My appetite seems to be returning. Is this normal?

[Kysunshine]

Hello all,

I am 5 months post-op. I have lost 57 pounds (post-op). My appetite seems to have increased lately and I find myself thinking about food. I think I am even able to eat more than I did a few weeks ago. I hope my sleeve has not stretched out.

[Ann2]

Yes, your appetite does return. But how much will return and at what pace it will return seems to vary from patient to patient.

As I understand it, pre-op our bodies normally produced (and released?) ghrelin (the hunger and thirst hormone) through the stretchy fundus portion of our stomach that was the 85% your surgeon removed. However, over time our bodies figure out a way to produce / release ghrelin through other parts of the body.

Also, at five months, your stomach is mostly all healed from the surgery. That means your new stomach is no longer swollen. And the amount of restriction you feel now (if you're not grazing, but are eating real meals during which you eat protein first) is probably close to the amount of restriction you'll feel for a long time. I'm betting you're able to eat a max of 6 ounces at mealtimes now. Right?

Caveat: I'm only 11.5 months post-op, so I can only talk from my experience during that time, but no longer. My restriction hasn't changed that much since 5-6 months post-op. I can now eat about 4 ounces max of animal protein and 2-4 ounces max of veggies and whole grains max at one time.

I hope others with longer experience post-op will chime in here for you and let you know their experience.

Anyway, all this ^^^ is why they say the sleeve is only ONE of the tools you need to reach your goal and to maintain your weight loss over time. Other tools are your knowledge about nutrition (which you should be increasing all the time), drinking enough water throughout the day but not drinking with meals, taking your meds and vits/mins every day, chewing your food fully and making your meals last longer (giving your body / brain a chance to realize you're satisfied and/or full), exercising enough to lose / maintain your target weight, not abusing food or self-medicating with food to assuage your discomforts and emotions, and not letting small weight gains turn into large weight gains by kicking bad habits to the curb as soon as they show up again.

Long-term WLS success is attained pretty much like everything else worth having -- every day you have to get up, suit up and show up.

A lot of people have made long-term weight loss work for them with WLS. You can do this, too!

[Midas]

Yep, I've noticed my appetite increasing as well. Some days are worse than others. I'm trying to drink even more water.

[Little Verbena]

Yes, everything Ann says. I am coming up on my two year surgery date and I agree that after the swelling goes down you can get in a bit more. I still go for between 3 oz (red meat) or 4 oz (chicken or fish) and then veggies about a half cup or so. I was reading something that said most people post op start eating more carbs again and then get those old hunger feelings. You will be able to eat a little more. It is important to not stuff yourself, eat slowly, take small bites and don't drink and eat. If you follow those rules, you will be fine.

This is the time to really start working on those mental habits. If you get the urge to eat, note the time and wait 15 minutes. If you are still hungry, find a healthy snack. At this point you should be feeling stronger too, try ramping up your exercise to and see if that helps. And always remember, between meals, if you get a feeling of hunger, it may just be that you are thirsty... our body only has one way to tell us it needs something. Don't confuse hunger and thirst.

[Captkev]

One thing that helps me and I know it's all mental is not to eat alone. I see how much more everyone else is scarfing down, I know my sleeve is still doing its job. I'm only 6 months out, so I'm no expert, but just take it one pound at a time and let the results come when they come.

[mem222]

Hunger is an interesting thing. I recently found that I was very hungry in the morning, couldn't wait to have a morning snack. I had gone back to drinking a lot of coffee. I think it was stomach acid. I now only have 1 cup at home and stop there until after work when I get a lg. iced decaf as a treat. I had been night snacking so this seems to help with that.
Good luck, are you still taking an acid reducer?

[aglb]

Just shy of 2 years out - I feel hungry often - have gained about 6 pounds and having a heck of a time getting it off again. I don't think my stomach has stretched - if I eat the right things I think I am still able to eat about 3oz meat or 4-5 ounces of soft food like oatmeal etc. - carbs are bad and that is what caused the problem I believe - little bits too frequently - I am not eating the really bad stuff - most days I stay away easily from sweets etc. but even the lower calorie carbs add up at the end of the day if it is a bit here & there. I would love to try something for the stomach acid because i did hear that it mimics being hungry so that might be what I am feeling but my surgeon doesn't believe in antacids so he won't prescribe them.

[jaimaroo]

This is one of my fears! I don't want to be what I used to be.
Then again, I am 3 months out and can barely get just the protein in. I have noticed that I can eat a bit more than 2 months ago.
I think it is important to focus on the water and the protein. I am trying to live a protein first life. I have a tiny square of bread yesterday and it was delish, but it was plenty for me. I hope I can maintain this new dedication for the rest of my life.