Question:
Can anyone explain what the difference is like after sugery? Do you have cravings?
As a pre-op I guess it's hard for me to understand not being hungry. I am all of this time now. Does anyone have cravings? I have a varicious sweet tooth. Does anyone have a problem with this post-op. Are you not hungry because you are sick or do you still struggle with hunger all the time as I do now? Do you feel deprived? Any input would be greatly appreciated!! — Allison T. (posted on November 14, 2001)
November 13, 2001
I noticed fairly immediately after surgery that I just wasn't as hungry. I
mean, you get hungry, but not that kind of hunger where you feel like
you're going to DIE if you don't eat something. It's a more mild, kind of
"forgiving" hunger that tells you that you should probably fuel
your body soon, but it's nothing urgent. Make sense? For myself, I don't
get cravings per se, but I do make mistakes--all the time. i.e. I'll eat
too many carbs, or I will graze or something. Do I binge anymore? NO!
It's just not possible!
— [Anonymous]
November 13, 2001
I am 20 months post-op RNY (-145 lbs.), and my daughter is 22 months
post-op (-210 lbs.). When I was researching the surgery, attending group
meetings, and talking with RNY post-ops, I always heard the same
stories....."I'm never hungry anymore....I have to look at the clock
and remind myself to eat something....all the foods I loved before, don't
appeal to me at all, and the 'healthy' foods that I never ate before, I
can't get enough of now..." My daughter and I would listen politely,
then walk away thinking, "these people are crazy....imagine US never
being hungry, or being willing/able to give up chocolate, sour cream,
butter, desserts, etc... (well, you get the picture!)" All I can say
today, is that every word was TRUE, and still is....at least for us. We
have had no cravings....the high-fat, high-sugar items that we
"lived" for, don't appeal to us at all now (RNY patients seem to
frequently experience a taste-bud change that is a true gift, but I've
never seen a great explanation for it)....we could go all day and never eat
or never think of eating, but we don't because it's essential to get
adequate protein following WLS and also to "re-learn" the healthy
eating patterns of "3 meals a day"....we've never once felt
deprived because we essentially eat the same things our family and friends
eat (with the exception of concentrated sugars and high-fat items, which DO
cause dumping for us), we just eat MUCH less of it. For pre-ops, it's
unfortunately one of those "you'll have to experience it to believe
it" kind of things....but it's true and it works! Best wishes!
— Diana T.
November 13, 2001
My tastes haven't changed all that much about real food. I'm not as hungry,
though I do get hungry, much less volume of food satisfies me. I still have
to fight head hunger, that little voice that tells me to eat when I'm not
really hungry, just bored or tired or upset. The one big change I noticed
is in relation to sugar/fat ie: ice cream, cake, candy, ooey gooey treats
sort of stuff. I simply don't crave it. Preop I would eat two or three
desserts a day. Go to the store, pick up a candy bar to eat on the way
home. Go out to eat, always order dessert. Make something almost every
night. I am an excellent baker and I loved making cakes and pies and candy
and then eating them:) I still sorta like sweets, but one, literally one
bite, will satisfy me. My son made a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting
and it sat in the kitchen for 4 days while everyone nibbled on it. I had
probably 4 tbls out of the entire cake, and it didn't call to me. I always
liked fruit, vegies, healthy foods before surgery, and I still like them.
If I *crave* anything, I seem to go for salt before aunti flo visits. I do
seem to be in the minority though, I read over and over again where
people's tastes change.
Good luck
— Becky K.
November 13, 2001
The only thing that has changed for me is the amount of food I can eat. I
am almost 4 months post op proximal RNY and don't dump, do crave and get
insanely hungry. But I am still down 63 lbs because I can't eat as much as
before. (more than most post ops but not nearly what I could eat pre-op).
So, as you see, we all have very diffferent expiriences.
— KimBo36
November 13, 2001
I like the same things as ever and crave things too. But like others have
said, a bite is satisfying. The hardest is when my stomach is done, but my
mouth is saying "I want to taste more!!" If it is a taste of
something I really like, I eat it reeeaallyy ssslloooww, so my brain has a
chance to register that I am eating something delicious. Barb is right, you
need to find something to do so you aren't eating out of habit or boredom.
Personally, I like to fill my time by shopping for new smaller clothes!! My
DH is going to have to hide the credit cards!!lol Really, it is so
exciting, and that is what makes it easier for me.
Rebeckah
— blank first name B.
November 14, 2001
As a post-op, it's still hard for me to understand not getting hungry and
not craving the foods I craved before...but it's true. It's baffling, but
it's wonderful. Last night for dinner I felt like a little squash...so I
cooked a butternut squash and some brussels sprouts and had it with a
little couscous. It was delicious, although I am the first to admit it is
a little wierd. At 16 months out, I have never heard a rational
explanation of why this happens to some of us....I am just so thankful that
it happened to me.
— Anne G.
November 14, 2001
I think for me the best way to describe not being hungry is it feels kind
of like how you feel after you're sick with the stomach flu. Not when your
stomach hurts or anything, but after you're done puking and when the bug is
FINALLY out of your system. You know how just NOTHING looks good? It's
like that. You really do have to remind yourself that you have to eat.
I'm 5 months post-op now, and I'm just starting to get my appetite back. I
do still struggle with the head hunger thing though, but it's easier to
deal with now. I also have a sweet-tooth, and don't have a problem with
dumping, but I find that avoiding sweets now is easier also. Probably
because I know what I put my body through, and I don't want to gain back
all that I've lost so far. Good luck to you!
— Becky H.
November 14, 2001
Reading your post touched on a problem I have been having for the past
month. I am four months post op and I have slowly been eating more and more
sweets. I have not been binging. But just eating them on a weekly to
daily basis. I think it was because I wanted to see if I would dump and I
didn't. Realizing I was not a dumper, made me crave everything I gave up,
even though they didn't taste the same. Since the surgery, anything with
sugar tastes too sweet or has a kind of metallic taste to it. But I keep
trying to get that old magic back. I guess I am so scared of being skinny,
I am trying to sabotage myself. Funny thing is, that I am still losing
weight. It's coming off slower but it's coming off. So I guess that means
I am not doing as much damage as I think I am doing to myself but I am
definitely not helping myself either. Anyway, here is some advice. If you
do find yourself craving sweets, stick to the no sugar added products.
They satisfy the craving and they don't make you crave for more. Robin
— [Anonymous]
November 14, 2001
I am 17 months post-op, have lost 150 pounds. AT first, I was not in the
least bit interested in sugar. However, as time has gone on I have gained
some of my previous sweet-tooth back. There are some sweets I cannot eat as
I will dump, like with ice-cream...which I had previously loved, and ate
quite often. Now, instead, I seem to crave chocolate, which previously I
never ever ate, nor cared to eat!!I am not sure what that is about(i think
it has some chemicals in it that my body is needing). I try not to eat too
many sweets if I can help it but if I do crave them I allow myself a small
portion. Most times though I will dump though, which is a really good
incentive in not having sugar. My real down fall is carbs. I mostly miss
breads, and do occassionally crave them, but they too make me dump(that is
a good thing!!!). Finally, I am explicitely an emotional eater. I know for
a fact that I crave foods even when I do not feel hungry, and I rarely feel
hungry!!!
— twenc
November 23, 2001
I'm rarely hungery and when I am I want to eat NOW! No patience to wait.
However I usually eat twice a day as I'm just not hungry. Funny now I
usually crave better foods such as tomatoes. They taste even better post op
and I did'nt think that was possible. ;) Food commericials hardly tempt me.
And sweets don't tempt me as before but sometimes I'll have one heaping
spoon of a Wendy's Frosty (any more is awful) or half a donut. If I want
something sweet just alittle portion satisfies. Just start to wean yourself
off sugar "now". Most people seem to gain weight before their
surgey by "last meals". I ate so many last meals the month before
my surgery.... and I still LOST around 10 pounds! But the dietitian told me
of Splenda and I used it instead of sugar so even though I ate like a pig
(the month before surgery) I lost weight as I left sugar alone. So quit it
now and it will also be a blessing post op as far as cravings. You won't be
so hungry ether post op ether so you may be pleasantly surprised at your
willpower. I am constantly amazed that I can actually lose weight and not
be hungry. I still shake my head in disbelief. :)
— Danmark
December 5, 2002
I use to have craving just like i did before surgery.i found out that if i
eat a protein bar when i have these cravings it usually takes care of it
plus i go for a walk if i can or ride my ststionary bike.I found exercise
does help w/ the cravings.try it you might be surprised.
— NANCY M.
January 4, 2005
I am one month post op and there is a difference between the hunger I felt
pre-op and now. Now, the feeling is more of an attitude of "I need to
eat" and not, "I HAVE to have large amounts of food, NOW!"
That feeling of 'hunger' doesn't come often, and more times than not, I eat
becuase I know I have to, not because my body tells me to. The feelings of
fullness are also different and, for me, odd. I don't ever feel full, but
I've worked out a system of eating very slowly for 20 minutes and then I
stop. I don't mind (for the first time in my life) throwing away food I
haven't eaten. I know if I over-eat, I can feel my pulse in my head (isn't
that odd?). I have been confronted by sweets and things, but because my
stomach is not in bed with my emotional brain, it's worked out that I can
easily avoid those tempations . . . at least at this point.
— lizryan
January 5, 2005
the first several months post op I did not really get hungry. About 9
months out that changed and I started getting hungry occasionally. Now at
2+ years out, I get absolutely ravenous if I don't eat when I should. I
call it my "starving wolf" mode. I can make really lousy choices
if I let my self get to that point. So, I stick to a pretty set schedule on
meals & plan what to eat ahead of time to avoid fierce hunger and make
appropriate choices. I do not feel deprived, I eat very well, high quality
foods and occasional treats. I LOVE my no sugar added fudgecicles at 45
calories each. When I look at labels it usually stops me in my tracks on
most bad things. Too scared of gaining it all back. I do admit I went into
the Christmas cookies pretty heavy this year and am getting detoxed as we
speak. Nobody is perfect we all just do out best and if we are good the
majority of the time we will succeed over the long term.
— **willow**
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