Quality over Quantity: The Struggle With Brain Hunger

NanaRenan · 01-20-2008, 01:28 PM

Y'know, I've given an awful, awful lot of lip service to my pre-concieved notion that if I can only eat 3 or 4 ounces of food at a meal, I intended to make it the very best tasting/healthiest foods possible.

Now I'm backing away from that notion.

In practicum, I've had a lot of problems getting my BRAIN to accept that the meal is over!! I'm literally full to the brim, couldn't eat another bite and my brain is screaming at me -- "You haven't eaten enough! You're gonna be hungry too soon."

But the reality is, I'm not getting hungry too soon, so my brain just needs to SHUT UP!

What I've started to notice -- as I've become more involved in life and less obsessed with my next meal -- is that I don't have this same battle if I eat JUST TO FUEL MY BODY instead of eating something deliciously divine to soothe/nurture/reward/treat my mouth and/or emotions.

Anyone have any comments to share on this topic??

kiah12 · 01-21-2008, 08:43 AM

I could not agree with you more. I know I have been conditioned over the years to think that 3oz of anything is not going to "be enough". What is interesting is that years ago, I could not finish an entire hamburger. i cut everything in half before I ate it and maintained a more normal weight. It was when I couldn't stand to leave anything behind as I was concerned about "future hunger" that I started to get in trouble. I will say that after the two weeks of protein shakes I began to realize just how addicted to eating I had become. It was a detox to me of sorts. An added benefit I never considered prior to doing it.

I believe that the first step to overcoming the brain hunger is recongnizing that its exists.

wombat712 · 01-21-2008, 03:55 PM

I get in trouble with the brain hunger. I can eat very little right now and it's that last bite when I'm thinking OMG I've done it again and head for the bathroom. I'm lucky if I can eat 1/4 cup of anything right now. If I do then I have to wait between bites (like 1-2 min) just to get that down.

But, I'm always thinking about my next meal; or snacks just in case. Yeah right - I'm full for HOURS right now and I still carry snacks!

When is my brain going to get it?
wombat

jojo30family · 01-21-2008, 04:02 PM

I think this is the exact struggle I am having right now. When I get to the end of a meal, I think ok I really want more, but literally can't eat any more. My brain still wants it even though my stomache can't handle it. Does anyone else still struggle with wanting to eat just to eat, and not eating because your hungry? for me, this is still a downfall for me.

mindyemt08 · 01-21-2008, 07:23 PM

I couldn't agree more. Just as I am done eating, I am thinking about what I will eat next. Also, I get really gassy right after I eat. Is this normal? My tummy also rumbles alot like it is digesting food, but of course our bodies never did this before. Another thing is that I cannot burt. I feel like I need to but the air just stays down there. Is this normal? Thanks

shanarene · 01-21-2008, 07:33 PM

I was just banded on Friday but am dealing with the head hunger too. Every time I walk into the kitchen I my instinct is to eat. I am doing things without even knowing it. My daughter had a bite of a ham sandwich left my intentions were to throw it away but without thinking I almost finished it off, which is something I do all the time. My mom was there and stopped me. This head hunger is a struggle but my doctor told me so many scary stories about the band slipping if you don't eat right during the healing faze that I am terrified this will happen to me. As for the tummy "growling" my doctor said it's normal and not a sign that your hungry like most believe so I just tell myself over and over "I'm not hungry"....

mayamom · 01-21-2008, 09:10 PM

Hey Pam!
Calanne here. I think that brain hunger goes away after a while. I do know what you are saying. I recently had a band adjustment and I am pretty tight right now. My brain seems to FINALLY get the message that "WE" are not really hungry. When we do eat, we can't eat very much and brain is starting to realize what is going on!! Pam: call me. Let's get together soon!

Calanne

Chrisann · 01-21-2008, 10:06 PM

Its happening to me now. Its crazy. Cause when I listen to my brain, I get that awful pain in my chest and left shoulder.

So I have taken to writing down what I am eating so if I get that urge to eat, I read out what I ate and at what time and repeat I can't be hungry, OUT LOUD. Is it working? yes and no, but since I haven't had my first fill yet, its the best I think I can do at this point.

anonemouse · 01-21-2008, 11:00 PM

I've actually found that I suffer from head hunger more when I don't indulge myself. As a result, if I get a craving for something, I'll go ahead and have it, but just a little of it. I learned not to just keep eating the hard way, with a bunch of take-out from Outback. Boy, that hurt. NEVER AGAIN.

gingerbug · 01-21-2008, 11:06 PM

I am learning and I am shocked by how little I need to eat to fuel my body an still have enough energy. I have to remind myself to stop when I am physically not hungry anymore. I am learning to just taste things I want to taste instead of eating lots of it. I am stunned by how few of groceries I need to buy these days. I am going to save so much money in groceries, seriously.

mandi78 · 01-23-2008, 10:04 AM

I am having some of the same problems.....and I still buy way too many groceries. I keep thinking "I'm going to need this and this and this and I want that and that....etc, etc". I've been banded for nearly 4 months but I still don't think/eat like a bandster. I had good restriction for a couple of weeks after my last fill but I feel like it's gone already. Does this happen to anyone else? Every time I get a fill, the restriction seems to only last a few weeks.