Hang in there!! The first couple months just plain suck. It gets better, I promise!

JJ

You're not too far out, right?

You may be actually hungry, but wanting part of a cookie is a craving, not a necessity.

It WILL get better. For now, try to stay busy... that will take your mind off of the cravings. About a month after my surgery, I started eating out of boredom on the weekends... just on the weekends. I realized I did not go through the surgery to do this, so now when I'm feeling munchie, I get up and do something.

After the soft diet, I was totally craving something crunchy. Just give it time, and introduce those foods when your plan allows.

It will get better. I too hate the proteing powder mixes... too gross to drink. I found these Protein shots.. some cannot drink them but my doc says that they are ok. IDSPORTS.com to see what I am talking about. They some in like 3 oz vials, 42 to 50 grams per... different flavbors. I mix them hal water and protein. It works for me.

As you progress everyting will get easier. Juast keep you eye on the prize... healty and thin and hot lol you can do it.

I think a lot of us have gone through this stage.m I does get better. Hang in there!

I promise you, pretty soon you will be saying "why didn't I do this sooner?" I am 1 year out, lost 115 lbs. yesterday my grandaughter's gall Bladder sent her to hospital and when they said it had to come out, I called my surgeon because he's my hero. He and God gave my life back to me. Also, I parked the last spot out in the loooong parking lot and ran, yes "ran" across it. I have so much energy. As for the protein, I hated it too and I lost my hair, then I decided it was worth it. I live on yogurt and cottage cheese, put protein in everything and have my hair back. I will pray for you. It will get better.

I think we all felt the same way as you do in the beginning. The first couple of months are rough like everyone said. But it gets better and better and easier and easier. All I wanted was pizza because that is all I saw on TV commercials during my recovery from surgery. There is no way I could have actually eaten a piece but I wanted it. Just hang in there - try different protein drinks. Some are really horrible but you will eventually find one you like. Best wishes sent your way!

My surgery was on 1/20 and I went through exactly what you are going through. But even a week later, I feel better. The powder proteins have been making me gag lately too. I just found this lean muscle mass drink from GNC that is pretty decent. Are you drinking enough liquids...that might help the dizzies.It does get better. Believe me, I am still struggling but last week I also regretted this surgery. This week I got on the scale and saw that I am down 30 lbs!! So that is some serious motivation!!

I am six days post op and am drinking EAS shakes and find them yummy actually. Others have suggested muscle milk and there are "juice" like flavored shakes in vitamin shops.

I too crave food right now. I truely believe that carbs are a true addiction. It is like we have been placed in detox and are in early recovery. I have faith that is we stay focused, learn from mistakes, and never give up, we will meet our goals. I remind myself that i have been eating s**t for 35 years and can't exect myself to not want those foods again. Be patient with yourself and this too will pass.

This post his home for me. I still recall how frustrated and depressed I got a few month post op. I even remember chewing a piece of chocolate and spitting it back out. It does suck but it like everyone says, it does get better. A thousand times better :)... I would re-do every last miserable second because I know what life can be like as a healthy fit person.

Hmmmm I don't usually do this but I am going for the tough love here.
The surgery is recent I am assuming.
This isn't a miracle cure for obesity and this isn't the easy way out fot any of us.
There will be some sacrifices to be made but I promise you this will be the best thing you have ever done for yourself.
Morning the loss of a piece of candy is a small price to pay, if you really put your life in perspective.
You may lose candy but gain your life.
I can't say even in my worst moments that I ever wondered why I did this to my self (although I understand that many do)
I was ready for the surgery, understood what I was in for and did this to save my life.
The added benefit is that I really do look much better.
This will pass soon.
Hang in there girl.
Also if it is a consolation many things that you can't eat at first you may be able to eat further out.
I (we are all different) can eat all the candy I want at 11 months out but I would rather be slim and put the candy away.
Remember... nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

The same as Hope, I can eat about anything I want...don't, but can...
The same as Hope, I have never questioned my decision to do this, as living in a 425 body was about to kill me...
The same as Hope, I will be the one who has nothing but tough love, and say that you will learn how to get over the whole protein powder thing, you will learn how to eat solid foods, when that time comes...and don't be fooled. there are days even at 5 months now, that I am still locked to the damn protein shake. but with it, my weight loss is better.
Like Rath, there were a few times I chewed a couple of chips, and then spit them out. gross I know, but it took that craving away. I know that is extreme, but it kept me out of the chip bag...
make your mashed potatoes high protein...you have to use instant potatoes, but it works. add the unflavored protein, (I use Unjury unflavored for this) to the water, or in my case, I use all skim milk, the flavor is better. anyway, add the unjury to cold milk, mix it in good, then heat it up and add the other stuff. no clumps, no bumps, no nasty. I don't do nasty...In the end, everything must taste okay or I am not gonna eat it.
also, I semi freeze my protein shakes, which makes them oh so much better.
Tough love, is hard to hear, as it is usually the truth, and damnit, the truth hurts...it will also set you free...hummm, where have I heard that before. oh yeah, it is what got me to surgery to begin with. the truth of the matter, was my weight was gonna kill me, sooner or later....
I have lost 180 pounds now, soooo....yes, the first months suck..so did the pre-op diet I had to follow...much more restrictive than most peoples...but I have lost a huge amount of weight because of it also...
your hunger right now, I am afraid to tell you, is your head...less than a month out of surgery, there is no way you are physically hungry...except for the fact you are resisting the protein....only you can change that...and those protein shakes...they will keep your body satisfied. it does nothing with the urge to eat...that is another story altogether...but once you have puked a few times from eating too much, eating the wrong stuff, whatever...you will get with it pretty quick...

All of these responses are very helpful to me and I can read the genuine concern in each of them. JoJo--I hope that you can find your solution very soon and I wish you the best. Unfortunatesly, I have no real advice (just support), as I am still pre-op and I think that everyone else has said it.

Best wishes,
Leslie

hi jojo

all we can really say is it defo gets better, but you got to go through thr rough to get to the smooth, your body will tell you exactly what it wants and can manage, just listen and remember little is best

it will get better

xxxx

aaahhhhh, my nut told me I could have cottage cheese today!!!! I feel like my world iss opening up! Pureed steak with tomato sauce over cottage cheese, here I come!!!!

I tell my students these things when they are struggling:

It's a hoop (it's not forever); jump through it.

Life is hard, get a helmet. :)

Not intended to diminish how much the first few months suck, sincerely. No one conveyed to me how hard the work is, how tough the lessons and how fearful this period could be. Today, 4 months out, I can tell you this:

Month four is fantastically different than months 1-3. When I read that people said "I would have it again in a second" - I was always silent and worried. In those early months - no way would I have done it again.

I have come to realize that this hurts not only physically, but emotionally. It is, of course, hard work to shift your entire life. I am hoping much of that shifting takes place in the early months and that some of the habituation of GBS life is now "in me". This will make things easier.

But. Also. Your vision clears - in that you learn how to differentiate gnawing/head hunger from actual/physical hunger, you learn to discern (when you are full, when you need rest, when your body craves exercise). You see what you missed and you stop missing what you *think* matters (crazyfatsugarfood).

Give it time, jojo. Surgery, if we think of it, is the hardest part. Acclimating to your new body, developing your new regimen and working through your new healthier relationship with food TRULY is a second chance. You are working on the next hardest part. Each phase will get a little easier. Your head is going to shut up / or you are going to be able to interpret its signals with more clarity and confidence as you go on.

It's a hoop. Jump through it. ;)

O