Question:
5 1/2 mos out, how much is too much?

I am nearly 6 mos. out and think I am eating too much and not exercising enough. Being absolutely truthful, here goes. I exercise every other day for about 15-30 minutes, weights, floor exercises, elliptical machine. I eat about a half hour after I wake up, small portions (ie. 1-3 chunks of pineapple or 1 string cheese or 1 slice lunchmeat or 1 pickle) but I eat about every 1/2 hour to hour throughout the day until bedtime. I am rarely thirsty but do get in 1 protein drink per day (30-36 g. protein) and try to eat 1/2 protein bar per day. For my "big meal" I will eat a small apple, or a cup of cooked pasta, sometimes some boiled shrimp or a piece of baked salmon. I don't drink coffee, I don't drink sugar free soft drinks and I don't eat any sugar free ice cream products. I feel hungry all the time though. If I try to get in some water or Diet Botanical Ice drink, I can drink about 10-20 oz in a day. I am so depressed and I know that can't be helping my mind-set any. I am down 73 lbs., that is positive but want to know if this is too much. I fear it is and am afraid that I may need to "diet" again to start losing again. Your thoughts would be most appreciated.    — Just M. (posted on March 28, 2004)

March 28, 2004
Believe me, I empathize with you being hungry. It's hard to guage how much you are eating truly unless you track every morsel. You know the answer to this best. Go to fit day.com and begin logging everything you put in your mouth. It's probably not the amounts but the fact that you are grazing that is of more concern... that could turn into a long term issue with weight maintenance. I know... I've been there. God bless you... I know it's tough, but yes eventually we are like everyone else and will have to work for our weight loss.
   — Happy I.

March 28, 2004
You are doing to many carbs. and that is what makes you feel hungry all the time. Cut out the pasta cut out the fruit to much sugar, When you feel hungrey try some low fat cheese and you must get in 8 glasses of water a day that will also fill you up and you will not need to eat as many times a day. or get some chicken cuts keep them handy with the cheese and you will feel full
   — Rosemary L.

March 28, 2004
It appears to me that maybe you are eating too much carbs. and not enough protein. I had went through a short time like that also, and I found that I needed to kinda start over. I had to really focuse on what food choices I was making, and if I made poor choices, I had to live with that. I notice that if I get about 60 proteins in each day, and 60 to 80 oz. of fluid every day. I do well. I also try to stay away from pastas, and sweets. Good Luck, Jennifer
   — dustysmommy

March 28, 2004
Ditto on the too much carbs/too little protein. I am also six months out and I find that if I don't eat a good serving of protein - 2 to 3 ounces - at the beginning of each meal, I'll think I'm hungry all the time. I ususally eat four small meals in a day for a total of 1000 to 1200 calories. Also, if I get "behind" in my fluid intake, I think I'm hungry then too but if I go drink about 12 to 16 ounces of filtered or bottled water, I usually find that I was thirsty rather than hungry. One protein drink per day is definitely NOT enough fluid. Not only do we mistake thirst for hunger when our fluid intake is too low, we also risk serious damage to our kidneys, bladder, etc. I'd definitely give up most of the fruit and other carbs like the pasta and start getting more protein. You might try that and also establish regular meal times. Have you thought of getting some help with the depression? Congrats on your tremendous weight loss but please do up that fluid intake, your system will definitely appreciate it.
   —  SCbabe B.

March 28, 2004
I'm close to 7 months out (on 4/11), and have found that if I make sure I'm getting solid protein at each meal and snack time, it really helps the hunger. I do think you are eating too often and not drinking enough. Maybe try a schedule that will allow for snacks in between meals - but space them out over a longer period of time. And make sure you're drinking lots of fluids (decaf/herbal tea, Crystal lite, water) in between. You must try to get this intake up to at least 64 oz. That in itself should help your hunger. I also agree that you may be taking in too many carbs for the amount of protein you are eating. I'm not one who believes in total carb restriction, but I think it's best to keep your protein grams ahead of your carb grams.<p>Here is a typical day for me: Upon arising I drink a combo of 8oz water & 8oz orange juice; breakfast of 20 oz protein shake at 6:30 am; mid-morning snack (cott cheese, cheese stick, beef jerky, sf yogurt) around 10 AM; lunch at Noon-usually leftover meat, potato and veggie from dinner, maybe chili and whole-wheat crackers, etc.; mid-afternoon snack-Atkins protein bar around 3:30-4:00; dinner around 7 PM - protein first, then potato and veggie.<p>I pretty much stay away from pastas and most breads - although I do eat whole-grain breads on occasion. I keep my fluid intake up by drinking 2-12oz decaf/herbal tea drinks and 1-20 oz glass of water in the AM. I usually do 2-20 oz waters in the afternoon, and a 20 oz Crystal Lite in the evening. When I don't drink these amounts, I feel hungrier.<p>Best wishes. lap RNY 9/11/03, 254/179/???
   — Carlita

March 29, 2004
I am also about 5 1/2 months out - open RNY 10/21/03 - and am down 95 lbs. You seem to be grazing throughout the day rather than eating 6 or so small meals. I am a believer in protein shakes as supplements. If you would like to know what my typical food/drink intake is daily, e-mail me.
   — Karen K.