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brain vs. stomach hunger



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I had surgery on Jan 12, 2009 and I just had my third fill. I lost a total of about 30 lbs. I would like to know if anyone can tell me at what point does the brain start thinking of hunger differently? Any pointers on how to get there? Maybe I have a more difficult time while on shakes after a fill because I'm not getting satisfaction--I am not really hungry, but even after that I would like to think about hunger differently (more like a normal person).

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I am a little over 6 mo out and still struggle with brain hunger. Stomach hunger is the same old thing- pain, weakness, headache, etc. I am interested to know anyone who no longer struggles with head hunger...

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I was looking at the plate of food on the table and wondering how I could possibly get some of that in my stomach! My body was full but my brain wanted MORE MORE MORE! I think it's a matter of conditioning and habit and telling ourselves we're being deprived. I wish I had an answer for you. I am hoping with time I will just get used to it. My skinny friend commented the other day that that's what "normal" people do.. stop eating when they are full...

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I use to be skinny, in fact very unhealthy type skinny, and it wasn't from lack of eating. My sister loves to remind me of the 6 hot dogs I'd eat and not gain an ounce. I went out of my way well into my 30's trying to gain, then boom it slowly started hitting me. I really believe all those years of eating things I didn't like but because someone said they were high in calories and they would help me gain I ate....I developed some seriously bad habits so as my metabolism and life style slowed down the weight gain increased big time. No more anorexic looking skinny but instead a bery unheathy unable to do much fat chick.

Right now my biggest problem is hubby like to come home, eat dinner play on our computers for a little while then watch tv together till he falls asleep. I unfortunately associate that time with snack time. I found out quickly that air popped popcorn and chex mix could easily be eaten around the band. I also gained six pounds doing it, ok so I did throw in some carrot cake as well telling myslef I deserved it I've done well. When I got on the scale and saw the 6 lbs back I wanted to cry. Thankfully I worked really hard and got rid of them fast.

I've been stuck for awhile now and actually feel very restriceted, I know that I was eating around my band. I've made a pact to give up the pop corn and chex mix, substitute sugar free pop sickles and lettuce salad for a week. So far I've lost a new 1 1/2 lbs.

It will be 6 months on the 23rd and I still fight with head hunger but seeing that scale get off the # its been stuck at by simply making a deal with myself not to eat around my band for a week. Not sure what I will try next but I too would love to hear how to get past triggers and head hunger

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I had surgery on Jan 12, 2009 and I just had my third fill. I lost a total of about 30 lbs. I would like to know if anyone can tell me at what point does the brain start thinking of hunger differently? Any pointers on how to get there? Maybe I have a more difficult time while on shakes after a fill because I'm not getting satisfaction--I am not really hungry, but even after that I would like to think about hunger differently (more like a normal person).

For some of us, I wonder if this will ever happen. I asked my boyfriend months ago (all 140 pounds of him), if he thinks about food all day long...like what meal is next, what should I have for a snack, etc). He couldnt believe that I think about food constantly. He says he only thinks about it when he is hungry.

I am almost 6 months out and still battle head hunger daily. But if i decide to feed it, I have learned to feed it something healthy (most of the time).

I think that just maybe...things are slowly starting to change for me. Sometimes I am hungry, and just dont feel like eating. Its kinda like...eh...no...I think in those situations though its bc I am craving naughty food and since I wont eat that, I would rather eat nothing...hahah..

I dont know.

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ha my boyfriend is quite skinny as well, eats whatever he wants doesn't gain but at the same time he doesn't eat very much. And what I'm surprised at is, once he starts eatting he has the ability to stop mid-way and just stop eatting. I've started to learn to do that and it's a very foreign feeling. And I also think constantly about food, though I am 2 weeks from being 1 year out and I have to say the last 6 months was when I learned the most, it takes a long time to break bad habits and pick up new ones...

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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    • KimBaxleyWilson

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