Head Hunger...

Kimmie K · 07-05-2008, 02:03 AM

I was just curious how many people out there have battled thru "head hunger" and how did you get thru it? Did your fills help it go away or is it just one of those things that just passes with time?

wendy230154 · 07-05-2008, 02:50 AM

hi
l find that is the worst thing about having a LAP-BAND® l am l year in and head hunger is my worst thing l always think oh l havnt eaten much try a bit more my body says you dont need it ,
l expect its one of those things that wont go away
wendy

willbefine · 07-05-2008, 02:58 AM

I was banded 3 months ago. As of yet, I have not yet found that the band solves my head-hunger problem. This...to me, really sucks. The good news is, that IF and WHEN I am able to let the band do its job, it does. Say, for in instance, now...it is 1:52 in the morning and my ass-clown of a husband has made me mad. The pre-band me would've already downed a few ice-cream sandwiches to calm down and would be sleeping peacfully. The post-band me is trying to work through my feelings rather than eat through them. Because of the band I am still somewhat full from dinner and it has given me JUST ENOUGH PAUSE, to not try to eat through my emotions. Instead, I decided to get online for a little encouragement, and the craving is starting to seem somewhat manageable. PRAYER IS ALSO A BIG MUST FOR ME. Before, the band, eating was an almost instant and subconcious reaction to being upset. Don't get me wrong, sometimes it still is. But if this week I only emotionally eat 10 times, and next week I only yield to it 8 times, and the next week, I only do it 4 times, etc....I'll be wearing a thong by next summer (p.S., I know they make size 22 thongs, but that would mean a wedgy so big that well, I'm just not willing to experience!)

Katja · 07-05-2008, 03:46 AM

I think of all the things that we bandsters have to deal with, head hunger, followed by patience, is the hardest part of this journey to becoming healthier.

We tie everything into food, - happy, sad, stress, boredom. We seldom get together with friends or family without food playing a major role in those activities. No wonder we always have head hunger!

I have been banded 11 months now. It has taken me all this time to finally reach my sweet spot last week with fill # 5. I have lost slowly and it has been very frustrating at times, but I am losing. Head hunger, and real hunger have been a big problem for me as my band was not adjusted properly until now.

This past week has been wonderful! I am no longer body hungry. The band is finally doing the job it was meant to do. I have had a few bouts of head hunger, but I am amazed at how few and how weak the bouts have been. So I guess you can really say that when properly adjusted, the band helps you there too.

I know I have a lot more work to do in sorting out my old habits and discovering what exactly triggers those head hunger episodes. I heard once that someone said "we adults use food to soothe." I agree. "We have replaced the pacifiers we used as infants with food". We need to discover why we need this pacification, and how we can use non-destructive means to soothe us when necessary.

I believe head hunger will disappear over a long time, but as any habit, it will need a lot of commitment, patience and work.

Good luck to you on your journey to a healthier you! You can do it!

Katja