At 10.5 months out still not enjoying my food

Hi LW friends,

I need to whine and ask a question.

I rarely enjoy a meal!!  Foods for the most part are just a necessity.  I hit goal at 7 months out (160 lb- an 80lb loss), and since then I have lost another 16 lbs....this concerns me.  I am thin, but still look o.k. at 144.  I am disappointed and miss enjoying my food. I mainly eat junk food snacks to try and keep from loosing weight...chips, cracker, cookies, candy, ice cream, and don't even enjoy the junk food, and I still loose.  I do eat a few nuts...but loose interest in those too.

What happens with WL surgery that causes this loose of interest in food/taste?  I use to love ice cream, pizza, burgers and fries, choc cake, mexican food, chinese food, etc, now I don't want that at all, and if I do eat those thinks, I can only eat a very few bites, and it doesn't taste good.  However, part of me is glad I eat to live now rather than live to eat, but this is extreme.   Crab legs seem to be the only thing I really like now...and they are not high in calories.

I still have days food hangs up and I have to get rid of it..esp dense protein.  Other days no problems.  I just get full quick most of the time, or more likely loose interest in the food I am eating.  The getting full quick was the point of surg, but as I repeat myself, I am afraid I am going to keep loosing cause I can't seem to eat enough, even junk food to keep from loosing weight. 

I quit tracking everything when I hit goal, and I know at least a few of you will tell me to get back to that.  I also know I "should" be eating healthier snacks...but fruits and veggies have NO appeal whatsoever, and besides they don't have any calories either.  Yogart doesn't even have many calories.

Just want to know, esp from those who have already hit goal, if you have any "taste" for food, and if not how do you handle it to keep from loosing any more weight.

Jane

Hi Jane,
Hitting goal is quite an accomplishment, but I'm sorry you're not enjoying food at all.  I am having the opposite problem, have no issues with any food except eggs, and want to eat all the time.  It is interesting how each person's system handles the surgery differently.  You may want to talk to your NUT about his because you don't want to increase your weight with unhealthy foods.  I think it would be a little frightening to keep losing after you are where you want to be.  May "pack" your yogurt with some super protein cereal like Kashi, drink some higher calorie drinks like instant breakfast?  I'll let those further out give you better advice, but you take care.

Sue

Sue,

Thanks for you interest/response.  I hate to B**** about loosing weight LOL...what an interesting concept.  I might try to cereal in yogart..I hate instant breakfast :( 

Jane

Congrats on hitting your goal, Jane. What a major accomplishment! Like Sue, I have the opposite problem. I have to eek out every pound lost because I still get hungry and enjoy food. I wonder if a part of the issue is that you are eating junk food which tends to be less satisfying. It also may be that it is taking longer for your stomach nerves to heal so that you are not getting hungry signals. Perhaps as an experiment, you can try a week of high protein, complex carbs and see what that does to tweak your appetite. Also, you might want to supplement with protein drinks if you are concerned about losing too much weight. I agree with Sue that a visit with your RD sounds like a great step.

I wish you success in finding balance and pleasure with food again.
Amy

Amy,

I still get very hungry...just get very disinterested in the food I eat, once I start eating.  Again, I hate to grip about this problem, but who would have ever thought this morbidly obese woman would loose her taste for food and/or get satisfied before really getting in enough calories.  Guess in a way I should be grateful.  I just miss enjoying my food.  And part of me is afraid that if I do start enjoying my food, I could have a problem maintaining wt. loose.  It is scary to think about regaining.

Jane

I know exactly what you are talking about.  For the last 2 1/2 years I have wanted to eat so bad but when I sit down to eat my appetite goes away after just a couple of bites and I get full very easily.  It always amazes me that everyone seems to be able to eat several things at one meal.

I also got into snacking on slider foods but trust me when I tell you that when the honeymoon period is over and you are hooked on those foods the pounds might come back.  It is a constant battle with me now and I have had to change my way of thinking and turn to healthier snacks.

I hope things get better for!!!!!

Thanks Roz, was beginning to wonder if anyone could relate.  I know I am on a slippery slop eating slider foods, they just seem to be less obnoxious than the thought of the healtier snacks. And yes I fear I am still in the honey-moon phase, and all this could change and I could be struggling not to gain.  It is a journey, and guess I just have to live it one day at a time.

Jane 

I agree. You are still early out. I want to say "This too shall pass". I think we all go through different phases. Right now I still enjoy food and eating and I love things like salads and vegetables but what I miss is the eating as a recreation thing. My favorite thing used to be going out to eat. Especially buffets. I would look forward to going out to eat all week, choosing the restaurant and picking the meal. Now I don't care about eating out. I eat the same when I go out as I do at home and it's no big deal. I used to like to go travel to eat at different places. Now it's no big deal. It's hard because eating out was the thing my boyfriend and I had in common. He works 6 days and week and on his day off he likes going out to eat for a good meal. It was our activity. We still go out it just doesn't excite me like it used to.

Have you tried a lot of different foods?  I find I really, really like spicy stuff and stuff with tons of flavor now.

Kelly,

Yes, I have tried all my old foods...and I always liked spicy, and now the spicier the better.  Thanks.

Jane