tastes good to me but I have no desire for fries or junk. I still have a hankering for feta and chicken pizza though and finally broke down today and ate the topping off one slice! It was delish!! Last year...I would have eaten 5 pieces!!

Thanks for the info...I was wondering how those of us 2 months out were doing

Keep it up!! You are rocking it!!!

You are doing great!  Last year, I would have eaten the whole pizza!  I know what you mean about not craving junk food.  When I first went into a store after the surgery, the clerk was wolfing down french fries and I could not tolerate the smell. That was wonderful!   I like the idea of eating veggies as a snack - I could use the fiber. LOL 

Thanks for the support, Char.  Let's keep comparing notes.   
Amy

Sounds like you are doing great.  Congrats.

I still don't always eat 2 things at a meal.  Lots of times, just an egg for breakfast, a meat and cheese roll up or just fish for supper. 

Pure Protein are pretty good.  Watch the sugar and calories in the others.  I only eat maybe 1/2 every few days unless I am on the road and can't fix real food.

Price, it is good to know that I am not the only one who has trouble with two items at a time.  Maybe later. . . .

You are so right about many protein bars.  I am bringing boxes of Atkins bar  that I bought last year to work - too high in calories and carbs.  Not worth it.

 

Hi Amy, I'm so glad you had a good checkup.

I've experienced a lot of hunger too, but lately that seems to be ramping down for me.  The hunger was a disappointment for me too.

I've also experienced fluctuating volume tolerances in eating--some days more--some days less.  Eating 2 kinds of foods is something I keep striving to do, but I get filled up so easy, that I don't achieve that most of the time.

Even though I had the sleeve, it looks like we have a lot in common.

Hi Kim,

I am curious about when the hunger started to calm down for you.   I find that hopeful! 

It is interesting how our bodies fluctuate in food tolerance.  I can hardly eat today.   At this point, I have no way to predict tolerance levels but I hope I begin to observe a pattern.

May I say that I absolutely love your Erma Bombeck quote - boy, do I relate!

Amy

I get a lot of compliements for choosing that Bombeck quote--she was a lady with my kind of sensibility.

I don't know if the hunger thing is different for RNY vs. sleeve people.  One of the factors that attracted me to the sleeve is that we are supposted to have less ghrelen production, a hunger hormone.  Well for me I had sudden, intense hunger often until about a week ago (7 weeks out).  I've been told for sleevers that many of us will have a lot of hunger until about 2 months out.  I still get that urgent hunger sometimes, but more and more I just get this sort of rumbling when I need to eat.

I tend to have low blood sugar issues; so I pay attention when I need to eat, but it's a relief to not have hunger driving me.