Head Hunger After Weight Loss Surgery

[@Elio0719]

To eliminate real hunger post operation I noticed when I am busy I don't think of food on the contrary my wife reminds me to eat. But when I am bored, oh god, every two hours I want to eat something.

[@apoundofcure]

+Elio0719 sounds like you are eating as recreation, not for hunger. A support group or bariatric psychologist may help you break this habit.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@darrylgatfield5614]

truly one of your best videos yet......im 3 months post vsg and the head hunger desires are back..i fight them then one day i gave in and had some fried food>>>worst mistake..i had a guts ache and the shits with pain...hence fried food is off my menu now......being in australia i have never truly experience real hunger as food is plenty here so retraining my brain is new for me...but I'm getting there..i don't regret my vsg and i believe i have extended my lifespan as a result...keep the great videos coming as many people around the world appreciate them...thanks again

[@apoundofcure]

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[@tigerdeer]

Excellent content as always. May I make a suggestion Dr Weiner? It would be fantastic if you could make these videos available as podcasts on iTunes. It would make excellent listening in the car, on the walk and beyond.

[@apoundofcure]

Tigerdeer I'm looking into it - good suggestion

[@apoundofcure]

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[@rhondamiller4911]

Dr Weiner thank you so much for your videos. I've learned much more than I would have from my program that I'm on now. I just had by gastric bypass April 12th so I'm almost 4 weeks to the day tomorrow post op. The nutrition program I would have to pay out-of-pocket would be nowhere near what I've learned from you and I purchased your book to keep me on track and keep me eating the right foods. Thank you again so much I really appreciate your effort and knowledge and everything that you've done for everybody! Have a great day.

[@apoundofcure]

+Rhonda Miller Thanks, glad the videos helped.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@mimisblessedjourney1610]

just found your video's can't thank you enough for these.. I'm learning so much, wish i could have you do my surgery... :) God Bless you for putting this info out, without compensation.. (but i did buy your book)

[@apoundofcure]

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[@BTyler1982]

Having my gastric bypass surgery on 5-23-16 and i wanted to say thank you for your information and guidance. You are really helping me settle in to the fact that "i am going to be ok after this surgery". My Surgeon has me on an Optifast 800 pre op diet for two weeks, and it is tough but i am getting through it. This pre op period is giving me some training with head hunger vs real hunger. Thanks again.

[@apoundofcure]

+Tyler Blackwell Glad to help. I use a very similar pre op diet. Yes, you are going to be OK.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@noelleryan827]

I thought I was hungry 2 weeks post op. When I was put on Prevacid for reflux, it disappeared. It was stomach acid.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@missb1982]

I haven't had surgery yet. I'm having it July 27th but already have lost 80 pre surgery and one thing I noticed, is when I have a major craving to binge or get off track and I eat something wrong, it's never ever as good as what I imagine it's going to be. ever.

[@apoundofcure]

Bingo!

[@lilabetancur]

+Dr. Matthew Weiner why do some surgeons say you can't have fruit after gastric bypass?

[@missb1982]

im actually curious to the answer to this because even though i didnt have the bypass, i noticed after the sleeve, if i eat fruit, its like my blood sugar goes too high. i dont even have this particular problem if i eat something with real sugar in it, its only fruit that my body seems unable to handle well now. even if i eat it with protein, it still makes me feel really bad.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@carmenfluker5248]

awesome video! I am feeling actual hunger. I was sleeved 2/27 and have had a trouble getting my protein in, but when I find something I can tolerate it is satisfying to me. I'm not craving a specific food, I am not getting my nutrition in. I'm calling my nutritionist today.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@Raedaun]

Thank you so much for your time.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@brifoxx6136]

I found it hilarious when he said " i think you should have some" then proceeded to describe the adverse effects.

[@NoFeArChiC2]

It's meant to ruin the fantasy of what we "dream" that eating the pizza, etc, will be like. It'll give you a good, cold, hard slap of reality to the face. lol!

[@FrancinaJean]

Thank you for your videos, I am really learning a lot about my new tool/ Sleeved June 20th/18. Going to buy your book!

[@apoundofcure]

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[@beri1985]

This video is really good - now i know how it feels to be hungry. Thanks Dr. for this videos they are really helpful - i'm so glad that i can see all this video before i have surgery so i won't be worried or unsure. I wished sometimes that our swedish surgeon will do this kind of videos because there are people that doesn't speak english

[@apoundofcure]

Glad they helped.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@tonyawallace3181]

Thank you 😊

[@apoundofcure]

Are you on instagram? You might appreciate the content there too, and we'd love the engagement. @drmatthewweiner is the account.

[@amadoabdulsamad]

Hi Dr, i had my surgery last week VSG, and I am super hungry, and it’s real hunger, I just want to eat anything. I am currently on the liquid diet and I am suffering, I am just thinking about food, and to be honest I don’t feel like I had a surgery, I don’t feel my stomach is smaller. I called my surgeon and he said he removed 80% but to be honest I don’t feel it. Please help 😭

[@MM-bg7in]

Had surgery on 8/7/2020. Down 87lbs from entire process. I do get real hunger sometimes and now adrenaline dumps. I don’t desire any of the bad stuff just the good foods. Just sharing so if someone is watching the video to know know that you can feel real hunger less than 3 months out. I agree that I don’t feel any desire for the bad foods or overeating but really enjoy my new pescatarian diet.

[@apoundofcure]

Congratulations on your success, Follow me on instagram @drmatthewweiner see you there!

[@mindfullearner3733]

Makes total sense to me thank you.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@sherrysimmons5161]

Truth! Great video once again :)

[@apoundofcure]

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[@tonyawallace3181]

I wish you had did my VSG

[@wagz2003]

Based on this, I've literally never been actually hungry in my life! LOL

[@mariahazelo752]

Jessica Ho very few in the US ever have been

[@kimberly6200]

OMG I WAS JUST SAYING THIS SAME THING LOL. I NEVER EXPERIENCED HUNGER PAINS BC IM ALWAYS EATING LOL

[@authorlacricia]

I'm almost 14 months post op. I never came close to my goal and I have gained 13 pound. I literally gained 7 pounds in 3 daily. At times I gain at least a pound daily. Any advice.

[@apoundofcure]

+authorlacricia many reasons for weight regain. You may benefit from a Skype consult, you can call my office at 248-413-2670

[@apoundofcure]

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[@scottbennett777]

Doc, Thank you for excellent videos. Big question: After VSG, whenever physical hunger does return, does it present as what I call "cellular level [non-negotiable] cravings" that occur after most non-surgery weight loss regimens? I pray that cravings of that magnitude will never (!) return, and yet I fear 😨 they will. P.S. HW 11/2014: 438, SW 7/21/15: 379, CW 9/26/15: 321 (week 9 post-op VSG). Thanks in advance. Keeping fingers and toes crossed for your reply.☺

[@apoundofcure]

+Scott Bennett This varies from patient to patient . Some people have excellent control of their cravings while others continue to struggle with the same old demons. The longer you go after surgery without giving in, the better your lifelong control will be.

[@scottbennett777]

+Dr. Matthew Weiner Thank you!

[@apoundofcure]

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[@susanhenderson3369]

I actually had bypass surgery in the hopes that it would help the extreme hunger I was experiencing because an illness caused rapid weight gain (70 lbs in one year & I was overweight to begin with). I lost 100 pounds before surgery eating pretty much the way you recommend but was averaging 16 cups of fruits/veggies daily to stem the hunger. Surgery did not stop the hunger. In the early weeks on the liquid/soft diet it was actually worse. At 4 weeks post surgery I advanced to meat cooked in the crock pot & soft vegetables which i was craving terribly & it helped. Not enough though. I had to go on Wellbutrin to control appetite and immodium to prevent food from going straight through me. I apparently have a problem with hypermotility of the GI tract. Solid meat & steamed veggies help the most with the hunger as well as drinking a minimum 24oz water between meals. Processed food does not provide enough volume for me to be satisfied. I regularly eat 4-5 cups of food when extremely hungry and have been able to do this from about 8 weeks post-op. My surgeon really does not understand what happened in my case. He does 200 surgeries a year-he has never had a patient respond as I have. Endocrine causes for the extreme hunger have been ruled out. I really have to be very careful to eat very regular meals with very solid food & drink the water between. I am just shy of one year out & have been at my maintenance weight for 2 1/2 months after dropping 55 pounds. Surgery not fixing my problem with extreme hunger was a huge shock.

[@apoundofcure]

+Susan Henderson I'm surprised too, but it sounds like you have a solid approach, and should be able to maintain your weight loss as long as you make good food choices and avoid all sugar containing beverages

[@mamaspice8755]

any advice for constant hunger? I've been like this since surgery but now that I'm at 16 months post op it's getting worse where I feel like I need to nibble constantly. I can be full and my body is telling me I'm hungry still. Its driving me nuts at this point. anything I can do to help 'curb' the constant sensation? I have given in many times to temptations but even after I give in to one of those temptations the hunger is still there.

[@lilblu1990]

So I'm 1 month post op and I relapsed because of my head hunger. I ate 2 slices of pizza minus the crust and was fine. It wasn't an unpleasant experience at all. So now what do I do because I was really counting on getting sick to help hold myself accountable. I feel so lost and upset. I was told that I wouldn't be able to eat any more then an oz or 2 but I can. I was told that I wouldn't be able to have high fat, sugar or carbohydrate foods without getting sick but I can. I was told that I wouldn't want those foods anymore because of hormone changes but I constantly do. So now what do I do because if I could of done this on my own will power I would have and I wouldn't have had to cut my stomach to pieces. 😭😭😭

[@mollysmith6055]

Good advice even for long-term post-ops. When dietary practices get sloppy we tend to forget this. Thanks for the good reminder.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@colleenw4343]

I am less than a week post op and am feeling real hunger and have for a few days already. Recommendations?

[@hackn22]

I'm 2yr post op and I can't differentiate head hunger from real hunger. I don't desire junk foods because that was never a struggle for me rather than it was the amount of food I ate. I feel hungry every 2 hrs I need to chew some meat, preferably. Struggle with this daily and not sure what to do.

[@Jem4u90]

Nik H maybe therapy would be helpful our addiction to food comes from some emotional place. We use food to cope with the bad things and it develops into an addiction maybe talking to someone would help.

[@apoundofcure]

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[@lindseyatkins9495]

can you recommend the best option for bile in the stomach surgery ? I will be seeing another surgeon tomorrow but, I just don't think he really knows which to do. I've already lost so much weight and don't need to lose anymore. I'm very very skinny. this is all do to gallbladder surgery that was not needed and now I'm suffering. Thank you for your time.

[@juliestoker-buckell5398]

Hi. I have bile reflux and am considering surgery. Did you have surgery and what was the name of the operation. Best wishes and cheerio. Julie x

[@apoundofcure]

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[@tigerdeer]

I tried veggie burger at Hungry Jacks which I used to like before. As you mention the sensation is totally different now, 7 months out. Last time I tried it I just had the patty and left out the buns in their entirety. I have pretty much eliminated everything you suggest though finding it hard to switch to nut milk and still do miss rice (which I have now replaced with Quinoa and have it very occasionally). I would suggest others with the same head hunger problem as me to try the hunger scale. It does help if you commit to it.

[@apoundofcure]

Tigerdeer great suggestion

[@apoundofcure]

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[@vishalgupta4284]

can i loose weight almost (60 kgs) without surgery

[@apoundofcure]

+vishal gupta some people can, some can't...

[@apoundofcure]

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[@silvebeaton8511]

Agree. My switch flipped. I have an urge for healthy options these days rather than what I had in the past. The only frustration is not being able to have so much of it 😂😂😂

[@apoundofcure]

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[@Phaedragon]

Really helpful. I often feel queasy, even hours after I eat. This often results in "wind." Is that normal?.

[@apoundofcure]

Phaedra Ovid It's usually caused by making a bad food choice - processed foods with added sugar and fat will cause everyone to have the symptoms you describe, but it's exaggerated in post-bariatric surgery patients.

[@Raedaun]

Dr. Wiener, I am doing all of the work up towards gastric sleeve. My insurance which is Medicare requires 4 months of supervised diet before Surgery. What is the best way to do this? What plan would you suggest? I have your book, "A Pound of Cure" would that one be good to follow?

[@apoundofcure]

+Erva Reamsbottom preop weight loss for Medicare needs to be physician supervised by monthly visits. Many programs do this, but some refer patients back to their primary physician. If you do it through your primary physician you can share the book with him/her so they understand what program you are following.

[@MsClark2009]

Dr. Weiner, I had VGS on 9/20 and had complications where I couldn't hold down food or liquids and they couldn't figure out why. After 3 hospital stays and 2 months, I lost over 50-60 lbs. Now, for the last month and a half, I feel extremely hungry, I don't have much restrictions when eating and an hour after eating I feel hungry again. Is this normal? Or, should I seek out a 2nd opinion to see if something went wrong with with my surgery or sleeve? Thank you Oh, my HW:267 CW:186 and I've bene stuck at this weight for over a month.

[@apoundofcure]

+MsClark2009 definitely sounds like a second opinion would be helpful - a lot more details are needed to determine how best to proceed. I offer Skype consults if you call my office. I'm certain that if you watch more of my videos, you may find that return of hunger is not a sign of a problem, but often a natural part of your postoperative course. Often hunger is really just a return of old food addictions and needs to be addressed as such.

[@apoundofcure]

Do you have an instagram? Follow me at @drmatthewweiner where you can see more content!

[@sarah-louisetester9891]

Hi Dr Weiner, I'm from the UK. I discovered you through an American bariatric Facebook page. I am on day 5 of your detox. So far I've lost 9Lb and can hardly believe it!! One question.... Do I have to cut out potatoes altogether? P.s Thank you for saving me from plateau!

[@apoundofcure]

Sweet potatoes should be okay, but I'd recommend avoiding white potatoes. Congrats on the weight loas

[@sarah-louisetester9891]

Thankyou. I'm on day 7 now and weighed in at 11Lb less!! So pleased...No regrets but miss my good old English morning Tea :(

[@MsGlamazon]

Eat the pizza after 2 months I love this dr hes brilliant

[@lowcarbsocial1248]

i just had a large bowl of lentil soup (completely blended)Week 2. i know this is not a calorie dense food, yet i had a large amount. i believe this is head hunger but it is nutritious and filling. i just don't know..

[@apoundofcure]

+c a l l m e k a t i e doesn't sound like head hunger to me. Remember, these are hormonal surgeries, not restrictive.

[@apoundofcure]

Are you on instagram? You might appreciate the content there too, and we'd love the engagement. @drmatthewweiner is the account.

[@kelseyalexandra8254]

Dr. Weiner, do you think that a vegan can get bariatric surgery and succeed?

[@apoundofcure]

Yes, absolutely. Just make sure to avoid vegan junk food.

[@fruitandveggies24]

Kelsey Alexandra Don't know if you've gone through with it yet, but I've been vegan for 13 years and had no issues with RNY!

[@apoundofcure]

Are you on instagram? You might appreciate the content there too, and we'd love the engagement. @drmatthewweiner is the account.