Question:
I can eat all the time

I am always hungry I dont get full that often. I am snacking alot and can eat a bag of beef jerky. HELP. I am 11 weeks post op. I am scared i am not going to lose all my weight. i Have recently plateued. HELP    — [Anonymous] (posted on September 27, 2001)

September 27, 2001
Hi there. My expirience has been similar to yours. I am 9 weeks out and have been on a plateu for a couple of weeks. I know I don't have a disrupted stapeline, because I am transected. (I had a stapeline leak after surgery but that's another story). Sometimes I feel like I never had the surgery. I came home from work yesterday and ate lowfat icecream out of my freezer before dinner and had a hard time stopping. Unfortunately the only problems I have with eating are when I eat solids too fast (I vomit them up). I can eat a decent size meal and then an hour later I'm HUNGRY and eat a snack. I'm averaging about 1000-1200 calories a day. I'm worried it's a little high this early on (granted pre-op I could slam down 3000-4000 no prob) Maybe we aren't doing as bad as we think . We've been reading so much about others getting stuffed on two teaspoons of whatever that maybe we had higher expectations from the surgery. I know I thought I'd be satisfied with a tablespoon of peanut butter for lunch, as I read that that was one of the lunches Carnie Wilson would have sometimes. I am truly dissapointed that that's not *my* expirience. If you want to compare stories feel free to e-mail me and we can talk about it.
   — KimBo36

September 28, 2001
The problem with this surgery is that it's only a tool. I found a real interesting article. The beginning is basic information but towards the end it talks about 3 principles for gaining and maintaining satiety, followed by fluid loading. It also goes into things that cause failure of this surgery. Really the whole article is very informative and I reread it a least once a week to keep me focused. http://www.oregoncenter.com/article1.html I'm only 2months out but I find the more stress I'm under I tend to look towards my old ways of dealing with it-FOOD even though I don't feel hungry. I'm working with a counselor and psychiatrist to deal with stress and depression. By doing all the above, including rereading the article, I'm able to stay focused on what I need to do. Hope it helps you too.
   — Helen B.

September 28, 2001
I'm always a little suspicious when I hear stories like Carnie Wilson's. Getting stuffed on 2oz. of food!!! That was not my experience or any of the 9 friends and relatives of mine who had wls. Perhaps you are eating to man carbs. I know that when I eat more than 60grams of carbs...spread out over my three meals...I am famished all day. I get hungry and stay hungry which leads to the oh so dangerous grazing. Also, make sure you dring a minmum of 64oz. of water. I also find that drinking a glass of cold water 20 minutes before I eat helps me stay full. Keep the beef jerky and any other "bad" food out of your house! You are in the very early stages of weight loss and now is the time to maximize you weight loss and to learn new habits. It isn't easy. You have to work very hard. It's a constant battle. I'm almost four years post rny and it is still a battle for me.
   — [Anonymous]

September 28, 2001
Is beef jerky really a "bad" food? I thought it was a great snack.. low in fat/sugar and high in protein...??
   — Jen S.

November 1, 2001
I myself get full very very quicky. A spoonful of past will fill me up. Now maybe some don't believe that, but it all depends on the size your surgeon made your new stomach. Some are bigger than others. But in answer to your problem, don't PICK!!!! The surgery is not a cure-all. If you are going to continue old habits, then why did you have the surgery to begin with. This is no miracle cure. Work at it!
   — [Anonymous]

January 26, 2003
I am 17 months out and I've been battling with overeating issues for a few months now. I'm terrified that I'm going to gain the weight back. I have also fallen back into my old habits, wanting to eat constantly. I notice that I'm never really hungry when I do eat, except in the mornings. That is the same thing that happened to me before surgery. I lost 130 pounds, although I have gained 5 pounds in the last couple months. I know that once we reach our two year mark we are pretty much done losing weight, and so I'm freaking out. I know I have to exercise to get there, I have trouble drinking water (it actually bothers my stomach), and I know I have to get rid of stress and focus on healthy eating. I just have a hard time with that. I have a close friend that also has this problem, but we are at a loss for helping eachother. With my schedule and hers, we never can make a support meeting. So, to sum up, I know just how you feel and if there is anything I can do to help you or you to help me, please e-mail me and let me know. I too could use some support through this. I know surgery is just a tool and the person who said to "work" at it seems a bit unsensitive to the problems that we can have. It isn't because we don't try to work at it, we just have a hard time making it there. Hang in there!
   — Jennifer F.

February 4, 2003
I am almost 6 months post op and going thru the same thing. When I sit down at meal time I can't eat a lot, but I constantly find myself wanting to snack. Pretzels, crackers. I believe I'm eating to many carbs and not drinking enough water. Stay in there, we all have our little set backs, but let's remember why we had the surgury to begin with. Good luck.
   — Tammy K.

April 24, 2004
I am 9 days post op and thought I wouldnt feel hungary too, but this is not the case, my "pouch" knows exactly when to eat. I get hungary and I eat more than 2 oz for sure. About 1/2 cup at a time and Im sipping all day too. Is this normal?? I think everyone is different and we must treat this surgery that way. Old eating habits are hard to change. Feel free for anyone to email me, Thanks and have a great day!!
   — Christina S.

October 24, 2004
JUST STOP! stop snacking. it's all in your head. you are not hungry. it's a bad habit. when I get hungry, I hop on my exercise bike and get my rush that way. I munch when I'm bored, which is not good. I cleaned out the fridge...bought protein bars and soy snacks...so when I munch...its PROTEIN. Just stop. There is no help out there, only in you.
   — Patricia D.

October 24, 2004
One of the hardest things to learn post-op is the difference between head hunger and actual physical hunger. Til you get there get temptation out of your reach. Clean out your cabinets and refrigerator and don't keep foods that are going to tempt you within reach. Substitute behaviors for your reaching for food. This is a choice you have to make to be successful. Go for a walk, clean your house, talk to a friend--anything except eat. Get on a schedule and do not eat outside of those time frames--no matter what. Gradually that will help you learn the difference between head hunger and physical hunger.
   — Cathy S.

Click Here to Return