I grazed from the moment I got up this morning and am still thinking about what else I can eat. I have had 1 fill and have a little restriction. I was home not feeling great with a good head cold, so I know it was boredom. But now I actually am hungry. How can I combat this head hunger?

I grazed from the moment I got up this morning and am still thinking about what else I can eat. I have had 1 fill and have a little restriction. I was home not feeling great with a good head cold, so I know it was boredom. But now I actually am hungry. How can I combat this head hunger?

Hi Tracy,

It's hard to stop grazing especially if it's a habit you had pre-surgery. One thing that helped me was to only eat sitting at the kitchen table. I absolutely try not to nosh in front of the tv. Another thing I find helpful is to play on my laptop while watching tv (this way I can't do any hand to mouth action!).

I even took up jewelry making to keep my hands busy. I always have a drink nearby (water/crystal lite, or a Protein drink). 80 % of the time people think they are hungry, they are actually just dehydrated or thirsty.

The other things that may help you with head-hunger is to keep a journal. When you feel like getting something to eat, write down how you are feeling, what you are thinking about, how "hungry" you really are on a scale of 1-10. Then think - does this taste as good as thin feels?

The band, even when restriction is good, still will allow you to graze small amounts all day. So hope some of these ideas help. Would love to hear what others do also, as I battle with this myself. :wink2:

Brenda

All good ideas. I like the journaling part. It adds an element of accountability. Thanks. I too look forward to others' responses.

Tracy your not alone.....I had a day of grazing too. I don't know what happened today? I just couldn't get enough. I even journal my food intake and it still didn't help me stop. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully a better day. My plan is to do some major exercise to make up for todays weakness. Wish me luck!

I am on my computer often, make jewelry, quilt, & read. Since I am retired, I don't have to do anything I don't want too...including being a slave to my house. If I have to eat, I try to eat things that are good for me instead of junk. However, I was told that I could eat Wheat Thins to help with fiber. That was a fine idea but now it's hard not to eat the whole box in one day! I have to stop buying them but I love things that "crunch" and I thought this was a better idea than some other things I could eat. Any advice would be helpful for me too.

This is something I really struggle with, and I hate it! I do find that when I am busy I graze less. Evenings are worse for me, when the days work is done and the kids are winding down for the night. After 2 fills in my band, around 4pm it feels like I have no fill at all and I can eat and eat. Grazing, because I am not hungry, I just want to eat. Yes, this was a presurgery habit I had. I eat 2 eggs for Breakfast, then am busy homeschooling and doing housework, I really dont get hungry until 4-5 pm.

What is helping me is spending massive amounts of money on healthy Snacks that are filling but allow "grazing" per se. Lots of fresh fruit, Protein crackers, string cheese. My evil is having candy around. When its not in the house, I am too lazy to take myself to the store and get it, so I cant eat it. I also try drinking things that will satisfy my sweet tooth, such as SF hot chocolate, a glass of milk, etc.

I had surgery in July, and my head hunger is as strong as always, even stronger prehaps.

Been there, done that ... just this past Saturday! LOL

I wasn't bored, I was busy and had a birthday lunch and then a formal dinner to go to ... it was a crazy day! I felt like I had eaten soooo much food. I hadn't actually eaten that much -- I can't, I'm at my sweet spot -- but, I knew I had eaten more than I should. I was soooo full that I couldn't keep the food down and had to stop. I was very nervous because I hadn't been "out and about" in quite some time. Historically, I eat when I am nervous -- that has yet to change (though I hope it will in time). Head hunger and habit hunger I find to be the hardest to eliminate. The journal idea is really good, though I don't do it nearly enough.

Hang in there Tracy and I'll do the same ... we can do this! I try not to beat myself up when old habits kick in -- it won't help and always hurts. I just jump back on track and try to do better tomorrow.

All the best to you on your journey ... and eveyone else too!