Question:
I'm 15 mons. post op.. I think I'm eating WAY too much...

Hi.. I wanted to ask if any of you year post opies can eat as much as I do.. basically, am I normal?? <p> Now.. I cannot eat this much all the time, this 'appetite' comes and goes.. but I can eat almost 3 slices of pizza in one sitting. The other day, I had a ham and swiss sandwich, yes with both toasted breads, a full one, not half of a sandwich, with the big slices of bread too. ABout an hour and a half after that, I was HUNGRY again! I ate almost another whole sandwich, this time peanut butter/banana/honey. I was then satisfied (not stuffed) that by the time dinner came about, I just wasnt too hungry. Had a few bites of fish and veggies, and that was all I wanted. Sometimes, I cant eat a bite for a meal, just not hungry whatsoever, other times, I eat like a horse. I notice however, that this happens right before, during and after my monthly visiter. Could hormones play a role? <p> If so, am I damaging myself, my stoma, by eating this much? I NEVER EVER eat until im stuffed. Just satisfied, I eat slow(ish), never drink with my meals either. I would hate to gain the weight back bit by bit.. I havent gained (yet) but I have noticed one bad thing during this time of month... I THINK ABOUT FOOD A LOT.. TOO TOO TOO MUCH. "HMM, WHAT CAN I HAVE NOW???" And yes, bad choices sometimes too. Any suggestions?? Love ya, Annie PS... (I had a Proximal RNY).    — Annie R. (posted on November 22, 2002)

November 21, 2002
Hi Annie! Hmmmmm - this is a difficult situation, huh? When I read your question I was surprised to see there hadn't been any answers and I really expected to see people suggesting couseling, nutrition classes, etc. Here's my take on this. I am two years post op and I have days like this too. It's a testament to the fact that they only operated on our stomachs and not our brains. Even though you're not necessarily making wise food choices - you're not gaining weight either. I'd say if you're happy overall then you should stop worrying about it. You're probably just eating like a normal person. Normal people have binge days and regular days. I never wanted to be on an eternal diet so I've learned that when I screw up and have a bad day that following it with a few good days will usually balance things out. I also experience preoccupation with food - sometimes I just find myself daydreaming about it and it makes me so angry with myself. But, I think this may be a result of hormones, boredome, etc. My son says it best when he says "My mom will always be a fat head". He's not being cruel, he's just telling the truth. My body may be normal now but in my head I'll always be the "fat girl" and after 2 years I've pretty much given up on reaching a point that I'll never worry about food again. I have a lady in my support group who's found peace on the "9 to 5" plan. She is VERY restriced in what she eats between 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. She does alot of protein supplements during those hours. However, once 5 o'clock rolls around she eats what her family eats (but not to excess) and does the same on the weekends. She's been at goal for years. Do you have a support group in your area? I'd say you should get involved in one if you can. It's the most beneficial thing I do when it comes to the daily struggles of a long term post op. People in the group understand and don't judge you. If you start gaining weight you may have to reevaluate things but I'd say to just take a deep breath and do the best you can. That's really the most any of us can do. You've had WONDERFUL success and I'm very proud of you!!
   — ronascott

November 22, 2002
hiya! congrats on your "loss" lol...you look fantastic! i am 17 mos post op, below goal weight, and i have days where i feel like i eat a lot. the other night i had a grilled turkey, cheese, bacon sandwich (ok sounds "big" but heres the scoop: 2 pieces thin weber sandwich bread, light butter on it for grilling, 1 piece american cheese, 2 slices turkey deli meat, sprinkle of real bacon bits) and 2 baked ruffles potato chips. it took me about 1 hour to eat it all. i didn't feel "stuffed" but i felt like that was a lot of food. but then i have days when i eat 2-3 bites of ANYTHING and i'm like, "dang, i don't want anything else" i have a friend who's 15 mos post op and she goes through the same thing. what i concentrate on is the fact that, yea i ate a whole sandwich BUT i ate it over an hours period and pre op i'd have eaten 2 sandwiches with 1/2 bag chips then some dessert. i try to look at the fact that i'm not gaining weight, my labs are fine, i get my protein in, get my water/vitamins in, and i think i eat "normal" now. which that was part of my goal right? yuppers. the 3 pieces of pizza does sound like a lot but i'm wondering, what sizes where the pieces and did you eat all of the pieces or 1 whole piece (crust and all) then pick off parts of the other 2 pieces? you can do the cottage cheese test if you're concerned about the size of your pouch...i have a copy of it on my website http://www.geocities.com/katebme2002 good luck! {{hugs}} kate open rny 6-14-01 pre op: 268lbs goal: 135lbs current: 126lbs
   — jkb

November 22, 2002
Annie-- I am a new post-op (6weeks) so I can't really give an answer..but I can say that you're weightloss is amazing and I commend you on it. Just the fact that you're working to keep yourself in check tells me that you're probably fine.... But thanks for sharing the post, it helps new post-ops like me................Appreciate it. Karen
   — Karen K.

November 22, 2002
I have to comment on the 9 to 5 thing that Rhona mentioned below. That is me to a T!!!! I am very restricted while at work...In fact today I was thinking if I ever left my job I'd be in trouble. I workout in their gym m-f and eat a bunch of mini meals based on my work schedule/breaks...But after work I'm less regimented and weekends are a free-for-all (not exactly, but compared to M-F they may seem that way) that is so funny that someone has named what I'm doing...I love it. I also basically follow the "half rule". If I'm given a full serving, I leave about half. I could in all honesty eat a whole serving, at times, and occassionally do, but I'm too afraid of stretching my pouch. So I don't do it often. I eat OFTEN during the day, but it's a bunch of low fat, low calorie, and sometimes high protein "mini meals". It has helped me have a lot of control over hunger and cravings. It has also kicked my weight loss back in gear. (I'm almost to goal, with about 10 lbs to go and 16 months post op). It has also done wonders for aweful mood swings I use to get. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -140 lbs
   — KimBo36

November 22, 2002
I agree with Kate, you should do the cottage cheese test. I had the same fears and worries as you and it really put my mind at ease. You sound just like me! I can eat a LOT (by WLS standards, anyway) sometimes and then later that day or the next, I'll be back to 1/4 cup and I'm full. I think that, as long as the mechanics of the surgery are still intact, our bodies tell us what we need and all we have to do is listen to them. If my body says I need to eat more, I eat more in quantity or frequency. If my body says I'm not hungry I don't force it. I went thru a period of a couple of months where I ate every 2 hours like clockwork. (I do wait at least 2 hours between "meals" to avoid grazing.) I figured that I needed extra. Sure enough, after a while I went back to every 3-4 hours. I think by now we realize we are all different, but another realization we have to come to is that our appetite and capacity for eating may be different from day to day, hour to hour. And that's OK!<p>Bottom line, as long as your total calories aren't consistently high, you will be fine. Even if they are high for a day, I'll bet your average for the week is completely acceptable. Do the cottage cheese test to put your mind at ease. Then don't do any more worrying unless your pants start feeling tight! ;)
   — ctyst

November 22, 2002
Hi Anne, I too am 15 months post op Proximal RNY, but started out much heavier than you. I don't really see from what you've stated that you've eaten too much. I at 15 months can eat a lot too, and then some days not very much at all. My suggestion is to you, is to go out and watch naturally thin people eat, they eat just like you. They eat when they are hungry, and stop when there not. Sometimes more and sometimes less. If you eat, and then are hungry again, then that is your body saying, "I need more". If your not gaining and are happy with where you are, then don't worry. I thnk your judging your eating habits and amount of food, by others on this site, and you just can't do that. I stay on a "diet" where some don't even want to hear that word. Some eat like birds for the rest of their lives, and some eat "normal", by their definition. I think you look great and have done great. Don't beat yourself up, give yourself a hand for your great success!!!
   — Carey N.

November 24, 2002
Hi there! I am 12 months post op and know just what you mean. Some days I can eat like a horse per WLS standards (feel guilty but do it anyways!) and other days I can't take in anything. I think you should not be too hard on yourself. We all go through those periods, just make sure they aren't consistent. I remind myself though that even though it seems like I have eaten a lot, it is NOTHING compared to what I did to myself pre op. Yikes! I ate horrible! Something I like to do is journal when I find myself eating more, I look for patterns and sometimes there are reasons to overeat, other times I just do it because I am bored. good luck
   — purdue_1993