So I’m about 18m post-op, below target weight, and now working on adding muscle. Have been working with a personal trainer, and exercising 3 days per week for about 45min-1h per session. My problem, or concern at least, is that for the rest of the day after a workout, I’m just WAY hungrier than I’m accustomed to these days! I’m not sure how much is head hunger, but it feels different I think for my typical daily head hunger that I’ve gotten so good at recognizing. Anyone with experience with this, or advice?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but... for a lot of us trending or fluctuating hunger does return, especially that far out from surgery and after exercise.

(Of special note as a woman of child bearing age I tend to get much hungier the week before menstrual cycle)

Edited November 13, 20196 yr by GreenTealael

19 minutes ago, elmatador said:

So I’m about 18m post-op, below target weight, and now working on adding muscle. Have been working with a personal trainer, and exercising 3 days per week for about 45min-1h per session. My problem, or concern at least, is that for the rest of the day after a workout, I’m just WAY hungrier than I’m accustomed to these days! I’m not sure how much is head hunger, but it feels different I think for my typical daily head hunger that I’ve gotten so good at recognizing. Anyone with experience with this, or advice?

I walk 4 miles every morning, and then go to the gym for an hour and do the stair machine/elliptical. And alternate weight lifting. So I totally get you on the hunger. The way I combat this is to add 21 more grams of protein on the days when I lift weights. For me this is in the form of real food, not shakes. (2 eggs, and 3 strips of bacon) That gives me enough staying power through the day, and I don't feel like I'm super hungry.

Was this bypass or sleeve or something else? I don't have any advice, just curious to know for my own future. I know that when I would work out before surgery, I was always ravenously hungry on those days vs the days I didn't work out.

Sleeve here. It’s been wonderful, no regrets. Just still figuring out this whole adding-muscle thing!

If you are below target weight, and you want to add muscles, you need to increase your calorie intake. Muscles need calories, and if you don't up the intake, you'll continue to lose. I'm not talking adding 1000 kcal, but 200-300 kcal on days you work out.

At this point, being 2.5 years out, I eat 2500-3000 kcal a day (sometimes even more). But I also do endurance sport.

I lifted weights the first year post op, now it's mostly mobility work and weights targeted for running.

15 hours ago, elmatador said:

So I’m about 18m post-op, below target weight, and now working on adding muscle. Have been working with a personal trainer, and exercising 3 days per week for about 45min-1h per session. My problem, or concern at least, is that for the rest of the day after a workout, I’m just WAY hungrier than I’m accustomed to these days! I’m not sure how much is head hunger, but it feels different I think for my typical daily head hunger that I’ve gotten so good at recognizing. Anyone with experience with this, or advice?

I am 17m post-op so I am in a similar place.

Hate to break this to you but if you are working out your body is going to need food to repair.

I lift 4x a week and cardio 5-7x a week. I focus very hard on my macros and make sure I get those macros from clean wholesome foods. On days that I lift I add carbs. Carbs are 100% needed to grow, don't be afraid to fuel the body! Rice, Potatoes, Oats etc... Avoid the junk (sugar carbs) though! Eat clean bro and you will get there.

Days that I lift I am eating about 1800 - 2200 calories. I focus the carbs in the morning with protein and healthy fats through the day.

Above all else, it takes work. Hard work.

Don't forget.... Drink that water