‘Head Hunger’ vs. True Hunger – Knowing the Difference

It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between needing food and wanting food. Will reaching for that item really satisfy a physical need, or only meet an emotional desire? After bariatric surgery, being able to tell the difference between head hunger and true hunger is especially important. Your stomach is vulnerable, and overdoing it can lead to issues like pouch stretching. 

That’s why it’s important to pause, think about your motivation for eating particular items and keep these qualities in mind.

It’s likely true hunger when:
• You don’t have a craving for one specific food
• Your hunger does not go away if you try to wait it out
• The craving intensifies over time
• Nothing you do will satisfy your hunger except food
• The feeling results in a rumbling stomach, headache or feeling of weakness

It’s likely head hunger when:
• You crave comfort foods like chocolate, sweets and fatty foods
• The hunger goes away if you wait it out
• The emotion, not the craving, intensifies overtime
• Doing something else satisfies the need, and your craving disappears

Once you’ve determined the root of your hunger, it’s important to know how to act on the feeling. If it’s simply a craving, try distracting yourself from the desire – call a friend, listen to music, go on a walk or bike ride. Drinking water between meals and eating healthy between-meal snacks can also help eliminate cravings later on. 

One of the most important things to remember after bariatric surgery is that it’s okay not to be perfect. Eating correctly takes work, and it will take some time to get to know your new body and the signals it’s giving you. Practice positive self-talk, encouragement and forgiveness. It’s okay to slip up on your diet occasionally, but it’s how you come back from it that will put you on the path to a healthier you and make your surgery a true success. 

If you’re looking to transform your life, the Covenant HealthCare weight loss team will stand beside you every step of the way. We’re the most preferred MBSAQIP-accredited facility in the Great Lakes Bay Region, and we perform more robotic bariatric surgeries than anyone in the area. 

Let the leader in bariatric surgery improve your health. View the on-demand bariatric seminar.

Posted Date: 1/24/2018