Why am I hungry.

[amerigirl 0]

I'm 10 days out and wanted to know when and if ever do we over come this stupid head hunger. It's a battle I've been fitting daily since 4 days after surgery. I won't give in. I want this too much and I don't want to have any problems. I'm just getting really frustrated and need some support.

[Headhunter 0]

Keep in mind that you have an entire LIFETIME of old habits, thoughts, feelings, and emotions that are kind of "burned" into your psyche. Even though you have had the surgery, it's going to take some time to adjust to your new "physiology". Ten days is really NO time at all. It's just gonna take more time, but you WILL get there....there's no doubt about it!

HH

[Chancie 65]

Amerigirl....

I questioned this too after my surgery. But I hve to tel you...... it DOES go away!! In the first few months I struggled with this.

All I can say is follow the rules, eat the SF Jello, SF popsicals....... DRINK LOTS of Water, and try to get your mind off of food. I know it's easier said than done, but it DOES pass!!

The first 3-4 month was difficult for me, but I stayed with the "program" and lost the majority of my weight during this time!!

You can do this tooo!! As long as you have the right mindset.......... it can be done!!

[Marci 0]

I have no suggestions for you. I'm right there with you. These past 2 weeks have been the worst 2 weeks ever. My head says I'm hungry but my stomach says no you're not!! It's a constant battle but reading everyone else's post gives me the power I need to get thru this.

Hang in there girl.....we can do this!!

[Chancie 65]

I just have to add another comment to this....

It seemed like I was obsessed with food in the beginning........would think of all kinds of things that I wanted to eat all the time.

Once the weight starts coming off, and you get a 'healthier' outlook, the head hunger also seems to go away... at least it did with me. I'm not obsessed with food any more, I have a healthier relationship with it...... it now is fuel for my body.

Don't get me wrong, I still make some bad choices, and if I go to a buffet, I think I can eat EVERYTHING that appeals to my eyes.......... but then when I sit down to eat...... it does not apeal to my tummy- and here I sit with this large plate of food that I know I can't eat.. so I still have that "unhealthy" mentallity. thinking I want to get my moneys worth!! LOL I have decided that I don't eed to go to buffets, I just need to order off the menu.

It is a daily stuggle to change the years of my eating habits, but am getting better...

I know this probably sounds like I'm contradicting myself... I may not have explained it right... I have the 'good' side of me and the 'bad' side.. but I don't have hunger or obsess........ but certain times that 'bad' side still wants to show their self.

[Tiffykins 672]

I agree with everything Chancie wrote. I didn't struggle too much with head hunger until much later in the game.

The one thing that keeps me out of the fridge is knowing that just a few days of giving in to temptation could find me on the gaining side. I worked my butt off to get to goal, and I refuse to blow it just because I want some nutter butters.

I did the same thing that Chancie has done at the buffet. 2 weeks ago, I went out to lunch with my girlfriends. They chose a bayou/cajun buffet. O M G everything smelled so fabulous, looked great. I got a sampling of almost everything. Once I sat down, and started eating. The only thing that tasted remotely good was the salad and hunter's stew. I tried to eat the mashed potatoes, the sausage link, the Beans, the bread, and none of really tasted "right". I paid 11 bucks for a small salad and 1 cup of hunter's stew LOL. But, I was totally satisfied with what I ate, and was "full". That old saying "my eyes are bigger than my stomach" is definitely true these days. Except now it's my "head" is bigger than my stomach. It seems like me being super strict with myself for the first 4 months has really "reprogrammed" my mind as to what to eat.

It does get better hang in there ! ! !

[excited2lose 0]

I am not dealing with hunger in any way. However, I would kill for a coke right now. I just have to remind myself that I didn't alter my body to just give in to a coke. It is so tough, and I understand! Hang in there!

[MINI-Me 196]

I think I had my first bout of head hunger last night. I was sipping on homemade chicken broth (a friend made for me) while everyone else was munching on pizza. I have to admit, it smelled sooooo good.

But, I tried to envision myself eating it and thought about all the pain and the desire left me.

I sure hope I can keep using this "trick" during weightloss. I've been told that a peice on maintenace will be ok.

[amerigirl 0]

Thanks guys. Reading Norma's post about how much weight she's lost in 3 months and hearing from you guys help. I think when I was pregnant I got in a bad habit of eating late at night and now I'm paying for it. That seems to be when I fight it the most.

[mountain_lover 3]

I have had lots of head hunger, but little stomach hunger. Taking away alot of the Ghrellin by removing most of the stomach really helps ( the hunger hormone). I find out real quick what my stomach can tolerate. Foods that are too sweet or greasy might smell, look and taste good, but sometimes my stomach cannot tolerate them. Also if I eat too much of a good thing, I get a very uncomfortable discomfort and feel like I am going to vomit, so now I try real hard to not eat too much, I eat a little bit and stop for about 15-20 minutes and then finish the rest if possible. I can only eat half of a diet taco at Taco Bell, then wait and eat the rest when I can. I don't get much stomach hunger, so I try to get in 3 meals a day and eat 2 Snacks. I try to eat mostly Protein now, with a small serving of vegatables such as cucumbers, tomatoes or green peppers on the side.

Right after surgery, I kept thinking about the food I wished that I could eat, but couldn't because I had to be on liquids for 2 days and pureed food for 2 weeks. My mind seemed to be on that constantly, but as soon as I started on soft foods, I stopped thinking about it so much. Once I was able to try more foods, like I said before, I started finding out what I could tolerate and what I could not tolerate. It gets easier, because once you experience the same feeling each time you try to eat the same thing, if all you can associate with that item is discomfort, then it becomes easier to pick other things. candy is a real good example, because it is just too sweet for me to eat more than 1 or two bites and sometimes even that makes me feel nauseous. Before surgery, I enjoyed eating cake, donuts, candy and many other sweets, but now I know that if I eat them I am going to feel very nauseous afterward and it is way too many calories and too much fat, with no protein.

I am really happy that I had the sleeve, it is a great tool to help me not to overeat like I did before. I know that some moments can be very frustrating, but it is all worth them, I am looking forward to this new journey of losing weight and trying to keep it off with the sleeve. Looking back over the past few weeks since surgery on Dec.2, I can honestly say that it was difficult in the beginning and it does get easier and easier, like other sleevers commented. I wish everyone the best!!

[thinoneday 445]

I think I had my first bout of head hunger last night. I was sipping on homemade chicken broth (a friend made for me) while everyone else was munching on pizza. I have to admit, it smelled sooooo good.

But, I tried to envision myself eating it and thought about all the pain and the desire left me.

I sure hope I can keep using this "trick" during weightloss. I've been told that a peice on maintenace will be ok.

Let me tell you girl! I've been suffering with REAL hunger now for a while and I don't like it. . .it's not head hunger anymore, I don't know why it is, but it's there and causes me to feel nauseated, just like in the old days. . but you know what? I continue to eat my semi solid diet, sip my Water and the occasional broth, and i keep my calories at 500 - 550 no more. . I exercise and REFUSE to have the old ways creep back in. . . I go for my 1 1/2 month weigh in on the 16th and I don't want a dissappointment. . .I wonder if anyone else has been experiencing REAL hunger and not head hunger this early out?????

[carolyn24seven 11]

Let me chime in here. I have the real hunger also. Here is a trick I am using to combat it. I have 3 to 4 oz Protein Drink when ever it hits. I have found that 4 oz Protein before bed is soooo helpful. I go to sleep feeling full. After the holidays I was having a cookie crisis. (stupid I know) I got to barganing with myself. I could have a cookie if I drank 4 oz of protein FIRST. Well, you cannot eat much after 4 oz of protein. So, the cookie craving is all but gone now. I alsotried broth. That worked some when it was cold. I live in sunny SoCal so don't want hot stuff much.

Anyway thoes are my tricks. Anyone have anything else to try?