Trouble Identifying Real Hunger Vs Head Hunger

[The Laughing Cat 54]

Hi Everybody,

I am only one month post surgery and still learning to work this band of mine. I'm confused to when I'm really hungry. I often look at the clock thinking its meal time then stop myself because I question my feelings of hunger. Sometimes I go half a day without eating because I don't think I'm really hungry. A down side is I'm starvelating in the evening. Is my morning coffee a factor here? My Water consumption if fine.

At times I believe I'm hungry but nothing sounds good to eat. I'll look in the fridge and see nothing worth the calories (my refrigerator has plenty of healthy foods). Is this head hunger or real supressed hunger? I try my best not to graze as it was a past downfall pre-band.

Does anybody know of a good gauge on true hunger? I'm also having trouble planning my meals and/or Snacks for the day since I don't seem to keep to a hunger schedule.

I have not had a fill yet but I think when I reach the green zone I will need to know the difference between real and imagined hunger.

thanks for your advice,

the Laughing Cat

[readytogoforit 172]

I have learned to never skip Breakfast. I never used to eat breakfast, I would get a sweet coffee and a pastry instead!! Now I have yogurt w/ fruit and a small amt of granola or scrambled eggs with mushroom, spinach & parmesan cheese( 1 oz). It has helped me with my energy level and motivation for the day.

I ate early today, went to the club to exercise came back, it was 11:40. I made a light lunch. I have learned to always have a roasted turkey breast in the house for me. I eat it plain or on a salad, sometimes in a small sandwich. If I always have food around that I like it makes it so much easier.

You have to eat to lose. You are still new to this journey so things will start to click in for you. I wasn't this diligent in the beginning.

Dr Oz talks about having some meals that are always the same. I find it comforting to know that the things I like are available for me.

[elcee 3,343]

If you are looking in the fridge and cannot find anything worth eating then that is head hunger. If you were truly hungry there would be plenty of options that would satisfy you.

If you are looking at the clock and thinking you should eat because of the time then again that is head hunger - although there is nothing wrong with eating at regular mealtimes.

When you are hungry you generally start feeling a bit tired,shaky,light headed - you should probably aim to eat before you get this far. If you leave it you will get all the symptoms of a fullblown hypoglycaemic attack and could even passout.

If you are not sure when you are hungry then I would suggest that maybe eating on schedule is a good way for you to do things.

Have a hot drink when you wake up.

Breakfast approx 30 minutes later.

lunch between 12 - 1.

Midafternoon snack if you need one between 3 -4.

dinner between 6 - 8.

Obviously these times are not set in stone, come up with something that works for you.

[judych 225]

Hi Everybody,

I am only one month post surgery and still learning to work this band of mine. I'm confused to when I'm really hungry. I often look at the clock thinking its meal time then stop myself because I question my feelings of hunger. Sometimes I go half a day without eating because I don't think I'm really hungry. A down side is I'm starvelating in the evening. Is my morning coffee a factor here? My Water consumption if fine.

At times I believe I'm hungry but nothing sounds good to eat. I'll look in the fridge and see nothing worth the calories (my refrigerator has plenty of healthy foods). Is this head hunger or real supressed hunger? I try my best not to graze as it was a past downfall pre-band.

Does anybody know of a good gauge on true hunger? I'm also having trouble planning my meals and/or Snacks for the day since I don't seem to keep to a hunger schedule.

I have not had a fill yet but I think when I reach the green zone I will need to know the difference between real and imagined hunger.

thanks for your advice,

the Laughing Cat

i know exactly what you mean. grazing was one of my faults as well. We are in the middle of the coldest winter here for many decades and im still battling with the confusion between head hunger and true hunger. i know the cold weather has a lot to do with things. prior to surgery i was sipping on hot Soups all the time, Hot drinks, grazing from out of the fridge... it was continual. I still have a tendency to do that...worse luck. This morning i had a stuck episode through chewing cold meat and swallowing way too quickly. i shouldnt have even been eating it as it wasnt a meal time. i dont know how long it will take me to conquer the head hunger.... do we ever manage to do that completely i wonder??

[valerie34 4]

i know exactly what you mean. grazing was one of my faults as well. We are in the middle of the coldest winter here for many decades and im still battling with the confusion between head hunger and true hunger. i know the cold weather has a lot to do with things. prior to surgery i was sipping on hot Soups all the time' date=' hot drinks, grazing from out of the fridge... it was continual. I still have a tendency to do that...worse luck. This morning i had a stuck episode through chewing cold meat and swallowing way too quickly. i shouldnt have even been eating it as it wasnt a meal time. i dont know how long it will take me to conquer the head hunger.... do we ever manage to do that completely i wonder??[/quote']

Why dont u drink a Protein shake to help ur hunger like me I got hungry about 11pm i had a shake and its 724 am im just geting hungry cuz my stomach is telling me not my head