I'm ALWAYS hungry

**rashad** · 01-12-2014 08:38 PM

This isn't any damn head hunger. I'm getting 60-70 g of protein every day. I'm eating every 3-4 hours. Heck, 3 weeks out and I don't even feel a ton of restriction like I thought I would.

I know people who say they never are hungry and have to remind themselves to eat. When does that stage come??? I feel as hungry right now as I did pre-sleeve.

Down 43 lbs overall, 23 since surgery.

**donewithdieting** · 01-12-2014 08:47 PM

Even 2 years out had 1/2 c homemade potato soup, 1/4 of open faced ham salad sandwich and I'm stuffed for over two hours. The restriction should be there. I'm wondering if they used a bigger bougie with you. Hope all works well for you. You really shouldn't be hungry, esp all the time. Linda

**puffyclouds** · 01-12-2014 08:55 PM

I'm with you, I feel like I can eat more than I should be able to eat and do feel hunger. My doctor used a 32 boogie though so that's not the problem. I finally noticed the restriction when I reached the solid food phase, just past the soft food phase. So it's there and I appreciate it. You lost a lot of weight though, so it sounds like you're making the sleeve work for you anyway. For me, it's still much better with the sleeve than without.

**alice1** · 01-12-2014 08:57 PM

Sorry Rashad, I had to laugh at your email, you are so cute....
I don't know how many percent of the stomach your surgeon had removed. You really shouldn't be hungry at all. I had surgery 2 and a half month and I am struggling to eat half a cup of food, once I was greedy and didn't stop when I felt I should have, I vomitted, it was bad, bad, bad! I learnt the hard way and now I know the sensation when I need to stop eating.
As long as you continue to lose weight, you can eat when you are hungry, perpahs you should eat protein so it stays in your stomach longer and drink more fluid instead! You need to mention this to your doctor during your next visit.
Take care, hungry man! :--)

**Hace0101** · 01-12-2014 08:58 PM

you look great! Hunger comes and goes for me in the beginning during the liquid diet I was not hungry at all but now I feel your pain, listen to you body, I know I do as well as fight the voices of eating in my head :-) keep up what you are doing

**SethP** · 01-12-2014 09:01 PM

You are only 3 weeks out so you arent really eating real foods yet. I know that I didnt have much restriction at first either. Today I am 8 months out and I dont even feel like I had the surgery. Yes I did lose weight in the first four months, but have been pretty much stalled since then. I do eat less then I used to but I can manage quite a bit without any pain or restriction. I am guessing that bougie size makes a very big difference. I know that I dont always do the right thing while I am offshore. I dont have a lot of control of the foods that are prepared and cant always make the best choices. While I am home things go alot better with choices. Being 8 months out I can consume a full chicken breast without much difficulty. Keep your head up and increase yur water intake and that will help you stay full longer. Make sure you dont drink for 30 minutes after you eat.

**OAM** · 01-12-2014 09:12 PM

Did you know stomach acid micks hunger pains? I mean it feels like god awful, intense hunger! I had this problem in a bad way, then my doctor doubled my Prilosec and it went away (at least for the most part). Nothing you eat makes the pains go away for more than a few minutes when it is acid. You might give it a try.

**rashad** · 01-12-2014 09:16 PM

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Earlier, I had a 5.3 oz 100 calorie Greek Yogurt and finished it all with no problem. Within an hour, I had 1/2 a Wendy's chili, puréed, with a little cheese and light sour cream. Again, no problem. I felt it a little, but I could have had more. If the chili wasn't puréed, would I not be able to eat as much?

Also, I'm waiting 45 min to an hour to drink after meals.

**martav** · 01-12-2014 09:27 PM

I eat soft foods but have to do it very slowly. Also I make sure I get at least 80-90 grams of protein a day and the 64 oz of water. I make sure to do the 3 eight oz shakes per day and then supplement with baked tilapia, steamed spinach, cottage cheese, greek yogurt. And I am always full.

**ProHeadhunter** · 01-12-2014 09:29 PM

Only eat three meals a day with smaller snacks. You can eat all day but you need to control this not test it. Your Head speaks loudly, stop listening.

**65fl** · 01-13-2014 09:40 AM

I never felt any restriction on soft foods. When you can finally experiment with regular foods I'm betting that when you eat a steak you will feel the restriction, for me it was like hitting a wall. If I eat a bite beyond that I would be in extreme discomfort, so I don't do that. Last night I had a small sirloin and broccoli. Exactly what a shrinking man needs. Steak, chicken and pork is what fills me up and stays with me. Good luck on your journey and congratulations on your weight loss, you are doing great.

**ximmia** · 01-13-2014 10:14 AM

I too get hungry. Drink drink drink. Sometimes drinking will stop hunger. Also, staying busy really helps. I don't eat nearly as much at work as I do at home. Make sure you have healthy snacks around. Light string cheese is my best friend. It's all about learning habits, and it's much harder to change a habit, but you CAN do it. I still don't have it under control every day, but it's a lot better than it was.

Are you exercising? That can make a huge difference in breaking a stall. Also, have you taken your measurements? Even when the scale isn't moving you can lose inches.

You need to listen to your body, but you don't have to obey it. When my body says I need to eat combos, 80% of the time I can negotiate it into something healthy. Turn it into a game. You can do this, even with the hunger.

**JustWantToBeHealthyAgain** · 01-13-2014 11:30 AM

I really suggest you get on a PPI like Prilosec if you're not on one. I can tell if I forget to take mine. It's not comfortable. I feel fine when I take it. Also, drinking water really helps you feel less hungry. Many times, we interpret thirsty as hungry, both pre and post op.

**JustWantToBeHealthyAgain** · 01-13-2014 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by 65fl

I never felt any restriction on soft foods. When you can finally experiment with regular foods I'm betting that when you eat a steak you will feel the restriction, for me it was like hitting a wall. If I eat a bite beyond that I would be in extreme discomfort, so I don't do that. Last night I had a small sirloin and broccoli. Exactly what a shrinking man needs. Steak, chicken and pork is what fills me up and stays with me. Good luck on your journey and congratulations on your weight loss, you are doing great.

I am not on steak or anything like that but I agree with you. I'm on pureed/very soft foods and I like ground-up, pureed meats. They do fill me up. I don't eat mashed potatoes or anything like that - they don't do it for me. MEAT is what I need to feel full. 1 egg in the morning keeps me going for hours.