Stress Hunger
After 14 months since my surgery I think I have this stuff dialed in pretty well. I will tell you that no matter how well you have dealt with head hunger and how good your strategies are, you never really have it beat.
I am changing jobs on Monday. I am strarting to 2nd guess my decision a bit. My stress level is very high. All I want to do is eat something. I have been stressed out before in the last 14 months but this is really BAD. I just finished my lunch. I am absolutely physically full but I feel like I am starving. My body is going full force crazy to make me eat and comfort myself.
Don't worry anyone I am not going to eat, but its amazing that after so long and sticking to my good habits that this pops up like that.
Keith, I feel you. I started a new job on October 15 and ate everything in sight (this is before I started my VSG journey, haven't had surgery yet though).
I think I have head hunger quite a bit, but I remember someone on this forum saying that if you drink water when you think you're hungry, and you are no longer hungry afterward, then it is probably head hunger. This philosophy has helped me tremendously!
You are a veteran to VSG and I know you'll stay the course, but I can relate to the head hunger thing totally!
Consult 12/9/13, Pre-Surgery Appt 9/5/14, Surgery 9/23/14, Height/5'.52", HW/273, ConsW/268 ConsBMI/49, PreSurW/213 PreSurBMI/39, SurW/193.8 SurBMI/35.4, Drs GW/140-150 My 1st GW/160 2nd GW/145
Visit my online store at dawnsjewelrybox.com Independent Consultant ID 30858
just validating your point - I am 100% a stress/emotional eater. I dive into my fridge or cabinets or ANYTHING really when I'm stressed. It sucks, I know the feeling well, hang in there!
band to sleeve revision and loving life!
You do you, and I'll do me
The emotional piece of this journey is, so far, the most challenging for me. I can relate to you- there are times I just want to eat, eat, eat to avoid feeling what I am feeling. Something that has helped me so far, is to just stop and feel the feelings. Really feel them. I sometimes write them out, for example: " I am REALLY stressed out right now." or, "Gosh, that made me SO mad." Then I just sit with the feeling. Where is it in my body? Do I feel it in my shoulders? My gut? and then say to myself again, "wow, this is what stress (or anger, or sadness, etc.) feels like." and just kind of observe, almost like a scientist. The funny thing about this is that it seems to make the feelings pass much more quickly. It's almost as if my feelings are making themselves known so I will pay attention to them, and when I do, they stop nagging me so much. If I stuff them with food, they tend to reappear.
This is all very new to me. As far back as I can remember I used food to deal with so many feelings. Actually paying attention to what they are trying to tell me has been really useful and I've learned tons about myself in the process. It's not perfect by any means. I actually have to deal with whatever the feelings are, and some of them are darned uncomfortable - I don't know many of us that like feeling stressed, or sad, or angry, etc. Maybe telling yourself something like, " I'm pretty stressed about changing jobs. It's normal to feel like this during a big transition. There is nothing wrong with me feeling like this, and eventually it will pass..." It kind of puts the feelings back into perspective, and gives them less power - they don't seem so bad that you want to eat to get rid of them any more.
Just my $.02.
Jen
Surgery Date 9/19/13 Dr. Cirangle
HW 267.8 SW 261 GW 155 Blog:http://onwardanddownwardsf.weebly.com
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