Elizatex

I have had bypass.
I still get hungry.
I am, astonishingly, closing in on 200 pounds lost...that’s more than what I weigh.
You can feel hunger, eat, and still lose excess weight...promise.

I don't think I was always hungry but I just like to eat. It tastes good and when I'm bored it's an easy way to feel satisfied by something. I'm on my pre op liquid diet right now. I started it on the first. My surgery is on the 14th. For the 2 weeks before surgery I let myself eat what I wanted but I didn't let myself eat as much as I wanted. I tried at each meal to have one of my favorites but I ate in moderation and threw the rest away. I'm doing really well on the liquid diet with the exception of yesterday when I was off work and all I wanted to do was eat. I don't know if it's because I was bored or because my blood sugar was really low but I made my daughter nachos and I took a chip and I was licking it and it was really hard to stop myself from eating it but I did. I find myself being sad that there are certain foods my body might never tolerate again and the flip side is that I hope that happens. I worry that I'll get the wrong kind of pouch I've hears others talk about where they can tolerate everything and eat a bunch. So yes I do have that worry but I also know that this is not a fix. It's a tool. Also every person is different. I hope you don't feel this way post op.

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What has been the hardest part for you when it comes to the food?

That is really helpful and sounds encouraging. I like that is helps you learn how to eat more slowly and not just eat like crazy. Head hunger is a good word for what I have. Especially after I've tried dieting for about a week, it gets to the point where I think I just don't care and then start eating. I will completely disconnect. I'm happy for your 60 pound drop and you only have 20 more to go! You are almost there I'm a 48 BMI with probably 175 pounds to lose. Thank you for sharing with me.

If I ate the way I eat now I could have lost weight without the sleeve too . . . But suffered from flat out hunger. Some background. I’m 57. At my highest weight, I have been in the 320# range several times. I started medical weight loss in my 30’s. Got down to 250 with Ally. Regained and ended up with band. I easily dropped to the 220’s and stayed there effortlessly for years. Then slip, esophageal dilation, etc and band was removed. Back up to the 300’s.

I attempted more medical weightloss. Several types of Rx and dietician visits.

My basic problem has always been hunger. Ravenous. Then I had to eat a lot to be satisfied. Ok - there’s a chocolate and cheese issue too.

My hunger is much more manageable since the surgery. I take a reasonable serving now and pay much more attention to recognize when I’ve had enough. I have tweaked meals to help me stay full. I tried scrambled eggs with chicken Breakfast sausage and some cheese. Delish but I was starving at 3 hours. I added some bread and it bought me 60-90 minutes before I became hungry.

I started doing Noom this January which is helping me with my relationship with food. It has gotten me out of that “I’m a failure” mode if I don’t eat perfectly. My eating focus has strongly shifted from “don’t eat this” to “what healthy food can I eat that tastes great “. I choose to drink my wine, go out to dinner, entertain, Celebrate birthdays, etc knowing full well this will slow my weight loss. But I’m not going to wait to enjoy living.

Also, I spent some time researching metabolism and weightloss. The research that showed the biggest loser contestants wrecked their metabolisms and have regained the weight scared me. I love exercise. But I have not gone full throttle on exercise. (And 50 hour work weeks don’t help.). I’m not doing punishing 60 minute interval treadmill workouts this time around. 30 minute enjoyable DVDs (Jessica Smith are my favorites) and a dog walk are just fine.

I’m also not focused on a weight or size goal (though onederland sounds great). If my body is able to live the life I want to live, all is good.

Best wishes on your journey!

Thank you! This is really helpful to hear. It helps to hear what others like yourself have experienced. It's a big decision! Congratulations on having your surgery and your happiness with it. You have a new life ahead of you!

I had my sleeve done on December 10th. I had/have a lot to lose but I've lost 70 pounds since my surgery date

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Hello... I'm 6 weeks post op, and I've noticed some people struggle with portions while others don't. Some can eat 2 bites and be done, wish that were my case, but I have to watch how many ounces I eat at a setting so that I don't overdo it. The softer the food it seems, the more I can eat. Soups I can eat 6oz easy, while meat only about 2oz. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to try and limit your servings, and stay within the guidelines that you were given. Best of luck, it gets easier with time, I struggled a lot with this at first while introducing solids back into my diet.

I’m doing ok with the sleeve. I was supposed to have bypass but when the surgeon got in there my small intestine was too short to do the bypass. But I am actually really happy with the sleeve. I’m losing weight slower but I’m not sick like a lot of the bypass people. I can believe anyone lost 125 lbs in 6 months I’ll be happy with 10 lbs a month. Good luck with your decision! Oh I lost 45 in 4 1/2 months.

I appreciate this and all the sites. I see that I’m not alone. I’m down 45 and wish it was more. I was watching Protein but not carbs. I’m resetting today. I’ll see what that brings.

Welcome to the site. I found this is the best place to look for answers. So join the club of being an emotional eater. That's me all the way. I'm almost 6 months out and last night got into a fight with my husband. Went back to the old habit. But I was not able to eat that much before I was going to be sick. It's a learning tool that I have to work on, really hard. I'm getting down with myself because I'm in another stall and have not lost any weight. I am still very grateful I got the sleeve done. That I will never regret doing.

6 months out from sleeve. Down 64 pounds. Quite happy with that for a post menopausal woman. My meal size is approximately half of pre surgery meal size. I still get hungry. I use the sleeve for Portion Control. I started using Noom to help me mange relationship with food.< /p>

I think at some level all of us are emotional/binge eaters . U don’t get obese without pushing ur limits past actual hunger . I am an advocate of the sleeve, did it in December and lost 60lbs in 2 months . Still 20 to go but the surgery has been life changing . Even when I have “head hunger” I can’t overeat and you quickly learn to eat slow and wisely . Best thing I ever did for myself , I feel like I was released from prison through this surgery . I was about a 35 BMI. Good luck and go for it !

There's a few things to consider..
Generally BMI over 40 is best for bypass as it is more restrictive.
Generally if you have over 100lbs excess to lose overall you lose more percentage with bypass.
But bypass does come with malabsorption which means you'll need to live off Vitamins and make sure you get enough Protein and Water in your diet.
There is possible dumping if you ever decide to even try junk food/fat/sugars ever again.
There's plenty of information about..the main difference is sleeve actually removes most of your stomach where BYPASS may reroute your digestive system but your stomach still remains intact.
In the end it's your choice! And the more work and effort you put in the better of course!

Hello I'm sorry you are getting down. I wish I could say something that would help lift you back up. The food can be such a comfort, but it sounds like it backfires when you have the sleeve if you overeat. I hope your weight loss picks back up soon! Thank you for sharing with me.

Hi! When I met with the surgeon and he went over my medical history he said I would be at a higher risk for a bowel obstruction. That's the main reason.

I've come to this post to learn more about what it is really like and I appreciate people sharing their experiences. My doctor thinks I would be a good candidate for the sleeve, but I worry I'm still going to struggle with the hunger and the cravings. I eat because I like food, not just when I'm hungry. It is what makes it so hard to stay on a diet. Was anyone an emotional/binge eater and how has it been for you changing what you eat and not eating all of the time?

I've come to this post to learn more about what it is really like and I appreciate people sharing their experiences. My doctor thinks I would be a good candidate for the sleeve, but I worry I'm still going to struggle with the hunger and the cravings. I eat because I like food, not just when I'm hungry. It is what makes it so hard to stay on a diet. Was anyone an emotional/binge eater and how has it been for you changing what you eat and not eating all of the time?