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I would have done weight watchers had I known that hunger would still be a problem

Your body is probably dumping out toxins. Just be patient and give it a chance to fully purge. It's a healthy sign.

Make your own shakes with protein powder and Fairlife milk

Try Zantac in place of Prilosec

Introversion said it all and so perfectly true. This is not a race

I was where you are in the first few weeks following my surgery. I was so discouraged and reading about huge losses really made me worse. So I spoke to my NP and she said that a lot of people include pre surgery weight loss in their numbers. She said it's 2 pounds a week, that's the expectation when the program is working. Be patient, it will kick in!!

I had the same question about the liquids. Chewing slowly is a good behavior modification for the rest of life. But, I find the liquid restrictions difficult. Hard to get in all of my liquids with the forbidden befores and afters. I was also curious about that.

OutsideMatchInside, Thank your for your response. I take Zantac every day. But, I am a very active person, always on the move. I suspect that I don't eat enough. Also, my NUT kept emphasizing, "3 meals a day, 2 snacks, no grazing" so I rarely eat in between meals and have little snacks. I'm going to step it up. Very few carbs anyway.

Thank you JessJames. I did discuss my hunger issues with my nurse practitioner and she said that it was strange, that most of her patients never felt hungry. Mine is NOT head hunger. I know the difference. I don't crave anything, don't even care much about food....my stomach feels hungry and I've switched to Zantac from Prilosec as recommended, taken several different antacids as recommended. It's so frustrating because I chose the sleeve for a specific reason. To diet sensibly and NOT feel hungry. My problem was that I always felt hungry, even after a meal. I kept it in check, did not always give in, and have been a healthy eater. My portions were what got me in trouble. I guess I should not complain. I have waltzed through the past 9 weeks without one physical or emotional problem associated with surgery.

I never lost my hunger. I'm only 9 weeks out but I struggle with hunger pangs all the time.

Your iron might be the cause of your nausea. I take 2 Fintstone Complete vitamins per day. They have iron in them. Also, the hunger pangs....well, I don't believe anyone who tells me that they "forget to eat". I always have hunger. I did find, however, that taking one Zantac every morning cut down on the "noises" that my stomach had been making. For acid, Alkaseltzer Heartburn chewables help a lot.

Does anyone know if raw oysters are okay after 8 weeks post-op?

Switced from Prilosec to Zantac daily and stomach noises almost disappeared

I buy a water called "Hint" in my supermarket. Just the slightest taste to it. Makes water more tolerable. I'm almost 9 weeks out so I use a straw and it makes it so much easier.

Right there with you on the water and the protein thoughts. I don't count anything. Been there, done it on other "diets" and at my age (69) I just don't want to take that on. I'd rather just follow good nutrition rules and do my best to stay healthy. I am feeling fine, not one problem to report at 8 weeks out. Steady 2 pound per week loss now and just living my life, much happier!!

To all of you who are discouraged by your slow weight losses, I hear you. I am 8 weeks out and have experienced the same emotions. I wasn't losing, I was following the program and thinking I was doing something wrong. I questioned the whole thing- why this drastic surgery? And agreed that it was too late to turn back so I had to stay the course. Then, I started to lose and at my 6 week check up, my NP was pleased with my loss, telling me that the expectation is 2 pounds/week and I was 2 ahead of schedule! She said that a lot of people, when reporting their wt losses, include the pre-op losses and some of those are big. Especially if you were very heavy pre-op. Some programs require more loss than others. So, 2 pounds a week and don't stress about it. Just live the program and things will change. I also thought I was hungry all the time due to the way my stomach felt. I learned on this forum that I was not alone in this and switched from Prilosec to Zantac every morning. All the growling and pangs disappeared right away. Best advice ever. Now, my stomach just lets me know when it is empty-at the appropriate times.

Two pounds a week You will see results but you must be patient Ten pounds a month is the expectation and the healthy way to lose

My happiest moment after surgery came when I finally got my IV out and put on my own nightgown and robe! I became a new woman!!!!

Sleeved 2/28/17 Dehydration has not been a problem despite the fact that I find it hard to drink the amount of fluids recommended. My problem is hunger. I'm hungry most of the day and it is NOT "head" hunger. I have stomach pangs and it is totally distracting and discouraging. I try antacids and they sometimes work for short intervals. My NP says that she is surprised, that most of her patients tell her they forget to eat because they are never hungry. Lucky them!! If you need to get more fluids in, it is very hard with the 30 min before, 60 min after a meal rule. I know the problem well. I am tempted to get one of those rigs that runners use to drink while running, the kind that are on a headset.

I went for my 6 week post op visit today. I have lost 14 pounds and was told that I am right on target. In fact, I'm ahead of target! The expectation is 2 pounds/week. The problem is that we think we should be losing quicker when we read about others. My NP said that a lot of people include the pre-op weight loss numbers in their total to-date number so it appears that they are losing more. Ten pounds a month!!!

Oh, I must add. I do have a very tough time with liquids, getting enough in. That is my only complaint. I cannot get the recommended outrageous amount of fluids in every day. I do not get dehydrated but don't drink nearly what I am supposed to. With the half hour before/hour after rule, the eating slowly and the exercising, there simply are not enough hours in the day. I am a poor sleeper, waking up early every day. I try to get fluids in soon after waking but I also go to bed early (I'm tired from waking up so early) and that shortens the time for drinking considerably. Wonder how others are doing in that area?

I go for my 6 week post-op visit tomorrow. So far, I have done very well. Not one after-effect. No pain, no nausea, no fatigue. I feel very much like myself and feel so blessed to have come this far without any real glitches. I am losing SLOWLY and am told over and over again that this is normal, especially since I had just made the criteria for surgery with my weight. Despite all that is said, I still do feel HUNGRY and have a tough time staying full and satisfied. I am still not eating everything and am basically keeping to the Stage 4 diet. In two weeks, I will feel free to start adding lots more foods and can't wait to have caffeinated coffee again. I just haven't enjoyed a cup of coffee since surgery and miss having that time with my husband in the mornings. So, I guess it could be said that I did amazingly well with my surgery and recovery and am happy to have it all behind me. I was so leary of the "rules" and afraid that I would do something wrong and screw it all up for good. It isn't easy by any means but it was not as difficult as I had envisioned.