So before i ask my question I'd like to make something clear. I am not one of those people who think WLS is the "easy way out", I just want to be completely aware of what I'm getting myself into.

For those of you who have already had the sleeve done, how do you think it compares to NOT having it done and eating less. Do you find that your appetite is less? I saw a few studys that say the sleeve removes the "hunger hormone". Do you find this is actually true?

Since the sleeve surgery, I haven't felt hunger not even once. Definitely decreased my appetite, and I eat because I know I have to eat, not because I'm hungry. It's a beautiful thing! Now, it doesn't happen that way with everyone. I've read of some people still feeling hungry after surgery, but at least for some of them the hunger is not as strong as pre-surgery. I've also read that the hunger could start coming back after many months, but I'm 5 months post-op and still not a single hunger pang. I barely remember how feeling hungry feels like lol.

I'm coming up to 10 months post op and I started to get the hunger feel about month 8. It's more the feeling of an empty tummy. But I know I have to eat. The main thing I find is I feel crap if I haven't eatin every few hours. But in saying this I'm statisfied so much quicker. Also the hunger is way different to what it was before the sleeve. For me this has been the best thing I've done

I'm only a week post op. But so far I would say yes this is true. I have felt mildly hungry a few times. My doctor said this would happen and that the hormone does eventually return.

Thank you all so much for your responses. I really appreciate the input from those who have experienced it first hand.

For the first 5-6 months I never felt hungry. Now I have something sort of like hunger, but it's more like I know my body needs to eat something as opposed to "I'm hungry." It's weird, hard to explain. It varies a lot from person to person and a number of people still have hunger after the sleeve, but I think it is safe to say that most everyone's hunger is considerably diminished after surgery, and find it much more managable.

If I am hungry at all, I just eat a couple of ounces of something (preferably Protein like Jerky or deli meat or cheese) and it's gone like poof! That's a pretty slick thing about the sleeve. Very helpful keeping me on plan.

I started my pre-op diet today. I had a protein shake for breakfast with 2 frozen strawberries and coconut/Almond milk. If was good. But was it a good choose.