I've been banded for about 9 months and have recently hit a plateau. One of my problems recently has been eating even if I'm not hungry. Mostly it's at certain times when my brain thinks I'm supposed to be eating. More specifically at night when I'm cooking dinner for my family I think I have to eat even if I'm not hungry at all. What are some ways you guys have found to avoid eating at times when your brain is telling you that you are scheduled to eat even if you aren't hungry? Hopefully that makes sense.

Im going for a sugar free Popsicle, right now or tasting something I really just dont like so it turns my appetite off. Ex- dab of hot sauce on my tongue, not hungry for anything anymore

I'm going for a sugar free Popsicle, right now or tasting something I really just dint like so it turns my appetite off. Ex- dab of hot sauce on my tongue, not hungry for anything anymore

Going to try the hot sauce trick right now as I'm a night eater.

I'll eat an apple, or a dill pickle, beef jerkey, deli turkey, cheese stick, tuna salad. Anything that is low fat, low cal and that seems to give me enough satiety to make it to my next meal.

I'll eat an apple, or a dill pickle, beef jerkey, deli turkey, cheese stick, tuna salad. Anything that is low fat, low cal and that seems to give me enough satiety to make it to my next meal.

How about at night - just more liquids?

Nighttime is my biggest problem. And also right after I leave work! It drives me nuts. I've started trying to just drink vitamin water or something low cal at night, but a little bit sweet and it satisfies me. Sometimes I will eat yogurt. I do good with meals, but tend to eat out or boredom and it is definitely a bad habit to acquire.

I usually sip a diet hot chocolate and that keeps me happy.

How about at night - just more liquids?

I eat dinner very late, 7-7:30 so I don't experience a lot of night cravings. When I do, I still eat an apple or half an apple, pickles or something easy to digest. But night cravings are rare for me. I make sure I eat enough at dinner to avoid those cravings.

Also, I'm 1.5 years out and I've learned how to know the difference between hunger and cravings. And I'm in the green zone so those cravings are much easier to control and manage. It's really just mind over food for me now.

tmf

One more thing? Try to eat a good portion of protein at dinner. Protein will stay in your stomach longer and give you the satiety to make it through hours of fasting.

When i think im hungry i drink a glass of Water, if in 20-30 minutes i am still hungry i will eat a snack, always with Protein, ex. cheese stick, yogurt, cottage cheese. Usually no more than 100 calories.

It is hard when you are cooking dinner, but i eat dinner when im done most of the time. My kids get there snack after dinner. But if i ate all my food i tell my self you just ate your not hungry.

I have the same late night issues. Prior to surgery I EASILY consumed 1200-1800 calories EVERY NGHT after 10 pm.

My first step is replacing the crap with better choices. No more PBJ and chips and Cookies. Now it's a fat free turkey hot dog (or 2) some diced watermelon and sugar free Jello.

The second thing I'm working on is going to bed earlier. That after 10 is my "me time" to watch my TV shows, read, surf the net - whatever. I'm having to learn and make the decision to not sit and graze for 4 hours.

Good luck and make sure to share any great ideas you come up with.

I prepare dinner on my lunch break so I just have to reheat and serve so I don't have to be in the kitchen that much. Sometimes I make them reheat and serve.

I've always had this problem, banded or not. I'd eat, even if I wasn't hungry for fear of being hungry later (God for bid!!! :-)

The first thing that I've done is stop looking at the clock when it comes to eating. Eat when I'm hungry...for all meals. And if that means Breakfast is at 10, lunch at 3 and dinner at 10, then that's what it is.

I still cook meals at normal times for the family and whether I'm eating or not, I sit with them. I just remind myself that I can eat later if I'm hungry.

I prepare myself a plate, cover it with tin foil and leave it on the stove. If I don't do that, I feel that it's too much work to pull everything out and heat it up separately or, for some reason I feel guilty, so I skip it. Then I do go to bed hungry and that's not setting me up for success.

I read somewhere on here that we had surgery on our stomachs, not our brains. It's so true but a little change in habit (and its not even a hard one because its not even like your hungry), is all it takes.

Good luck!!!!