Food cravings/obsession

[Lannie2202 25]

Hi everyone! I am finally getting sleeved at the end of the month but does the food obsession and cravings go away? I am hoping after a couple of weeks the post op diet will become second nature. I'm just worried about finally conquering this disease. I know that the mental aspect will be my biggest challenge. Thanks!

[Decembersleever 154]

I really haven't had any cravings. I'm so happy to be thinner that I don't want to risk getting used to eating bad again. Good luck to you.

[OKSleever 144]

I'm pretty early (about 7 weeks out) but in my experience after the first few weeks where I wanted nothing to do with food (I miss those days, come baaaaaack!!) I've been more obsessed with food than I ever was pre-op YMMV, and in this case I hope it does.

[johnlatte 1,232]

unfortunately the surgery is on your stomach and not on your head. A lot of people still have cravings and have a hard time reconciling their relationship with food and eating. This is the hard part related to the surgery. It won't end the bad habits or the cravings. That is something that you have to work through on your own. The sleeve does make it easier to work through, and that's the biggest plus, but you still have to work through it. you may not feel hunger early on, or you may not have cravings, but as time goes by, the feelings return.. Maybe not as intense but you'll get them. it will be up to you how to handle that. Good luck!!

[Takingcontrol 467]

I still have cravings! Just have to work around it! The sleeve is a TOOL, not a cure!

[Lannie2202 25]

Does anyone want to share what you do to stop them? I think I'm going to try to find a support group...

[magpie30 187]

Support groups are a great resource, as well as this forum. When i get cravings for things, I let myself have it, but the thing is, for example if i'm craving pizza, one small square satisfies that craving. So i can have that piece of pizza, and no matter how badly i was craving it, when i'm done with that piece, i have no interest in having anymore, not even as leftovers. For me it's like that with my cravings. But some people just avoid those things all together, just so they don't get back in the habit. Either way you go the support groups are super helpful, even seeing a therapist can help greatly. WE are all different, so we handle and react to things differently, you may have to experiment around till you find what works for you. Just a warning, the head hunger in the beginning can be just awful, but after a few weeks, it does get better, doesn't go away, but it gets better. One thing i know people do when they are having bad head hunger and cravings, is to go for a walk, or do some physical activity to help get your mind off it. Best of luck to you!

[VSG148Sz6 68]

At 8 wks out you do have cravings (in my opinion) but your body will now naturally reject some kinds of foods (for me it's potato chips and ice cream) Bc it can't handle it anymore. However, there are other foods that will continue to taste like always. You just have to Be able to recognize, what's good for you and what's not; how much you should allow yourself and how much you can't.

I'm a Water freak now...I know when my body doesn't have enough of it....so it fills me up a lot plus I drink it with lemon....helps with moving my bowels. I also treat myself on the weekends if I did well during the week in going to the gym and logging my foods...(I don't track foods on the weekends)....but I do workout. Anyway good luck to you

[Lannie2202 25]

Thanks ladies... I'm glad to hear you are all doing so well! Hearing others experiences helps..

[Sleeve Goddess 75]

I was sleeved on Weds 5/8 and still have cravings. Since I must remain on the liquid diet for two more weeks than I can do anything about my craving for lobster and spaghetti. To kill my crave for ice cream i just take a Protein Shake and put in in a blender with ice. The sugar free popsicle are the best.

[mvickyway 256]

It gets better and the joy is the sleeve allows you to have just a little without overeating

[mikeross 216]

I think if you are craving a certain food its good to have a few bites of it. After a few bite the craving for it will be gone... at least that's how it works for me.

A big thing I have noticed with myself is if I east something with tons of unhealthy carbs it makes me crave more carbs. If I spend the day eating salads and lean Proteins I don't have any cravings or head hunger. I also dont get carb cravings if I stick to complex healthy carbs like yams or brown rice.

oatmeal, brown rice, yams, salads and lean chicken, sirloin steaks and salmon allow me to eat great tasing a healthy food and keeps the head hunger/carb cravings away.

[wendybyrd83 3]

No one told me to prepare for head hunger. Even tho my stomach felt no desire to eat food what so ever, my head was still the "fat girl" way of thinking. 99% of this battle is mental. I did different things to help myself feel better. The first 2 weeks post op, I did nothing except pin food recipes on Pintrest of foods that I was "craving". Now that I can actually eat food, I have to take a different approach. Now, I usually distract myself for about 15 mins when a craving hits, and after that time frame, it's normally gone. Just please don't sit around and drive ur self crazy over obsessing over foods and drinks that can do more harm then good. The only craving that never goes away is for carbonated drinks. Soda, sparkling Water, anything bubbly! But, I can't have it, so I just tell myself to get over it. I need my will to be stronger then my cravings

I hope this helps! God bless!

[itstheamarie 77]

I'm more obsessed with food than preop. It's different, as in I am obsessed with eating healthy. At 3 months post op, I barely have any restriction with anything other than dense Protein, which is why they stress protein first! I measure and track everything, and I don not eat anything processed foods, but I want food all the time. Since starting to work out more, I'm hungry every 2-3 hours (physical hunger), so food is constantly on my mind (head hunger). *sigh* it's a process!