My dietician wanted me to ask everyone their definition of hunger. Pre surgery and post surgery.

My definition of actual hunger is when my stomach growls. If it's just craving a certain food, then I know it's head hunger.

Wow...that's a hard one! There is actual hunger and there is head hunger, here are my definitions:

Presurgery actual hunger: stomach growling and a bit of an ache, feeling empty, bad mood, non-stop hunger pangs until I ate something.

Presurgery head hunger: stomach isn't growling, no hunger pangs nor aching but you just want to eat something because you know it's there. Particularly bad when watching TV or bored. Seeing someone else eat will trigger you to eat, even though you aren't hungry.

Post-sugery actual hunger: stomach might not growl, but there are minor hunger pangs sometimes, you feel a bit weak and know you SHOULD eat something...even though you might not really want to. More often than not and particularly when you are in the green zone, your "internal clock" will tell you it's time to eat and it feels like a chore at times.

Post-surgery head hunger: almost non-existant when you are near or in the green zone. You can see food, smell food, watch others eating and still not want it - maybe a nibble, just to see how it tastes, but that's it. Even when you're bored or watching TV, you opt for Water, tea or some other liquid rather than food.

I am post op.

Hunger is the symptomatic response to having depleted nutrients in the body. Mild symptoms include stomach churning and growling, moderate symptoms may include fatigue, irritabilty, light headed and more severe symptoms (think starvation) have profound physical signs to include muscle wasting, Vitamin deficiencies (think thin nails, balding and internal manifestations like dehydration and anemia leading to more profound medical/organ failures.

I'm curious, what is the doctor's definition

That's a hard one....I will say for me, it is not my stomach growling...that happens after I eat something with a empty stomach..like a monster devouring the food.....

As far as hunger...it is not in my head, nor it is something I want or have a interest in doing....

Since being banded, I have no hunger at all anymore....I can, and have gone over 24 hrs without eating...I'm not saying it is good thing, but if I am traveling, etc, I just forget...and when I get to my destination it can be too late in the evening to eat. Thing is, it does not bother me....but adequately purely out of habit and routine...which are new habits now.

So, I can't define something I don't experience.....all I can say is, when my body wants to be nourished, I JUST KNOW I have to eat...

Before I had the band, I don't think I knew what hunger was. I just grazed constantly so I never allowed myself to feel hungry.

Now, hunger is when my body physically needs nourishment. If I ignore the feeling of hunger, I'll end up light headed, dizzy, and a headache. Hunger is a physical need.

Mis73,

I am astounded by your weight loss. Congratulations to you. I hope I can achieve what you have achieved. You must be the poster child for lap band! What a success story!

Mis73,

I am astounded by your weight loss. Congratulations to you. I hope I can achieve what you have achieved. You must be the poster child for lap band! What a success story!

Awww thank you! :wub:

Honestly, I'm just a regular woman. I just needed this too bad to screw it up, if that makes sense. I knew I had to lose the weight so I wouldn't die prematurely. I was a ticking time bomb.

There are a lot of others like me out there, in fact I know a few on these boards. My memory sucks but I know Cazzy, Floridays, and Jim1967 have all lost over 200 pounds, too. (there's others too!)

Mis73,

I am astounded by your weight loss. Congratulations to you. I hope I can achieve what you have achieved. You must be the poster child for lap band! What a success story!

Yes, Missy has done an amazing job and we are fortunate that she shares so much of her experience and advice with us. Doesn't she look great?!?!

I don't think I ever had real hunger pre-band because I was always eating or looking for something to eat. Post-band I don't think I have real hunger either. I eat my 3 meals a day and sometimes I have the urge for a snack after dinner but never have stomach growls or strong urge to eat.

I've never felt like I experienced hunger, I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Now on my pre-op diet, I'm experiencing some hunger, but it is not killing me so I guess it is doable. I'm most certainly not starving, but I'm wanting to eat. My stomach is not growling, but I am not full, but it isn't an uncomfortable place. When I start to feel that I'm not satisfied, I just have a little protein and I'm good for a few hours, like two or three. I'm really trying to find other things to do other than think about being whatever hungry is.