Hungry all the time?

[avatarkorraa 4]

Hey everybody! I'm almost 6 weeks post op at this point and for the past few days I've been finding that I've been super hungry all the time. I can normally eat a small snack like a cheesestring or some deli meat to make the hunger feeling subside for a bit but then an hour or two later I find myself getting really hungry again and experience that gnawing stomach sensation. This hasn't really happened before and I've only noticed it being a problem in the last few days.

The last few days I've been really good at hitting my Protein goals, and I'm always at about 70-80 grams, whereas before I could only hit 50-60. I'm wondering if that has something to do with it? I'm still measuring out all my food, tracking my food on myfitnesspal (food diary: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/avatarkorraa) keeping my calories at around 600-800 a day, and I can't eat more than 4oz in one sitting for sure, but I'm just worried that if this continues I'll eventually start eating too much and not sustaining my weight loss. My weight loss has also been quite slow, I've only lost about 20 pounds so far and I had my surgery on September 19th. :/ Any advice? Thanks!

[cindym44 75]

I had my 6 week check up today and am only down 17lbs from day of surgery. I am having a hard time getting all my Protein in and I am not eating much. I am just not hungry. My doctor told me to kick it up a notch with the Protein and I would notice more weight dropping off. So that is my new goal...more protein...every day, plus I need to eat every 2 hours. Hoping this makes a difference for me.

[PorkChopExpress 820]

It's most likely NOT hunger, you are probably mistaking the "bite" of acid in your stomach for hunger. I feel that too, but it isn't accompanied by growling and it doesn't feel quite the same. When you combine the mental "hunger" of missing things you liked eating, and the adjustments to tiny portion sizes, it can FEEL like hunger...but it's not quite the same.

I don't feel anything like "traditional" hunger, right now. I get acid buildup a little on an empty stomach (getting better all the time) but no rumbling - the rumbling went away after about four weeks, it was just a symptom of my stomach recovery, I think (and it would happen after I ate, as well as before).

Just stick to a schedule, eat when you're supposed to eat and don't eat when you're not. Surgery's not a turnkey solution, it does still require some self-discipline. If you get into the habit of "grazing" you're going to suffer calorie creep, and your weight loss will slow.

Edited October 28, 2016 by PorkChopExpress

[avatarkorraa 4]

After doing a little bit more research I actually realize this may have something to do with the PPI. I forgot to take them for the past few days (been getting in all my Vitamins though!) but I figured since I wasn't experiencing any acid refux after not taking it for a day or two that I didn't need them anymore. Bad mistake!! I had no idea that the absence of a PPI can manifest in hunger pains like this. That explains a lot honestly. I don't really experience head hunger and I've no problem with sticking to my scheduled meals and weighing all my food before now, so I suspect that the absence of the PPI is what's made me feel so hungry all the time.

[sabs 10]

Boo, I'm having the same issue, but I take my PPI twice a day religiously I've been hungry since basically week 3. I haven't been terribly worried about it, because I'm still struggling to get all my Protein in at meals, but it IS frustrating since that was my biggest issue before surgery. And I'm losing SO SLOWLY it's driving me nuts!

[sleevinpops 303]

Is everyone also getting in cardio? I so often see everyone talking about the virptamins, getting in their Protein, not more often than not, nothing about light exercise (walking at least).

Just curious...

I was having the same thing happening. When I checked with my nut, she saw I was basically burning so many additional calories (800-1,000 per day) so was not getting enough in. Was allowed to increase my intake of Protein. Has made a difference.

If you are getting your cardio in, you may want to look at your specific numbers to make sure you are adjusted as needed.

[sabs 10]

I try to walk every day (it's harder now that I'm back at work), and I'm planning on returning to swim team tonight hopefully. Was supposed to be last night, but I ate food that my stomach did not agree with at lunch so there went that lol.

[tfarr 270]

I can just speak for myself, but, I almost instantly had head hunger. I am 2.5 years out and this is something I deal with everyday. If I though about how many times I actually got physically hunger? It would be 2 or 3 times tops.
But always, always and fighting head hunger.
A lot of people don't, I am one of he unfortunate ones lol
Maybe it's that? Or do you feel physical hunger?


Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[sabs 10]

Well, my stomach growls and is rumbly until I feed it, so I've just assumed it's physical hunger lol. I'm not sure exactly what the difference is, but I don't really have cravings. I'm perfectly fine snacking on string cheese or carrots or something like that, I am just not happy to be hungry at all. I'm worried that the habit of snacking in between meals will cause calorie bloat down the road when it matters. I just really HATE being hungry and thought that would go away with this surgery At least I'm craving the carbs, which was my other issue before surgery.

[LittleLizzieLilliput 919]

3 hours ago, sabs said:

Well, my stomach growls and is rumbly until I feed it, so I've just assumed it's physical hunger lol. I'm not sure exactly what the difference is, but I don't really have cravings. I'm perfectly fine snacking on string cheese or carrots or something like that, I am just not happy to be hungry at all. I'm worried that the habit of snacking in between meals will cause calorie bloat down the road when it matters. I just really HATE being hungry and thought that would go away with this surgery At least I'm craving the carbs, which was my other issue before surgery.

are you on an acid reducer such as Prilosec? For me I had constant "hunger" pains but it ended up it was acid indigestion and it just feels different now. Once I got on those pills the sensations went away with in 2 days.

[sabs 10]

Yup, I've been on that from the start. If anything, those make me more growly, at night anyway.