could this be head hunger??
Hello everyone well I am 8 days post-op now and have a question. I for whatever reason am craving scramble eggs and toast now we all know i can not have that , but the past day or so I have been thinking about foods that I can not eat at this point. I am on full liquids and pureed blended foods for another 13 days so tell me is this the head hunger I hear about? and what can one do for that? I dare not put in my mouth anything that I am not allowed, but I can't help but have these cravings come in to mind. any suggestions??
Thanks Jan
Thanks Jan
I did not really experience any of that. I followed the rules and I think that is why I have had alot of success. I remember waiting and waiting till I could have scrambled eggs and then I was to afraid to try them. I am a year out tomorrow and I still hardly ever do anything with bread or toast. Bread is one of the things I love and I do not want to go back down that road.
I am probably no help. I would just suggest sipping more water when you have those cravings. I find it goes away because you can't fit anything in.
Good Luck!
Melissa
I am probably no help. I would just suggest sipping more water when you have those cravings. I find it goes away because you can't fit anything in.
Good Luck!
Melissa
The only thing I craved was fruit but that was not until about 10 weeks out and I think it was because I was dehydrated. I think it must be head hunger....do not give in it could hurt you to eat too soon. I didn't even want to eat for weeks, i had a lot of nusea and trouble swallowing. I still do not eat anything heavy or much bread at all and I am almost 3 years out...But you will be able to do eggs as soon as you are on soft foods..Hang in there and good luck
Personally, I make a distinction between a "craving" and "head hunger", but most poeple probably don't. The only reason I make the distinction is that it seems to help me with how to best deal with each thing.
For me, a "craving" is an urge for a very specific thing -- like the eggs and toast you mentioned. (Some of that craving may be because you cannot eat anything solid yet.) I was allowed to eat soft foods even before I left the hospital after my open RNY, but for some reason when i was only a couple of months out, I had intense cravings for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (on white bread, of course). It lasted several weeks and I finally gave in and had one bite of one. I have not had a craving for it since! Sometimes now I crave chocolate. I try to distract myself or have something healthy but sweet )fruit), but if it does not pass, I go ahead and have 3 or 4 M&Ms or a piece of the SF chocolate (30-35 calories). After that, I'm fine and in a positive state of mind. I did not deprive myself of something I really wanted (just as often it's some kind of fruit rather than chocolate or something salty), but I also was very responsible about the amount I ate.
"Head hunger" on the other hand (for me) is a more general urge to eat when it is not mealtime. (I would have said "when I am not hungry" but since I don't get physically hungry -- until my blood sugar plummets -- that doesn't really apply.) It is usually not a desire for an specific thing, just a desire for SOMETHING to eat. This usually means I am stressed, bored, upset, etc. since clearly I am NOT hungry and it is NOT time to eat. In this case I do whatever I can to AVOID EATING ANYTHING -- even a protein bar or a protein shake -- because this use of food is what made me 300+ pounds. So when I experience head hunger I have to stop and ask myself WHY I am feeling the urge to eat and I do something to remedy that underlying issue (if I'm bored, I find something productive to do (away from the kitchen!); if I'm feeling lonely or stressed I call a friend, etc).
Other people may have a very different experience, but I think that making the distinction betwen what is going on and -- more importantly -- responding to it in an appropriate healthy way (sorry, that the counselor coming out in me!) is really important in keeping the weight off long term.
Sorry that I can't be more help on dealing with cravngs when on pureed food... I didn't have to go through that.
Lora
For me, a "craving" is an urge for a very specific thing -- like the eggs and toast you mentioned. (Some of that craving may be because you cannot eat anything solid yet.) I was allowed to eat soft foods even before I left the hospital after my open RNY, but for some reason when i was only a couple of months out, I had intense cravings for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (on white bread, of course). It lasted several weeks and I finally gave in and had one bite of one. I have not had a craving for it since! Sometimes now I crave chocolate. I try to distract myself or have something healthy but sweet )fruit), but if it does not pass, I go ahead and have 3 or 4 M&Ms or a piece of the SF chocolate (30-35 calories). After that, I'm fine and in a positive state of mind. I did not deprive myself of something I really wanted (just as often it's some kind of fruit rather than chocolate or something salty), but I also was very responsible about the amount I ate.
"Head hunger" on the other hand (for me) is a more general urge to eat when it is not mealtime. (I would have said "when I am not hungry" but since I don't get physically hungry -- until my blood sugar plummets -- that doesn't really apply.) It is usually not a desire for an specific thing, just a desire for SOMETHING to eat. This usually means I am stressed, bored, upset, etc. since clearly I am NOT hungry and it is NOT time to eat. In this case I do whatever I can to AVOID EATING ANYTHING -- even a protein bar or a protein shake -- because this use of food is what made me 300+ pounds. So when I experience head hunger I have to stop and ask myself WHY I am feeling the urge to eat and I do something to remedy that underlying issue (if I'm bored, I find something productive to do (away from the kitchen!); if I'm feeling lonely or stressed I call a friend, etc).
Other people may have a very different experience, but I think that making the distinction betwen what is going on and -- more importantly -- responding to it in an appropriate healthy way (sorry, that the counselor coming out in me!) is really important in keeping the weight off long term.
Sorry that I can't be more help on dealing with cravngs when on pureed food... I didn't have to go through that.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.