Mental Hunger?
So, the day finally came and I had my roux-en-y on the 20th of March! So extatic, relieved, happy. It was like a dream to me, honestly. I know it sounds silly but even the day before I was like "Psh, yeah right this isn't happening!" (perhaps why I'm having the problem I'm having now?).
Well, it's been about 2 weeks now and I just...can't shake this mental hunger. My stomach is not hungery - in fact I have issues getting much of anything down. But my brain is so stuck on foods that I didn't even eat before my surgery! My psych and doctors all came to the conclusion that my weight wasn't a "food issue" and I didn't have any of the "food issues" like over eating and eating excessively unhealthy. But I'm really starting to question myself here.
Is this common? I'm doing the whole "what the hell did I just do" thing. I'm "craving", so-to-speak, foods like big, juicy steaks and pasta and anything crunchy. I'm almost thinking I have some sort of oral fixation because I'd give anything to CHEW something. And then there is this wanting of something carbonated in my mouth. What the heck lol I didn't drink pop for damn near 6 months before my surgery!
Oh it's so frustrating. Is this natural? Did I make a mistake with this surgery? WHY suddenly do I have these "food issues"? I come to tears when I see my family eating something in front of me if it's something I want. I looked in the fridge today and I saw a 12 pack of diet pepsi and actually said "I wonder if I could just drink it, but don't swallow it...let it fizz in my mouth and spit it out". :( What kind of thinking is that.
I'm sorry this is so wordy, just a little confused and overwhelmed right now. Scared that I've set myself up for failure.
Well, it's been about 2 weeks now and I just...can't shake this mental hunger. My stomach is not hungery - in fact I have issues getting much of anything down. But my brain is so stuck on foods that I didn't even eat before my surgery! My psych and doctors all came to the conclusion that my weight wasn't a "food issue" and I didn't have any of the "food issues" like over eating and eating excessively unhealthy. But I'm really starting to question myself here.
Is this common? I'm doing the whole "what the hell did I just do" thing. I'm "craving", so-to-speak, foods like big, juicy steaks and pasta and anything crunchy. I'm almost thinking I have some sort of oral fixation because I'd give anything to CHEW something. And then there is this wanting of something carbonated in my mouth. What the heck lol I didn't drink pop for damn near 6 months before my surgery!
Oh it's so frustrating. Is this natural? Did I make a mistake with this surgery? WHY suddenly do I have these "food issues"? I come to tears when I see my family eating something in front of me if it's something I want. I looked in the fridge today and I saw a 12 pack of diet pepsi and actually said "I wonder if I could just drink it, but don't swallow it...let it fizz in my mouth and spit it out". :( What kind of thinking is that.
I'm sorry this is so wordy, just a little confused and overwhelmed right now. Scared that I've set myself up for failure.
#1. don't apologize for being wordy. that's what this is here for.
#2. you have set yourself up for SUCCESS!
#3. this too shall pass. three frogs are sitting on a log. one thinks about jumping off. how many frogs are left? THREE! thoughts are not actions, just thoughts. I too am in the pureed stage and have snuck a crunch in here or there, and have usually ended up regretting it! In time we will be able to taste anything we want, and that will be good enough. in the meantime, eat things that you really like.
#4. if my family is eating something that i can't bear to watch, i leave the room. then i go for a walk to make them feel guilty because all they can do is rub their bellies!
#5. this mental thing is just a hurdle, not the great wall of china.don't fight it, just breathe deep, decide that food has had power over you in the past, make your peace, and move forward. don't panic. you're doing fine.
#2. you have set yourself up for SUCCESS!
#3. this too shall pass. three frogs are sitting on a log. one thinks about jumping off. how many frogs are left? THREE! thoughts are not actions, just thoughts. I too am in the pureed stage and have snuck a crunch in here or there, and have usually ended up regretting it! In time we will be able to taste anything we want, and that will be good enough. in the meantime, eat things that you really like.
#4. if my family is eating something that i can't bear to watch, i leave the room. then i go for a walk to make them feel guilty because all they can do is rub their bellies!
#5. this mental thing is just a hurdle, not the great wall of china.don't fight it, just breathe deep, decide that food has had power over you in the past, make your peace, and move forward. don't panic. you're doing fine.
I experienced very similar things. I had "buyer's remorse" for quite awhile. I wondered if I had made a huge mistake. You are simply grieving the loss of your previous relationship with food. Losing any relationship is really hard, and food is no different. You will have a lot of "weird" thoughts and feelings about food for awhile after surgery. The good news is: it will pass. Eventually you will come to the acceptance stage of the process. It is perfectly normal. In the meantime, hang in there and follow the rules. You will get through this! 
wow! that is such a great way that you just put that! i had my surgery this past monday 3/30 and have been having the same head hunger problems.
but your right, its like a bad ex boyfriend you just need to get over ! !
what ive been doing when ive been feeling tempted also is just thinking how horrible im going to feel if i was to eat that sandwich or snackys i keep on thinking about.
you rock!
but your right, its like a bad ex boyfriend you just need to get over ! !
what ive been doing when ive been feeling tempted also is just thinking how horrible im going to feel if i was to eat that sandwich or snackys i keep on thinking about.
you rock!
I know it's trite to say, buuuuut... "You gotta remember, skinny tastes better." No? *lol*
When i get these ZOMFGWTFBBQ moments I try to just refocus myself on why I had the surgery in the first place. Why did I make this change? Why did I risk death to have the procedure? Headbattles is what it is.
Part of my psych group education was getting to the root of that mental hunger. Why do I wish to eat past need to nourish my body thereby facilitating my own survival? What psychological replacement am I doing? For me, it was because my life felt bland and unchanging. I sought that change and variety in food. It made everything exciting again. So instead of doing that I just go out and seek the change and variety I wish to see, even if it means getting out of my comfort zone.
When i get these ZOMFGWTFBBQ moments I try to just refocus myself on why I had the surgery in the first place. Why did I make this change? Why did I risk death to have the procedure? Headbattles is what it is.
Part of my psych group education was getting to the root of that mental hunger. Why do I wish to eat past need to nourish my body thereby facilitating my own survival? What psychological replacement am I doing? For me, it was because my life felt bland and unchanging. I sought that change and variety in food. It made everything exciting again. So instead of doing that I just go out and seek the change and variety I wish to see, even if it means getting out of my comfort zone.
http://www.myspace.com/lonesouldier
Most Active
Recent Topics
