Question:
How do you force yourself to eat when not at all hungry??
HELP you guys !!! I am now a little over 2 months post op-- down 50# forever -- YEAH !!!! I am, however, having great difficulty eating-- I just would rather not-- it is such a chore - I NEVER thought i would say that!!! BUT- I know I am supposed to eat- I am taking all the supplements I am prescribed faithfully, except I do have trouble with the protein supplement- I don't quite get 60 mg/day- but I do try. When I eat, try to eat, or sometimes look or smell food it nearly sickens me. Anyone else experience this? If so, can I expect this to end soon?? Thanks in advance!!!! — Kewpidoll (posted on May 10, 2003)
May 10, 2003
girl, I am so feeling you on that. As of lately I have to force myself to
eat as well, I have absolutely no desire to eat. I even have to make myself
drink a protein shake, seems like the only thing I am doing is taking my
vits and drinking crystal light, I made a big pot of turkey chili last week
and I try and just heat some of that up and take a few bites of that,
because I know if I don;t eat something I think it will halt my weight
loss. I hope I'm out of this rut soon-Good luck to you
— TotallyTori
May 10, 2003
I was just going to put this same question on. I am also almost 2 months
out and 50-down. I drink but eating is such a chore I cannot find anything
I like I drink the protein drinks but am getting sick of them. Someone
tell us will this end I would hate to think we were never going to get past
this. Is this normal? E-mail if you want to talk. Hope we get some
answers. Diana
— Diana B.
May 10, 2003
I was the same way and I ended up in the hospital, so please eat and get
your liquids in!!! I felt like it was a chore too and I always got sick
when I ate and when I did'nt. I had cramping in my stomach and felt like I
had morning sickness 24hrs a day from not eating and drinking enough. Once
I met with my Doctor and Nutritionist I started doing as told with the food
and I've never had those problems again. It does get easier, your stomach
is still in the healing process, for most of us it took 5-6 months until we
felt hungry and normal. Food will then taste good again, which sometimes I
wish I was the old way due to munching and cravings lol. Good luck :o)
— Sandy M.
May 10, 2003
Simple. You DON'T. ONLY eat if you are hungry. Drink as much water as
you possibly can, take your vitamins and when you do eat, make it a
scheduled meal, i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you are not hungry,
that meal is skipped and you just eat at the next scheduled meal time. You
will not waste away, I promise you. And don't dwell on 'getting in' food.
Concentrate on water, vitamins, protein and walking. Soon enough you will
be hungry enough to consume adequate amounts of protein (75 grams/day = or
a total of 10 oz of protein a day or approximately 3 oz per meal)
Diane N
http://www.WeightlossSurgery.ws
— DianeN
May 10, 2003
I'd have to disagree with the previous poster. Your appetite may not
return for months, but you have to take in nutrition to heal from the
surgery and to have any energy. Frankly, I had to eat by the clock because
there wasn't the appetite to drive me to eat - and that happens to me even
now at 10 months. I eat 5-6 small meals a day, but in the beginning, it
sometimes was less because I forgot to eat and I couldn't make up the meals
at the end of the day. My suggestion would be to find some protein source
whose smell doesn't sicken you and stick with it for now. Things will get
better...JR (open RNY 07/17/02 -172 pounds)
— John Rushton
May 10, 2003
Find the things you can tolerate and just eat them over and over again.
That is what I have done and I am comfortaqble knowing that I am getting
all of my protein and stuff. You will have an appetite again, not like
before but it will make food seem more appealing at meal time. I agree with
John that you need nutrition and not eating will set you up for probalems
down the line. I am 4 months out and having zero problem with lack of
hunger. Our post op diet is not about gormet dining it is all about
nutrition!!! Don't think of it as eating (some days I feel like that is all
I do because of the effort it takes!) think of it as taking proper good
care of your body!
— Carol S.
May 10, 2003
Kera- I completely agree with John, you do and should continue to force
yourself to eat, no matter how hard. If you were to eat only when you're
hungry (at this point in time) you'd probably never eat, right? I'm sure
you know the benefits of nutrition and everything, but in addition- being
so early post-op, the more you eat the more weight you will lose. Don't
know why or how, just happens! I remember exactly how you felt, I went
through the same thing. And I want it back! lol Your appetite usually
returns around 6 months post-op. Glad you're keeping up on your vitamins!
Also, you're getting in almost 60 grams a day of protein- that is
wonderful. Ofcourse as you get further out, you should go a little higher,
some always stay with 60 and thats ok,too. BUt I couldn't reach that high
of protein until atleast 3 months out. So you are doing pretty good- if you
can only get 40 grams tomorrow, its ok, then the next day shoot for
60grams- make sure you're getting 64oz water a day. Hydration is just as
impt the first few months, then start to focus more on protein. You'll get
the hang of it eventually! Goodluck to you :-)
— Lezlie Y.
May 10, 2003
Monday I will be 3 months post op, I am down 65 lbs and I am having the
same problems. I almost wish we could just take a pill for food instead of
eating. The only thing I have no trouble eating is sugar free popsicles. I
can eat them by the truck load. I try to eat a container of yougurt for
breakfast, have some type of meat and cheese at work for lunch, I drink a
V-8 on my break and then try to eat some meat or cheeses for dinner. My
work day doesn't allow me the time for 6 meals. I was doing my best to
drink protein drinks on my break but got to the point where the thought of
it made me want to puke. Tonight I went to dinner with my family and I ate
about 1/4 of a small cheeseburger patty, plain and no bun. I have no real
hunger. I used to live to eat and now I am trying to eat enough to stay
alive. What I can keep down is limited. Some things just seem to bounce
once I swallow. I hope this changes.
— Peggy B.
May 10, 2003
Each month (actually each week) that passes it gets a bit better. Even
now, nearly 10 months out, I still occassionally have a bad time with
something, but mostly I can eat anything I chose to. Give it time and just
don't "count on" any one thing always pleasing your pouch for a
while. The ONLY food that has never upset my pouch was and is mozarella
cheese sticks (Cheese Head brand is my favorite!).
— [Deactivated Member]
May 10, 2003
What are you using for protein drink & how are you making them up? For
more ideas on that, you can join the protein list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-Protein/
Then, as to meals. What are you eating? How much? Over how much time? Are
you drinking with the meal? You could try doing only 2 oz, over about 15
minutes, then waiting 2-3 hours til the next meal, and see if the tiny
volume helps make it easier to eat. I'm also one who believes that a few
days without solids is ok, as long as you're getting AT LEAST 60g protein
supplement, all your vites & water. I mean, we do it for various tests,
and such. But no, not for long. And it might be the starve & stuff
method that is making you feel ill? 3 largish meals a day, or grazing them
to get the volume in?
— vitalady
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