Still hungry between meals?

[Momof2inIowa 195]

Before surgery I was told that it would take out a lot of the hunger that you feel before meals. I am happy to say that I can eat less and feel satisfied as I should after the surgery, however, I do still get hungry. I have tried drinking more Water, eating a cheese stick and that works, however, I don't want to snack...

What have you guys done to succeed for those who still feel hunger?

[Healthier2day1227 326]

I, like you, still get hungry. Check if it's not acid. Acid can feel like hunger. Keep up with Water and I eat fruit as a snack because it fills me up. Watermelon, strawberries and oranges are good low cal fruits. Or string cheese and deli meat. I just try to find a filling low cal snack to stave off hunger, and some days are a easier than others.

[Momof2inIowa 195]

That's what I had been doing as well but got my hand slapped for snacking on string cheese inbetween meals, I was told to only have 3 meals and no snacks...so I will have to figure something out. maybe a G2 instead of Water would trick myself.

[squeaker31 65]

Are you tracking your intake? I'm still new to the process but I have found that snacking is more effective for me. I don't really eat large meals. When I have attempted not to snack I found I did not save any calories because I are more at meals. Eating low fat Protein every couple hours works for me so far.

My dr office is not great with the support and follow up NUT so I didn't get any direction on snacking policy. But to me if you are hitting your nutrition goals does it matter how? Slippery slope I suppose to grazing?

But overall I think diet is still very personal even after the sleeve. There's no one size fits all consensus and diet for "normal" people so why for us? I'm not saying don't follow any guidelines but find what you can be successful on.

[Kindle 8,667]

I eat when I get hungry...every 3 hours or so. I don't really distinguish between a meal or a snack. Hungry is hungry and eating is eating. I usually only eat enough to not feel hungry anymore, not necessarily until I'm full. And I drink Water or a Protein smoothie or juice in between. Honestly, if I only ate three times/day I would be seriously undernourished because I can't eat that much in a single sitting.

What difference does it make how many times you eat as long as it is good choices and you aren't exceeding your body's caloric needs? The huge difference in rules and guidelines dished out by all the nuts just confirms none of them really has the "right" answer. I've managed to pass my surgeon's goal and my personal goal weight without a single postop consult from a so called "expert". Like squeaker said, you have to find what works for you in order to have long term success.

Edited July 26, 2014 by Kindle

[Healthier2day1227 326]

That's too bad about getting your hand slapped. My doctors office actually encourages small Snacks as opposed to big meals. I lost all my weight and have needed the snacks. Always an afternoon snack at least and usually a small Protein snack right before bed otherwise the scary tendency to wake up at three am starving and see what I can find. Not good!

[jess9395 5,448]

I'm another one who needs Snacks. No way could I get all my food in if I only ate three meals. What is your intake during three meals? Are you able to get enough Protein and calories in? If not that's probably why you are hungry. Ask your doctor about strategies to eat enough if he doesn't want you snacking.

[marfar7 1,528]

My doctor is also one that says no snacking. However, if I ate just 3 meals of the amount I can eat, I'd be eating less than 800 calories a day, which at 1 yr out, is not enuf. I eat 5-6x a day. Thats one of the rules I've broken.

Eating 6 bites 3x a day isn't enuf for me. I get really hungry about 90 mins after I've eaten. If I eat about 10 almonds, I'm good for another 90 mins. I "graze" all day with a bite here and a bite there. I don't usually exceed 1200 calories a day however.

Good luck to u!