Why am I always hungry?

Lately I've been hungry all.the.time.  And shame on me....I've been grazing to keep the hunger at bay. Don't know if it's head hunger, because it really feels like hungry hunger.  The worst is happening....I have gained some weight back (about 8 pounds!) and I'm NOT happy.
I know what to do as far as going back to basics. I do still have good restriction. But I'm just worried that this hunger is getting the best of me.
I'm not on Nexium or anything like that, so it could be acid. However, I dont have any symptoms of reflux or whatnot.
Any advice what to do about the hunger? I need to nip this in the bud before the gain gets out of hand.

I hear you!  I am hungrier now too...am 19 months post sleeve. I still do take my ppi pill...I tried going without it and I just couldn't .  I would try going back on  your nexium
the other things that really helps me is high protein hot chocolate.  I buy it online and it helps at night when I am really hungry.  It is expensive but worth it.
I would say go back to the basics that we know and you were so successful with. Also up your water intake..that always helps me and I have not been good with that lately and I can tell the difference.  This is a good reminder for  me too.

good luck you to you...you can do it and you are stopping it early!@

Patty

Hi Patty,

What high protein hot chocolate do you use?

thanks!

 I order high protein hot chocolate from nashi nutrition.  It is expensive but it helps me,  I really like it and I put a little diet whip cream on top....satisfies my cravings.

Patty

Too bad, shipping to Canada was more expensive that the hot chocolate.  I'm sure I can find some closer, but thanks, Patty!

 Which High protein HOt choc do you like?  

I also suffer from the hunger thing.  Nothing like pre sleeve but I still fight it.

I love chocolate and think the protien chocolate might help.  Have you made a cold version that you like?

K

I order high protein hot chocolate from nashua nutrition.  It is expensive but worth it for me.  I used it alot in the beginning of my sleeve surg but then stopped...and now that I am hungrier at night again, I just ordered some again.  They have several flavors but I just get the choc . one.  In the past I always ordered the packets but this time I ordered the canister..and I have to say I like the flavor of the packets better.  I don't know if it is all in my head but I would do the packets again.

The cold chocolate that I like I find in the store.  It is the carnation instant breakfast sugar free.  I really like it.  My program recommended it and in the beginning I could only find it on line so I would order it.  Now my safeway has it.  It is a blue box and says sugar free.  IT is not as much protein as the hot choc. but I use it too.  tastes very good...even my kids like it.

Patty

ACID:  MY symptoms of increased acid are HUNGER and have been since about 2 years out.  Luckily if I take my acid blocker for JUST 2 days I'm good.  It flares up about every 3-4 months or so.

HUNGER:  In general what are you eating?  Have you allowed some carbs BACK into your diet that you did NOT have for the previous years?  I ask because I learned that my 1/4 cup of oatmeal and egg breakfast was "making" me hungry.  It was a slow progression to me feeling the hunger, but I look a look at my menu over several  months and there was the problem.  My body does so much better with carbs from fruits/vegetables.  Anything "processed" and supposed to be good for me, ie "whole grain" stuff.  Leads me to having hunger.

Ms Shell

My recent observations:  White carbs are poison for me.  I have also eliminated protein bars for the time being.  I have a boiled egg or two for breakfast instead of a bar and I feel so much better.  I've been trying to consume "real" food and to be mindful of drinking lots of water. 
I've experienced a lot of clarity regarding my future.  My old habits of going to carbs cannot continue.  I'm going to have to be forever mindful of my sugar/carb addiction.  It's a whole lot of work.  And I get bummed about that at times.  And much like AA, I do it a meal at a time.
It has taken me several weeks to get my head on right.  Logging on My Fitness Pal keeps me in line because it is there in black and white...oh, color, too!  And I feel accountable to my "friends" sometimes even more than myself.
Jocelyn, you can do this.  You have to find that balance that is right for you.  I know I can't do this alone.  That's why I have returned to this board.  I have never been shamed or rejected here.  I think because we get one another.  Lent is a special time for me.  I have been humbled to my knees at times.  Best wishes!
Janet 

I can relate a lot to what you are saying as I have had a lot of the same experiences. I have not had my hunger or cravings to eat go away, and I want to eat quite frequently. I've struggled with sticking to the recommended amount of calories and not grazing, and I crave fatty foods like full fat cheese and nuts, which spikes my calorie levels.

As I'm sure you know, the VSG only reduces the volume of your meals but it's still important to choose higher quality foods which don't affect your hormones and cause hunger, such as carby foods.

You may already have tried these things but here are a few things that might help:

- Avoid carbs except those from green veggies (including fruits which are high in sugar) as they will make your hunger increase

- Get back on a PPI as acid can mimic hunger - try something other than prilosec like maybe protonix

- Add in exercise and maybe accept that dieting alone won't be the answer for you

- Make sure you are taking supplements to help you with what you are missing from your diet (even non-VSG folks often have to do this because of poor food supply)

- Supplement with chromium, l-carnitine and l-glutamine which help with cravings

- Consider therapy to look at why you might be eating aside from physical reasons

- Consider doing a candida diet - candida overgrowth can rob your body of nutrients and cause continual cravings (I can recommend a good one)

- Keep food with you at all times in a small cooler so when you do feel like eating, you can eat the protein your body needs. If you choose good foods, you CAN nourish your body with a VSG. However it may not satisfy your cravings which may be a combination of emotional, physical and hormonal cues.

- Look at anything you've added in your diet recently and see if might have hidden sugars

If you want to post what you are eating on a daily basis I can take a look and see if I see any red flags.

Hope that helps..