Hi guys I didn't realise how obsessed with food I was until now! Head hunger is the worst for me and I am very always having to push it away! I eat 3 small half cup meals a day, I get in at least 70g of protein and at least 2 litres of fluid. A lot of it is due to my old bad habits like sitting in front of the TV, looking in shops for nice food, going out for the day. It was all focussed on what I would eat!

Does it get any better?

What was it like for you?

Are you still going through this?

Thank you!

The simple answer is yes. Just getting a small stomach does not cure your brain. It is hard wired to feast whenever there is a glut of food and unfortunately that is what is all around us these days. I waited 30 years for this surgery so this is me -

I allow myself 1500 calories a day. I religiously track them

I could easily eat around my sleeve, I love chocolate and dont have any will power. If I open a bar then I eat it. So I buy the packs of tiny 25gram bars.

I have increased my activity. I walk everywhere.

I shop better for quality protein rich foods and menu plan,

You may find when your new stomach has healed, about 6 - 12 weeks out, you will hopefully feel your restriction kick in. You should feel the full signals. Certain foods fill me longer than other. I physically can not eat or drink for two hours after eating meat. Mince it and I can go again after an hour. Its a massive learning curve.

Supposedly Zepbound helps with head hunger. Haven't tried it yet, but I might!

I am year out and I still struggle with this. We have to think that we did not get obese by eating till we were satisfied. We overate for the taste, or craving. I do give into cravings and there are days where I blow it, but its life and its not going to be linear- lots of ups and downs. I don't think its something It will ever stop.

I track as well, and it keeps me accountable. I just am working on my relationship with food, where I will enjoy the foods I love but in moderation. Also, having that 80/20 mentality is good too. Make sure to get movement in and make good choices. Remember this is a lifetime change not just for a moment change

My best advice is to really take this time when your really restricted to work on that food relationship, work on small goals food or exercise. Your doing great on protein but maybe a goal is to come up with a delicious recipe that fits in your day? Or walking around the block. Starting small has really really helped me

The head hunger is something I don’t believe we can ever completely get rid off unfortunately. We can take away a lot of its power though. Almost 5.75yrs out and there are times when bad habits raise their heads and it can be a battle to overpower them. I’ve had some real doozy of arguments with myself. Or I discover I’ve been distracted & grazing & therefore eaten way more than I should. I’m looking at you cheese and crackers when having a drink with friends.

We all develop strategies to manage our head hunger. Some that work for me include:

• look for a distraction - find something to do around the house, go for a walk, call a friend or family member, read, craft, check social media, etc.
• ask myself do I need this or just want it - if I want it I put my fork down, put the left overs in the fridge, close the pantry or fridge/freezer door, etc.
• ask myself why I think i’m hungry to see what situations may be a stimulus - boredom, anger, sadness, anxiety, a habit like eat when watching tv or at the movies, etc.
• have a drink of water, cup of tea, etc.
• don’t keep foods or drinks that are a weakness in the house
• eat to a routine to avoid additional and unnecessary snacking i.e. stick to schedule as to what time you eat a meal and any snacks you’re allowed

Many find therapy helpful in identifying those things which are behind your head hunger and developing the strategies that work for us to better manage them.

It will take time to work these things out and get better control over your head hunger. In the meantime don’t beat yourself up if it wins sometimes. All we can do is learn from the situation & try something different next time. No one is perfect.

All the best.

thank you so much guys x

I did super well with not paying attention to the head hunger, but in the last 3 months it's come roaring back. It's super hard to ignore sometimes. When that happens, I try to have smaller meals more often and add an extra snack. It's been a while since my surgery, and while I can't eat like I used to, I can eat larger meals now. And when the head hunger hits, I try to "fool" my brain into thinking I'm eating more when I'm actually eating the same amount but broken up into smaller portions so my brain sees me eating again and again and thinks I'm eating more. It sounds weird, but for me it actually works. And I prioritize protein (some days I hit 100g of protein) because it fills me up and keeps me full longer.

Great advice above by all.

I wanted to add that sometimes people think there's something wrong with them or with the surgery, but what you're feeling is absolutely normal. Sure, some of the things you're feeling might not qualify as "true hunger", but that distinction is sometimes not nearly as clear as some people make it out to be.

Much of what we call head hunger is due to hormonal responses not unlike those generated by actual hunger. This can be especially true when we're in a significant calorie deficit, like you are in right now.

My point is that your body is designed to do exactly what it's doing, so don't beat yourself up for it.

Thank you so much for your support guys, it means a lot x

I’m going through the same thing right now. I’m so used to eating without thinking that sometimes I just grab whatever I want and start shoveling it in my face. My head hunger is terrible, especially when I am stressed or anxious about something.

I have been trying to make sure I eat breakfast every morning, but even then I can’t stop myself from snacking on things throughout the day. It’s like a compulsion. I just want food all the time and I think that it will solve my problems. It won’t of course, but I feel so powerless right now.

It does get better for me. At least when I am not stressed or anxious, I can be more mindful about my eating habits. But I still struggle with overeating sometimes.