Please help with my questions

[bogart13]

Hello fellow sleevers,

I had my surgery on February 21, 2012.
I lost maybe 13 lbs to date.
I am hungry as though I never had surgery.
I feel like I am over eating maybe not over eating as much as drinking to fast.

Questions:
Why am I hungry?
Did I stretch out my pouch?
How do I get back to losing? and not feeling so gassy and bloated?

Thank you,
Cheryl

[Sunflower]

Not sure how to answer your questions. Have you spoken to your doctor? Do you exercise? What is a typical day of food/protein/fluids for you? Good luck.

[bogart13]

Yes I exercise and I take in about 800 calories a day 75 to 80 grams of protein. 64 oz of water a day

[4linton]

As for hunger it is a misconception that you won't feel some. Some of us are more pronounced than others. Ghrelin is a hormone produced not only in the stomach area that was removed and can stay in your bloodstream for a period of time but it is also made in your pancreas. this may or may not be your issue but many of us wonder if it's in our head or a eating pattern problem or what. but my appetite is lesser than before for sure. As far as your weight loss goes I don't know that anyone can tell you exactly why other than to change things up a tad bit and if your starving yourself in an attempt to see loss that you may try to UP your caloric intake as your body is storing whatever it can and slowing the losses. I know it sounds weird but many have had some movement afterwards. You are down in weight and judging by your surgery date it's 2 pounds a week average and that is not unheard of and is where I am at currently. Though I did have that first burst of weight loss. Don't give up hope and Sunflower had sage advice. Talk to your Doc...

[Theresa]

also... what was your starting weight/bmi?

people with lower bmi and less weight to lose will lose slower than those that are heavier with an extremely high bmi

[lauriej71]

Drinking too fast can cause the gassy and bloated feeling. I am a fast eater and drinker and have to remind myself to sip and chew chew chew or else I take in alot of air and feel horrible. Too much gas can stretch out your pouch.

The hunger could be in your head. You maybe aren't mentally satisfied after eating. It's hard to learn and I am still on my journey. The Reese's peanut butter eggs were calling my name every night for the past week and I gave in although I was not really hungry. My mind convinced me I was though. It's a vicious pattern to try to break out of, but I am learning.

Good luck and please hang in there!

[*Lindsey*]

I agree that you need to take in protein protein protein...This will help with the feelings of hunger. But, hunger definitely plays mind games....Thats where the "eating when im happy" "eating when im bored" "eating just because" comes from....It likes to make us think were hungry. But were not! LOL

Best of Luck

[TexansCat1885]

I had my surgery the same day as you!! I hit a major stall between week 2 and week 6 and then all of a sudden I dropped 6 pounds. It's been a battle for me to lose every pound. It's not easy. I was taking in 900 calories and I just dropped to taking in 800. You can't "starve" yourself thinking the weight will come off....cuz it won't. I feel like my pouch has stretched too!! I went from eating 4oz for a couple weeks and I feel like I can eat 6oz or 7oz now! I dont know if that's right or wrong???? I still measure my meals...and I always eat protein first....but I know when I'm full and I don't eat more than I should. My dr told me after I'm done with my soft foods phase that I'll be able to eat a cup..8oz...per meal....which is 3 weeks away. I'm not rushing it. If I have to eat 5 small 6oz meals a day...then that's what I'll do. If I notice I'm not losing, then I gotta pump up my workout.

[savvyshamrock]

I felt hungry too, and sometimes still do. What I do is repeat to myself over and over that it's just in my head. Also, since I've started doing that then paying attention to how I'm really feeling I've learned that when I'm hungry, I don't feel hungry like I'm use to... I feel deflated. I don't have a better word for it, but it's not like it was before the surgery, it's a whole different feeling that I probably wouldn't have paid attention to if I didn't spend so much time telling myself I wasn't hungry. =)

Remember that everyone is different, but to me 800 calories in a day would be something that I'd have to try for. My normal day scores me around 600ish to 700 if I splurge. Normally though I get the gassy bloated feeling when I eat carbs (pasta, potatoes, bread...). Are you tracking your carbs?

Hang in there, you are doing great! =)

[bogart13]

Thanks everyone for all your help and responses..
Everyone seems to be doing amazing and I want to join everyone in looking and feeling amazing!!!
My starting weight was 245.5 on day of surgery 2/21/2012 I am 48 y/o Menopausal
I am now at 230 4/12/2012.
I feel like I should be down to 220 at least!!
I would love some diet examples so I have a better understanding of what everyone is eating.
Oh and BTW I have another question is there a way un-stretch your pouch if you stretched it??
Thank you everyone for responding and here's wishing you amazing health in 2012!!


BTW I am new so I am a little slow at getting the understanding of how this works but I'll get it

[savvyshamrock]

Here is mine for yesterday. Note that I was out all day so my choices were limited. For lunch I had what I consider half a hamburger at Mcdonalds, what I do is order it, then take the bottom bun off and I end up eating about half. If you have a spark account I think there are ways to look at other peoples food journals so I'd be happy to share mine. It's always easier to be good if you know someone else is watching. =)

I think in all reality that it takes an awfully lot to stretch the part that's left to a disproportionate size. And, keep in mind that you said you've been exercising and if you are getting muscle on your frame it weighs more than the fat you are loosing. Are there NSV's that you are having? Clothes fitting differently? Your undies always sagging? Have you tried measuring instead of weighing?



CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN
Breakfast

Soy Milk, 1 cup 80 12 5 11
Sythrax Sweets, 4 serving 100 0 0 24
BREAKFAST TOTALS: 180 12 5 35
Lunch

McDonalds Hamburger, 0.5 serving 125 16 5 6
LUNCH TOTALS: 125 16 5 6
Dinner
Flank Steak, 4 oz 175 0 8 23
A1 steak Sauce, 1 tbsp 15 3 0 0
DINNER TOTALS: 190 3 8 23
Snack

Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Almonds, 0.5 oz 80 5 7 3
Brussels sprouts, cooked, 3 sprout 23 4 0 2
SNACK TOTALS: 103 9 7 4
CALORIES CARBS FAT PROTEIN
Totals: 597 40 24 68
Your Daily Goal: 1,200 - 1,550 135 - 252 27 - 60 60 - 136
Remaining Today: 603 - 953 95 - 212 3 - 36 0 - 68