Veteran sleevers,,how to start again.

[terrora]

I feel like I am on a diet and I hate it. I am hungry all the time which is why I have decided to count calories. I am afraid if I don't then I will eat too much and not lose weight. I cannot let hunger determine when I eat or I would eat all the time.
I am eating 1100 calories a day. I have been running every other day and walking my dogs on the other days.
I have been averaging 3.5lbs a week weight loss, which I am happy about.

I am allowing myself anything but working on making protein a priority. This is difficult as I was a carb addict and I can really live without much protein if I don't purposely plan for it. Another reason I count calories..carbs can add up. Have just purchased some protein gel packs and some new protein powder I am trying.
I don't often eat until full as I don't want to stretch the sleeve. I eat until satisfied,,and if not paying attention I get a bit full. Sometimes before I even leave the restaurant (long lunches) I am hungry again.
I feel like I am just as obsessed about food as I was dieting. How do I just "let go" and just let the sleeve work for me? Between head hunger and physical hunger I could be eating all the time some days. I do well at pushing the physical hunger aside all day but it drives me crazy.
Should I increase my calories?
Should I just make myself high protein meals,,then have one ever couple hours when hungry?
I am jealous of you who don't get hungry.

Please,,no condescending remarks...truly looking at how to go in another direction.Thanks

[Ema]

Terrie, no condescending remarks here as I feel somewhat like you. I get hungry every 2 hours.....and this is stomach hunger. I can hold off eating for an hour or two once I feel hungry, but I am aware of being hungry. I get my 60 to 70 oz. of fluids daily and I get my protein in every day. I do count calories and track what I eat. I am holding at 900 kcal a day, high protein, complex carbs, and low fat. I am lucky to drop a pound a week right now. Suggestions?

[terrora]

I think you should increase your calories. I am at 1100 but sometimes go up to 1200 on a real hungry day and am still losing pretty fast.
I remember being on weight watchers at 1250 calories and starving all the time. I don't think we are eating enough. In a way I wish I had no hunger but
I think we are learning more self control being hungry and resisting??. Also I would be tempted to eat less if I wasn't hungry and that isn't good for the metabolism.

[justilou]

I would seriously consider speaking to a specialist nutritionist. Not all are aware of the metabolic changes after VSG.

[Ella-Ann35]

Terrie, I can't say I have any advice, but I do understand what you are going through. I too feel like this is a diet. I too am hungry all the time. And I find that although I get pains if I try to eat meat or any kind of healthy meal, other than soft foods, bread and sweets, my two weaknesses, go down very easy. So for me, this is a diet, one where I constantly have to restrict and monitor my choices. Right now, I'm successful as it's all still new to me, and I've always been successful on any new diet. But I worry about the long term, when I get to the point where I've failed so many times before.
Three and a half pounds a week is awesome! I wish you the best.
Linda

[Lilygirl1973]

I think the fact that you are losing 3 1/2 pounds a week (awesome) may mean that you have a higher metabolism than the rest of us.
This may be why you are always hungry. Take in more food and see how the weight loss goes. I have a feeling you will still lose very well.
I have the world's slowest metabolism ever! I have the opposite problem where I am never hungry. So I have to consciously make sure to
eat enough. But I am not losing at the same rate as you are. Every body makeup is different, so we all have to figure out what works for us.
But I agree about seeing a bariatric nutritionist. I am going to do the same. Congrats on the great weight loss!

[Ann2]

You might consider following the instructions of every bariatric surgeon in the galaxy about how to eat post-op:

1. Eat protein first.
2. Eat at least 60-80 grams (at least) of protein daily.
3. As your tummy heals and restriction lessens, add low-carb, high-fiber vegetables and fruits.
4. As your tummy continues to heal and restriction lessens, add grains and other less complex carbs, e.g., potatoes, rice.
5. Stay hydrated by drinking at least 64 ounces of water daily.
6. Don't drink your calories.

[katesnana]

Terrie, I'm always hungry also. I know this surgery still takes maintanance but I was hoping I wouldn't have to worry and plan every bite I take. I have stopped losing. I hate being hungry all the time. I feel like I'm missing the whole point of surgery. I didn't want to have to count calories, carbs or fat. I just wanted to eat healthy and small portions.
I have to say, I'm very disappointed in myself. I struggle and fight for every one pound lost.

[Mbenson5]

I don't consider it a diet, rather I see it as learning to eat. 1100 calories at 2 mos seems like a lot to me, but if you are losing then you must be doing it right. I have no judgement for sure. I have bounced around all over the place with a ton of roller coaster days and still do. Right now I have gained 6 over the holidays but I am going right back to low carb today! I have lots of turkey and ham in the fridge, so am set! Just trying to forget the desserts left over. I will have a spoonful or two if I get desperate and then be satisfied. You are doing great! Just rememeber it is all about learning to EAT with your new stomach and it will all be great!

[tinoch]

The thing that has helped me is premixed protein shakes. They are very thick and sweet so I cut it with milk. That does a lot to help me feel more full but I have similar issues. Almost every time I eat, I feel like I could eat again in about an hour so I have become a clock watcher and try to make myself wait at least 3 hours before I eat again.

A personal trainer once told me to eat a different amount of calories every day to try to confuse your body. I believe they call it zig zagging. He also said if you eat well 6 days a week then on the 7th day you should eat whatever you want.
This was a man who considered bread to be his dessert when he was on cruises and once a year for his birthday went to Krispy Kreme and had one glazed donut.

So my suggestions are weight training 2-3 times a week, zig zag your calories and try the protein shakes.

Good Luck.

I know they said the surgery is just a tool and I thought I understood that before I had the surgery but I feel like know, I really understand what that means.

[tinman]

The Mantra

You are not on a diet......

Since you are not on a diet, you cannot be failing at a diet.

This is not a race. It's a marathon. You need to make a plan tailored just for you. Work that plan. Own the results. Change as necessary. More on this one later.

You must eat no less than 80 grams of protein a day. Mandatory. Not Elective.

You must drink no less than 64 oz of WATER a day. Not coffee, tea, sports drinks, wine, beer, sodas...WATER. Again, Mandatory. Not elective.

CARBS ARE YOUR FRIEND.

And...you must never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever over eat.....ever.

Now for the race. Your journey is different than mine, hers, his, and everyone elses. Your trip may require that you eat 2000 calories a day to lose weight. That's why the first line in the mantra is "You are not on a diet". Diets don't work post op. So, throw away all of those rules and make a plan that works for you. If it doesn't work, own the results and change. If you are hungry, it's because you are hungry. It's not head hunger. (what ever the heck that is) It's your body telling you it needs more fuel to keep your metabolism at peak fat burning power. Pretty simple and profound at the same time. Your body will tell you what to do if you will get out of your own way and listen....lol. Just don't over eat. How will you know if you are over eating? You'll gain weight. If you track calories when you are making your plan, then you'll know what the limit is. At that point, it will be a matter of finding the right combinations of the things your body needs in order to keep it fired up.

I found that I lost copious amounts of weight on a plan that had roughly 1500to 1700 calories a day in it. It doesn't matter how you get in your carbs, protein, and fat. It just matters that you do. That's the fun part about the sleeve and the part that is so freaking liberating. The fact that you can eat what you want, when you want, and made just the way you like it.

If you feel like you are on a diet, then in my opinion, you are doing it wrong. My way isn't the yellow brick road. Lots of other ways out there. Truffles, Little Verbena, Marvinator, Jessiejess, Seth. These guys have had success making their own plan and working it. The initial plan they came up with wasn't the one they ended with either. That's why you have to be flexible in your approach.

So quit dieting and worrying. Have some fun with this and live your life. Once you get the hang of it, you'll see just how effing cool the sleeve is and how epic the changes are in your life.

Good luck!!

[apythia]

Terrie, no condescending remarks here as I feel somewhat like you. I get hungry every 2 hours.....and this is stomach hunger. I can hold off eating for an hour or two once I feel hungry, but I am aware of being hungry. I get my 60 to 70 oz. of fluids daily and I get my protein in every day. I do count calories and track what I eat. I am holding at 900 kcal a day, high protein, complex carbs, and low fat. I am lucky to drop a pound a week right now. Suggestions?

Emma, I am right there with you but at about 1000 calories and less than 30 g carbs (mainly quest bar and carbs from chewable vitamins). I exercise daily, and am not losing much at all - like 3 pounds a month. I'm constantly hungry, have dizzy spells daily, and am always tired, even though at get at least 80 g protein a day and 64 oz fluids.

I don't think I'm eating enough for the exercise I do, but my nut/doc are absolutely adamant that I don't eat more than 3 times a day. Right now I eat 3 meals at 2-2.5 ounces each and then I have to supplement with a Quest bar or a protein snack between lunch and dinner before dance classes. So I'm already breaking the rules with the 4th meal but I can't hit 1000 calories without it.

So basically, do I listen to my body or my doctor with the 3 meal thing?

[dbcassidy]

I don't think I'm eating enough for the exercise I do, but my nut/doc are absolutely adamant that I don't eat more than 3 times a day. Right now I eat 3 meals at 2-2.5 ounces each and then I have to supplement with a Quest bar or a protein snack between lunch and dinner before dance classes. So I'm already breaking the rules with the 4th meal but I can't hit 1000 calories without it.

So basically, do I listen to my body or my doctor with the 3 meal thing?

I'm not Emma, but a question similar to yours came up at the hospital (where I had my sleeve) monthly WLS group meeting.

Short answer, keep eating your quest bars.

Reasoning: My doctors and nutritionists told us that that a meal needs to consist of at least 3 ounces of protein.
If I can only eat 2 ounces of protein at noon before getting full and then because I am hungry need to eat another ounce at 2 PM, they do not consider my eating at 2 PM a separate meal - that is a continuation of my noon meal.

Since your three meals do not contain 3 ounces of protein, they are not a "full meal" - more like .75 meals and you actually need to eat one more time during the day to get all your protein in.

[Ema]

Donna, thank you for sharing what your weightloss team told you. That makes sense to me.

[terrora]

Thanks for all the great answers. I did contact a dietician but have not heard back from her. They are mainly linked to the bariatric surgeons here so don't
see people who had surgery elsewhere.