Okay, so, we're rapidly approaching week 7 post op and I am having issues.

Not ever being full for long enough.

Now, I know that if you eat carbs, it makes you want more and yes, I have been in social/life situations over the last two weeks or so which have necessitated a few white lies to cover why I was avoiding the mash potato in its mountainous glory or the pile of fluffy white bread like the plague. Which, if you're of Irish lineage and in Ireland, is verging on the impossible to do...

However, I was told by my nutritionist that by week 7, I should be eating three square meals and snacking on only yoghurt, nuts and fruit in between. I was also informed that I should be eating my meals within 20 minutes and not drinking before or after the food.

Lovely in its idealism, but frankly, it's just not working. I am hungry.

It is true. Exactly 2-2.5 hours after consuming my meal - I AM hungry. And for the record, it's not indigestion.

Can someone please tell me of any wondrous ideas as to how I am supposed to eat and not be hungry so quickly afterwards?

I have no idea the volume I'm consuming in ounces or anything. I eat until I'm full and stop happily - because I don't want the discomfort. So, we're talking between 4-8 tablespoons of food. Approaching a third of a side plate full.

However, irrespective of cramming in the Protein and veg, exactly 2.5 hours later, my energy levels collapse and I'm a dozy, glassy-eyed incompetent (some might say this is a permanent disposition). But seriously, 6 small meals a day work better for me than three main meals - because I simply can't take enough food in to sustain me.

Which, and I am ashamed to say it, is why whilst out and about, I have eaten some convenience foods like wraps and sandwiches.....

All of this appears to be placing me in the 'grazing' category (note: I don't graze on junk) and as my scale has moved by but 1.5lbs since week 4 (bouncing up and down by 1lb in the meantime), I am starting to get concerned...

Any suggestions for this predicament would be greatly appreciated. Kinda feeling a bit miffed with it all - particularly as my nutritionist during our recent discourse offered no solution other than 'dried nuts and fruit' and kept uttering 'hmm... most unusual'.....

Thanks, All. Very useful.

I'm snacking on nuts and dried fruits (as per the nutritionists recommendations). Its good, it does the job for a bit.

I try to limit the cheese I consume.. Primarily because it was my nemesis before surgery and now my ability to eat most things has improved greatly, I know it would be my nemesis afterwards.

For those of you who had a thing for cookies, ice cream, chips, cake and the like.. Those things were not my issue. It was CHEESE!! (and biscuits for cheese and olives and charcuterie and chutney for cheese and cheese and a bit more cheese)

My diet is varied and wholesome. I was even metaphorically patted on the head by my Nutritionist, on detailing my food choices. That's all good, but the scale isn't moving...

Regarding the hunger - he noted that people who are on the younger end of the scale feel hunger much more than older folk and concurred that it wasn't head hunger. It was the battery running completely flat. He also commented that older folk found 'richer' foods harder to stomach. He found my ability to eat what I can eat (which is not bad stuff, but roast dinners, lamb shanks and veg, etc) remarkable. However, the portions are small and they leave me hungry 2.5 hours afterwards. So I'm on a mission to find the alternative snacking options which will keep my energy levels and I, happy.

Thank you for all your suggestions. I shall be mooching to the supermarket this evening to see if I can find alternatives which don't make me feel like I'm some sort of mutant obese squirrel...

NB - as for Myfitnesspal. I have a smart phone which has been sat in its box for the last 6 months. I'm scared of its fragility and haven't taken it out of its box as a consequence. I love my Nokia brick and think (because I'm a clumsy bat), that I'd destroy it in under a week! Maybe I should break the cellophane and join the brave new world... x

Madam rev. I know we're all different, and I would never tell anyone to go against their nuts advice. I will say for me the dried fruit would not only be a trigger because it's high GI, but it's also rather dense in calories. Meaning for the calories it doesn't do much to fill me up. But the glycemic load is what concerns me the most and also makes the biggest impact on my appetite and my ability to lose weight.

As much as it pains me to say this, I agree with BUTT-er about the fruit. Too much sugar, too little bulk, too high in calories.

As much as it pains me to say this, I agree with BUTT-er about the fruit. Too much sugar, too little bulk, too high in calories.

Ouch. More butt-bashing. What kind of forum is this? Butthurtpal.com?

Hey madam, Early out I relied on protein shakes, fat free yogurt, and dense protein to get my protein requirements in and feel full. Dried fruit is calorie dense without any protein. If you're craving fruit, unsweetened apple sauce is a better choice. I ate around 600 calories for the first few months, then 800 for a few then 1000. I'm in my late 50s and only exercise is walking. I average under Q1500 calories per day to stay at goal. I have to eat dense protein to stay full. Lynda

This article is particularly relevant to our discussion here. Rev I know you're not eating junk food, but it's interesting to see the types of things that we might not consider junk per se, but that can start a craving nonetheless, such as butter, mayo, salad dressing etc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/why-we-crave-junk-food_b_4261415.html

This article is particularly relevant to our discussion here. Rev I know you're not eating junk food, but it's interesting to see the types of things that we might not consider junk per se, but that can start a craving nonetheless, such as butter, mayo, salad dressing etc.

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/why-we-crave-junk-food_b_4261415.html'>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/why-we-crave-junk-food_b_4261415.html</a>

I couldn't get the link to work-

Ouch. More butt-bashing. What kind of forum is this? Butthurtpal.com?

I think that's your OTHER new cross over addiction.

:ph34r:

I couldn't get the link to work-

I posted the entire article on a thread in the general. Discussion threads too. Search why your brain craves junk food and it should show up.

This article is particularly relevant to our discussion here. Rev I know you're not eating junk food, but it's interesting to see the types of things that we might not consider junk per se, but that can start a craving nonetheless, such as butter, mayo, salad dressing etc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/why-we-crave-junk-food_b_4261415.html

Many thanks, GG. I did see this article when you posted it previously. Carbs are food of the devil - but boy are they tasty. Ergo, I try to limit them to save my pain!!!

Now, who hid the cheese?!