Why am I so darn hungry all the time?:help:

I am 3 weeks post op and I am starving! I have progressed throuugh the liquid stages just fine an am eating normal food- just not as much, but it seems like I am hungry every hour or two. SO I eat a bannana, then a yogurt.. but I am still starving!

I am wondering why this is and if I will ever not feel hungry. Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

You have basically no restriction yet. You haven't had a fill. Even after your first fill you may still be hungray and able to eat anything. Some people say that it takes two or three or more fills to find that "sweet spot." I know that doesn't sound great, but unfortunately it sounds like that's the way it happens.

Then there's the issue of head hunger versus stomach hunger. Are you truly hungry (stomach rumbling) or do you just want to eat? I know I just want to eat much of the time. It's the way we are, if it wasn't, we wouldn't be overweight in the first place.

Faith,

Thanks for the reply! I thought I was nuts, but I guess it just takes time to find that "sweet spot" as you put it. No, I'm truely hungry with the stomach rumbling and all. When It's head hunger, I know because I can turn that off. I tell my self "You went through all of this trouble, don't you dare eat out of head hunger!" And that seems to work on that portion. Did the whole hungry thing happen to you too?

Meltini,

I'm only 6 days banded but I hear you, I'm starving. Some head hunger, some rumbling stomach, shaky real hunger. My doc said that you won't stop being hungry for a while but it will happen. He said most people get no restriction at all until a fill and some not until the 2nd or 3rd fill. If you have no restriction then it's like the band isn't there at all so of course you'll be able to eat! But with patience you'll get there.

Good luck!

Thanks Cindy! You made me feel better! My fill is not until July, so I guess I'll have to toughit out until then.

Best of luck to you!!

This is the hardest part of the journey.....the part that requires the most self-discipline. It is helpful to be sure and get in all the Protein supplements you can....and eliminate all the white carbs - that will help keep your blood sugar from bouncing and dipping down to where it makes you feel hungry. It's very helpful for craving control....and it will help you start to shed the pounds. Be sure to get in all the liquids you can....water, tea, SF drinks, etc. Your goal is 64 oz a day but that may be hard this early in the game. Your protein goal should be 80-100 gram a day from now on, but that is hard also this early....just keep sipping!

Best wishes to you!!

CindiLou and Meltini--- keep your head up.. I'm 6mos post op. It took 4 mos for the right fill on my band..... I agree w/ Gayle..Make sure you eat protein first, that will help keep you satisfied and hunger paynes stay away longer.. try to eat protein @ every meal (appx 5-6 meals a day)

small ones of course.. Train your body to have food intake every 3 hours.

My schedule is 7am 10am 1pm 4pm 7pm maybe bedtime snack..most of the time not.. so, my usual intake is 5 meals.. it really helps when your mind knows to expect food every three hours... some of my mini meals are: Zone protein bar, chicken salad with melba toast; yogurt w/flaxseed added; beef bites w/ 1oz of cheese.... all of these are very filling and hold me for appx 2-3 hrs... I hope this helps and good luck

You are completely normal because you do not have restriction yet. You will feel better after you start to get fills. Good luck.

I totally agree. My surgery was 3 weeks ago and I am very hungry...usually during the late afternoon/evening. I am definitely craving protein...but my doctor has me on soft foods still. I am doing the mix of soft with full liquid...no meat. I do egg beaters; boca burgers; soup; pudding; yogurt; oatmeal...etc.

I can say honestly sitting here at the computer at 10pm at night I am freaking hungry! UGH! I just put down two bottles of water and will be up all night going to the bathroom. I have dropped 20 lbs since my surgery on May 11th...but it is coming off slower now. My fill will not be until around June 21st.

Thank you all for this thread. I am 1 month post band and hungry constantly.

Feeling discouraged because I got off to a bad start - not exercising, I've been slammed at work ever since I went back 1 week post-op. Because of the work stress, I gave way to my old habits of not eating between Breakfast and supper. And then of course I'm hungry all night.

I had pretty much broken my night-eating habit with the 2000 calorie diet my nutritionist put me on before the pre-op diet.

Between the pre-op and post-op diets, I also had that rebound-hunger starvation mode thing that I experienced after Optifast but not quite as bad.

Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone on the hunger thing and giving me some ideas on ways to manage it. Is there anyone out there who got off to a less-than-perfect start and then overcame it? I have to admit that I'm afraid that my age or lack of willpower will sabatoge my hopes for this band. I researched and thought for 2 years before I got it, explored it in therapy and I really thought I was ready. I'm trying to build in the exercise but that has always been hard for me, I hate it. I have got to overcome this negativity. Thank god for all of you and 2 friends who recently had RNY for the understanding. I do have to remember not to compare myself to my RNY buddies. But seeing them lose 60 pounds in 2 months while I am stalled makes me wonder if I had the right surgery. I (and all my friends and family) thought that the RNY was too extreme but now I wonder.

Sorry for all the whining but I also am grateful and hope that comes through.

SG

still trying to believe in miracles.