Question:
2+ Years Post Op

I am 18 months post op and doing well. I've lost 130 pounds (though I'd like to lose 30 more) and follow the rules very closely. I'm at the gym 5 days per week, 110 oz water, 80g protein, 50g carbs, supplements. My question is for those 2+ years post op. I'm getting nervous about being able to eat even more in the coming months/years which is not a problem for me yet. How do you keep your hunger in check? My surgeon wants us eating 3 meals per day, no protein shakes, no snacking, and I'm not interested in taking medicinal appetite suppresants. I do sometimes have a handful of nuts if I get hungry between meals. I'm still so nervous about regain. Thanks!    — Yolanda J. (posted on May 14, 2004)

May 14, 2004
I wouldn't pretend to know more than your doctor, but I'd ask him about the no-snacking rule. There is no way I could get through my day without snacking. I do so much better with a more even stream of food throughout the day than if I let myself get ravenously hungry, as I would if ate only at 7:30 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m. I would think that as long as the total calories remain within a reasonable range, and you are snacking on healthy foods rather than junk, why couldn't you eat smaller meals along with one or two snacks a day? I'm 13.5 months out and have a roasted soybean coffee substitute protein drink while I get ready for work between 7 and 8 a.m. (26 grams of protein, 120 calories); a snack of yogurt (1/2 cup), or nuts (3 to 4 tablespoons), or cheese (2 to 3 ounces) or a protein bar around 10:00 a.m, lunch (usually 2 to 3 ounces of meat and 1/4 to 1/3 cup of veggies or 1/2 cup of soup and half a sandwich) around noon, a snack (similar to the morning one) between 3 and 4 o'clock, and dinner (similar to lunch) sometime between 6 and 7 o'clock. On Fitday.com, this tracks to about 1400 calories a day. To me, there's an important distinction between snacking and grazing. As long as I plan out my snacks, and include them in my daily calorie allowance, I see them as a help, not a hindrance.
   — Vespa R.

May 14, 2004
I just hit 2 1/2 years post op a week ago. I'm still the same weight I was at month 10 post-op. I think you REALLY still have to continue weighing yourself - at least once every 2 or 3 weeks or whenever your clothes start to feel tight. I think that still keeps you in check and when you start to put a couple of extra pounds on, you can stop it in it's tracks by cutting back on your food intake and exercising more. It's VERY easy to regain weight so you have to keep a close eye on it. I think 50g of carbs seems like an aweful lot. That would keep my appetite going constantly. If you were to cut your carbs back, you probably wouldn't have as much hunger and some more weight could come off.
   — Patty H.

May 14, 2004
I agree with Vespa. My surgeon recommends eating 5-6 small meals daily instead of 3 simply to keep your blood sugar levels even. I usually have an egg and 2 slices bacon (canadian bacon would be better) at 8:30 am, a little cheese at 10:30, lunch is usually grilled chicken and either soup or salad, 3:00 snack is 1/2 of a beef stick from vitalady, dinner is some sort of grilled meat and a vegetable or cottage cheese and night time snack is 2 or 3 triscuit crackers and a small piece of cheese. I usually eat about 1100 calories with less than 50 grams of fat and carbs (each) and 80+ grams of protein. I'm only 11 months post-op though and I know that will change. I'm still trying to get off another 25-35 pounds. Good Luck
   — Carolyn M.