eating when hungry

I see a lot of people always talking about "you won't be hungry after surgery" and to eat when your hungry but what if you eat out of boredom. I think with me I eat because it is meal time and out of boredom. Something I will have to work on while doing my 6 month diet and hope by the time I have surgery I will be only eating when hungry. That is when I am able to eat foods again. Does any one have any tips. How or what did you do to learn to eat only when hungry.

I tried to pay attention to why I am eating is it head hunger heart hunger or am i really hungry because I have not eaten in a few hours and it is actually time for a meal.  we were not required to go on a special diet until just before surgery.  I have been on Optifast liquid diet for 4 weeks now and my surgery is on Tuesday.  I am having the RNY done.

One of the things I started doing that has been super beneficial to me is that I only eat at the table now.  No eating standing in the kitchen, no eating in the car, no eating on the couch, nada.  I only eat at the table.  It helps me to be more conscientious and mindful of my eating habits.  

Thanks for the advise. I will try that. I eat a lot in my chair in the living room all the time except when the grandkids come for the weekend. When I do feel hungry I'm not sure if it is heart, hunger, or anything else. I guess once I go to my appointment with the nutritionist she will be able to tell me the difference. I never saw a nutritionist before so not sure what to expect. Thanks again.

Lots of times, hunger is actually thirst.

So, I look at the clock, and if it has not been at least 3 hours since my last meal, I start with some water or iced tea.

I eat about 300 calories 3x a day and 150 calories 2x a day ... Spaced about 3 hours apart ... And drink in between.

Also, at night, after my last snack, I brush, floss, gargle and 'close the kitchen' ..... Sometimes during the day, I will brush and gargle if head hunger is tough .. A fresh mouth makes me NOT want to eat.

I don't think the distinction between real and head hunger is in any way important. Both of them make me want to eat! Both of them are hard to resist. So I do two things.

if I feel hungry and it is not close to a time when I might expect to eat, I distract myself for a while. Depends where and when! Make a phone call, open OH, have a bath, go for a walk, clean out a cupboard. After that, if I forget about food, great. If I am still hungry, I eat. 

I make eating formal. I put a place mat on the table, set out my knife and fork, sit down to eat. Even for a snack, even if on my own. My snacks are closer to small meals; I might do myself three fish fingers, for example. But even smething like a piece of  fruit, I will get a plate, a sharp knife, sit at the table and peel/cut/quarter -whichever is appropriate. 

I dont do this all the time but that was my way when in the losing phases. And I do still do it most of the time. 

I am working through the book Eat What You Love and Love What You Eat and the companion workbook Am I Hungry: (something about bariatric surgery-I don't have the book right by me). The book and workbook address this very issue, and other reasons we eat when not hungry. you can get the book on Amazon but if you want the workbook you have to buy it along with the book on the amihungry.com website.

I am going to be brutally honest. Head hunger is very hard to deal with for me. I still struggle with it. I often find I want to eat out of boredom or focus on food out of boredom and I am almost four years out. BUT I was an emotional eater before surgery. Some days are worse than others. I just have to find something to focus on besides food. It is extremely tough sometimes and sometimes I fail but I do not beat myself up about it. I try to keep healthy foods in the house and normally overeat protein bars. LOL!   

No one can predict whether YOU will be hungry after WLS or not. Every body is different. Pre-op, *I* was always hungry, and I don't mean just a bit peckish---I was HUNGRY, all the time. Even when I was stuffed, something in me wanted one more bite.

THAT kind of hunger is gone. Now I experience what I think of as 'normal' hunger, like 'normal' people have. I get hungry, I eat a modest portion, I'm full and satisfied, for about 2.5-3 hours. Then I do it all over again. (*grin*)

I chose the DS, and in oder to get in as much protein as I need every day, I graze. As long as I stick to a high-protein, high-fat, moderate-carb 'diet', I can eat all day long without gaining weight. This suits *my* preferred lifestyle to a T.

How do YOU prefer to eat? I strongly urge you to choose whatever form of WLS that works best with your natural inclinations. Honestly, WLS is on your digestive system, not your brain. Making fundamental changes in how you relate to food isn't any easier post-op than it is pre-op. You'll still have cravings (although they may be for vastly different things.)