Return to ravenous hunger - Dealing with it?

Hi all.

I'm 9 1/2 months out from surgery and have been very lucky in that my hunger has been minimal.

But in the last 10 days or so my hunger is back - with a vengeance.  I seem be hungry often - and I've "checked in" with my head and this isn't just head hunger.  This is actual physical hunger and I have been ravenous. 

I'm mostly making good choices to handle the hunger when it comes inbetween meals (lots of red peppers, salsa, cucumbers, etc.), and I still have pretty good restriction.  But not long after I eat I am often hungry again and the temptations are out there and calling to me.  Interestingly, this tremendous hunger seems to have coincided with a stall that has lasted about a week now (and is driving me nuts as all stalls do, no matter how often they happen).

So... for people further out than me I'm curious to know if you have had a return to hunger like the one I am describing and whether or not it went away after awhile or if you just had to learn to deal with it?  I'm less than 10 lbs from the original goal I set for myself when I began this journey but would like to lose at least another 40 lbs after that.  Being hungry all the time means that food is back on my mind, which is a bummer, because it has been so freeing to have been liberated from focusing so much on food since my surgery 9 months ago.

Any insights much appreciated.

Hally

Are you on an acid blocker or have been?  I noticed that although I NEVER had acid issues until about a year out when I started getting hungry and these pains.  Well my doctor diagnosed it as acid.  I thought he was crazy at the time, but indeed for ME when I'm feeling hungry it's actually acid so I'll take my PPI for a few days and it goes away and then I'm better.

Ms Shell

Thanks Ms. Shell.  I hadn't considered acid at all.  I haven't been on acid blockers since a week post-op, but it is entirely possible that you could be right.  I'm going to go to the doctor and see if I can get a prescription. 

It sounds like you don't take them all the time - so just a few days and you are fine?

Yeah for me my acid comes in waves (I'm sure based on something I'm eating).  When I start feeling really hungry and my stomach is rumbling etc...I also notice I belch alot.  Low and behold I will start taking my pills and within a few days all those symptoms go away.  I get an acid "attack" maybe once a month or every other month.

Ms Shell

I would agree with Ms. Shell.  Check the acid first.  If that is not it, it could be a hormonal fluctuation of some kind, you might want to check that out as well.  Are you taking your vitamins, and are you drinking enough?  That is where I would start, and we can brainstorm it from there. 

 Hi Elina,

Just wanted to let you know, that because of you, the roasted seaweed from Trader Joe's has become my crack, also! 

It's like a party in my mouth!

I just came back from there with buying 21 bags of the stuff!

And, the really funny part is (we have 2 giant schnauzers) and they love it, too! They hear me opening the bag and they come running, even if they were sound asleep!

Thanks

I am so sorry.  :)   This addiction has consequences you know, soon you will be graduating to buying whole cases of the stuff like I do.  You have been warned.  :)  It's so funny how people either love it or hate it.  I am glad you like it too, it's a great innocent snack.

I may have to put an order in with my girlfriend who goes to FJ's often...

That's funny. I was at Trader Joes which is 100 miles from my house. A friend and i went to see
the Broadway Musical play "Wicked" It was so great!

I got to Trader Joes and I could not remember what I was supposed to look for.!

I would say it's acid too. I try to only take my PPI every other day, and the end of the day which I didn't take it, I feel hungry but I know what it is.

Hi Elina,

what is that?  Sounds interesting...I will try it. You are full of good food choices!  What section at trader Joe's do I find it?

Patty