Okay, so I got off track when I was out of town, but now that I'm back I'm trying to get back into the groove. My problem is I get "hungry" I'm sure it's head hunger, but it's so hard to ignore. That and I still want to boredom eat. That will get me back to pre surgery and I don't want that!

What are some things you do to take your mind off eating and/or hunger? I find myself more obsessed with food after surgery than I was before and I need to get my head out of that thinking.

1. Exercise

2. Do something that requires using your hands -- crafts, woodworking, home repairs, I am sure you can get creative here!

3. Allow yourself unlimited dry chicken breast and broccoli. Then you can tell yourself, if you are really hungry, go eat some chicken. And if you don't want that chicken and broccoli, you aren't hungry and your mind can move on after acknowledging that.

4. I know this sounds a little masochistic, but . . . make a list of the most painful physical, emotional, and psychological things you have ever experienced in your life. When you start to feel hungry and sorry for yourself, go review the list and ask yourself how bad your hunger is compared to what is on the list. Remind yourself that you got through those things and you can get through your hunger.

5. Plan your eating in advance, at the beginning of each day. Whether that is writing a schedule or pre-logging your food in MFP, once you have it written down, it is easier to commit to. When you start to feel hungry, bored, cravings, you can remind yourself that you are scheduled to have a snack of apple slices at 4 PM (just as an example) and that it is fine to wait until then.

I am 3 years post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery. After around 7 months, I slid from the Weight Loss phase into the Maintenance phase. The strategy for the Maintenance phase is different than the Weight Loss phase. This is my experience with the Maintenance phase. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf

Trash pick an old piece of furniture, then paint all kinds of stuff all over it. Write your thoughts on it. Especially if its an old chair, turn it upside down and write your secrets under the seat. Turn up the music. Don't use paint brushes. Use your hands. You can paint over anything you don't like. You can savor all the fun parts you do like. Hang beads off it. Paint wings on it. Paint the sky or the beach or scripture on it.

When the chair is dry, use it to sit on and read, exercise on, or write in your journal. You can sit on the chair when the paint if still wet, but that is an entirely different post.

Hi, I am 13 months post op and I started to get "head hunger" about 8 months post op. Was so depressed that this was happening so soon. I expected it after a year at least! This may sound a little different, but doctor told me one of the best things to munch on was watermelon. I have my trouble in the evening during TV time, and if I am still hungry after my last snack, I just sit there with a bowl of watermelon and it tells my brain that I'm eating! I am blessed to have not gained any weight from this mental stuff, and I'm down 120.5 in the 13 months. Can't complain about that! I have another 10 lbs. or so to go, and I know it will take awhile, and though that at one time that thought drove me nuts, I don't let it worry me anymore. It beats going up! Take care and good luck!

@@lifeofblair Hi Blair, This is one of my fears that I have also. I worry if I will be able to tell the difference in my hunger after surgery as I often eat now just from boredom.

In addition, I see your surgeon was Dr. Wegner, He is mine too.

@@lifeofblair Hi Blair, This is one of my fears that I have also. I worry if I will be able to tell the difference in my hunger after surgery as I often eat now just from boredom.

In addition, I see your surgeon was Dr. Wegner, He is mine too.

He was mine! I haven't had any issues, and recovery was easy, so hopefully yours is too!