Question:
What if you're NOT hungry ~Long Time Post-ops?

Forgive me for asking this...I know it may seem like a dumb question, but what do you do when you're NOT HUNGRY? Oftentimes, I'm not even hungry and feel like I should not eat...I can remember being told to "eat when you're hungry" AND "eat until you are FULL". But, have NOT been told to "NOT EAT". Could I be causing problems for myself that perhaps I'm not aware of? I'm trying to understand why I should eat if I'm not hungry since *senseless* eating is one of the reasons I became fat in the first place. Does that make sense, or not?    — yourdivaness (posted on March 4, 2003)

March 4, 2003
What you have to remember is not that you have had the surery there is alot of times when you are not hungery. But because your stomach is so small you still have to get the amount of protein needed daily. If you dont get that protein that you need you will start to loose muscle nad energy. What works for me is to set a schedule to eat. Once I get into that routine then it becomes automatic. Also eating will increase you metoblism and help you loose weight as well.
   — Richard M.

March 4, 2003
There's a difference between senseless eating (for recreation, boredom, emotional issues, or just plain pigging out) and eating to fuel your body. It's great not to be hungry sometimes after this surgery, but I really think eating regularly (including breakfast) helps our metabolisms work more efficiently, so we lose better -- maintain better -- feel better. And that way, when and if head hunger strikes you later, you'll already have some really good eating (fueling!) habits set up so you can REALLY stave off that "senseless" eating that did us in before!
   — Suzy C.

March 4, 2003
I am 11 months post-op and still have never really gotten back my appetite, though it is better than it was early post-op. I basically eat on a schedule - fixed amounts 6 times a day, regardless of whether or not I am hungry. Otherwise, I do not get in anough protein or calories...
   — Melissa F.

March 4, 2003
You definitely make sense! For most of us, we go thru a period when we are just no longer hungry. I soooo wish that lasted forever, but eventually the hunger comes back, usually around the 6 month post-op mark, sooner for some, later for others. Regardless of whether you are hungry or not, you still have to eat a sufficient # of calories, protein, and veggies to keep yourself healthy. The eat when your hungry and until full is for later when you get hungry, as a guide to only eat when hungry and to avoid senseless eating.
   — Cindy R.

March 9, 2003
I am a 1 year PO and usually not hungry at all. Food and I do not get along anymore so I tend to just keep food in front of me that I can eat and munch on it all day or else I get ill and weak. I like Balance bars because there are 40 30 30 nutrition. But that is about all I eat anymore so that can not be too good. **1 Yr PO, -195lbs, crrt wgt 125lbs**
   — smedley200