Head Hunger or Real Hunger

[gotmyeyeontheprize 2]

I had my first fill yesterday (2.4cc) and am still hungry. Yes, I know that according to one old bander, I shouldn't be talking about being hungry. Well, who cares what that person thinks?!?!

Anyways, since being banded six weeks ago, my tummy still rumbles. I have read a lot of bandsters saying that this is a true sign of hunger. So, I guess I am confused as to what the difference is between head hunger and real hunger.

Due to my fill yesterday, I am on liquids for the remainder of the weekend. My tummy is rolling, growling, and feels as if it is turning flips! Any advice on the difference between the two types of hungers would be great because I am so tired of the tummy rumbling and headaches!

[zeniada 9]

Wow why are you on liquids so long??? I know every Doc is different but mine only had me on liquids the day of my fill and then mushies the next and regular food the following day, but that is my Doc.

I know it's real hunger when my tummy "GROWLS" and "RUMBLES" and know it's head hunger when I have already eaten and just want more....

[gotmyeyeontheprize 2]

Wow why are you on liquids so long??? I know every Doc is different but mine only had me on liquids the day of my fill and then mushies the next and regular food the following day, but that is my Doc.

I know it's real hunger when my tummy "GROWLS" and "RUMBLES" and know it's head hunger when I have already eaten and just want more....

Thank you for your quick reply. I don't know the reasoning behind the fluids for the weekend unless it is to let my stomach get use to the fill. I go to the mushy phase Monday and can not have solids until Friday.

I was afraid that the tummy growling was real hunger. Unfortunately, I have been battling it for a couple of weeks and am afraid I am going to lose the battle. I can already tell that this first fill has given me NO restriction at all.

[reverie 49]

Usually every 3-4 hours is when my tummy growls and I eat; that to me is real hunger and my body saying "hello, feed me."

How much are you eating in a meal generally? How often do you eat?

[Melissannde 41]

I had my first fill yesterday (2.4cc) and am still hungry. Yes, I know that according to one old bander, I shouldn't be talking about being hungry. Well, who cares what that person thinks?!?!

Anyways, since being banded six weeks ago, my tummy still rumbles. I have read a lot of bandsters saying that this is a true sign of hunger. So, I guess I am confused as to what the difference is between head hunger and real hunger.

Due to my fill yesterday, I am on liquids for the remainder of the weekend. My tummy is rolling, growling, and feels as if it is turning flips! Any advice on the difference between the two types of hungers would be great because I am so tired of the tummy rumbling and headaches!

My stomach has made extra noises ever since banding. I think it's just the nature of the surgery. :/

Real hunger.. I don't notice growling so much or rumbling, I just feel hungry. Head hunger: I've eaten, I'm no longer hungry but DARNIT the food tastes good and I want to keep on eating... to me that's head hunger. Another definition of head hunger for me is when I'm not physically hungry or it's only been 2 hours since I ate, but I want something to chew. I want crunch, I want salt. I try to divert myself with some activity like taking dogs for a walk or I will chew gum.

two days on liquids is different from what my doc requires too, but then again, I get MUCH smaller fills that 2.4cc's. My first fill was only 1cc and everyone since then has been half that size or smaller. That could be why your doc is being cautious, because of the size of your fill. And sometimes fills can take a week or two make themselves known. I had my last fill on 22 Dec. on Dec. 28, I was having difficulty eating and when I thought about it, I realized it was almost exactly a week since my fill. I had gotten tighter.

Hang in there.. I know it's difficult, but it's well worth it.

[Dave_NW 92]

Sorry you're having trouble.

Just for the heck of it, try taking Prilosec OTC and see if your stomach doesn't calm down a bit. I read someplace that the growling can be a sign of excess stomach acid looking for something to work on. Not sure if the Prilosec OTC would do any good for you, but it can't hurt to try, right?

I also find if I'm feeling like I want to eat before I think it's time, drinking a Muscle Milk Light Protein shake settles things right down. Even drinking very cold Water helps.

Good luck!

Dave

[Blackbutterfly719 0]

I was banded November 16th. I know it is real hunger when my tummy is talking to me so loudly others can hear her. LOL. I know it's head hunger when I see something on TV and all of a sudden I'm sooo starved. When I get the head hunger I turn on the radio and dance for a few songs to take my mind off it. However, when it is real hunger I eat.

Try to have a good weekend!!

D.

Follow my journey:

http://www.blackbutterflyevolution.blogspot.com/

[gotmyeyeontheprize 2]

Thank you all so much for your help. I went ahead and moved on to the mushy phase this morning. I scrambled 1/2 cup of egg beaters and ate REALLY SLOW. Everything went down well. A friend of mine, who was banded a year ago by the same surgeon, told me she advanced to the next phase as she felt like it. She said I would know when I was ready. Since all liquids were going down fine, including larger sips, I went ahead to the mushy phase.

I find it interesting that it sometimes takes a week or two to feel the restriction from the fill. Have all of you experienced this or did you have immediate restriction? Since I still don't feel any restriction, I am hoping it kicks in soon.

[disneymom1978 1]

I had my first fill of 4cc last week and felt immediate restriction. Then, 2 days later it was gone! Ugh! I'm also struggling with being able to tell the difference between head hunger and actual hunger, so thanks for asking this question!! I'm scheduled for my 2nd fill on the 18th, so hopefully I will have some lasting restriction! Good luck!!

[honk 780]

After I a fill I have 24 hours of full liquids and 24 of soft foods.

When I go 5+ hours without eating my stomach does rumble but I think that is to be expected.

[nomorejellybelly 77]

For me, even when I had the really loud tummy growling, I didn't really feel hungry, but I knew my body was saying it was. Head hunger for me, is when my head hurts (obviously) and I feel weak. ....but, I've been really lucky and have only felt bad like that maybe once since I got banded.

I've only had two fills, but I did liquids for at least a day and a half or two and then soft foods.

[Ange2992 5]

as you know, every doctor is different. But my dr. says that your stomach should not be rumbling. I have found that that "rumbling" and "gurgling" was literally just my bowels working. i asked the nurse, and she even said that your bowels start as high as almost by the chest. every time you hear or feel that, it does not mean you're truely hungry, and i have found that to be true. I hope that makes sence. But i do have trouble with head hunger. if I had control, i wouldnt be overweight in the first place lol.

[ElfiePoo 109]

I've spent so many years with blood sugar issues, first hypoglycemia and then diabetes, that affect my hunger level that I no longer trust my body to tell me when I'm hungry. In the last year I've learned to eat on a schedule (basically just eat the same time every day) to retrain my body into not expecting food 24/7, to measure out my reasonable portions, and to eat them thoughtfully and not while watching tv or playing on the computer. Now I have to work on consistently eating only 1200 calories per day because I have too many days still up around 1500 and that will only get me a 1-2 lb loss per month.

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