Question:
4 months post-op RNY..it seems I'm hungry about 1 & 1/2 or 2 hrs. after I eat normal?

I don't know if I'm just being hard on myself or what. I'm 4 months post-op RNY. It seems when I eat lunch for example I am hungry about 1 & 1/2 or 2 hrs. later. Is this normal? Should I be eating 5-6 small meals a day this early out? Also this snacking stuff is killing me. Don't get me wrong it is a lot better than I was before I had the surgery obviously & sometimes I make better choices than I did before but still. For example, someone brought potato chips into work. I CANNOT stay away from them!!! I almost wish I wouldn't have known they are there. I bring more reasonable things to snack on in for myself to try to stay away from the chips. But more often than not I'm in the chips. That is just one of many examples. I am still losing weight but I don't want to get into old bad habbits again. It seems I eat things just because they are there or if I'm bored. How can I stop this?    — Allison T. (posted on August 13, 2002)

August 13, 2002
My surgeon & his nutritionist recommend 5-6 small meals from day 1 (granted the first two weeks are liquid meals). I've been trying to space my meals out (I go for the 6 meals rather than 3 meals and 3 snacks) every 2 1/2 hours. I work from home, so that makes a bit easier than working in an office, though. You need to bring healthy choices in for snacks or your meals instead of giving in to the temptation of empty snacks like potato chips.
   — John Rushton

August 13, 2002
There is a fine line between: a- 5-6 small meals/day (NOT GOOD) b- 3 small meals/day and two small snacks (VERY GOOD) I am 4 months out and this works great for me. Once you are this far out 5 or 6 meals is too much! I think I get less hungry because I drink so much: Diet V8 Splash, Skim SF Iced Lattes, flavored non-carb waters and Crystal Light. The more flavor you can get the better, because it cuts cravings. Plus the V8 Splash and Latte are thicker, so they are more of a treat than plain water. I know everyone says NO STRAWS but I haven't have a problem using them and they force me to drink more, and eat less. Also, SF popsicles are a great snack too.
   — kultgirl

August 14, 2002
I guess I'm going to be the blunt one here. YOU have to discipline yourself. Take a moment and think about what you've accomplished and what your goal is. You went under the knife to improve your health and quality of life. Sounds like you have another choice to make--1) fail the surgery and eat whatever you want or 2) Follow what you know is the proper guidelines and use your pouch to your best advantage. I think you know the answer. You will not be bored when you reach your goals! God Bless
   — Bambi C.

August 14, 2002
I have to disagree with Shelli--I eat 5-6 small meals daily. Protein in each one. Now the QUANTITY may differ depending on the time of day, but I think nothing of eating leftover chili at 9:00 am. Especially since I eat a small breakfast. I usually eat more of my lunch in midafternoon. As long as I am eating plenty of protein and not breaking the bank on total calories, what's the difference? I feel satisfied and am getting in everything I need to keep my body healthy.<p>I went thru that "hungry every 1 1/2 hours" phase, too. I picked up the pace a bit, switching to eating every 2 hours instead of every 3. It passed in a month or two. Just make good choices when you do eat and make sure your total calories aren't out of whack.<p>The single best thing you can do to stop carb cravings (like potato chips) at bay is to increase your protien. How much do you average a day? 45 g? Up it to 60. 60 g? Up it to 70. By that time you won't have ROOM for the carbs AND your body won't be telling you that you need them either. Good luck and happy losing!
   — ctyst

August 14, 2002
I agree with the other posters that you should have healthy snacks at work-I have nuts and peanut butter crackers in my desk, however, something I have learned is when I feel the way you do "I CANNOT stay away from them", then don't. Can you limit yourself to a small amount? If so, then that should be OK. If we have to go thru life not snacking, not eating anything other than "healthy snacks", we will drive ourselves nuts. Normal people eat chips..and thats the goal. To eat in moderation, eat normal, eat healthy as much as possible, with occasional not so healthy snacks. If you find though that you are not eating healthy and just eating junk or that you cannot limit to small amounts, then you may have to figure out why you are doing this-thru counseling ,support groups etc.
   — Cindy R.