Want to eat, eat, eat!!

 I don't know if it's psychological or physical hunger.  But in any event I want to eat and I have been eating.  I still am pretty limited on what I can eat a one sitting...the problem crops up about an hour later.  My weight has been holding steady for about the last 3 months, and for about the past 9 months I've lost 10lbs., so pretty consistent.  And usually I'll have these waves where my sleeve feels more "relaxed" (I might be able to eat as much as half a burger at one time!) and other times where I'm very aware of the restriction (you expected me to eat a quarter of a burger!).  Recently I've been on the more "relaxed" side and I'm always worried that this time it won't switch back.  While I'm pretty happy with my weight and size, I'd still like to lose more or at least change the distribution.  I don't mind my weight per se, but I do want to firm up, have less fat (especially tummy and legs) so in that sense I want to lose weight but possibly replace with muscle.  But an interesting catch-22:  I feel tired still, but worse I want to eat more after exercising!

So I offer the following up as information, not excuses:

I'm a grad student and often on campus all day.  When I had before tried to stick to my just to my small meals I got into trouble with getting hungry and my options were vending machines.  So now I take a lot of healthy food, which is great, and gives me more energy, but has bred a culture of me eating ALL day and never being hungry, etc.  I don't know how to reconcile this.  Because now I really don't like being the slightest bit hungry.  Or even not having food around.  

Getting bored.  I even like to cook so I should have no excuse!  But the idea of plain protein is so dismal.  I find I especially have this problem at breakfast (which, btw, I could swear that eating breakfast makes me hungrier) when I just don't know how to make appetizing protein.  

I really want to restart my weightloss, especially as summer approaches.  I just don't know how to get back to basics, especially since I'm not terribly concerned with my weight as is!  Ideas, inspiration!  I definitely don't want this to snowball.

Thanks for posting!  I don't have anything to offer, just looking forward to hearing some of the responses.
You made me realize some things:
1) I too am a grad student, and have 13 hour clinicals in the hospital, I pack many food items to have on hand to cover this long period... and I eat them all! Constant munching....
2) There is a problem that I was able to eat a WHOLE double cheeseburger and some fries... and then some M+M's last night after said 13 hour shift.....

Ugh, I need to get back on track, this isn't ok....

Thanks for the reality slap.

I'm having the same issue right now.  I have been the same weight for the last 3+ months;  I don't feel like I have the restriction I used to have and constantly feel the need to eat.  I'm not eating junk like I used to, but I'm obviously ingesting more calories than I need right now.  I don't have any major stressors right now, so I can't blame it on that  but I wonder if this is the weight my body wants to be.  If it is, I'm massively opposed!   I still have 15 pounds to lose before I hit my goal weight, so  I'm thinking of going on my pre-op liquid diet to kick start the weight loss again.

I'll be watching this thread to hear what others say.  Good luck!

Hi Kim,
I guess I'm curious... Does drinking the protein drinks kick you into losing...and can you maintain once you do lose?? Do you have to always drink them to maintain...or do you get a regain when you stop using the shakes?

Protein shakes don't work for me...make me sicker than a dog because I'm lactose intolerent. I have to focus on my foods having protein in them.

Heidi

I don't know if going back to 3 protein drinks a day and one "normal" meal will kick start the weight loss but I've got to try something.  I'm unable to do any strenuous exercise due to spinal stenosis and fibromyalgia so my loss has been slower than most.  I think the most important thing I need to do is cut back on the constant grazing I'm finding myself doing lately.  I make good food choices almost all of the time, but  I've lost my "mindful eating" mentality. 

When the constant grazing monster rears its ugly head, I find that eating by the clock is the best solution (for me).  Even if I am feeling hungry, I tell myself that I can wait until the next meal time.  I space the eating times pretty close together, every three hours or so during this time.  It helps kill the monster or at least to drive him back into the cave.  I also find that protein drinks do little to help keep me full.  For me, the better method is to eat good quality, lean, dense protein at every meal for at least a few days.  This seems to clear up a number of issues.  Also, really working on increasing my liquids helps.  Good luck to you and to all of us.

Reading the book Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis changed my life. I ditched the wheat/gluten and eliminated hunger. The weight started melting off again and I feel fantastic. I had gotten under 30 carbs a day after VSG but was still sneaking wheat in. Now I am still under 30 carbs a day and NO WHEAT. Google Wheat Belly--it might help you too. You may have to consider some new health management techniques, as I did. Best of Good luck to you!

You might want to try supplementing with chromium and l-glutamine. These really help me with cravings. Also look online for some out of the box low carb recipes. For instance I make my son "pancakes" like this:

1 egg
1 tbsp coconut flour
Dash stevia or other artificial sweetener
Dash cinnamon

Fry in a small amount of coconut oil as you would a regular pancake. Top with sugar free syrup.

Or you can spice up your protein with a low carb/salt terriyaki sauce you make yourself, or a low carb bbq sauce. There are all kinds of recipes like this you can find online.

Just google things like "low carb pizza", "low carb bread" etc. and you'll find lots of recipes! Even better that you like to cook!