Question:
Why am I hungry?!?!

So I am only just about 3 weeks out of open RNY and I am freaking out a little bit because I am hungry? Plus, I think I can eat more than the 2 ounces I am supposed to be on? Not always, just sometimes, although the hunger comes a couple times a day. Right now I am eating in the AM one scrambled egg with some low fat cheese (about 3/4 of that) then in the afternoon 4 saltine crackers with chicken salad on them to equal 2 ounces, and in the evening generally the same thing. but in the afternoon I start to feel hungry and need a snack. generally one string cheese fixes that but is it normal. I am only getting between 40 - 45 ounces of water in a day and am working on fixing that. Can anyone tell me if this is normal or should I be worried about it. RNY 1/30/04 280/249/150    — Megan S. (posted on February 18, 2004)

February 18, 2004
What does your surgeon say? As for the amounts, the softer the food generally more you can eat of it. I could eat more oz of mashed potatoes than of chicken (the chicken is denser) I usually have to eat every couple hours anyway just to get my protein in for the day, hunger or not. I find it very helpful to keep a food journal. Also, are you sure it's real hunger and not head hunger? This is where the food journal comes in handy as well, since you will know when and what you ate last.
   — Patricia T.

February 18, 2004
I think you are doing just fine and see nothing wrong with a snack in the aft and evening. A cheese stick or a slice of deli meat rolled around a slice of cheese, a small amount of cottage cheese, refried beans with cheese etc, yogurt,sound perfect at your stage. Try to think about when you feel hunger,is it really hunger or just head hunger? At 2-3 weeks post-op I remember being REALLY hungry for Burger King Whoppers and girl scout cookies, both of which I could not have and really did not want but mentally watching those Burger King commercials with the flying whoppers and staying at my sisters house where her young daughter was a distributor for girl scout cookies-yup that time of year-was torture!! But it was all in my head....
   — Cindy R.

February 18, 2004
Are you supplementing the protein? Or is it your body screaming for nutrition via asking for sugars?
   — vitalady

February 19, 2004
Like the previous posters stated, it is ok to have snacks. Remember, you are going from many calories a day to under 1000, and you still need food. Try this, it worked for me, eat a few Tums when this hunger feeling occurs. If it isn't true hunger that will help. Your stomach is healing, and this new stomach often sends mixed messages to our brain. When I had these feelings, I would heat up some thick creamy soup. The heat soothed my stomach, and made me satisfied. I could only have a little, but it felt great. There is an organic brand that I found that has some great choices, sorry I can't think of the name, but they come in containers like juice boxes, only a bit bigger. They are all liquid, so you don't have to worry about large chunks of anything. I found them in the "organic health food" section of our local Stop and Shop. Best of luck to you!
   — wiggie34