It’s Back! The Return of Hunger after Weight Loss Surgery. 

So timely, I’m working on reprogramming my mindset around food now.

this really spoke to me today. for the first time since my surgery I wanted a snack. I have been so focused and not going off my diet and have stuck to foods that I am supposed to eat. I don't really think about food anymore. because I am never hungry. Today I felt like I was starving. and I kept thinking .. I might just go have a couple crackers. But I just had lunch a hour ago. It scared me because that is the old me .... needing a snack ... so I put my walking shoes on and went walking and drank my flavored water. I started off weighting 259 lbs. had my surgery on Dec 14th 2023. I now weigh 154. I have 25 more to go to reach my goal. also my goal is to keep it off. I really needed to hear this today so thank you.

BTW I have hungry since the day of surgery, I have 2 stomachs... Ethel ( old accessory) and new (myrtle pouch) and Ethel is hungry and grumbles often. Your post this week reminds me so much of addiction medicine and how these issues have always always been classified as mental health conditions. As if separate issue, not related to medical metabolic conditions. Mind, body, spirit, Wholism! Our entire existence biologically is mediated by hormones, some yet to be discovered. EX: Serotonin/brain/colon connection. I have seen so many patients where GI health and mental health connection is never made. I am hoping for science to find more keys to obesity medicine. We are no longer being overlooked. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am grateful for your voice! Thank you!

Thank you so much for this topic Kaki😊. I too am struggling with hunger, I’m 3 years post op and have gained 10 lbs this past year and I’m so afraid. The battle is still so hard for me and I’m so tired of it. Still fighting for a “normal” relationship with food and not giving up! I’m so happy you’re feeling good from your surgery!

So much to think about. I am healthy weight now, but I never considered the disease of obesity remaining despite my weight. It really makes so much sense and explains a lot of what I feel when it comes to making sense of my weight journey.

This is scary. I am 13 months out from RNY. I can eat so much more and at times experience head hunger, but to think I could have "real" hunger now scares me. I still have 30 pounds to lose and don't want to stop yet. I've lost 143 pounds and so happy.

Hi Kaki - I have been on holiday and just caught up on all your videos. Glad the skin removal operation has finally settled down. I am thirteen months out from a mini gastric bypass and the hunger is definitely a thing. It is not head hunger, or bored eating. As per my usual habit, I have a small breakfast around 6.30am before I go to work and by 10am I am starving, hunger pains and all. I have so far managed to avoid overeating as I have some cheese and biscuits or some fruit but I am going to start to have a larger breakfast to see if that helps 😊

I swear I can feel hungry and full at the same time! I more deal with an empty feeling in my body. I don’t know how else to describe it. I’m 6 months post gastric bypass. I’ve lost 64 pounds since surgery. I also lost 20 pounds before surgery. I’m not the quickest loser. I take Gabapentin 300mg three times a day for nerve pain (unrelated to obesity). I know it’s notorious for causing weight gain, but I really need it. I hope I can at least get the excess weight off before the growling stomach shows up. Thank you for yet another wonderful video.

Good to hear all is well with you! I’m 6 weeks post op tomorrow.

Good video! Thank you for your advise last video about asking my PCP for the freestyle libre 3 to monitor my glucose levels. She also referred me to an endocrinologist to test for RH (she said I have the classic symptoms) I started wearing it today. Just waiting to activate it since I read I should wait 12-24 hours before connecting to the sensor since it can give bad readings at first. I hope this will help me keep on track and stop feeling so bad with crashes (had one down to 62 after breakfast today) I would like to see some more what you eat in a day videos.

Good info for sure!!

Hey Kaki, another great video. I’m officially 1 month post op. I don’t think my stomach got the memo that I’m not supposed to be hungry because I have the sensation of being hungry most of the time. I’m ok with it, but am looking forward to meeting with my dietician next week to discuss why. It’s still early days and am only just moving on to solids so hoping that will help.

Good information as I started my journey on Jan 22 2023 following my Dr program till my sleeve surgery on 7- 11 2023 , tomorrow is my 9 month after surgery, before I would think when I woke up what am I going to eat at breakfast than a little after what I eat lunch , than dinner, I now long even think about it , I hope it Stays that way , I eat to live , not live to eat

So Kaki, when you felt your tummy rumble so soon after eating your meal. Did you have to talk yourself into understanding that you’d just eaten and it couldn’t possibly be proper hunger?