Question:
Please give me your input, I am so scared

Hi Everyone, First I have to say, I am so pleased with my weight loss, and in NO way complaining. I'm just terrified. I am a little over 7 months post-op and up till last week lost a total of 158 pounds with 38 more to "my" goal. Starting last Sunday, I woke up with a HUMONGOUS appetitite! I went from eating under 500 calories to about 1100. I gained 6 pounds this week. Now, I have to admit, when this appetitite came on, I was very unhealthy about it, eating junk food, etc. But there's no way up till this week I could of ever even eaten as much as I had this week! Why is this coming on so rapid?? Today, I cut back, but for the first time, felt like I "had" too. Meaning, I still feel like eating. I had corned beef and cabbage for supper, I had 3 cups! And then had to stop myself, I never came close to thinking about eating 3 cups of corned beef and cabbage! I would have exploded!! And I really don't feel "full" Same goes with rest of food. I deliberately didn't go to a party tonight because of the big spread, I NEVER had a problem turning away from spreads, and food while going out. What is happening?? Please give ANY input.    — Tammy B. (posted on December 7, 2002)

December 7, 2002
First of all congratulations on the wonderful weight loss. I'm very jealous. I'm hoping my surgery will be late Jan or early Feb. I would definitely call your doctor. I am no expert but from what I've read that sounds like a lot. Maybe you popped a staple. I believe they can tell that by scoping you. Call for your own peace of mind.
   — zoedogcbr

December 7, 2002
Hi Tammy! One thing that jumped out at me is that you were still eating only five hundred calories a day, at seven months out, until about a week ago. This is just my 2c, but I think that 500 calories a day for someone seven months out is way too low.<P>Plus, they say we can all start eating more at about six months out, so it's definitely not surprising you'd be feeling more hungry at this point. Lots of post-ops who've had little or no trouble with hunger or over-eating in the beginning start having such trouble at about six months out or so (and there are more such adjustments as we're further out, I'm told). For me (at six+ months out), I've developed some new, weird obsession with cookies. I'm hardly eating any, but because I didn't touch them or want them for six months, it's been freakin' me out a little to suddenly be *attracted* to them and actually eating them once in awhile. It's really scaring me. Yikes!! But I've noticed my calorie count (about 900-1000 calories) is okay so far, and while I'm still nervous that I have a junky cookie once in awhile, I try to remind myself that the whole purpose of this surgery was to allow that kind of thing without freaking out and giving up and deciding I'm just doomed to regain everything I've lost so far because I'm not on a totally restrictive diet anymore (sound familiar?). <P>My humble suggestion is to allow yourself to eat more every day without jumping on the scale and concluding that anything about 500 calories makes you fat. It doesn't! There are lots of *temporary* reasons why the scale rises or plateaus. And despite your worries about junk food and volume, you've haven't gone above 1,100 calories, which is pretty darned good!! And wayyy better than your pre-op self, right? <P>As far as your appetite goes, you know the formula: try to stick with protein first, drink more water, up your exercise, and avoid whatever it is that sets off binging (carbs, sugars, or both). Good luck and congrats on your fabulous success so far!
   — Suzy C.

December 7, 2002
500 calories a day at 7 months post-op is way too low. And it is normal for the hunger to return at around your stage. Its unfortunate that it comes back before we are ready for it, but its the bodies way of trying to slow down the weight loss so that we don't lose too much. 1000-1200 calories is normal and that is where you should be so don't panic. You can also track your food intake on www.fitday.com, to track how much protein and calories you are taking in. I'll tell you what I do-when I am hungry, I eat. Which means every few hours I eat something. I have found that for me, if I can keep the hunger away, feed myself when I am the slightest bit hungry, then I can make better choices. And I just eat enough to feel satisfied, or mildly full, not really FULL. In addition to the 3 regular meals, I add things like fruit, protein bars, popcorn, cheese and crackers, nuts etc. As for junk food-keep it out of the house. If its not there, chances are you won't go out to get it. Hope some of this helps, and pat yourself on the back-158 in such a short period of time is incredible.
   — Cindy R.

December 8, 2002
Tammy..heya hun.. well i have a question for you.. are you drinking protein shakes.. im not that far out .. but from what all ive read if ya have a protein shake before dinner.. you will eat less.. and you will get lots of protein.. thats really all i got for ya hun.. congrats on the wt loss.. and good luck..
   — johanna F.