Cravings?

[fcslboy 5]

First off I want to brag. I am really proud of myself!!!! Surgery was aug 2nd and I have done so much better than I expected! Pre op weight, 310, now 272! Wow!

This is really my only real struggle right now. In the evening, after dinner (and a little healthy dessert) I am craving. Not craving anything specific, just want food! I feel like no amount of food I put in can fill the void! I want to be clear, I am not "hungry". My belly feels full, I feel "satisfied" but it's all mental! My brain keeps saying "FEED ME!".

A friend said, "oh it's just the down time at the end of the day and you have nothing else to think about". Maybe, but I don't think so. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a full month paid time off work for this life event. So have had plenty of down time all day long, but I only struggle at night.

So am I just an oddity (nothing new there) or do others struggle with this? Anyone have any suggestions to help?

I am getting in between 800 and 1100 calories per day. I know it should be getting more, but like I said, I feel like my sleeve is full!

Any help, suggestions, ideas or humorous insight Is very welcome!

[ebthompson2010 126]

I am having the same problem and was sleeved the same day!! Are you on soft foods? What kinda of things have you been eating at dinner? Maybe we aren't eating the right things? I don't know.

[traceyinflorida 499]

I was always a nigthtime eater. Usuallly it was when I would do the most damage. Most of it was not hunger, but habbit. End of day, sit down at computer or in front of television and eat something. I am never hungry now, but that is a habbit that wants to die hard. I just feel like I need to eat something when doing one of those things at night. So it's time to break the habbit. Here are some things that are working for me. I replace food with a big glass of ice Water. I replace food with something else to do with my hands, like folding laundry, fixing something, brushing the dog, petting the cat, etc.

Figure out what your food trigger is at night. You may have a routine that is completely obvious to you, or you may have to log it for a while. You may either have to find replacements for food or change the trigger completely. Try going for a walk, reading a book in bed, going to bed early if you have to. You are experiencing head hunger so you need to find ways to trick your head into breaking that habbit. You can do it!!

Also, I am assuming based on your surgery date that you are either still in liquid or pureed phase. Once you are eating dense Protein at dinner, you probably will not be able to eat at all after dinner!

[Butterthebean 8,146]

I had the same problem. A half cup of skim milk and tiny spoonful of Peanut Butter filled me up and satisfied those cravings.

Also, I think for me, it's better if I just go to bed when I'm feeling like that. I was a big time late night snacker. Staying up late just made me want to eat. Your body may be trying to tell you something, "eat or go to bed". You may feel very good, but your body is still healing, and trying to do it on limited calories.

[pebbles99 10]

i was sleeved 8/6 and i had the same issue for the first 2 weeks. a couple of times i took a small mouthful, chewed and spit. i just wanted to feel texture in my mouth and have some flavor. it actually worked and i felt satisfied. now i have started with the mushy foods...yogurt, cottage cheese, creamed Soups. it is very hard to eat. you eat so little and feel so full. this will pass too and soon we will all find our own "normal" routine. don't listen to your brain, tell it your body is in charge now.

[fcslboy 5]

Thank you all! Yes, I am on the soft food portion of my recovery diet. Transitioning to soft food helped this issue so hopefully I. 2 weeks transitioning to solid will make another big difference. The habit idea seems to be what this is. My old habit was come home, cook a big meal (I love to cook) and sit in front of the tv and eat said big meal. It's hard to "cook" much on the soft food diet do I do t feel like I have "made a meal". This I am sure is contributing. I am going to really pay attention to my habits and see where I can change. I know it's just head hunger and I know I need to beat it! It helps in some strange way to know its not just me!