Head hunger

[faithstar 3]

Ok so I am only a week out but I thought I would share something here. For the first few days after the operation I had terrible head hunger. All I kept thinking about was cheeseburgers and I was so so scared to be thinking about them as I knew I wouldn't be able to have them. I thought the feeling would never pass and in the past, this urgency made me feel like I had to eat the food or I'd somehow have a panic attack over it. This was my food addiction and compulsive eating in action...

A few days later, I began to feel a massive reduction in head hunger and noticed that, by not feeding my mind with the food it wanted, it allowed me to think clearly about what was actually concerning me. If I ate the food, I would have felt numb and unable to identify my emotions that caused me to over eat...which in effect makes me feel like it stunted part of my emotional growth, much like any addict will profess.

It turned out to be anxiety I had related to the fear of the unknown. I didn't know if I would lose the weight, I was feeling frightened and that's when the head hunger attacked. It can be mentally so so strong to the point where you feel you've failed before the food has touched your lips. I felt as though I'd never be able to go without the food. But I did...I DISTRACTED myself and went for a walk and slowly kept alternating different things to do to take my mind off it.

A few days later, I wondered why I wanted the food.

I realized that every time in the past I gave in and this taught me that I was unable to go without food during a craving. It's much like a child crying and a mother giving in every time; which teaches the child to cry and expect the mother to give in. The first time she doesn't give in it's tough and it will keep crying and maybe get scared but soon it will learn a new habit and realize "hey, there's no point crying now."

But now I feel stronger and realize I CAN go without the food I fancy. I'm not going to die, I'm not going to have a panic attack and the craving will go.

There is a degree of willpower involved with head hunger but more than anything, distracting myself by doing something else that makes me feel GOOD did wonders. I certainly didn't want fatty meat in me after a long walk.

Just thought I'd share my first week experiences with you all. Good luck on all your journeys

x

[MeaganO 0]

Ok so I am only a week out but I thought I would share something here. For the first few days after the operation I had terrible head hunger. All I kept thinking about was cheeseburgers and I was so so scared to be thinking about them as I knew I wouldn't be able to have them. I thought the feeling would never pass and in the past, this urgency made me feel like I had to eat the food or I'd somehow have a panic attack over it. This was my food addiction and compulsive eating in action...

A few days later, I began to feel a massive reduction in head hunger and noticed that, by not feeding my mind with the food it wanted, it allowed me to think clearly about what was actually concerning me. If I ate the food, I would have felt numb and unable to identify my emotions that caused me to over eat...which in effect makes me feel like it stunted part of my emotional growth, much like any addict will profess.

It turned out to be anxiety I had related to the fear of the unknown. I didn't know if I would lose the weight, I was feeling frightened and that's when the head hunger attacked. It can be mentally so so strong to the point where you feel you've failed before the food has touched your lips. I felt as though I'd never be able to go without the food. But I did...I DISTRACTED myself and went for a walk and slowly kept alternating different things to do to take my mind off it.

A few days later, I wondered why I wanted the food.

I realized that every time in the past I gave in and this taught me that I was unable to go without food during a craving. It's much like a child crying and a mother giving in every time; which teaches the child to cry and expect the mother to give in. The first time she doesn't give in it's tough and it will keep crying and maybe get scared but soon it will learn a new habit and realize "hey, there's no point crying now."

But now I feel stronger and realize I CAN go without the food I fancy. I'm not going to die, I'm not going to have a panic attack and the craving will go.

There is a degree of willpower involved with head hunger but more than anything, distracting myself by doing something else that makes me feel GOOD did wonders. I certainly didn't want fatty meat in me after a long walk.

Just thought I'd share my first week experiences with you all. Good luck on all your journeys

x

You have no idea HOW much I relate to your story. At first I kept thinking about every fast food joint I could think of. I started wanting things that I didn't even really LIKE to begin with. I had to quickly realize that all of these foods I was craving are TERRIBLE for me and that those a the reasons I was in the hospital bed in the first place. Food is truly an addiction. I am 3 weeks post op and it has gotten so much better. I still crave the occasional cheeseburger sometimes but imagining me trying to eat one grosses me out. I know it would feel TERRIBLE and make me sick. I love the quote, "We should eat to live, not live to eat." I'm realizing now how much food was on my mind before the surgery. I would go to bed wanting what I was going to have for Breakfast the next morning, think about what drive thru was for dinner all day long.. it was exhausted now that I look back on it!!

Keep up the good work!

[DougNichols 124]

Thanks for the thoughts, this prepares me more for what's to come!

[feedyoureye 3,087]

A few days later, I began to feel a massive reduction in head hunger and noticed that, by not feeding my mind with the food it wanted, it allowed me to think clearly about what was actually concerning me.

So cool! And a great lesson, If all of us can do that, we will not only lose the weight, we will keep it off!