Question:
How are you dealing with your increased appetite? I'd like

I'd like to hear from post ops 6 months out or more who have had or is having challenging times right now dealing with the amount of "space" you have in your pouch. My mind is pre-occupied with "what ifs"...like, what if my pouch continues to stretch and I start gaining again?...what if I hit a plateau and remain on it for about 2-3 months EVEN when I'm doing ALL of the right things??...what if I might need a revision...what I am having is a hard time trying to control the amount of food I eat, I know that I NEED to eat and STOP when I FEEL FULL, and I do. It just seems that my appetite is not satisfied. I get *counselling* and it seems to help temporarily, but the "beast" seems to pounce on me big time. I've noticed my weight is going up and down AGAIN!! This is really becoming a nuisance. Are any of you going through this? How are you dealing with it and do you have any suggestions? I welcome all at this point. I don't want to fail nor do I want to be responsible for my surgery failing. Is there some way we can perhaps keep in touch with each other on a regular basis? Please HELP!    — yourdivaness (posted on March 25, 2003)

March 24, 2003
I am feeling the same. Sometimes I want to eat several times a day. I am able to more at meals but it depends on what it is. I have lost 79 lbs since Aug 2nd. Been on a plateau for about 2 weeks now, gaining and losing the same 1 lb. Email anytime, I'd be glad to keep in contact with you.
   — jojo63

March 24, 2003
I'm having the same problem, I want to eat more, and eat more often, some days it is really a struggle to get control. But I'm with you, I WANT this to work for me. I attend support group meetings once a month, sometimes wish it was more often. I continue with the "mind games" and every time I go to eat I have to push myself away. Some days are better than others... Good Luck and if anything helps let me know...9/3/02 open RNY down 95lbs.
   — Jeana S.

March 24, 2003
I have noticed that I get hungrier now and I can sometimes with somethings eat a lot more than before. However my exercise has increased also and that is the saving grace there. Weight loss is all mathematical outgo has to exceed incoming. That is the beauty of exercise. It is really weird to be this hungry again to sometimes eat what seems to be a lot but comparitively it is considerably less than pre surgery. It is a tool all the old post ops say and we have to use the tool. Good Luck Peggy open rny 9/20/02 -108#'s
   — Peggy A.

March 24, 2003
Another hungry-all-the-time person checking in! I, too have days I feel like I could eat all day. Yesterday was one of them. Today is not so bad. I am on a plateau and getting discouraged. I am 5 months out. It is nice to know there are others sharing my same fears - I won't lose anymore and I am going to gain it back, I'm eating too much, eating the wrong things, not drinking enough, not getting enough protein, etc., etc. I know a lot of it is head hunger but it is hard to keep the old habits away.
   — koogy

March 25, 2003
I'll just say "ditto". 7 1/2 months out. Maybe we should all start our own little support club. We can do this (even though it's WAY harder than it was 4 months ago!)!!!
   — jen41766

March 25, 2003
Hey everyone, I am 8 months out, have lost 130 pounds, but I do feel hungry more than I think I should. I think the main thing we can do is just keep in mind all the "golden rules"....drink water!!! when you eat, make sure it's something with protein, so you will get full and stay full, don't snack, excercise as much as possible and just make yourself busy doing other things and not thinking about when you can eat next. I know sometimes, I can wake up and I automatically think....what am I going to eat before work?? Of course my eyes are always bigger than my "pouch", and that's satisfying, knowing I can now stop when I've had enough and I didn't even really eat that much. Good luck to all, and hang in there
   — Melissa L.