Question:
I am 7 days post-op and hungry and craving everything, it's harder than on a diet.
7 days out now and hungry. I hear peoples stories and how they have to write themselves notes to remind them to eat, or that they don't think about food anymore. Well I think about food all the time and I miss it, this is strange. I thought I wouldn't want anything to do with food for quite a while. I know everyone's different, wanted to hear from you guys. Also, the "boredom" eating is soooo hard to get over. Thanks! — Angela Q. (posted on September 16, 2003)
September 16, 2003
It's so hard in the beginning to learn the difference between "head
hunger" and "actual hunger" because we've been so used to
eating more than you'll eat after surgery. And let's face it, food is an
addiction for most of us, so it's hard at first not to focus on what you
can't have. I remember watching TV after my surgery and nearly coming to
tear over the Lea & Perrin's hamburger commercial. Hang in there, just
stick to your surgeon's program and it gets easier over time. By sticking
to the program and letting yourself heal well, your tool will be in great
shape to give you the results you want. It's all worth it.
— Cathy S.
September 16, 2003
Angela, Post-op day 5 was the worst day of my entire life! I cried all day
long and had nothing to do but watch T.V. with commercials and wanted to
beg my surgeon to reverse the surgery. Please know that you are not alone
and that this will pass and once you start on some solid foods and you
realize that you really aren't very hungry, you'll feel so proud because
you'll FINALLY have control over food rather than food controlling you!
Good luck to you.
Denise
280/174/150
— denisel
September 16, 2003
It's a plot - they purposely put on more food commercials after you have
WLS! LOL! Seriously, though, sit down first thing in the morning, and plan
out your entire day's food intake, and what time you will have it. In the
first few weeks after I had surgery, I could not get in all the food I was
supposed to eat! If you do this, you will probably be more satisfied and
some of the hunger will go away, because you will know that you can eat
again soon. Also, be sure you are getting some good sources of protein.
If the carbs are low, the cravings should go away in about 3 days.
— koogy
September 16, 2003
I was one of those people who did ALL the research, I was so ready for this
surgery, NOTHING was going to stand in my way. Well guess what!? The HEAD
Hunger that you are describing hit me full force and I cried for days, I
felt like such a failure to have these cravings and "I thought I was
so prepared" But guess what?! It passed and I am now stronger
because of it!!! I know that it is miserable right now, but it does get
better, suck on hard (sugar free) candies and sip on water, sugar free
drinks and sugar free frozen treats, it WILL get better. I am out over a
year and I still find myself Lurking in the kitchen (I don't snack, but I
still look) Just like my old friend the cigarette, I still get a craving
every once in a while, but it is much easier the further out you get. I
hope my mummbly jummbly version makes sense to you. If you are having a
hard time, add me to your e-mail buddy list and we can talk.
— Dana B.
September 17, 2003
My sister experienced food cravings and as she put it -"mourning"
food. Now, 9 mos. post op, she says she rarely craves anything, so
hopefully, yours will get better. Also, about those tempting food
commercials - CLOSE YOUR EYES when they come on! It really works. So many
of our food triggers are visual and if you take that trigger away you're
not nearly as tempted. Good luck.
— Carly H.
September 17, 2003
My experience with cravings were almost none. I remember even if I did have
a craving, I couldn't do a thing about it. my mind said yummy, but my
stomach said yucky. I would eat what ever I craved for and immediately
vomit it up. even the smell would set me off. I found that what I liked
before I don't like now. Im at 9 months(140 lb loss) and still have no
cravings for my favorite foods from the past. I just can't find that eye
rolling goodness in foods anymore.
— Naes Wls J.
September 17, 2003
Hi Angela
I am 8 days post-op and I know exactly what you are going through. My mom
comes in and wonders what she's gonna have for dinner and I can name her 10
things to eat in less than 30 secs. I want pizza soo bad..but even worse I
don't want to throw up. I'm looking forward for when I can have pizza, and
once that day comes, about 12 weeks from now, I'll be ordering pizza and
testing the waters with it. Really there isn't anything I can't eat in
time, I just tell myself have patience. Plus I have to take calcium and I
take those viactiv milk chocolate chews, 2x a day and they are soo good and
low in sugar that it kills my cravings for sweets. I also have Welch's no
sugar added ice pops for dinner which I find really good and also sweet. So
I feel like I'm not depriving myself, just satisfying myself until I can
have them again. But thank goodness I'm only craving 2 or 3 bites of pizza
and not the whole pie. Goodluck.. people tell me it will pass.
— poohniki
September 17, 2003
i don't know what you are eating at this stage, but i will tell you what
helped me. when i felt really hungry the first 2 weeks i ate something
hot(soup). i made a mock chicken soup with the little packets of chicken
broth(i didn't like the ones in the jar they had no flavor) and 5 saltine
cracker broken up and put in the broth to swell up(that was my mock
noodles). the warm feeling in my stomach really did help.
— franbvan
September 17, 2003
I'm exactly one week today too. Like you I researched and thought I was
prepared for everything, even head hunger. Until it hit. I saw a commercial
for Kraft American cheese, with a crunchy, melty grilled cheese sandwhich
and thought I would die. I've been craving one ever since. Also a bologna
and cheese sandwhich on fresh white bread. And I never ate bologna:) Of all
the things to crave. But I keep reminding myself of something I read on
here a long time ago, I wish I knew who to give the credit to. The
quote..."Nothing tastes as good as thin feels". My personal
motto, I keep repeating it to myself through the head hunger tears.
Nancy
— nancysho
September 17, 2003
I just wanted to let you know that I soooooooo know how you feel. I
remember laying in my recliner, watching tv, being on the verge of tears,
because Arby's had a new roast beef sandwich coming out!! The head hunger
was horrible for me! Dreams about food! Then one day, it was gone. Don't
know how or why, but I think it was about 4 weeks out. And things, were
getting much easier. It will for you too! Keep your head high, the worst is
almost over! God Bless.
— EHarding
September 17, 2003
I'm curious what you are allowed to eat right now. Cream soups? Milk? Hot
cereals? A steady diet of carbs WILL make you hungry. You might try a whey
protein drink made with water to help shut off some of the physical hunger
so you can deal with head hunger.
— vitalady
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