Rah! Head Hunger!

I have noticed a much stronger desire to eat lately.  Last night it was on strong -- I am on a crappy project at work and so I think I am falling into some of my old bad habits (or at least my thoughts are).  

I went to the grocery store to pick up some vitamin water and put a snickers on the belt at the last minute (took it off b/c it could be rung up), then contemplated McD's on the way to my hotel?!?!?  (jigga what?!)  I did not cave, I enjoyed my spaghetti squash lasagna (really enjoyed it -- I love it!).  

I was reflecting on these thoughts, I wasn't even hungry.  I went to the gym for an hour workout before heading back for dinner.  Why when I am not hungry do I want that stuff.  Right now I am fighting it, but I am worried about when I will cave in.  

I may go back to OA b/c I feel like this is my addiction coming back.  Maybe it never went away, but the head issues might be something I just need to deal with forever.  

Does this ever go away for real? 

My suspicion is no, it won't go away.  If it did, weight loss would be possible even w/o surgery because we could just "get over it".  I'm operating under the assumption that I'll be struggling w/ food issues forever and that sometimes it will be easier than others.  And, that I need to have a definite plan for when it's hard.  

You did an awesome job saying no to the unhealthy choices.  And yum on spaghetti squash lasagna!  How do you make it...and is i****ery?  My issue w/ spaghetti squash is I can never get to to not be watery!

For the lasagna, I backed up a spaghetti squash a while ago.  I froze it in 1 cup sections.  So I just pulled one of those out and modified this Skinny Taste - Spaghetti Squash Lasagna.

I added in heavily seasonedsauted ground chicken.  I used a bunch of onion powder, garlic salt, basil and a bit of crushed red peppers.  Then I put them into muffin tins -- this allows me to freeze them easier and have them portioned out correctly.  2 muffin tins is 150 calories.  

Super delicious.

Thank you!

How far out are you? My surgeon explained that hunger will start to come back between 6 and 9 months out. Even though we are missing most of our ghrelin, we still have some, and there are other hormones such as leptin that are also responsible for hunger.

It's great that you were able to fight it. That's the hardest part.

I'm 4 months out.  This definitely wasn't real hunger.  I had eaten plenty, it was a desire to escape into deliciousness. 

I know all about that feeling. It happens to me when I get out of my normal routine, and stumble into previous bad habits.

No, and having gone through this before if you don't find a way to deal with it, it can easily sabotage your plan.  In time, you will be able to eat many of the things you did before and unless your tastes have changed you will crave them.

But, the good news is you can find ways early on to deal with it.  I originally chose the VSG because I wanted something that empowered (because I don't like the word "forced") me to make better decisions but allowed me to enjoy life down the road.  So, yes the sweet cravings the junk food cravings will return.   I found the NUTs often set plans and rules which are so strict that we get into the mindset of "I can never have X."  And that tends to only make you want it more. You mentioned the snickers bar.  Maybe substitute it for a 60 calorie chocolate pudding or a lo-cal chocolate fudge pop.  Or, like you did just walk away.  Find something to do when the craving****  Read a book.  Workout (like you did).  I started rewarding myself with finding new music I liked and buying songs which became the "treat" instead of junk. 

If you still crave fast food, make it at home and have 1/4th of what you would've eaten from a restaurant.  You can find recipes for health-ier french fries and homemade burgers if that's what you wanted.

Hope that helps.  And good luck! 

Thanks - this is helpful.  

I think the key for me will be to figure out coping mechanisms when things aren't going great that don't involve food.  Exercise has been a great option.  The tough part is following through on it for the rest of my life.  

Good.  Find exercise routines or workout options you enjoy and it won't get old.  And it's not to say that it won't be difficult at times, but in time you'll "re-train" yourself when confronted with the temptations or the cravings. You'll more naturally turn to what you use to deal with it - plan a workout, buy that great pair of shoes/outfit you wanted and it won't be so tough.

And yes, I indulge once in a while but I save the calories for when its special and worth the treat (i.e. a special event, holiday event, my birthday, etc.) and then I eat as much as needed to feel like I'm not being deprived and push the rest away.