Question:
6 mo. out -- Why is it suddenly so hard?

I find myself wanting to eat all the time and wanting to eat a lot. I haven't been good with self-control (obviously an weakness for my whole life or I wouldn't have needed surgery!). I can eat a lot, fast, with no discomfort, ever. Eating protein first doesn't help - I still want to (and can and do) keep eating. Drinking tons of water also doesn't make me stop. I'm not even eating BAD things, just eating a lot! How do I get back on track?!!!    — jen41766 (posted on February 12, 2003)


February 12, 2003
Hi there, sorry, I don't really have any answers for you. I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. I am 3 mos. post-op & for the past momth i get a terrible hungery feeling. Tummy growling and all. I've tried the water water water & drinking my protien drink at different times nothing as helped yet. The Dr. tells me to watch out how many carbs i'm eating to back off the carbs. it makes your insulin go up & you feel hungery. If you find the cure (lol) plz let me know my e-mail addy is on my surgery page Debbie Willis . becareful, there are too Debbie Willis's i'm the one the had surgery oct.31, 02 hope everything else is going well for you. Take Care, Debbie W.
   — Debbie W.

February 12, 2003
I can sympathize! The only thing that works for me is following the CAD plan. NO carbs for breakfast or lunch and NO snacking in between meals. The last poster was completely right on with the Insulin thing. Everytime you eat a carb it spikes your Insulin and that causes additional cravings. It sounds very difficult, but the beauty this plan is that after 1 or 2 days of following this plan you just don't crave the carbs any more and your hunger diminishes. Of course, although this works for me, everyone is different. If you have any additional questions, feel free to email me.
   — pam29922

February 12, 2003
Jennifer, I know how you feel. I'm 5 months, 1 week and 3 days post op and I can also just about eat everything with no problems...That REALLY scares me. I wonder if I was dilated too much..??
   — yourdivaness

February 12, 2003
I'm curious as to what you think "a lot" is. I know around 6 - 7 months post for me my appetite increased, and I could eat " a lot" more than I could early post (approx 1500 cal which is more than most of my peers at that time)...but not as much as I could before surgery. Even now, I can eat a lot more than I could at 6 months...but still not nearly as much as I could before. I think I eat what a naturally average size woman eats at this point. Some days I eat more, some I eat less. But it averages to about 1900-2000 cal a day. I do exercise 5 days a week at a pretty good intensity for about 35-40 min. I'm still loosing....sloooowwwww but sure. Some of us can still be successful even if a teaspoon of this or a bite of that doesn't fill us up. Think about what you're eating...and is it *really* a lot? -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -150lbs
   — KimBo36

February 12, 2003
Jennifer, I right there with you, how-ever I'm at 8 months post op. Just like you I'm able to tollerate almost anything, I haven't reverted back to eating those really bad food, but what I am eating is what I consider allot, Like 1500-2000 calories a day, I know I need to shape up and get with the program, as I really should be eating like 1200-1400 calories a day to at least loose 2 pounds a week. I'm at a nasty plateau, and that in its self makes anyone depressed. I just had my gall bladder taken out 2 weeks and a couple of days ago, so I I'm dying to go out and exercise and tan, haven't been able to do both in 2 weeks,,,,.... I was thinking of joining maybe a weight watchers or even get on some kind of program, not expensive that will give me an extra boost of motovation. You might want to check into these as well. Or we could help each other out and email each other what we ate, and motovate each-other to get back on track. Which ever you choose, P.s. I'm the same with water, I can drink tons of it, on 1 day I drank more then 100 oz thought my eyes were floating. Best of luck, Post op 8 months and down 118 pounds.
   — tannedtigress

February 12, 2003
Jennifer, I HEAR YA...I will be 6 mos on Saturday the 15th, I am down 92lbs...For the past 2 wks, I have been eating more than necessary! I even emailed my dtr saying I wanted a revision, needless to say he laughed at me. I think I am gonna seek some therapy, Its all in the head, I know....I know I am not really hungry and if I ever got fat again I would DIE! I don't ever want to be that fat chick @ 300lbs EVER AGAIN....I looked miserable, I felt miserable and that should be motivation enough, but, after dinner (when I get the cravings) its not. If you figure anyhting out, please let me know. I have another 63lbs to lose and I have never wanted anyhting so bad in all my life. Heather (Open RNY 8/15/02 - 305/213/150)
   — heathercross

February 13, 2003
I had the same experience at about 6 months. My hunger came back big time. I ate too many carbs which made me hungrier. I finally came to the conclusion that maybe my body NEEDED more food at that time. So I ate small meals every two hours. I did cut back on the carbs and sugar I had been eating and switched to a protein only breakfast. I also added a protein bar as my mid-morning snack, which seemed to help with my sweets cravings.<p>I know what worked for me won't work for everyone, but the point is that you do have to continue to listen to your body. If it tells you it needs MORE, maybe it does. Just make sure it is the right stuff. Carbs beget carbs: The more you have the more you want. Make sure your protein intake is up to snuff (100 grams for me) and you are watching the white carbs. Once I got this stuff figured out I went on to lose the rest of the weight. Also, I only ate every two hours for about a month and a half. After that my body was happy eating less and less often again. Hope this helps!
   — ctyst

February 13, 2003
for me what I eat for breakfast can make all the difference in the world. If I eat ceral (or any hih carb food that doesnt have a lot of protein I am "starving" all day long. If I have a protein shake early, then scrambeld egg with cheese or 1/2 cup cottage cheese mid morning, salad with chicken or shrimp at lunch, fruit in the after noon usually in the car on my way home from work, then meat or fish of some sort, and a veggie for dinner. late snack is usually sugar free jello or pudding or ice cream or a sugar free cookie. I feel like I am eating alot, but calories end up in the 800 - 900 range and I am losing well, occasional plateaus followed by rapid weight loss. 71 # in < 5 months
   — **willow**

February 13, 2003
I seem to have the opposite problem. I find myself not hungry. I am almost 6 months post op and down 77lbs. I am finding that I eat 600-800 calories a day and seem to plateau because of it. My PMS week I seem hungrier and I lose better. How weird is that!? I haven't figured out how to make myself eat more when I am not hungry. Good Luck!
   — Linda K.

February 13, 2003
Just a note for WILLOW K & LINDA, you guys aren't eating enough calories, if you are 5 mos to 6mos out, you should be eating at LEAST 1000-1100 calories a day...That maybe why you plateau then lose and lose more when you eat more. Just wanted to point that out (Heather Cross 8/15, down 92lbs)
   — heathercross

February 13, 2003
Just my 2 cents here. At 6 months it seemed like my appetite finally came back. Since then, I wanted to snack all the time. I have pretty much gotten it under control. I make myself a cup of tea, try to find something to do. If I really must have a snack, I grab something high in protein, beef jerky, turkey pepperoni, string cheese. I try to stay away from carbs as much as possible. I heard a rumor that the more carbs you eat the more you crave them. How many calories do you consume daily?? Do you exercise?? These will take a lot into consideration. Personally, I eat about 900 calories a day, I am 10 months out. I would have to disagree with Heather who commented that poster willow was not eating enough, every surgeon has different diet plans for us. Her surgeon may say more..that doesn't mean her's is necessarily right or wrong. Follow your dr's instructions. Keep track of everything you eat in a day...I use fitday.com. It really helps. Good Luck!
   — bevewy

February 13, 2003
Jennifer, to clarify, I didn't say you weren't eating anough, I meant the other two commenters, but, if you are seeing a nutrionist regularly (an a surgeon is NOT A NUTRIONIST) he/she will direct you on calories,,,but, at 6 mos, you definitly should be above 1000 calories. If not, your body will shift to starvation mode!
   — heathercross

February 14, 2003
Original poster here - just wanting to say say thanks for all the responses!! It helps to know I have such a valuable resource. To answer a couple of points that came up - I do work with a nutritionist, we meet once a month. And I am easily eating plenty of calories. I can eat almost like I used to. I'd be embarrassed to even describe some recent meals! I am looking into an eating disorder specialist to help me get my head back in the game - I figure it can't hurt, right? ARGH!!!!!!!!
   — jen41766




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