Since banding I've realized my definition of hunger and full have had to change drastically (esp fullness).

Before banding hunger was the thought of food or eating regardless of what my body was saying and full was uncomfortable and just short of thanksgiving stuffed.

Now I'm seeing hunger as when my stomach growls and doesn't go away after drinking 8 oz of water and full is pitiful - it's barely getting rid of the growling and usually I burp and know to stop -it's a long long long way from what used to be full.

My question:

What physical or other symptoms tell you you are hungry and

What physical or other symptoms tell you you are full

Thanks:help:

I have a very difficult time telling exactly when I'm hungry because I find I still have a lot of "head hunger" After getting my band I've found that I have a hard time determining if I am hungry or if I have gas or if my tummy is just busy digesting. Generally I get an "empty" feeling and have a bit of a growl going on. I also pay attention to whether I am light-headed or cranky.

As far as full goes, it's not too hard for me to tell when I'm there. It's just so hard to stop!!! Usually I have a feeling of fullness and find I have to burp. That's my first warning. If I continue eating I get a burning feeling and usually if I stop there it's not toooo bad. But if I'm really rebellious and push it even one little bite further then my need to burp becomes more... productive

I struggle with this too! But, my trick for distinquishing head hunger is I tell myself, "If you're truly hungry then eat some salad or eat some veggies." Usually I tell myself "No, thanks." Then I know I'm not truly hungry!! It usually works for me. I also do the water test.

Gosh, the head hunger is the worst. I tell myself that I should be "full" with a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food and I can still continue to eat quite a bit and not be full. I was banded 6/21/06 and have not had a fill. I am not sure if it is time since sometimes I can't seem to eat a plum. Maybe I am not chewing enough.

JUST A QUESTION, IS THAT 1/4 to 1/2 OF PROTEIN, THEN 1/4 TO A 1/2 CUP VEGGIE ETC OR TOTAL AMOUNT?

THANKS

I have been trying to eat to the point of satisfaction, and not trying to get to "full" if that makes sense. My stomach will growl if I'm hungry. I'll drink some water, and if it continues I eat something. I also try and wait the 20 minutes to see if I am in fact "full" or "satisfied". I have found that my head hunger has subsided quite a bit.

also do the water test.

Do you mean you try some water firstto see if you're thirsty? Just checking if the "water test" was some new fullness measuring tool. ?

Hunger - anything from a vague interest in food starting to creep in to full on tummy grumbling - which can actually present as pain for me now. this "vague interest" is different in some inexplicable way to head hunger which is simply "hmm, I'd like to eat something". The vague interest is physical I think, but I cant define the actual signals.

Full - a stomach stretching sensation reminding me to stop. I try not to eat to that point now but to satiety which is I've had enough, could fit a fair bit more in but do I really need to?

Too full - uh oh, shouldnt have taken that last bite, look out here comes the golfball. I've never actually PB'd though thank goodness.

Before banding hunger was the thought of food or eating regardless of what my body was saying and full was uncomfortable and just short of thanksgiving stuffed.

This is the most accurate description of pre-banding hunger I've ever read. I didn't realize until I read it that this is exactly how I felt. The THOUGHT of hunger was hunger pre-band. Now, hunger is something I feel with my whole body, not just my head. My stomach growls or just has a feeling of movement, but it's more than that. I actually feel like I NEED food, from my fingers to my toes. It's more of a physical thing that hunger ever was before.

I'm still working on the full thing. I know what too full feels like. It's much higher physicially (below the breastbone) than it was pre-band (at or just below the waist). I've tried asking myself "could I stop now" after every bite. The answer is often "yes" but if I do stop, I'll be hungry again sooner than I'd like to be. So the answer is somewhere between "could I stop now" and "gee I wish I hadn't had that last bite." Usually those feelings are about 6 bites part. I guess I could try eating 3 of the bites and seeing if that's just right.

Since getting my second fill and finally understanding what restriction is all about, I am only able to eat about 4-5 oz of food. As long as the head hunger doesn't strike, that will keep me satsified for 4-5 hours. I know I am full because all of a sudden, I will feel a little pressure in my esophagus. I don't have to eat much at all to get that feeling. And when I do feel it, I have learned to not take another bite or the consequences are the dreaded pb. I have found that I very seldom actually feel hungry. If I do, it is the usual tummy growl. I will usually eat something very, very small and that satisifies the growling. Otherwise, I am not doing any snacking and just eat at are regular meal times.

Oh my gosh, Julie, you have lost 76lbs since April??? That is absolutely amazing! Congratulations!

Congrats Julie!

I think I ate too much today, tuna salad, but I didn't have any problems...weird. I thought for sure I'd have issues, but I didn't. I hate that panicky feeling you get when you don't know what's going to happen next.

Do you mean you try some Water firstto see if you're thirsty? Just checking if the "water test" was some new fullness measuring tool. ?

LOL, yeah I mean the good ol' "drink some water and see if your hunger goes away" thing.

That is the total amt. I was under the impression that would be the total amount to be eaten at a single sitting??

Oh my gosh, Julie, you have lost 76lbs since April??? That is absolutely amazing! Congratulations!

Thanks! Honestly, it's the ONLY silver lining to starting as a high BMI patient. The first 50 slides right off. Now it's slowed to a more typical bandster rate, but I feel so much better that I don't even care!

BTW, I tried the 3 bite thing tonight. I'm uncomfortably full but not in pain like I would have been in 6 more bites. Guess I'll go to 2 bites tomorrow. It's hard because, for me at least, it takes about 5 minutes before the "I'm too full" feeling hits. Probably a sign that I should eat slower.

Hunger-stomach growls, hurts or feels nauseous

Full-no longer hungry, not thinking about food

Any fuller than that and I have overeaten.