So sad. worked so hard

[greensleeve 457]

Hi sorry to hear your frustrations. Head hunger is when you are not physically hungry but your mind tells you you want to eat. It's like craving food. So even though you have no need to eat physically. You still think your hungry. Hard to explain if you've never felt it.

I had it big time today. I just wanted to eat because food was there, not because I needed nutrition.

[jdillon 355]

I had it big time today. I just wanted to eat because food was there, not because I needed nutrition.

How do you cope with it

[cherrytree15 78]

Hmmm it's mental strength. I won't be sleeved until May 28th but I experienced it in my preop stage. I started three weeks ago and completely weened myself off of caffeine and carbs and sugar. The first three days were VERY VERY hard. I felt like a crackhead gone cold turkey. I had headaches, I was tired and I had horrible cravings. It was pretty bad and a struggle to get through. By the fourth day it got much better. The head hunger was pretty strong. But it is about choices. Now I'm doing well and can sit in front of cakes, sweets and chips without much temptation. Yesterday had Mexican for lunch. I had a 20 second moment when I wanted the tortilla but. I stopped, realized that my meal would fill me up and then the desire passed. I think we just have to think more about what we are putting in our bodies. It was hard but I am a lot more aware of it. I'm not gonna lie. It wasn't easy for me and requires a mental toughness.

[Miss Mac 6,261]

Looking back, my pre-op diet that I thought was going to be aggravating actually turned out to be a big help. By the time I had my surgery three months later, I was off caffiene, soda, pastry & Pasta & bread kind of stuff, and had disciplined myself to sneak in a sip of Water at every opportunity instead of big gulps. I was trained to not drink two or three glasses of beverage with a meal, and to chew slowly.

Usually, my head hunger presents itself on schedule because I am used to eating certain foods and certain times of day along with a midnight snack. It tells me I want a snack when really I just need a few sips hot tea (or something not damaging). It will say something like "That egg and piece of bacon look fine for Breakfast, but wouldn't you want a couple of chocolate eclairs and a giant orange juice to go with that?" When it tells me I really really really need a fried peanut nutter, banana, and marshmallow fluff sandwich on soft white bread, I go for a cup of sugar free hot chocolate with lite whip cream. If my Protein is low I will add some powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chocolate Splender to jazz it up. You have to beat it off with a stick every time it sneaks up on you.

All of those habits that you will need after surgery are easier to maintain if you have practiced yourself before surgery.

So take advantage of your pre-op instructions. Hopefully you have a bariatric team that wants to see you succeed with flying colors. I wish you good luck and good health.

[Ageekygal 38]

I agree with Miss Mac. I started my 6 month pre-surgical plan and am slowly weaning myself off caffeine and sugar. I cannot have artificial sweetners as they give me headaches but they are also very bad for you as they are linked to many serious medical issues--even Sucralose (Splenda) which is in most Protein powders! I am trying different Protein powders with Stevia (all natural plant) and adding a tablespoon of them to foods I like such as cream of wheat Cereal and smoothies. I have researched that there are different qualities of whey protein too! I will add more as I get accostumed to them. So far so good with that

I have learned many wonderful and helpful ideas from my dietician and therapist. I have been changing up my Snacks to be a fibre and protein (like celery and hummus or been dip, a banana and pecans, veggies and Greek yogurt that you add a little powder ranch dip in for flavor, etc.) which takes hunger away and leaves you more satisfied. I am starting to de-stress a bit as I have leaned (not surprisingly) my eating bad foods is stress induced. The program is definetly worth it and I'd recommend it even if your insurance doesn't require it! 6 months of this plan to help you for a lifetime of good health and weight loss is absolute worth it to me.

[jdillon 355]

In October I quit smoking. I've quit coffee with the exception of an occasional starbucks. No soda. I am giving up bread this next month then sweets. One small goal at a time before surgery so it does not feel like it's all at once. I've been drinking 2 liters of Water a day nearly. And walking 10,000 steps minimum a day