Is it Head Hunger or Real Hunger?

Holy timely Kat!

i realized that over the past week or so, hunger has started to sneak back in on occasion. I was hoping to be the exception and not have it ever return! But I left the house this morning and forgot my protein shake. It was such a strange feeling to want to eat! And was a little bit stressful because I wasn't expecting it at all!!

This is so important for me right now and a great reminder. 

I am entering a new post op phase, and as such, need a new game plan! Thanks for the blue print!

Wonderful post. 

I struggle with some of these and know I will for the rest of my life. Coming to terms with that reality has been hugely important to this process. 

Very, very well written.  For me I did so well through the first 16 months or so but the last month or so has been a bit of a struggle.  Before surgery I was really bad to eat when I was bored.  I have found the last month or so that habit trying to sneak back in mainly on the weekends if I am at home.  I have been working hard to keep myself busy and do the things I know to do to avoid that eating out of boredom but it is not easy.  I sill have about 10 pounds to get to where I want to be and I don't want to let bad habits creep back in.

Thanks for sharing Kat...great post!

Great post Kat! Head hunger is something that's the hardest thing to live with on this journey. 

This is great, thank you for posting this. I am starting to get hunger feelings and I wasn't sure what they were because they don't resemble what I knew hunger to be pre op. You're right, if you just ate or have a food memory association with an activity or feeling, that is NOT hunger.

I'm going to print and post this on the fridge!

I am only 3 years out -- by no means a vet -- but I wanted to respond to your post because it's very true.  It is SO normal to start feeling more hunger, both physical and head (unfortunately), at your stage.  This only increases as time wears on.  

I know, this is where I wanted to plug my ears, stomp my feet and insist it wasn't true.  Trust me!

But, it's important to know that it does NOT get easier the further out you get.  

That's why it's so darn important to work on this now.  You sound like you are on top of it -- keep up all your hard work.  You are worth it.

Great post.  I am in a phase right now of boredom hunger issues.  Around 3pm at work every day I used to hit the vending machines for snacks.  I stopped that but at almost a year out I'm looking at the clock again right about this time now.  I try to find things to do, like read post on here.  I know I'm not hungry it's just a craving or bad habit I have to stay on top of. 

I get that!  I try to make a new ritual that REWARDS me.

 Sometimes people who've never been fat (i.e. dieticians or just other annoying people who don't get it)  recommend things like "take a walk" or something else like that that feels more like you are replacing the thing you loved with something that's more like a punishment!!  If taking a walk was as happy as eating a chocolate donut -- trust me, I wouldn't have ended up 347 pounds!  WTF?!

I do like the reward system idea and sometimes just getting up from my desk to go to the vending machine was a reward, maybe taking a walk will be helpful.