The Mental Struggle

jamielslater

Hi friends. I was sleeved 10/5/16 so I am just over a year out. My HW 241, SW 217, GW 145, CW 137 I am 41 and 5'4.5". I am very happy with my weight and although I am slightly under my goal I am doing well at maintaining this weight so far.

What I am really struggling with is head hunger and the old habit of just wanting to eat. I just bought the book"The Emotional First + Aid Kit" second edition and have just started reading it. I am absolutly terrified of gaining my weight back. Anyone that is a veteran that has advice on getting my heaf to catch up I would really appriciate.

Thank you.

thechadtx

Congrats on your success so far...You're doing great.

I am just 2 months post-RNY, so a veteran I am not. However, I have had similar issues with "head hunger". Most of mine is managed by keeping myself busy though. I find it only gets bad when I'm sitting in my chair doing some work late in the evening or watching TV. I hope it gets a little easier down the road.

Good luck to you, and thanks for the tip on the book.

jcavanna2

I had my surgery 4/18/16 and since March I am playing with 10 pounds - I definitely have Head hunger and I go to weekly weight watchers meetings to keep a more accurate tab on my weight since my home scale is kept in a closet till we weigh ourselves so the calibration may be off. Really wanting to get 10-15 pounds more off, and will look into that book as well.

I would say to try and find something to distract you like going for a walk, reading a book, etc. I am going to try and brush my teeth when that happens and I am trying to drink water flavored with crystal light or something so I get flavor and hope that works.

I am trying to be really good about tracking and meal planning as well.

JamesAztec

I'm coming up on 3 years in January since I met the surgical team (VSG Mar 2015) and started changing my eating/moving habits. I've heard and read a lot about "head hunger". I would describe it more as processed food hunger/cravings. Typically when I have experienced this it's because I'm thinking of a processed food. I never get head hunger for a salad, lol.

I see a lot of MFP friends eating lots of processed foods but keeping their calories low. I think that can work but it will be a struggle. Even the "good" processed foods like the shake mixes, protein bars, etc I think lead to cravings. And to me, they don't really fill me up. I'm not perfect with my diet but I try to stick with whole foods or minimally processed. I think by doing this I'm able to eat more throughout the day and stay satieted. Basically, when I get hungry I eat a little, and when I start to get full, I stop. I probably have 10-15 eating events a day. Most are small snacks like nuts, cheese, fruit, veggies. I have 1-3 "real" meals a day that are a little more substantial. I don't count calories but if I did I'm sure I'm well above 2,000 a day and maybe close to 4,000 on heavy exercise days.

Another thing I've tried to do is get away from the "reward" system of eating and exercising. I'll eat more on heavy exercise days because I'm hungry. But I still try to eat the same types of food. I think a lot of people think they can have that cookie or muffin or ice cream regularly if they put in an extra few minutes on the treadmill. I treat myself from time to time when I go to a party or something but I don't have "junk" food in the house nor do I seek it out.

To me, it's all about changing habits. The longer I go with healthy habits, the easier it is to stick with them.

loveshoe

Head hunger is real and can be difficult to manage. The dietitian said to ask myself if I just wanted something or if I was truly hungry. Of course, head hunger can overrule any rational thought so asking the question didn't work so well for me.

The good advice she did give is to save an ounce or two from dinner for the hunger attack or plan on an after dinner snack into my daily food budget. She also said true hunger should be fed by having protein, chicken, tuna, a boiled egg etc. She said if I was really hungry then it meant I didn't have enough protein in my last meal.

I also agree with Thechadtx, I mostly want to eat in the evenings around 9pm when I'm reading and all of the events for the day have ended. Some days I just go to bed or get in bed and read to avoid eating.

Bekah7482

Aztec4Life wrote: »

I don't count calories but if I did I'm sure I'm well above 2,000 a day and maybe close to 4,000 on heavy exercise days.

You by no means would have to do this, but I think you should just take like 1 regular day and 1 exercise day and actually count your calories. Not because I dont trust your estimates (I fully believe you), but I am always so curious as to what you are eating.

JamesAztec

@Bekah7482 I've actually thought about logging for an entire week just to see. My meals are so random throughout day but I'll make it a point to log soon. The calories get high sometimes because I don't worry about fat.

Bekah7482

@Aztec4Life when you do let me know. I would be curious to look at it. I like to peak around the diaries of those who are more athletic/physically active and farther out from surgery than me. Helps me prepare for the long term action plan and not only the right now since I know that the hunger, cravings and old habits wont stay away forever.

MoyMG

Head hunger is so real, and difficult. I've found that, since I cut all white sugar and artificial sweeteners out, the head hunger has decreased significantly. I used to have Stevia in my morning coffee, but my doctor convinced me that I was setting myself up for problems because my body was still craving "sweet." Darn her, she was right; once I cut out that Stevia, (and after going through a week of "flu" symptoms), I'm no longer craving much of anything - cookies, pizza, mac and cheese, nor am I craving chocolate. And I was a chocoholic my whole life (I'm 64.) I haven't had any chocolate in several months now. So you might consider cutting out sugar and artificial sweeteners, and see how you do on craving. Please be aware that this may be a very personal response on my part! I know I am sensitive to carbs, while other people handle them well.

jamielslater

Thank you everyone. This is helpful. I am enjoying this journey.

Mandy_1982

Totally I real thing. The morning after surgery I could smell the breakfasts being delivered to patients in other hospital rooms, and I was so hungry for everything. I wanted bacon and toast! Totally head hunger because how could I actually have been hungry? It’s the wanting/craving of things you can’t (shouldn’t) have.

If head hunger kicks in, reach for protein