Question:
Does anyone else find that they have to make themselves eat?

I'm almost 6 months post op and I'm still having trouble eating. Either I'm just not hungry - nothing appeals to me- can't believe I'd ever feel like this. And then when I do think I can eat something, usually one or two bites-small ones, and I don't want anymore. I'm having a terrible time eating enough protien - heck eating much of anything. About once a week, I find that I'm actually hungry and am actually able to eat a little something without feeling nauseous or vomitting. My hair is starting to really fall out and I know I've got to start eating more protein, but again usually I just don't want anything, either I'm not even a little bit hungry or I feel as if I'd be sick if i ate anything. Is this normal?! ................... Then on those rare occasions that I can eat and feel like eating, I find myself terrified that I'm eating too much and that I'll start gaining weight. *sigh* Please someone else tell me about their experiences, and if you've had any of these problems. I have learned that fatty foods and some dairy products make me sicker than other foods. Breads sit in my stomach like a lead weight. About the only thing that i can count on not making me nauseous is liquids-except milk. Milk, some yogurts not only make me nauseous but they never fail to give me diareah. Vegetables are the least likely food to make me sick.... so far. Does this get better? About when? For the most part most of the time I prefer to just not eat anything, but I know its not healthy. Six months ago who would have ever thought that I'd ever have to make myself eat food. Me?! The emotional eater... the person who hid what she ate, who ate 'snacks' between, before and after every normally scheduled meal? The person who could once have eaten a 16oz t-bone, huge baked potato and salad with yeast rolls, attack a desert bar (left to my own devises with no one around to make me feel guilty) and try a little bit of everything that looked good and an still be able to eat any steak anyone else had leftover. The person who could go to a chinesee buffett and fill my plate no less than 3 times before hitting the desert bar... the woman who during her previous marriage would start eating ice cream-from a box that was half full-when I was left at home alone during the weekend and before the weekend was over would go to the store and buy another box of the same ice cream so I could eat half of it so that the remaining ice cream in the box would look as if I'd never eaten any of it. Who would have ever thought that person would be struggling to make herself eat enough to stay healthy. I keep telling myself it will get better and that I don't have to fear slipping back into my old cravings and habits. I suppose that is a large part of the problem, when my stomach/pouch does feel as if I could eat without getting sick, I worry that I'm eating too much. Yet, several times when I was having one of these day, I've made myself keep a record of what I've eaten, and even though I feel like I've made a pig of myself - like today - I find that I really haven't eaten much at all. Today 1 scrambled egg - w/ one slice of cheese. 1/2 of a new protien bar I found called Detour _ tasted good and didn't feel like a cement block sitting in my stomach. 2 oz of a ham/cheese/onion/maccoroni casserol And that's it! yet emotionally I FEEL like I've pigged out today. Yesterday I had 8 oz grapefruit juice, 1 oz fat free cheddar cheese, 1 slice diet whole wheat bread and 1 oz extra lean ground beef. I ended-up vomitting the bread and beef and didn't want anything else for the remainder of the day. Now a week ago I was able to eat 2 oz extra lean ground beef w/homemade spaghetti sauce and a tiny bit of noodles without any problem. There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason regarding what will make me nauseous or vomit and what won't. Sunday I actually had a craving for homemade chicken and noodle soup (very little 'soup' involved the way I make it) I had about 1/4 cup without any adverse side effects. Monday I tried to eat a little for lunch and it repeated on me ... and made me nauseous all day long. I just don't get it. Frozen sugar free/ fat free yogurt seems to be the only thing that never makes me sick. That and peppermint tea. Go figure... but if I eat the frozen yogurt two days in a row, then well lets just say its better than exlax. *sigh* I guess I just want to know if ANYONE is experiencing or has experience anything like what I'm going through..    — Loralynn W. (posted on June 12, 2003)

June 12, 2003
I agree, even now at 22+ mos. out, there are days that I have to make myself eat or I probably would not as I am rarely "hungry". I am careful to get in 80gms of protein via whey supplements, vits and fluids - but some days food is just not a top priority - who would have thought it! Last night, I took my 13yr old nephew out for a quick dinner at Friendly's before a movie and had part of a dinner salad and half of a small chicken quesadilla and I was FULL! Prior to WLS, I would have had what he had - a collosul patty melt w/fries, the other half of my chicken quesadilla, soda and a hot fudge sunday for desert! It still amazes me. I am also VERY lactose intolerant since WLS, and sugar alcohols/sorbitol don't agree with me so I limit them. I still get the "oh I ate so much today" feeling until I sit down and figure out how little I truly had. I think you are doing the right thing by keeping a food record when you feel your control is slipping. It helps to see things in black and white. Good luck!
   — Jean K.

June 12, 2003
Oh sweetie, I know how you feel. I myself am almost 7 months post op and am recently (last 2 weeks) eating more than 2 oz. I drink a shake called ZOIC in the morning (21g protien) and then for lunch I have cheese wrapped roast beef or soup and cottage cheese. Dinner is usually whatever meat I cook and a small amount of veggies. For some reason it sound like your eating alot of carbs, check with your doctor about that. I just started reintroducing carbs last week. Bread is out of the question.. It sits like a rock and not worth my pouch space. I only recently also began eating eggs and chicken, they made me regurgitate. I also find that 1 food I eat this week fine makes me sick next week. It's just a matter of time, trial-and-error and a sense of humor. I am concerned about your protien intake though, please ask your doctor for a sample menu or go to atkins.com or another resource you should eat a minimum of 62g of protien daily. Hope I heled a bit.
   — Lisa M.

June 13, 2003
I feel the same at 7 mos out. Some days I can eat 'a lot' and others I have to force things down. A few observations I''ve made: 1.) Leftovers NEVER sit well 2.) Ground beef is perilous. You have to make sure your fat content is at least 80% lean when you're shopping. Also, draining the beed and patting the oil off makes it much easier. 3.) Bread- don't go there. If you do, toast the hell out of it, or you will be sorry. 4.) Dessert items, life SF, FF ice cream, always go down good. Don't make a habit of them. 5.) Dont mix too many food groups when eating. Keeping it simple makes it easier on your tummy. I think that you have to find your safety foods that you can rely on. For example, believe it or not, one of mine is Wendy's Chili. I've always been able to eat it. The other is tuna fish salad. You need to have these foods so you can go back to them for your requirements. It gets boring, but at least you KNOW you can eat something. We're not eating to be gourmets here. We're eating to live. That's a BIG change in attitude and habits. You mentioned cheese and eggs and had no problem. Perhaps this can be one of your safety foods. Think about it and come up with a list. It concerns me that you don't mention anything about chicken, or fish. I hope that you're trying these foods as well. You might also think about using a protein powder in your food. i.e. you ate scrambled egg. You could add protein powder to up the protein. Good luck to you!
   — LMCLILLY

June 13, 2003
I only read your topic line (no offense!) my answer to that is I remember thinking at 5 or 6 mo out I would never eat again. BUT! enjoy these times, as your appetite does come back. Best of luck!
   — ZZ S.

June 13, 2003
at 11 months out I still occasionally have days like that. I either forget to eat, or just flat out don't have time. Sucks. Other days I can't seem to "fill-er-up" :>)
   — [Deactivated Member]