I am 8 days post-op and can have liquids and Greek yogurt. I am extremely hungry for "real food" almost all the time. Some of this is head hunger, and some of it is real. To add to my issues, I'm sick with bronchitis and have been given prednisone. A side effect of prednisone is increased appetite. Please, I'm begging you, for tips and tricks and anything that will help?

My go to trick is altoids. I pop one in my mouth and drink Water.

However the honest truth is the liquids stage is mostly grin and bear it. Just remind yourself you did this for a reason and this stage is only temporary. Keep as busy as you can but hang in there!

I agree, try to occupy your mind with other things to keep you distracted. This worked for me well to keep my mind off of food.

I kept busy during that time, walked a lot, slept a lot, and didn't worry about if I wanted something. Bottom line, I wasn't going to cheat and either a) ruin all my hard work to get to the post-op phase, or 2) eat something I wasn't physically ready for and develop complications like a leak that would need further surgical repair.

Lots of puzzles, read a lot, surfed these forums, and listened to some success stories on Youtube.

I still have cravings, but make light of them now. I'd love a big juicy ribeye. Or a York Peppermint Patty. So came up with a recipe that was to bread a ribeye with the patty. Silly, and then I can move my thoughts onto better thoughts LOL!

Edited December 12, 201510 yr by WalkOnWaking

Prednisone - that about sums it up!! I am crazy hungry when on steroids! Gained 30 pounds in two months with steroids! Hang in there! Hope you don't have to be on them long!

Yeah, there was. Oohing to do. It to just do ot, knowing soon you'll add more foods. Ironically I miss liquids. It was when my body felt best

I had to take predispone for a month and it didn't make me hungry just really thirsty and hot all the time. I drank so much water during that time. The first few weeks after surgery I had zero desire for food. Nada. I still don't and tend to not eat if I don't track. My head hunger is just that I get pretty sick when I eat things I shouldn't even chicken makes me ill. My meals are boring but I get my calories in.

I'm also 8 days post-op! I think that if you acted out on any cravings at this time you'd seriously hurt yourself. I don't necessarily have cravings at this point. If I feel like I'm "hungry", I'll grab a sugar-free Popsicle or sugar-free jello or something like that. Stay strong and I hope you feel better soon!