To us "old timers"
asia1967
Posts: 707 Member
I would like to hear your take on this, or if you have or had experienced this.
I just finished eating, I have the full feeling, I am not thirsty but I still want to eat. (not head hunger)
I took my time, enjoyed my meal, so what gives. It is not all the time and I have not figured out a rhyme nor reason. Any thoughts, suggestions, comments would be appreciated.
As an after thought, I wonder if I have gone just past the full mark and it reminds me of the old me and want to continue to eat to the point of bursting.![:\](https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
I just finished eating, I have the full feeling, I am not thirsty but I still want to eat. (not head hunger)
I took my time, enjoyed my meal, so what gives. It is not all the time and I have not figured out a rhyme nor reason. Any thoughts, suggestions, comments would be appreciated.
As an after thought, I wonder if I have gone just past the full mark and it reminds me of the old me and want to continue to eat to the point of bursting.
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I don't know how or why this happens but I have the same problem. I just try to ignore it and say to myself just get busy and then I won't think about it.
I'm seeing my psychologist soon and I can bring this issue up then, if I get a magic answer I'll pass it on to you.0 -
I get that too. The need to eat even though I've just finished a meal and I am not hungry. That's head hunger. You are not physically hungry, but your brain says "eat". Yup, head hunger. I'm dealing with this right now, have been all morning. I had breakfast and a snack and I still want to eat. I know I am not hungry, I do not need to eat, but I want to. What stops me most times is the knowledge that if I continue to eat I will be sick. I make myself wait a 1/2 hour and then drink something with flavor, like a flavored water or tea of some kind. My head hunger today is more of being aware that I want to eat and why, not so much the need to eat. so I'm not really battling it right now, just aware of it and waiting to eat until my normal lunch hour.
T if you think it's really being a little over the full mark triggering your old behavior to eat until you burst, then maybe portion your meals a little smaller so you don't get past the full mark?
Pat0 -
I get that sometimes too. Someone recently posted something about eating what I need to eat, and not just eating how much I CAN eat. Made me stop and think, and it echoes what Pat said - practice a little more portion control. One thing that's weird for me is that I feel so normal now, and sometimes my brain forgets that I had surgery and my tummy is NOT normal, if that makes sense.0
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I agree with Pat. That's the "definition" of head hunger and it's the reason I was sleeved to begin with... So I COULDN'T go past full. I know if I do, I will mightily regret it now. Even at a year and 1/2 out my eyes are always bigger than my stomach. I find if I weigh\measure, then take some off the plate before I even start, I'm WAY more comfortable. I'll wait at least 15 min and if I still feel like I want more, then maybe a spoonful or 2, but at that point it rarely ever happens. I've moved on to something else. I usually have so many leftovers that if it was THAT good, I'll get some for my next meal anyway so I tell myself to look forward to that and move on.0
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That is a good question.....as I have noticed this also. I am 16 months out in a few days and have noticed if I eat high protein+high fiber in the same meal I don't tend to get this way....but if the meal is just high protein I do. I am anxious to hear what ac7nj doc has to say about it.0
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i concur, you are still desiring to medicate with food. you want the meal to be more than just nutrition. you want it to be an extended pleasurable activity to satisfy and relieve stress. When this happens you must ask yourself "What is wrong?" am I tired, bored, angry, afraid, stressed out, broke, annoyed....etc. Food is not your savior, comfort, friend, reward, or activity! It is just food-You are full! ergo you are NOT hungry. I had to yell at myself a lot those first 6 months. Eating is no longer my default activity for all occasions. Life is my activity. it is not about what we eat-it is about WHY we eat. When you truly deal with the why you will escape from food prison and the head hunger just fades away.
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ac7nj> I would love to hear what the doc has to say, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.0 -
Pat> I think that is what is happening, I am eating I get the trigger that I am full. I wait a minute or two then eat a couple more bites. Bingo now I have a (or what I think is) a physical reaction to eat more. Hmm will have to pay closer attention to my eating habits again. Thanks you rock!0
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Garber> Makes total sense. Thanks for the reminder, I use to say just because I can doesn't mean I have too. Re: eating more!
Thanks for your response.0 -
bikrchk> "I find if I weigh\measure, then take some off the plate before I even start, I'm WAY more comfortable. I'll wait at least 15 min and if I still feel like I want more, then maybe a spoonful or 2, but at that point it rarely ever happens"
I like that idea to take a little off, because I do way everything that I eat. Going to give it a try. Thanks tons.0 -
thin2be2013 > I never gave it much thought about the fiber with the protein. Thanks for the tip, greatly appreciated.0
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Mangopickle> That is a great point, because I don't get it all the time. I quit constantly worry about food. I do do soul searching and asking myself why at I eating. Still a work in progress I guess. Thanks for the advise.0
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Ok peeps: I just finished my supper, and I really paid attention to what I was doing.
1. I put on my bread plate the amount of food that I had logged into MFP for that meal ahead of time.
2. I did take my time and enjoy my meal, however I noticed that even thou I was done as in full I started to finish what was on my plate and caught myself.
3. I realized just because I logged it and it fit in my calories doesn't mean that I need to eat it right now.
4. I put extra on my plate for later which is only setting myself up for disaster. Duh what was I thinking?
So to concluded my ramblings, Tonight I took a much smaller portion, did not worry if it was enough or not just weighed out my portion and ate until I got my trigger. Then I had more then enough left over for another meal. I also realized that it took me a lot less forkfuls to get the trigger.
So I guess some of the old bad habits had found their way back in even thou I was trying to be diligent with measuring and weighing that I wasn't paying attention to some of the telltale signs.
Thanks everyone, greatly appreciated.0 -
Great jobT!! I too have the issue of still wanting to "clean my plate". I really thought I was over that and OK with tossing the little bit left after I get my full cue. I too am still a work in progress because some days I can hit my cue and toss the leittle bit left and sometimes I find myself eating it and thinking "it's just a couple more bites".0
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Ok peeps: I just finished my supper, and I really paid attention to what I was doing.
1. I put on my bread plate the amount of food that I had logged into MFP for that meal ahead of time.
2. I did take my time and enjoy my meal, however I noticed that even thou I was done as in full I started to finish what was on my plate and caught myself.
3. I realized just because I logged it and it fit in my calories doesn't mean that I need to eat it right now.
4. I put extra on my plate for later which is only setting myself up for disaster. Duh what was I thinking?
So to concluded my ramblings, Tonight I took a much smaller portion, did not worry if it was enough or not just weighed out my portion and ate until I got my trigger. Then I had more then enough left over for another meal. I also realized that it took me a lot less forkfuls to get the trigger.
So I guess some of the old bad habits had found their way back in even thou I was trying to be diligent with measuring and weighing that I wasn't paying attention to some of the telltale signs.
Thanks everyone, greatly appreciated.
WAY TO PAY ATTENTION! Wow, you got some good info there--- Great work!!0 -
Thanks Ladies: Sometimes the obvious isn't always obvious! You two continue to inspire me to stay on track and I value your input, advise and friendship!
T. 0 -
I'm also from the clean your plate generation. I hit my trigger and see just a bite or two left, I don't always choose the right answer. This is still a work in progress for me.0
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It may sound silly, but I over fill my plate to avoid cleaning it. When there are just a few bites left, that's when I'm tempted to finish it. If I put enough on my plate that there is a lot left over after I hit my full mark, I am more willing to just stop and put up the left overs.0
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My eyes too seem to be bigger than my new tummy size. I get this idea in my head that I am so hungry I could eat the volume I used to eat...but I know I can't. I've figured out what I need to do is decide on my portion at the beginning of the meal and just stop when it's gone. I get a box to take the rest home...like a burger for example, I immediately cut it in half and in the box it goes for another meal. But my head still thinks I am SO hungry I can eat the amount I used to eat...since I've had years of over-eating I guess it's going to take years to un-do that...I've also learned that I need to wait a bit for the full signal to register in my brain. Things don't work as fast (or as well) as they used to in my old bod. Tee hee.
Good luck.0 -
It may sound silly, but I over fill my plate to avoid cleaning it. When there are just a few bites left, that's when I'm tempted to finish it. If I put enough on my plate that there is a lot left over after I hit my full mark, I am more willing to just stop and put up the left overs.
Interesting! I haven't tried this but it makes sense.
This thread did cause me to do something a little different last night. I weighed out my meat and took about 1/2 can of my vegtable (beets). About 3/4 of the way through my meal, I stopped eating for a few minutes. Then I assesed how I was feeling. I decided I was feeling very close to my full cue, so I put the rest of the meal with the rest of the leftovers.
Not any hungrier later in the evening that I normally am. Actually had the protein bar as a snack becuse I needed the calories, not because I felt the need to eat again.0 -
I think my issue with this comes from a lifetime of not having enough in a lot of areas and trying to get all that I could. I remember one time when my mother and I were both doing Weight Watchers and we were having yogurts for breakfast my mom made a point of reminding me to lick the lid of the yogurt because "we were counting the whole thing in our points so we had better eat it all," as if our calories were money that we'd spent and shouldn't be wasted. I find myself still thinking like that sometimes now. Throwing away a bite or two is hard for me because I feel like I'm owed it in my calories. Something to be mindful of for me!0
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Thanks for the responses. It is true for me also, if I only have a couple of bites left I think it is no biggie eating them. Wrong! Trying to break the habit of cleaning my plate has become a bit of a problem as of late. Going to try loading my plate up and see what happens, thanks for the suggestion jrnguyen. Also throwing those last few bites out was considered wasteful and I still have that mentality at times. I also have to learn to wait for the full signal before I continue to eat. Lots of great reminders and alerts. "Since I've had years of over-eating I guess it's going to take years to un-do that... " love that statement. I think it will take the pressure off to have to do everything on target all the time. I think I will also try putting my fork down between bites again like I did when I first came out of surgery!
Here's to us!!! 0 -
I am about 10 months out and i have lost 87 pounds, but I still need to loose more. It seems like I can eat a lot these days and it scares me. I try my best to stick to protein and veggies and limit the amount of food i eat at each meal, but I use to get so full after 2 oz of chicken and now I can eat about 4oz before I start to feel anything and I started snacking a little. I'm surprised how much I can eat at this point. Is this normal?
Please let me know the kind of quantities is typical.0 -
Ilovenycxo wrote: »I am about 10 months out and i have lost 87 pounds, but I still need to loose more. It seems like I can eat a lot these days and it scares me. I try my best to stick to protein and veggies and limit the amount of food i eat at each meal, but I use to get so full after 2 oz of chicken and now I can eat about 4oz before I start to feel anything and I started snacking a little. I'm surprised how much I can eat at this point. Is this normal?
Please let me know the kind of quantities is typical.
Yes this is normal, your weight loss will slow down too. Don't worry about this phase just keep doing what you have been. For most all of us 1000 to 1200 calories is way below body needs. WLS has spoiled us with rapid weight loss and when we get back to normal, were complaining. Stalling is normal and building muscles can cause increase in weight. Training and exchanging fat for muscles is a good thing.
Randy0 -
Yep what Randy said.
P.S. did the psychologist have any comment on the topic?0 -
Is it possible your body still needs something? Sounds like your doing a great job of getting your liquids and proteins. Are you okay with vitamin, vegetable and fruit nutrition?
And here's an odd one, I know fat has a lot of calories, but it's gotten a bad rap and people try to avoid it. We forget that we need it to absorb vitamins. For me often a spoonful of a "good" fat (like peanut butter or something cooked in olive oil or a nice salad dressing) provide that perfect extra bit of satisfaction. Sometimes the body's hints are very subtle.0 -
Just get a dog and you can give him/ her your leftovers...my doggy has never been happier now that I can't finish my food!! Lol0
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All great comments here! Thanks!
Also try a smaller plate size for those that are members of the clean your plate club. LOL.0 -
it is so wonderful when you finally realize that you can just put ANY food away when you are full. Maybe you will eat it later or maybe you will chuck it, you just aren't that obsessed anymore.0
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PaulaKro> Good thought, I love my fruit, so that is not an issue as I am aware. I have no misconception about fat and don't even bother tracking it. Thou I totally agree that my body is hinting about something. Now I just have to figure out the code.
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