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[captainjohn]

Hi there.  I'm new to the site and love it.  I'm also 8 months out and have lost about 115 pounds.  Lately, I have been eating more, snacking, and am always hungry.  Sometimes it's mental hunger, but other times it's hunger hunger.  I am so scared of gaining weight.  I have still been losing/maintaining.  Anyone have any thoughts, comments, questions.?

[wtgrlady]

I am not as far out as you so haven't gotten there yet.  What surgery did you have?  There is a pouch test that I have seen on another site (can't remember where) but it talks about going back to basics for a few days to get the carbs out of your system (if you are eating carbs).  You basically go back to liquids for a few days and then only eat protein.  Does anyone know about this pouch test?   

[Indykitty]

I am only about two months out, but i have had some hunger issues, too. For me, being able to have a "treat" makes it easier, so i love SF fudgesicles by Blue Bunny.  They are low carb and low calorie...  SF hard candy is good too and hot tea or SF cocoa.  Of course, that is all sweet stuff.  Are you craving anything in particular? 

[captainjohn]

Thanks for replying.... I had the RNY Gastric Bypass.  I was toying with the idea of going back to liquids for a few days...I'm glad you validated that.  I have only heard someone at my surgeon's office talk about the "pouch test" and will ask more serioulsly about it.  I am told that this gets to be really challenging after 1 year out.  Yikes!

[shepkatt]

Heya Guys -- Happy Sunday!

Head hunger never goes away.  We had it before surgery and since most WLS don't include a rewiring of the brain - we have it after surgery.

Most surgeon's programs call for no snacking.. mine does.. but realistically - it ain't gonna happen.  If I could be good enough to not snack and only eat my three meals - I would not have needed surgery in the first place (see my note up above about no rewiring the brain)..  I am still the same me I was before surgery.. I just have to eat differently.

So - knowing that I WILL snack during the day - I keep stuff around that I can eat and not feel guilty about.  Edamame, string cheese, SF pudding, salami, lunch meats and cheeses to roll up and dip in mustard, etc..

Feeling guilty should be banished from our minds when it comes to food.  Guilt only leads to one thing.. The need to soothe ourselves.. and how do we soothe ourselves?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Food.  That's right.

I have this voice in my head that, if left alone, will make me feel like a big fat failure.  It sounds something like this:  Reading a book, huh?  Don't you want some cookies to go with that?  How about some Fritos.. and some dip.. yeah!  dip.  Sour cream or cream cheese.. or or or why don't you mix them together with some salsa... Yep.. that would be good, huh?  What?  You can't eat that?  Why not!  Yes you can.. go eat it you fat pig.. Your going to do it.. why are you arguing with me? (If you have watched the good vs evil episode - THIS voice is where that episode came from)..

So - I defeat my stupid inner devil voice by - having a snack that is GOOD FOR ME.. or doing something to take my mind off the food.  Take the dog for a walk or run..  Go shopping (NOT grocery shopping.. whole other set of pitfalls on that one)..  Water the plants in the yard.. Wash my car..., etc.   If I still want to snack when I get back in the house.. then I heat up some edamame and eat it. 

The problem is that if you had these issues before surgery (and, um.. most of us did) - you will have them after surgery.  The solution is to find ways to satisfy your 'inner demon' with stuff that will quiet down the voice AND won't put you into a tailspin of dumping OR guilt.

My .02 cents.

[T2Nashville]

5-Day Pouch Test - I know several who have tried this and said it worked. Like re-training your pouch.

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html

Even though I'm a sleever, I saved this site to use in case I plateau.

[ttowe]

My suggestion...Know if it's real...or head hunger, cause sometimes, dammit.... they both feel the same.

For me...I judge this by...stepping back, filling my pouch with a bunch of liquid.....then distracting myself with an activity...
If I'm still hungry after completing that activity...Then I was really hungry and eat something HEALTHY!!

If I'm not still hungry...then it was HEAD hunger.

This is a hard battle but if you do it right...it becomes a good habit....(and you actually get more stuff done)

good luck.

t

[New_Leaf]

The question is (from Bob Greene) is What are you feeding? I love this video and it helped me get myself back in check. It was at oprah:
check it out
http://event.oprah.com/videochannel/lybl/lybl_vod.html?topic=1
Hope it helps someone

[wtgrlady]

Thanks T2Nashville for the 5 day pouch test.  I know I saw it before but unfortunately didn't keep it.  I saved it for future reference.

[imzinchworm]

I'm having the same issue... here is what my NUT sent me through email...

Are you drinking 64 ounces of water daily, eating 3 meals daily anywhere from ¼ cup to ½ cup or so, and taking 2 protein drinks daily? If you are doing all of this and are still hungry, then I would suggest a cheese stick, or fresh fruit (¼ cup) with a piece of cheese (1 ounce) or ¼ cup of cottage cheese, or ½ banana with 1 Tbsp peanut butter. The combo of a protein with some carbohydrate/fiber (in these cases fruit) will help you feel fuller longer. 

 

Also, make sure you are hungry and not bored, try drinking water and waiting 15 minutes to see if you are still hungry. Do you have other activities, reading a book, knitting, yoga, crossword puzzles that can help keep you busy at these times of day?

[captainjohn]

Glad to hear I'm not alone on this one.  My big thing is "stress eating"...mostly at work, although I'm hungry at dinner too.  The 2 websites suggested are good resources...Thanks for all the suggestions and keep 'em coming. 

[greebo115]

Hi I'm 10 months out,

I've found that I started to get these huge "I'M HUNGRY - FEED ME NOW" feelings. I responded to them old style for a while i.e. grab the nearest thing and eat it. But then I wouldn't be able to get enough to drink (I have to wait an hour after eating). So it made me think about what was happening...

Eventually I got to grips with this. Since I don't actually get real belly hunger - how could I know if I was "hungry or not?".

The answer: Ask yourself "When did I last eat?". If it was more than 4 hours ago (at 4pm one afternoon I answered YESTERDAY  ) then you probably are really hungry and you should grab enough for a meal rather than a snack.

However, if it wasn't that long ago, the chances are that you are really thirsty - you can get "thirst pangs" that feel the same as hunger pangs. So, get a drink!

Often when we were out shopping and I started to say I was hungry, and suddenly all food looked delicious, my husband thought he was being supportive by changing the subject and distracting me. That's how I ended up not eating for nearly 24 hrs! So now, when I have asked him not to do that, but simply ask me "when did you last eat?".

Hope that helps,
Diane

[MelsReturn]

Hey there Captain!  Just a question...  and an observation.  I find that if I do not have small meals (I eat every two to three hours), that by the next meal, I will want to chew my arm off!  It's not that old fashioned hunger that I felt in my preop life...  you know, where the stomach is controlling you and gurgling, rumbling, churning, even yes, hurting....  now it is a much different thing where, once I get home from work, I start feeling a little uneasy and will go to the kitchen to grab a handful of peanut, then maybe a couple apple slices...  I have to tell my boyfriend, "We have to go eat NOW!"  If we don't, then I will snack until I have eaten a meal on grabbies. 

Another way that it happens is that once I do get started on a meal, it seems like I eat more than usual.  Not the entire plate!  But instead of 1/4 or 1/3, maybe half I guess (an overestimate but still it feels like more).  It's as if my body says, "Gimme gimme!"  I allowed my body to go too long without food and it knows it. 

Why don't you try to plan six meals a day.  You could have your breakfast, then a few hours later, plan a protein shake or some protein snack like mozarella cheese sticks or a jerky stick (for example), then later have your lunch, then between lunch and your supper time, add another protein shake, supplement, something that is high in protein like a yogurt?  Those small protein snacks should be less than 150 calories (100 if you can) and then you won't feel so overwhelmed with wanting food... 

What are your thoughts?

[JuliekTX]

I heard it said...water before you feed.  I know I do this lots pre op.  when I feel the snackies coming....I make sure I fill up on something liquid and calorie free before I put anything else in my mouth.  I'm hoping that this will also help post op.

[MelissaAletha]

Talk to your doc about that.  My surgeon told me no liquids 30 minutes before or after I eat my meals.

It has something to do with it flushing the food through your pouch quicker which will allow you to eat more.

[ttowe]

Hey Melissa...

Little baby posties..shouldn't fill their pouch with water 30 minute before a meal...since you are already very restricted and it takes a while for that water to leave your pouch, you won't have room for much needed protien foods.

Longer out...water leaves your pouch a lot quick so most long termers don't have a problem drinking liquids before a meal.

Longer out, drinking water or fluids does help you figure out if you are hungry or just wanted to "ingest" something. :-0

Number 1 rule still applies and I still stick to it after all these years......No drinking at least 1/2 hour after a meal cause this really will flush out the food from you pouch.....either that or you will fill up you pouch and then you'll get the foamies.

Toni

[aonesister]

This was a great thread to read. At 6 months out I'm having this same problem.