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  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member Dutchie's Avatar
    Name
    Simonne
    Surgery date
    01/03/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Pablo Enriquez Valens
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    Default Head hunger and grazing...

    I am so mad at myself!
    I started grazing with fruit, cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes.
    No big deal, we might say.
    Bur gradually that developed into protein bars, sugary things, not healthy things and yesterday was the limit: popcorn!
    And I am sure I can't be hungry, because I just ate!
    I feel like I am on a very slippery slope here.
    But, I have to say, my excuses are always so darned good... I even convince myself!

    Be careful guys, this struggle is a never ending story, even with our sleeves.
    Any advice, besides "find a distraction"?
    What I learned at WW, way back in the years, was to first find out what it is I want: sweet, salt, crunchy etc.
    Then find a acceptable, healthy thing that satisfies that exact need.
    But even then I would be eating all day long...
    Aaaargghhh!


    And: whoop, whoop!
    2,5 years after surgery tomorrow!
    English is not my first language anymore, so I may and do make mistakes in my spelling, or say things oddly. Please ask me, if you want any clarifications.



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  3. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  4. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member kenson's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    01/13/2014
    Surgeon
    Dr. Karl Strom
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    Dutchie,
    I feel your pain! You also bring up a topic that resonates with me. I hate it when I want "something" (food), but can't figure out what that "something" is--I just know that I want to eat something. Yesterday, it was popcorn (coincidence!) My saving grace right now is that I'm working out a lot and staying within my points on WW; however like you said, this is a never-ending story. When I get this way, I try to distract myself with something. I go into my craftroom, I'll start a load of laundry, etc. anything that will distract me.



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  6. #3
    sraebaer
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    I eat the Smart Pop 94% Fat Free popcorn in individual microwave packages if I'm craving it. But you're right, some days I'm perfect with my eating and others I'm looking for crap around the house. (Luckily we never have much of anything junky). If I crave sugar I'll buy a few 10 cent tootsie rolls when I'm getting my diet soda. Yes, I haven't given up my one diet soda a day. And with Kilimanjaro a month away I may be in trouble. No diet soda in that country.

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  8. #4
    Gastric Sleeve Member Sandra3's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Sandra
    Surgery date
    01/20/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr W
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    Dec 2015
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    Fruits and tomatoes have sugar so it could actually make you hungry because it's raising your insulin. I would say to eat ham, cheese, protein first even for snacks. But did you have a blood test recently? because for me, cravings ALWAYS show up during iron deficiency, even worth anemia...it's just crazy.


    HW : 150 kgs
    09/02/2014 : 142 /1st apt
    01/20/2016 : 134 /surgery
    01/30/2016 : 130 /1st post-op
    02/27/2016 : 126 /2nd
    04/23/2016 : 118 /3rd
    07/16/2016 : 109 / 4th
    10/01/2016 : 103 /5th
    01/21/2017 : 98 /1 year post-op
    February 2017 : 100 lbs lost
    07/22/2017 : 96
    10/21/2017 : 93
    12/22/2017 : 91
    01/02/2018 : 96!! regain (medication)

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  10. #5
    Gastric Sleeve Member WANAGL's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Cyndi
    Surgery date
    12/30/2015
    Surgeon
    Dr. Robert Marema
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
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    01-09-2020 06:15 PM
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    Hampton Beach, FL
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    Congrats on your 2.5 years!!!

    Look how far you’ve come and what a fabulous experience you’re having.

    It is a slippery slope...be patient with yourself, trust your journey.

    I like the WW idea to identify what you want and find healthy substitutes that you mentioned...I Do Not have any junk food in my vicinity...at home or when I’m traveling. If I’m craving sweet, I eat berries (even frozen berries in milk). Cukes satisfies crunchy, jerky satisfies salty.

    It’s such a blessing to have this forum to come to talk to others who identify ;-)



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  12. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  13. #6
    Gastric Sleeve Member AnnieG's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Annie
    Surgery date
    10/05/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Ryan Heider
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
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    11-29-2020 11:18 AM
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    NC
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    Quote Originally Posted by Dutchie View Post
    I am so mad at myself!
    I started grazing with fruit, cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes.
    No big deal, we might say.
    Bur gradually that developed into protein bars, sugary things, not healthy things and yesterday was the limit: popcorn!
    And I am sure I can't be hungry, because I just ate!
    I feel like I am on a very slippery slope here.
    But, I have to say, my excuses are always so darned good... I even convince myself!

    Be careful guys, this struggle is a never ending story, even with our sleeves.
    Any advice, besides "find a distraction"?
    What I learned at WW, way back in the years, was to first find out what it is I want: sweet, salt, crunchy etc.
    Then find a acceptable, healthy thing that satisfies that exact need.
    But even then I would be eating all day long...
    Aaaargghhh!


    And: whoop, whoop!
    2,5 years after surgery tomorrow!
    I am glad you posted this, having slid down this particular slope myself. I just went back to my healthy eating and the few pounds are S-L-O-W-L-Y coming back down

    Aren't we glad we don't require perfection from each other, just ourselves!

    I had also (probably not coincidentally) stopped doing daily weight, substituting weekly. I realize I need different accountability for myself We are each so singular in those things that work for us.

    This morning as I weighed in, it came to me. My weight today will not be identical to my weight tomorrow (duh); my weight tomorrow will be up or down due to many things. But most importantly, due to my decisions today I have the power to choose.

    SO when I want to graze, I remind myself of that old saw I made a litany for my adult children when they were little -- choosing means also choosing the consequences.

    I spend a lot of time in my head, lol, trying to sort out the roots of the behaviors that got me up to 240# and now back to 134.

    As you've said, it is a lifetime of using the tool of our VGS, and the support of one another.

    I think I need to decide the END of my eating day is 6:30 pm, unless we are with other people and going out later. Thankfully, most of our friends eat at old-people thirty!
    [I]HW: 240 lbs SW: 199 lbs GW: 140 lbs

    1 MO = 167.0 2 MO = 156.4 3 MO = 148.4 4 MO = 140.6
    5 M) = 136.0 6 MO = 130.0
    1 YR = 122.0 2 YR = 140.00 2.5 YR = 139
    Happy with my weight; happy with my size; over-the-moon with my health!

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  15. #7
    Gastric Sleeve Member meggieprice's Avatar
    Surgeon
    John Feng, MD
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    May 2019
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    Quote Originally Posted by Dutchie View Post
    I am so mad at myself!
    I started grazing with fruit, cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes.
    No big deal, we might say.
    Bur gradually that developed into protein bars, sugary things, not healthy things and yesterday was the limit: popcorn!
    And I am sure I can't be hungry, because I just ate!
    I feel like I am on a very slippery slope here.
    But, I have to say, my excuses are always so darned good... I even convince myself!

    Be careful guys, this struggle is a never ending story, even with our sleeves.
    Any advice, besides "find a distraction"?
    What I learned at WW, way back in the years, was to first find out what it is I want: sweet, salt, crunchy etc.
    Then find a acceptable, healthy thing that satisfies that exact need.
    But even then I would be eating all day long...
    Aaaargghhh!


    And: whoop, whoop!
    2,5 years after surgery tomorrow!
    One thing I know 7 years out- this struggle will never be over for me.
    I have been watching a lot of My 600 Lb Life episodes and trying to delve deep into my own issues as I know there is not a lot dividing me from those people.
    I lost 110 pounds after my surgery- gained 70 back- lost 60 of that again. I wont let the regain happen again but I struggle every single day. It is a source of sadness for me.


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  17. #8
    Gastric Sleeve Member EllisM80's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Michelle
    Surgery date
    10/11/2018
    Surgeon
    Dr. Clifford Black
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    Nov 2018
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    12-24-2019 10:27 AM
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    Valley, Alabama
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    I wish I could answer that but I don't have the answer myself.




    HW: 315 lbs (2008) Maintained at 296 until 2015.
    SW: 255 lbs (10/11/18)
    1 mth post op: 229 -26lbs
    8 weeks post op 213 -42lbs
    3 months post op 197 -58lbs (at home)
    3 month post op appt 196 -59 lbs (1/28/19)
    6 months post op 171 -84 lbs (4/11/19) (at home)
    9 months post op 150 -105 lbs (7/11/19) (at home) *GOAL*
    1 year post op - maintained at 150

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  19. #9
    Gastric Sleeve Member kenson's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    01/13/2014
    Surgeon
    Dr. Karl Strom
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Last Activity
    06-29-2023 07:07 PM
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    Quote Originally Posted by sraebaer View Post
    I eat the Smart Pop 94% Fat Free popcorn in individual microwave packages if I'm craving it. But you're right, some days I'm perfect with my eating and others I'm looking for crap around the house. (Luckily we never have much of anything junky). If I crave sugar I'll buy a few 10 cent tootsie rolls when I'm getting my diet soda. Yes, I haven't given up my one diet soda a day. And with Kilimanjaro a month away I may be in trouble. No diet soda in that country.
    sraebaer, I eat the same popcorn!
    The key for me is that I do not keep any junk in my house. No cookies, chips, etc. My only "sweet" snacks are fruit or my greek yogurt.
    Dutchie, I hope this makes you feel better that you are not alone. As maggie said, we will have to deal with this for a lifetime. I think for all of us maintenance is about being mindful and vigilant.



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  21. #10
    Gastric Sleeve Member WANAGL's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Cyndi
    Surgery date
    12/30/2015
    Surgeon
    Dr. Robert Marema
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Last Activity
    01-09-2020 06:15 PM
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    Hampton Beach, FL
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    You’re so right, Kenson. ...Mindful and Vigilant ;-)

    I think I’ll repeat these two words to myself on a daily basis!



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  23. #11
    Gastric Sleeve Member Sandra3's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Sandra
    Surgery date
    01/20/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr W
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Last Activity
    06-25-2020 09:15 AM
    Location
    France
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    Also, it's been really hot lately, are you drinking enough? because after the sleeve thirst and hunger send mixed up messages.

    When did you have your last blood test done? could you be deficient in something??

    I know I'm always saying the same thing but anemia or just iron deficiency make me so hungry!! I can always tell when I'm low and it's not in my head!!
    I mean : not talking about food addiction issue here. But if suddenly you are hungry and nothing changed in the landscape (no stress, no change in your diet)....look at your blood test.

    And relax my friend!! it's normal to be hungry! your body wants something...obesity is for life and we (I do too!!) feel guilty if "eating too much" but really what is too much?? did you gain weight?
    In doubt try to lower your carb intake to a minimum, it does help with hunger for sure.

    My youngest had a bad blood test result last month, her AC1 was too high, she was prediabetic. She has always a balanced diet, I always make sure of it, but diabetes run in the family, not my husband and I but our parents, so I always watched the kids for symptoms. So I had a talk with her, and since she knows "it's not her fault" she understood that going for low carb would help a lot. Since eating low carb she is less hungry, I think it got better. We will see what next blood test will tell next week. But I could tell her blood sugar was spiking in the first place, just watching her, which is why we had the last blood test earlier....usually we check the kids once a year, here it was less than a year but I could just tell..


    HW : 150 kgs
    09/02/2014 : 142 /1st apt
    01/20/2016 : 134 /surgery
    01/30/2016 : 130 /1st post-op
    02/27/2016 : 126 /2nd
    04/23/2016 : 118 /3rd
    07/16/2016 : 109 / 4th
    10/01/2016 : 103 /5th
    01/21/2017 : 98 /1 year post-op
    February 2017 : 100 lbs lost
    07/22/2017 : 96
    10/21/2017 : 93
    12/22/2017 : 91
    01/02/2018 : 96!! regain (medication)

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  25. #12
    Gastric Sleeve Member Dutchie's Avatar
    Name
    Simonne
    Surgery date
    01/03/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Pablo Enriquez Valens
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    Dec 2016
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    07-05-2020 12:35 AM
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    "Mindful and Vigilant" will become my new mantra.

    Thanks Sandra, you always come up with things that make me think, which is a very good thing!
    My last blood test was about 6 months ago.
    My B12 was through the roof, so I had to stop taking that.
    I always take my iron supplement, because I know I always have a low Hb.
    But I'll ask my PCP for another blood test.
    I am also prone to low blood pressure, so I really have to watch that.
    My water intake, although sufficient, could do with a bit more.
    I only wish I didn't have to pee so much...
    My carb intake varies, still not very high, I stay around 80 grams per day.
    I could lower that.

    "It is natural to be hungry, it is unnatural to be full".
    Interesting, isn't it?

    But I know for a fact I am not hungry, because I am stuffing my face maybe one hour after I ate.
    I know I shouldn't be doing this, but I do it anyway.
    But all the junk food is out of my house now (well, my RV), so there is nothing left but healthy things.
    But even so, I don't want to graze, not on popcorn or sweet things, but also not on healthy things.
    I don't want to graze at all!

    So now, when I feel a snack attack coming, I take my dog and go for a walk.
    Or I go sit behind (or in front, I never know what) my computer and type long answers. lol
    I think I'll open a "Snack Attack" topic, where we can tell each other fun stories to distract ourselves and you can't eat and type simultaneously...
    English is not my first language anymore, so I may and do make mistakes in my spelling, or say things oddly. Please ask me, if you want any clarifications.



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  27. #13
    Gastric Sleeve Member
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    04/29/2019
    Surgeon
    Dr. Foreman
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    South Carolina
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    What a great and informative post, thanks for sharing. I so agree with and I try to stay DONE eating around 6:00 pm.



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  29. #14
    Gastric Sleeve Member KiwiGal's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Lisa
    Surgery date
    09/04/2017
    Surgeon
    Stephanie Ulmer
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
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    05-24-2021 09:49 PM
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    My red alert time is when I get home from work and before dinner is ready. It is usually 3 hours since I last ate and at least 2 hours before dinner. If I don't have a structure snack then I will be looking in the cupboards/fridge for something/anything to eat. As other I don't have cookies/crisps etc it's usually not too bad but does tends to be carbohydrate heavy!
    I think I need to get some more protein heavy snack in :-)



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  31. #15
    Gastric Sleeve Member Ann2's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Ann2
    Surgery date
    08/18/2014
    Surgeon
    n.a.
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
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    Missouri
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    Default Re: Head hunger and grazing...

    Had not seen this thread until now. Glad I did.

    WARNING: Profanity coming at ya in a second ....

    Next month I'll be five years post-op. And at five years post-op, here's what I think that I know (thus far) to be true:

    1. What works for ME isn't necessarily what works for ANYONE ELSE. Each of us has to figure out what works best for us and stick to that until it doesn't work anymore. And then we have to find what will work better for us at that point. This need to pay attention and rejigger things occurs periodically -- that's just how life is. It's true of relationships, careers, and self care.

    2. Some things that have worked well for me for a long, long time (thus far) are:

    a. Keeping a clean cupboard / house. If I don't buy it and bring it home (I live pretty far out in the country) I cannot eat it. Likewise, if my cupboard / kitchen doesn't contain healthy food, I'm likely to start looking in cupboard corners for forgotten trigger foods that might have escaped my latest purge.

    b. When I'm home, every morning I weigh and plan my day's eating menus and record all this in My Fitness Pal. And to be very clear, My Fitness Pal isn't my super power -- my planning and my intention and my personal accountability are my super powers. MFP is merely a tool that supports my super powers.

    c. I'm one of those WLS patients who absolutely, positively refuses to become fat again. My current life as a normal-sized person is much more interesting and fun and anxiety- and pain-free than the life I had 100 pounds ago. That doesn't mean that when I travel or go on vacation that I eat and drink perfectly or that I don't gain a few pounds, because I do. I'm far from perfect. But thank God, perfection is not required to maintain my weight. However, my INTENTION to maintain a normal weight for the rest of my life is very important to me. And that brings me to the next thing I know (for now) to be true:

    d. I have become fucking BRILLIANT at starting over, again and again and again and again and again. Every morning I get to start over. Every Monday morning I get to start over. Every time I come home from an indulgent vacation I get to start over. Every year I get to start over. Starting over with hope and the knowledge that I've been successful in the past and knowing WHY I've been successful in the past is absolutely critical to those of us who want to live our best lives. By that I do not mean perfect lives, because no one's life is perfect. But our best lives are dependent on our being able to discover deeper layers of confusion and challenges and being willing to battle, not succumb, to those challenges. If we keep struggling, we can and likely will win. But if we quit paying attention to what's happening and we quit struggling, our little challenges will turn into much bigger challenges, which will be even harder to deal with.

    I think you've done great and you'll continue to do great because in 2.5 years you've built a lot of good weight maintenance skills and strengths. You're simply 2.5 years post-op and are now dealing with what every person who's dealing with maintenance has to deal with every single day--learning what YOU need to do to go the distance and doing that at least 80% of the time.

    At least, that's my take on things.



    Consult: 235 lbs
    My and doc's preop diet: 216 -19 lbs
    M1 postop 205 -30
    M2 193 -42
    M3 184 -51
    M4 174 -61
    M5 167 -68
    M6 162 -73
    M7 156 -79
    M8 151 -84
    M9 148 -87
    M10 146 -89
    M11 144 -91
    M12 143 -92
    M13 142 -93
    M14 140 -95
    M15 139 -96
    M16 137 -98
    M17 135 -100

    First Surgiversary post

    Second Surgiversary post

    Third Surgiversary post

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