I'm 2 weeks post op and I'm feeling hungry. Is this normal? I'm getting my water and protein in, but have been eating soft foods like cottage cheese, refried beans, mashed sweet potato, watermelon. Am I doing this right?

As long as you’re following your plan, you’re on the right path. Of course because your tummy can be pretty sensitive & fussy, especially for the first couple of months, there maybe things on your plan, your tummy just doesn’t like. You can always check in with your medical team/dietician for alternatives.

After two weeks most are only on purée foods which are like what you are eating. Purées should be sloppy & require no real chewing. On soft foods, about week 4, you can be eating things like fish (poached is good), minced meats, slow cooked braises, thicker slow cooked soups with meat & vegetables. As long as everything is still moist & doesn’t require lots of chewing.

Some people say they’re hungry after surgery but generally this is just head hunger not real hunger. Remember, most of the area that produced your hunger hormone has been removed. It’s likely your desire for food is being driven by cravings, emotions, habits, etc. It’s understandable that head hunger is still driving you after surgery. It’s an emotional time: increased stress & anxiety, fear, etc. You’ve massively changed your diet & cut off foods you relied upon to provide satisfaction or you may have been addicted to like sugar, salt, caffeine, …

For many of us, hunger feels different after surgery but I think that’s because it’s real hunger not head hunger.

Congrats on your surgery & good luck.

Two foods that helped satisfy hunger during purée were: puréed fish mixed with bone broth, and Chick-Fil-A chicken broth. The broth especially was the first time my pouch felt good since surgery. (High in salt, but nutritionist said to go with what felt right at that point)

Maybe keep trying some different (allowed) foods till you feel satisfied?

Touch base with your dietitian and let him/her know how you are feeling. It’s normal to have doubts and fears! Your support team is there for you anytime!
After my surgery I dealt with head hunger pretty bad and found that hot/warm liquids helped satisfy the cravings. I drank a lot of Swanson Chicken Bone Broth, Better Than Bullion beef flavor, and cinnamon tea. Soon after I did develop actual hunger and my stomach would growl. I still struggle with this (I’m five months post-op) and when I could move to puréed foods I would eat foods mixed really well in my food processor. I can still only eat about two ounces at a time and if I feel the need for a snack I eat green olives, boiled eggs, or dill pickles. Try to avoid sugary fruits or too many sweet potatoes. This can slow your weight loss progress. I still only incorporate small amounts of carbs (steamed broccoli, green beans, spinach, etc), dairy, or berries. Be sure you are getting lots of protein and taking your multivitamins, B vitamins, iron, biotin, and calcium. You need to supplement your diet with these since you can’t get everything you need with food. You are going to be okay!!! Take it one day at a time and I know you will be very happy with your results. You can also always reach out to people on this forum for support! ?