Question:
About Protien and Hunger
Ok, I have never done the protein thing. I was two years out on 4/24 got pregnant at 8 months out after wls and now have a nine month old son. Honestly, i never did the protien thing and have done fine without it. I seem to alwasy be hungry. is this normal? I have always drank with my meals, i have to. I am such a thirsty person. when i was a kid they though i had dehydration all the time and diabetes (cant figure that one out) because i was constantly thirsty. I still drink with my meals, and i dont plan to stop because it seems either way, i am still hungry. when i wasnt so far out, i could drink with my meals and feel full just fine. but now either way (because i have tried not drinking with them) i still get hungry! what is going on here? if this is natural, then i have no worries, but if it isnt, any ideas? — squeekypete (posted on May 17, 2008)
May 16, 2008
I have always been a big water drinker too and especially with meals. I
remember drinking my glass of water at a meal and then drinking my mom's
too. Then on to diet life, they always said to drink lots of water, fill
up on water, eat your allotment and fill up on water. Now my surgeon tells
me not to drink 30 minutes before a meal and for at least 1 hour after
because water liquefies the food eaten and makes it pass out of the stomach
too fast. He says that for the brain to really get the message that you've
eaten enough, the food needs to stay in the stomach for about 45 minutes.
This allows the message to be repeatedly sent to the brain so we finally
"get it". Wow, this is going to be tough. Anyway, I figured
that would be a really hard habit to break the habit of drinking with meals
so I started practicing a couple of weeks ago. (I have RNY 5/28) I just
don't have a glass at the table at all. Not having the water has done a
couple of things. Sometimes it makes me chew longer. Sometimes I realize
I need to cut my food smaller so that it can be chewed more thoroughly.
What I have really noticed is that I don't get hungry as quickly and that
almost exactly 1 hour after a meal I get really thirsty, so I don't forget
my water. What I thought would be really difficult has not been so bad
after all. The surgeon told me to eat the protein first as it is thicker
and provides a bit of a plug that keeps the rest of the "meal"
draining more slowly from the pouch. You have food in your pouch longer,
your brain gets the message repeatedly, and you won't get hungry for 4-5
hours. I encourage you to "do the protein thing" and not drink
30 minutes before and for 1 hour after your meals. Try it for a week.
What could it hurt? I wish you success. Being hungry is not fun whether
it's true hunger or head hunger.
— waterlover
May 17, 2008
Without "doing the protein thing" and getting pregnant, there was
a strong possiblity you could have had issues with your pregnancy. Protein
supplementation, or making SURE you have a diet very high in protein is
imparitive to a long healthy life. Protein is so important, and although
you don't state so, I'll assume you had RNY surgery. Drinking before and
after meals is important so you gain maximum nutrients from your smaller
meal portions after surgery. That's the reason NOT TO DRINK some 30 minutes
prior to and after meals. While eating, I may take a sip of water to clear
a taste from my mouth once or twice, but this is only an ounce of water. I
think a strong reason you seem to be hungry all of the time is that you're
washing most of the food from your pouch by drinking so much with meals.
This is probably what's going on in your situation. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
May 17, 2008
Hey Stephanie....Since you're over 2 years out and I presume have lost a
significant amount of weight, then I assume you're doing something right.
First of all, as I understand it, water doesn't stay with you (in the
pouch) for any length of time, regardless of whether you have food in your
pouch or not. Liquid (any kind) will just flow right through u.
The point about not drinking while you're eating if for 2 reasons: it
washes the food through your pouch faster, thereby making you feel less
full AND it also washes it through to your colon faster thereby gettingn
less absorption of nutrients....I guess it compounds the malabsorption that
is already in place.
Being thirsty all the time is certainly a problem...as well as being
hungry. Based on your letter and that fact that you "never did the
protein thing" I'd have to say that could be the reason you're hungry
all the time. A piece of chicken or any kind of meat fills me up WAY
quicker and stays with my a lot longer than when I eat spaghetti, or mashed
potatoes or any kind of carb/sugar food.
I doubt that everybody needs the same amount of protein....and maybe you're
getting more than you think. But long time lack of proteing can lead to
serious malnourishment.
But for the hunger pangs alone, I'd recommend eating some meat before you
eat other food and see if that satisfies you more.
Good luck.
— cjjordan
May 17, 2008
Everyone said basically what I would say too...You have some bad habits and
silly excuses for these habits. You only hurt yourself with this attitude.
I'm sorry for being the strong hand here...but if you don't want to cause
yourself problems later, if not sooner...you need to follow the pouch
rules. Everyone told you why not to drink water with your meal...There is
also the possiblity that you did stretch your stoma by placing heavy water
on top of food and forcing it to stretch...That would leave you hungry and
eventually may cause you to gain weight. Dense, lean, protein will fill
you longer than anything else. (As long as you don't drink with it) Eating
carbs that are not complex is probably what you are doing since you say you
don't eat much protein. Carbs make you crave more carbs and you will begin
eating more and more each meal to satisfy that craving. Your instestines
LOVE bad carabs...Makes your gut so happy and later GASSY! Tell me I'm
wrong! ;) The less carbs you eat, the less hunger and cravings you have.
I'm not trying to be mean...I promise, I really care about my WLS siblings!
It's a lifetime committment and I hate to see anyone struggle or hurt or
live in constant fear of gaining weight. No one can help you if you to
refuse to help yourself while asking for help...So forgive me for being
totally blunt and honest...You have a little baby and some 18 years to get
thru to watch him grow into a man...I want you to be healthy and ready to
be a healthy thin, amazing mommy and one day a grandmother that can run and
move to play with her grandbabies...But you have to commit to taking better
care of yourself now!!! Right this second!!! You can wait 30 little
minutes to drink water...If I can...you can and trust me...I have a really
hard time too. I even set an alarm when I feel like I might cheat. If I
am REALLY thirsty...I eat a little piece of fruit ...like a few grapes or
strawberries and that helps a whole lot to get thru the 30 minutes. I
sometimes try to stretch it out to 45 minutes just to train myself to be
even stronger. Get in some good protein! You are at a point now where
things get harder to maintain. You better take control now.
Good luck and hugs...
— .Anita R.
May 17, 2008
The diabetes thing is hard to answer for because if you have had it since
you were a kid it is unlikely that it is type 2 (adult onset diabetes) but
more likely type 1 diabetes which is an altogether different beast. It
could still be type 2 depending on the circumstances, either way, eating
unrestricted carbohydrates is NOT a good program for you. This is probably
the reason you are so thirsty all the time. This is one of the SYMPTOMS of
diabetes and high blood sugar levels! If you were to get your blood sugars
under control, you would find yourself to be LESS thirsty! I know, I am or
WAS a diabetic. I have had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and not the
Gastric Bypass like you but the weight loss surgery has turned my disease
around and as long as I follow the STRICT dietary guidelines put down my my
NUTRITIONIST of eating a certain amount of PROTEIN and CARBOHYDRATE with
each meal and NOT EXCEEDING those amounts, I have NO problems with my
diabetes! Even as a Strict Vegetarian it is possible to get the protein
that you need to meet the dietary requirements. I was a Strict Vegetarian
for over 20 years until I discovered that I was allergic to almost all of
the beans that I had been eating as my primary source of protein.
I would highly recommend that you speak with a Nutritionist that is
familiar with weight loss surgeries and then follow the advice given by
them to help alleviate your blood sugar problems and thirst issues. You
may also want to speak with a physician to see why you are thirsty all the
time. You may need to increase your dosage on your diabetes medications.
Let me preface this by saying that I am not a medical expert. I am just a
weight loss patient. I was taking 70 to 80 units of insulin daily and 4
pills of glucovance 5/500 prior to having the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
performed on me on the first of March. In only 3 WEEKS I had to DROP all
of my diabetes medications! It didn't happen all at once. I kept
gradually reducing my dosage as needed until I was down to only ONE pill of
glucovance. Finally at the end of 3 weeks my blood sugar had dropped down
to 53 points in one day! I HAD to stop taking ALL of my diabetes
medications! My blood sugars after a meal are now running about 113/140
points which are a little high for NORMAL but are still in NORMAL range.
With the advent of MORE weight loss, I should get closer to normal blood
sugar levels. I also suffer from FibroMyalgia, Arthritis, Migraines.
Chronic Fatigue, Spastic Colon and Chronic Diarrhea. The Spastic Colon and
Chronic Diarrhea have been resolved by the surgery. the FibroMyalgia,
Arthritis, Migraines and chronic Fatigue have all been improved to one
degree or another by the surgery and the resultant weight loss.
The Arthritis was relieved almost completely almost immediately. The
FibroMyalgia has not been fully resolved but has improved significantly.
The same can be said for the Migraines. My Chronic Fatigue has GREATLY
improved. I have MUCH more energy now than I did before. I have lost 61
pounds since March 1. My surgeon and my physicians are looking forward to
watching the improvements in health as I lose the weight.
I have done some research and posted it on my Profile page. You can find
it at http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hubarlow/ .
I hope this helps,
Hugh
— hubarlow
May 17, 2008
Hi there...I just want to stress the importance of protein. I know that
you think you are doing fine without it, but long term you will suffer. I
have a friend that is 4 1/2 years post op RNY and she has been sick for a
long time because she stopped getting enough protein in her system. She
thought she was "fine" and never made the connect that is was due
to her lack of protein that she was sick. She was even put in the
hospital. Now she has to push protein. And as far as the drinking while
eating, the liquid can push the food through your system so you aren't
getting all of the nutritional value from your food. Just try to avoid
drinking thirty min before and after your meals. Good luck to you!!
— Mary G.
May 18, 2008
In a word: PROTEIN. Protein is what sticks with you and helps control your
hunger the longest. Drinking with your meals simply washes the food,
protein or otherwise, on through.
— corky1057
May 18, 2008
So many misconceptions about importance of protein. Needed bec ause we are
unable to absorb the amount we need with limited small intestine. Without
eating it your body will take protien from your other organ tissues- like
your heart and lungs!Usually the reason behind not drinking with meals is
it dilutes your digestive enzymes that we have such a small amount of so
you can,t absorb if not digested- and many many times it causes great pain
to drink with food especially in the first 6 months. But there is a
difference in surgeons as to how much of the small intestine they bypass
which is where you absorb your nutrients. That is why you are suppose to
chew your food so well- it gives you ahead start on the digestive process-
alot of swallowing by itself helps too- your saliva has agood amount of the
digestive juices left to you.
— Cdavis226
May 19, 2008
I think that you are mixing up diabetes insipidus(DI) and diabetes
mellitus(DM). DM (also referred to as type 1 or type 2 diabetes) involves
insulin/blood sugar and is what most people mean when they say
"diabetes." DI is not related to blood sugar, however the
symptoms are similar. The main symptoms of DI are excessive urination and
excessive thirst because the kidneys are unable to concentrate urine so
most of what is drunk is urinated before the body can absorb it. People
with DI continue to urinate whether or not they are drinking, thus
dehydration can be a big problem. If you were having dehydration and
excessive thirst when you were a kid, most likely they were referring to
Diabetes Insipidus.
In your post you say "i never did the protein thing and have done fine
without it" and follow it with "I seem to always be hungry."
Right after that you say "I still drink with my meals..." and
then follow that with "i am still hungry." Are you really not
able to put these things together or are you just being silly?
When you weren't so far out, you were able to drink with your meals and
feel full just fine... that's because your stomach (aka "pouch")
was smaller then. It held less and emptied slower. But pouches
enlarge/stretch over time and two years after surgery, you've got a bigger
pouch. It holds more food and empties faster than before. Drinking will
speed it up even more.
I'm guessing that between my response and those of others that you have
figured out what the problem is and how to fix it. If you are totally lost
on what you ought to be eating at this point, get in touch with your
surgeon, doctor, or nutritionist to help you.
I took a quick look at your profile... you've got an adorable baby. He's
only 9 months right now, which means that he's going to need you around for
years and years. Please take care of yourself.
— mrsidknee
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