Question:
What can I do about hunger?

I need some help and suggestions. I'm 6 months post-op from Lap RNY, and have lost 70 pounds since surgery, which I'm very happy and grateful about. Hunger is again becoming a problem for me. I almost had a "fear" of it pre-op, and I think some of you will understand this. I am not overeating because of it, just bothered by it. I can eat more than I could a couple of months ago, and I know this is normal. I'm just concerned about between meal hunger. I'll give you some examples, and perhaps you can offer suggestions for foods that will help to stave off the hungries in-between meals.<p>Today, for breakfast, I ate an Atkins PB protein bar while driving to work, around 6:30 AM. I normally drink a protein shake in the AM, but didn't have time today. I drank 2 - 12 oz decaf teas after I got to work. Around 9:30, I was really feeling hungry, so I ate two string cheese sticks. It's 10:00 AM now, and even though the sticks helped, I have a feeling I'm going to feel hungry again before lunch at Noon. I can deal with it, but I hate the feeling! It upsets me and I try to ignore it, but that doesn't always work. I do get plenty of liquids in, and will probably drink 1 or 2 20-oz glasses of water before lunch.<p>I wish those early days of not caring a bit about food, and not feeling hungry would come back. But I realize that's over now. How do those of you who deal with hunger issues handle it? I've come too far to blow this, and I want to keep the weight off that I've lost, and hope to lose maybe 20-25 more. Thank you so much for your input.    — Carlita (posted on March 5, 2004)

March 5, 2004
Ah, the non-hungry days. I remember them well. Now at 16 months, I do get hungry. I have a few suggestions: water, water, water. At 7 months, I was getting in 80 oz per day: 20 oz before breakfast, 20 oz before lunch, 20 oz before dinner, 20 oz after dinner, in addition to decaf tea. Now I get over 100 oz per day. Make sure you aren't drinking too soon after eating or you will push the food through. I hope this helps.
   — Yolanda J.

March 5, 2004
You could try to space out and plan for your 'snacks' in your eating plan. instead of one snack of two string cheeses, could you have done two snacks of one string cheese? Or, perhaps have a protein drink at work as a snack. or a meat based snack. What makes you really full? Beef jerkey does it for me. If I'm feeling 'snacky' I try to have some jerkey to slow myself down a bit. Also, I concur, make sure that you are not drinking within 60 minutes after eeating. You will stay full longer that way. It makes it harder to get in your liquids, but...you can't win 'em all! Good luck to you.
   — LMCLILLY

March 5, 2004
You are really going to freak out at 1 year post-op and 2 years post-op when your capacity to eat more will expand even further. It is totally normally for us to go thru cycles where our hunger returns and we find we can eat more every few months. I've read your profile and you've done very well so far. I have found that when hungry it is best to eat before you get too hungry but that if I eat a solid protein, not a protein drink, I stay full much longer. For example, I eat 1 1/2 to 2 scrambled eggs with melted cheese often topped with veggie chili for breakfast every morning. It keeps me full for about 4 hours, whereas a protein shake or a carb breakfast like a bagel would make me hungry 2 hours later. Plan to eat a small amount of something every few hours, an apple or delimeats wrapped around the cheese stick, 1/2 a turkey sandwich on multi-grain, a 1/2 c of hearty ham and bean soup with most of the broth drained, the protein bar. Right now as I type this I am eating a white chicken and vegetable soup with the broth drained out of it. It should last me a good 3 hours until I have dinner. Last night I had a 4 or 5 oz burger with lettuce wrapped around it and it kept me full the rest of the night. You must find those foods that work for you to keep you full and plan those into your day. Don't drink for a good 45 minutes after you eat also helps.
   — Cindy R.

March 5, 2004
Hi I know how ya feel, I am now a year post op from having lap rny too and I get the head hunger thing alot, there are some days were I don't care about eating but not usually, most of the time I am hungry, I wish that wasn't the case but it is. I just try though to eat 6 small meals a day to keep me full and that seems to be working, and I still am not able to ever eat as like I use to before having this surgery done so I think I am okay, at least I hope. So you might just want to try to eat 6 small meals a day cuz it looks like you are not eating alot to me now from what you said you were eating, and remeber that as the further we get along the more we will be able to eat and the more we will be hungry. I mena I worry to that I eat too much sometimes and that I won't succeed in this process, but I know that our bodies need a few more calories as we go along to maintain your weight or get to goal, cuz I have another 20 or so to lose too and I just try to eat that amount and nothing more. the 6 small meals a day really helps! Good luck to you hope this helps u out alittle!
   — Melodee S.

March 5, 2004
I agree with the smaller, more frequent meals, but if you are trying to get in so much water, how do you stop drinking 45-60 minutes before eating? I am 8 months post lap RNY and have lost 82 pounds. I weigh 148 now. If I get too hungry it hurts for some reason. Any ideas why? Good luck with your continued success. Amy Perdue
   — Amy P.

March 5, 2004
That sounds kinda normal to me. During the first year or so, I did 5-6 tiny meals, or every 2 hours or so, much as you describe, but protein bars weren't invented yet! LOL! I wasn't so much "hungry" as I needed fuel. Looking back, I'm thinking blood sugars. Today, (9+ yrs) I still do 4 meals a day and 6 protein shakes. Because I am distal, I MUST do several protein shakes per day, but I feel better with 6+. Weight is still holding
   — vitalady

March 5, 2004
Oh how I miss never being hungry:( I am approaching 3 years out. Someday just for the heck of it DONT eat anything all till evenng But do get in your water. Sure your hungry:( But is it the ravenous hunger of pre op or a mild feed me message from your body? Now by the end of the day EAT!~ But I have to accept being hungry sometimes to prevent regain:( some days are easier than others... Keeping really busy helps too. Bored = hungry for me. Theres nothing wrong being hungry sometimes, its like living with anything uncomfy. Like wearing a tie for a dress up occasion. I have also found its easier to eat fewer calories in a day by skipping breakfast. just like pre op once I eat anything I get more hungry:( I dont recommend this for anyone else but have found it helps ME.
   — bob-haller

March 6, 2004
Thank you all so much for responding. All of your ideas are very good ones. I will begin to focus more on some "denser" protein snacks, I believe. I think I was just freaking out a bit because I've been able to eat more lately, and was worried because my scale hadn't moved for a few weeks. But as of this morning, I did drop another couple pounds, so I'm feeling a little better! I think the 5 or 6 small meals thing is the way to go. And it's funny, some days are just "hungry" days and others I still don't care if I eat. The day I posted this was a very hungry day, but the day after I barely noticed being hungry at all. I will just have to learn to adjust to this aspect of being post-op, as we all have to (isn't everything we do after WLS an adjustment!?!?). Thank you all again.
   — Carlita