Feeling "satisfied"?

[squeaker31 65]

I am 4 weeks out and on the puréed/soft foods stage. I am having a hard time because I never feel satisfied or "full" on the portions recommended.

Maybe that's because I am not actually feeling hungry? Or possibly my minds idea of full is "too full". I just feel like I could eat all day.

Has anyone else experienced this? During recovery or after? Does taking away the hunger hormone also take away the satiation feeling?

[Sleeve4me! 17]

I am almost 4 weeks out and having the same issue. I talked with my surgeon and she tells me that will change once I'm on regular food. I am still struggling to get my Protein and Water in so I'm sure that has something to do with it.

[Recycled 2,182]

Let's take a look at the comparison........Hmmmm.....your entire life on one side and a measly 4 weeks on the other. The body has had a long, long time to get adjusted.

The key here is Habit, habit, habit. You remember how to tie your shoes every day. And among the millions of other things, the "Head" also remembers when and how much and what types and tastes of food you have been eating as well.

You have to fight those thoughts of what you only think your want. It's the dreaded "head hunger". Try to think of other things. Or simply go do something else to fill in that time that used to be occupied eating. Boredom is the biggie. Alot of us used to fill in idle time when we were bored searching for and eating everything in sight. (mostly the bad junk stuff)

Trying to re-calibrate the ole brain to your new habits is gonna take time. There are figures out there of 6 weeks. And others of 6 months or more to make the new habits stick. Whatever it is you just have to stick to it and it will get easier.

Oh, and about the next stage after puree........solid foods it gonna change the "full" sensation dramatically. Make sure you keep measuring your portions and don't rush. Enjoy.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

This is COMPLETELY NORMAL. There are a couple of things, one your nerves have probably not healed. Also, you are still eating soft type foods which just don't fill you as well. Finally, if you are not taking an acid inhibitor you should be because even very mild excess acid feels like hunger.

I was told that for those first 6-8 weeks to almost not trust your hunger feelings or feeling of "satiety". I ate by the very detailed instructions as to quantity (measured everything) and frequency.

Once you are fully healed and on solid food, eating dense Proteins and following the rules helps alot. It takes time also to learn to stop when no longer hungry instead of seeking out that "full" feeling. It seems like a foreign concept but over time it becomes just wonderful - I never have that "oh no, I ate too much feeling".

I am 2.5 years post op and have lost over 160# with the sleeve - been in maintenance since Feb 2013.

[squeaker31 65]

Thanks for your feedback. It is unrealistic to expect habits to change overnight. I am averaging 800-1000 calories right now which I think is still good. I'm just so worried to fail at this opportunity.

My NUT didn't even give me a calorie limit because she said I would be able to eat so little this early on... So not the case for me lol.

[O-Town Body Rock 148]

Im 4 weeks out and I dont feel necessarily full or satisfied either...just sort of like food is building up in my throat. I dont know, its weird. I dont feel hungry but i dont feel full. Hell i dont know!

I do know this...now I eat more, to feed my body and not because Im hungry and just want to eat everything in site. I have yet to lean back at the table and say...wow that Soup was dee-lish!! Or those 2 teaspoons of Jello hit the spot!

[gomekast 559]

With time you will feel satisfied long before you get the hiccup or whatever your full que is right out from surgery.

I'm 7 months out and now I feel satisfied fairly quickly. I don't need to wait for my hiccup or runny nose or sneeze.

I don't need to measure much anymore because I have adjusted.

It takes time. You'll get there..I promise!

[squeaker31 65]

I found this article while researching stretching. It made a lot of sense to me. Basically saying that the signals of full or satisfied are messed up by overeating. So my expectation of how full and hungry feel are altered. That combined with what people have said about not being able to feel it well when the stomach is still recovering.

http://obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-sleeve/gastric-sleeve-will-my-stomach-stretch