Question:
Has anyone had this problem?
I am 6 months post bypass. Ive had an excellent result but I have found myself snacking and/or eating food I know I shouldnt. Its a mental thing that I cant seem to get a grip on... I dont get hungry, I dont know what my problem is and I dont want to ruin this for myself... Does anyone have advice for me? Maybe what to do when Im bored or have cravings to avoid eating the crap I turn to? I know this is what got me into this situation in the first place, I dont want to do this again... Im asking for help and support - not someone to yell at me so please no mean comments. Thanks! — LauraMarie (posted on April 27, 2009)
April 27, 2009
I don't get hungry either but I had the same issue for a bit. Of course I
had a period of time where I couldn't hardly keep food down so I ate
whatever would stay down. Now I find it is just easier to not have that
stuff around me. I snack on raw veggies when I want something crunchy or
plain popcorn. It's hard not to eat the stuff that got us here, but it's a
lifestyle. Good luck and god bless.
— traly77
April 27, 2009
Hello, If it happens to me, I am currently waiting on a surgery date for a
lapband, I would make an appointment with the psychologist who I saw during
my post op work up. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor or his nurse for
advise but I would definitely talk to a professional who deals with
bariatric patients. Good luck. Karen Smith
— karrenn
April 28, 2009
Although I am only 5 days out, I figured the best way for me to not snack
on foods that I should not have it to simply not put them in the house.
Doing so will help you to stay on track. I doubt if anyone
"yells" at you because we are not here for that. Just remember
why you had the surgery. Do you have a before picture, if so carry it
around with you so that you can remind yourself of what you do not want to
go back to. You will make it.
— cxperr01
April 28, 2009
Head hunger is probably my biggest struggle after WLS. I had to set limits
for myself as my lifestyle change. I know what I am capable of and it's not
good for my health! I know I still have eating disorders...THAT never
changed. YOU MUST stay in control so you don't start doubting yourself and
give up. SET LIMITS NOW! I will tell you what works for me. Plan your
snacks and make grocery lists of good healthy snacks for you and the family
during the week...Pick things that are creamy, salty, crunchy, sweet,
chewy...etc so that you cover all your cravings (don't buy the bad stuff
that tempts you...or buy your family stuff that you don't like, but they
do!)...I eat a LOT of fruit, veggies, salad stuff, cheeses, beans, humus,
yogurt, puddings, nuts,seeds, meats etc. I look for recipes with those
ingredients for snacks. I will go thru all the trouble of making my snack
beautiful because I have to believe I am worth it. Reaching into a bag of
chips/cookies for instant gratification, is cheap and disrespectful to
myself...and I REMEMBER that is exactly one way I got unhealthy and obese
in the first place...SO...If I want chips and I do once in a while...I will
get a few, one serving bags (try to get the whole grain ones that are baked
if you're gonna have chips) It's all about the choices... and moderation,
of course. I don't eat from containers or large serving bags...I measure
out ONE serving because I KNOW that it is enough to satisfy and I do not
allow my head or tastebuds to take control over my pouch! That will be the
end for me if I allow that! If I still am not satisfied I go brush my
teeth with minty tooth paste, because that tells my mouth, head and pouch
"we are DONE eating"...NOTHING tastes good after brushing your
teeth! When I just cannot get food out of my head...I get online and play a
mind challenging game to take my mind off food or I do my beloved Sudoku or
Crossword puzzles (especially at night because I am a night owl after my
family is asleep I am still wide awake) But during the day I will vacuum
or do laundry...or house work...go out window shopping, play in my gardens
or go to work/my job or do a favorite hobby to keep my brain focused on
something other than food...even jigsaw puzzles on my dinning room table is
a lot of fun in the winter/rainy days for me...When all else fails I like
to make myself a large fruit/protein smoothie or a large glass of iced
green tea or some sort of flavored drink and sweeten it with stevia, add
lemon or lime and mint leaves...Put in a fancy colored straw and feel like
I made myself a huge treat worthy of a guest! It's nice to treat myself as
I would a friend...It satisfies my head too! You must set limits, make
grocery lists, plan meals and snacks, measure out servings and eat those
naughty foods only in moderation...It's okay to eat like a regular SMALL
person...but stay in control and do not let your head take over what your
pouch knows is enough. If it makes you feel guilty...try making something
good feel worthy of a guest! That feels awesome! Even if you are just
cutting up strawberries and sweetening with SF sweetener...Put a dollop of
yogurt on top with a few blueberries and a fresh mint leaf...And serve on
your best china...or a pretty little dessert plate or bowl! You would be
amazed how you satisfy all your senses and feel like a queen just by making
a little extra effort just for you! Those are my little ways of coping with
head hunger...Sometimes I feel lazy and I have to try my best just to make
good choices...It can be harder than all of this...Sometimes I even give
in...and when I lose it...I wake up the next morning ready to work it off
with sweat and eat lighter and leaner to make up for a little over
indulging...Beating myself up leads to a pity party...so I take
responsibility instead...It hasn't failed me yet...Don't ever forget your
tool...it is happy when it is satisfied, not full! You MUST accept that and
not aim for that "full" feeling...And if you feel hungry even
head hunger...let it go on for 30 minutes or more if you can...Often you
forget..sometimes, you still feel it...so eat! Just make a good choice!
LASTLY, when shopping, if you see more than one simple carb and or sugary
thing in you grocery cart...Keep the best choice of those you have and put
the other stuff back! I sometimes walk the entire store with frosted
cupcakes in my cart...Just staring at me, making my mouth water...But in
the end, they go right back...I don't know why I do that, but I do! LOL I
often do the right thing...but sometimes they do make it home with me...and
I do eat one...Guess what? Eating one is not going to make me gain all my
weight back...but eating buying them often and eating two and them three
will...I KNOW I cannot allow those things in my house often, because I WILL
eat them...I know I will...It's okay that I know that...It empowers me to
ACCEPT that I am flawed...still. I cannot change that, but I can control
it...It's work measureing out stuff and making a mess in the kitchen and
pulling out the good china...LOL But I'm keeping my weight off and enjoying
the money I spent on that stupid china years ago so it could sit gathering
dust???! LOL No way...I use it now because I am worth it! So are you! Try
recipes of your favs too with alternate ingredients to make it lower or
better fat, sugar and calories...It's fun!
— .Anita R.
April 28, 2009
very common to have head hunger, your brain was not operated on, and until
the hormone kicks in to turn off the hungries.....about 1-2 months post op,
the best bet is to take some sort of anti depressent like wellbutrin, it
actually will help with the cravings. its also given to smokers and
alcoholics to help control cravings, and it blocks receptors in the part of
the brain that crave, and allows more seratonin uptake, the pleasure sensor
part of the brain......that is totally not medically correct, but in
layman's terms it describes it best.
I had the same issue, and I would literally cry because I was hungry but
couldn't eat.
wellbutrin took about a week or so to kick in, and when i was really
desperate, i would do something like lick a few doritos for the flavor,
which is what you are really missing.
i would chew a teensie teeeeeny piece of a brownie for flavor, then spit it
out and rinse my mouth out with water and then mouth wash to make sure none
of the sugar went in my tummy to make me dump.
only use those tricks if you are in desperate measures, throws of a
complete melt down.
soemtimes doing something active, walking, getting away from food triggers,
and going somewhere fun will take your mind off of it, and if you can
divert your mind, your craving will pass 9 out of 10 times.
I was desperate a few times and would lick all kinds of doritos or chips
for flavor.
then I would chew a piece of brownie, making sure absolutely none of it
slipped down my throat. If you can just taste what you are craving, you
will generaly be okay.
hope this helps!
You can do it!!
Deb
— Deborah S.
May 1, 2009
This may or maynot help but I chew gum when I get cravings. Sometimes it's
the sugar free fruit flavors because it still has the sweetness to it that
I want. I'm going through a phase now where it seems like I'm snacking on
everything (even bad stuff) but to try and help that.. I keep fruit around.
hope this helped. good luck!
— Megan21
May 1, 2009
I worry about the samething. Thats part of my problem. I won't even be
hungry but out of habit will pop something in my mouth to eat. I have a
home day care and I find when Im making meals Im grazing without even
realizing it sometimes. Now I try to stop my self and say do I really want
this and its not even one of my faviorte foods why do I want to eat it. I
also buy foods for my family that I don't like and also, choose foods that
are more healthy. My surgery is May 26th and I know I will be there soon.
— SaraSmile47
May 12, 2009
I am only 4 days post - op but like you I have always had problems eating
when I wasn't hungry and succumbing to cravings so I decided to start
seeing a behavioral therapist at the same time that I began the process of
getting my surgery covered. I've been going weekly for 8 months and I'll
continue to go until I don't feel like I have a messed up relationship with
food. If you have insurance that will cover therapy it might be something
you would find helpful.
— samsa982002
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