Anyone else lost interest in food?

I thought I was prepared for all sorts of food issues, but this one is unexpected: I have realized in the last week or so that I have basically lost all interest in food because I no longer get any enjoyment out of eating. As I expected to be battling head hunger for a long time, I have actually found this quite jarring, and perhaps a little depressing. I’ve only been banded for 2 months. The first month was so hard, always craving a cheeseburger, pizza, fries, coke, pasta, and now that I’m past the initial shock of losing all the things I love to eat, the only things left are things I don’t want to eat so I’m totally uninterested. Nothing sounds good. Nothing looks good. I have to force myself to eat half the time just because I know I need a little nutrition. I’m starting to get a little worried that I’m developing a new eating disorder at the opposite end of the spectrum from food addiction…Food Aversion.

I have not had a fill yet because I definitely have restriction and can’t eat very much, and I’m losing appropriately. And maybe this is just a passing thing and my interest in food will come back. In a way I hope it doesn’t, because enjoyment of food is what got me fat in the first place, but I just thought this was so strange.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I used to hate when I was a newbie and the doomsayers would warn that the honeymoon would be over soon and my band would erode and pretty soon I'd be fatter than when I'd started.

So not true, but for me anyway, that lack of interest in food did not last longer than a few months, but it did NOT mean my band stopped working, just that (really a blessing) you do start to enjoy it again and the head hunger and non hungry eating issues need some work. But the band really really helps with it.

Whilst you're like this, milk it for all its worth! You can lose tons of weight early on really easily if you're lucky enough to feel this way, so enjoy it for now, but sooner or later, you will enjoy your food again and that's a GOOD thing. You will learn to both enjoy your food but not overdo it, and that's the life skill you need. Life wouldnt be a lot of fun if you never enjoyed anything you ate again - this is a journey of self love, not punishment.

I rarely have an interest in food. Ive been banded since Feb and since then have lost most of the enjoyment of eating..its now a chore..I love it!!! Now instead of coming home from a hard day and eating cookies out of the bag, I come home to a glass of water and try on some skinny jeans! the first couple months I had somany cravings, but not anymore. Last week some people ordered like 12 pizzas for everyone and I had to give a presentation right behind the table where the pizza was..I didnt eat eat a peperoni..actually eating a piece never crossed my mind, it was like ugh not hungry and gave my presentation...normally I wouldve been talking and stuffing my face at the same time, i used to love pizza! Now, its ok, but I believe I have a healthier attachment to food, its there to live on, not to live for!..Now if I could replace the joy I used to get from eating with exercise, Id be set! lol

Oh again, good to see I'm not alone. I had about 1 month where food didn't interest me. But it came back with avengance. I'm still waiting for the indifference to 'come back'.

Hope it lasts longer for you

I still wish I could just go to the 2 weeks post-op, where my stomach didn't want to eat.. I had to force myself to drink protein shakes just for the heck of it. Ah, those were the days.

Anyone else lost interest in food?

I thought I was prepared for all sorts of food issues, but this one is unexpected: I have realized in the last week or so that I have basically lost all interest in food because I no longer get any enjoyment out of eating. As I expected to be battling head hunger for a long time, I have actually found this quite jarring, and perhaps a little depressing. I’ve only been banded for 2 months. The first month was so hard, always craving a cheeseburger, pizza, fries, coke, Pasta, and now that I’m past the initial shock of losing all the things I love to eat, the only things left are things I don’t want to eat so I’m totally uninterested. Nothing sounds good. Nothing looks good. I have to force myself to eat half the time just because I know I need a little nutrition. I’m starting to get a little worried that I’m developing a new eating disorder at the opposite end of the spectrum from food addiction…Food Aversion.

I have not had a fill yet because I definitely have restriction and can’t eat very much, and I’m losing appropriately. And maybe this is just a passing thing and my interest in food will come back. In a way I hope it doesn’t, because enjoyment of food is what got me fat in the first place, but I just thought this was so strange.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I have been banded for almost 1.5 years now, lost over 60 lbs and still loosing; I now eat to live, and that is it. It has been this way for a long time now (months), Breakfast is the worst, I hate all breakfast foods. My husband loves to go out for breakfast, I will eat one piece of bacon, and a cup of coffee and that is it. meats kinda hurt going down, I guess that is why I find eating such a chore. Fish is much better, but not shrimp. My last fill was 6 months ago, so I should not be that restricted. This is really how we should be eating, eating to live, not the other way around. Good luck. LadyK

From other threads I've read, it seems like there is a lot of variation between how long it takes before cravings come back. I get banded on Frday and if I survive the pre-op diet, lol, I'll be thrilled if I don't have cravings for even just a DAY!

Yes , I am not very motivated to eat. I go to the store and think that looks good and buy it. You should see my frig and cabinets!

I force myself to eat for nutrition too. I don't see it as a bad problem.

I would rather be this way . Just make sure you get some protien drinks in when your appetite is really low. I do .

edie

I didn't lose my interest in food until recently....Now I don't know what to buy at the store! Nothing looks good, and I eat so little that any recipe I fix ends up with huge leftovers that get thrown out. My husband isn't usually home at mealtime, so even fixing traditional single portions is way too much, and it's hard to buy small enough portions of things to fix.... Any suggestions? I'm looking for meal ideas! Nothing sounds good these days, unless I'm at a restaurant. Then I enjoy everything, but in tiny amounts!

No, I have never lost interest in eating and it may be due to the fact that I have never felt like I have the kind of restriction that others talk about. I get physically hungry and head hungry too. I don't think it is a much fun to eat as it used to be, but that is why I got the band because eating was way too much of everything for me.

I never feel full on small amounts of food. I get to a point where I can't eat anymore, but I don't feel "satisfied". My band is maxed out so I don't think more fill will be the answer. The band my not be right for me, but I keep working at it. I wish it did take my appetite away, but it doesn't.

I didn't lose my interest in food until recently....Now I don't know what to buy at the store! Nothing looks good, and I eat so little that any recipe I fix ends up with huge leftovers that get thrown out. My husband isn't usually home at mealtime, so even fixing traditional single portions is way too much, and it's hard to buy small enough portions of things to fix.... Any suggestions? I'm looking for meal ideas! Nothing sounds good these days, unless I'm at a restaurant. Then I enjoy everything, but in tiny amounts!

Im with you, I live alone so its hardly worth cooking, I seriuosly walk down aisles and think nope nope nope nope....I usually end up with like lean choice or something microwave meals..usually at least they r small..not the healthiest thing in the world but what can i do..i have to force myself to eat!

I hate microwave meals....I usually end up getting a salad from a fast food place and making a couple of meals out of it. Getting tired of limp lettuce!

Phyllis.....How long have you had your band? I'm assuming you know that it is not leaking, since they believe they've filled you to the max. Without more info, let me offer a guess....Have you had a fluoroscope to see if you have stretched your pouch? You can do that through no fault of your own, and it is usually easily correctable. Mine was..... I felt like I had practically no restriction and could eat anything so I went for more fill and found out I was living with too tight a band and so had dilated my pouch. A partial unfill and some days on liquids and I was back to feeling restricted.

I still love food and crave the same things I did before I got the band. I still eat most of them, but in less amounts. I am really beginning to wish I had chosen RNY bypass instead.

I guess I'm the exception to the rule--always the "weird one!" I still love food, enjoy cooking, and haven't lost interest in eating. I like to experiment with foods to see what combinations I can come up with that are tasty and easy to eat without experiencing any discomfort.

I think I appreciate good food even more than before I was banded mainly because I am now forced to actually chew and taste the food rather than inhaling it like a Hoover vacuum clearner!

I think a lot of bandsters go through almost a period of grief over the loss of the ability to eat the way they always have in the past (too much, too fast). Your head has to adjust to a new way of approaching eating. Once that happens, you will find out that eating to live (i.e. the good foods you need in reasonable amounts) is much better than living to eat!

Good luck--you can do this!

I have been banded just over 4 weeks now and have been on solids for 4 days now. I haven't lost interest in food but I must say when I went to the cafe downstairs from my office yesterday, I stood there for a few minutes looking at everything and nothing appealed to me so I walked out. I had some pureed fruit, jelly & light custard in the fridge so I had that for lunch. Then I had a nectarine a little later. I usually have some protein etc for lunch but I listened to my body and it worked for me. I haven't been at this long enough to advise you but why can't you eat some of the foods you used to like in smaller portions and see if that helps... I don't mean junk food. Good luck.

I forgot to mention that I freeze "band-sized" portions of meals so I can enjoy them again another time! That seems to work out well because there's only myself and my son in the house. I can make something different for him if necessary and have something handy for me!

Hey Trans....Puleeze....I would love to have some of your favorite recipes!

Hey Zen....You're losing...just slower than you would with bypass. And someday you may really count your blessings that your band is adjustable! Take it from one who stretched a pouch...needed a slight unfill when sick...hates to get the runs....has the option to unfill a bit before travel....