It's official.
My band is in the "green zone" or "sweet spot".
I've been rockin' the green zone since my last band adjustment in early November.
That's four and a half months. Praise the lord, hallelujah, and happy clappys all around. I would speak in tongues too if I knew how. All good joojoo!
But I've also noticed since reaching the green zone, I have a difficult time realizing that I need to eat. I can't tell when I'm hungry because my tummy doesn't growl. I occasionally get busy at work with meetings and projects. I don't realize it's time to eat. Crazy!
So let's talk about hunger signals....and let me tell ya, one of my hunger signals is especially entertaining or annoying depending on how you look at it.
I guess I never really knew what true hunger felt like.
And those rare moments that I was truly tummy growling hungry, it became an "emergency" in my mind and would need to eat whatever I could get my hands on immediately.
I guess that's another lesson that I've learned in this journey, being hungry is not an emergency.
It's OK to be hungry. Who knew. Not me, that's for sure.
The earth will not fall off of it's access if I am hungry for a short time while I think of and plan my healthy meal.
Anywhoozle, onwards to my new hunger signals:
- I get cold. Not like I need to put a coat on or turn on the heater type of cold, but like an internal chill that I just can't get rid of. I recently asked a coworker of mine who is tiny and pretty fit about whether she gets cold when she's hungry. She said "oh yeah, always." So I guess it's another lesson I've learned.
- I get dizzy. Duh. I know. But seriously, a relatively new phenomenon to this prior fatty.
- Here's the funny one: I become a "Chatty Cathy" with no verbal filter. Yikes! Usually I'm more of a listener in conversations, but if I need to eat and don't realize it, I'll chat your ear off and get pretty snarky pretty fast. My friends are starting to realize this too and ask me if I need to eat. I guess that they'd rather feed me than listen to me.
PS: Today is my 16 month goaliversary.
PSS: I'm headed to support group tonight. I promise not to scare the newbies...too much.
I have never thought about being hungry. My prior fatty would eat whenever and whatever and I guess I haven't quite got my new hunger signals under control either. The one thing I have conquered is feeling full. I guess feeling hungry will come next. My tummy grumbles are pretty awesome loud though : )
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your hunger cues are blood sugar issues. It's important to not to eat when you're not hungry, but letting your bloodsugar levels get too low can be dangerous in the long run.
ReplyDeleteThe last two signals especially can be dangerous, if you are becoming talkative and slightly belligerent. I was diabetic prior to losing weight and have a lot of information about the subject. Just be careful, especially if you live alone - always keep some juice around so you can get some sugar in your bloodstream quickly if you need it. Take care!
It sounds like your hunger cues are blood sugar issues. It's important to not to eat when you're not hungry, but letting your bloodsugar levels get too low can be dangerous in the long run.
ReplyDeleteThe last two signals especially can be dangerous, if you are becoming talkative and slightly belligerent. I was diabetic prior to losing weight and have a lot of information about the subject. Just be careful, especially if you live alone - always keep some juice around so you can get some sugar in your bloodstream quickly if you need it. Take care!
You just described the symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which you can have without being diabetic...be sure to take care of yourself!!
ReplyDeleteHappy goaliversary! And speaking as a relative newbie in my own support group, I know I always seek out the veterans who are still attending - so, thanks!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely sounds like blood sugar issues! Perhaps you should think of eating as fuel for the body and make it a priority to eat at prescribed times. I'm sure you wouldn't let your car run too low on gas and then when it starts to sputter or whatever it does, add fuel to the tank. Set an alarm on your phone if that helps.
ReplyDeletePrior to my hitting goal, when I was obese ( I can't call myself a former fatty' as I think its very derogatory and i don't want someone to feel bad who is still obese) I would have the symptoms you described but quite often it was due to loading up on carbs with no protein to start the day such as a bagel....when my blog sugar crashed, I would get dizzy, sweats and I just had to get something in quick and guess what? It was usually something carby. Either way, it's bad to get to the point you describe. Schedule your meals so it doesn't happen and you'll feel better.
A friend of mine had gastric bypass and stopped feeling hungry as well. To me, someone who grew up eating 3 meals a day and feels hungry daily, it's like impossible to even think about. But like you said, there are other hunger-signs that I think I also feel! I get light headed and dizzy. Never thought about feeling cold. That usually happens after I eat.
ReplyDeleteI seriously plan on continueing with support group after goal and beyond. I think it's very important, especially in our environment to let bandies know they have support and encouragement as well as the bypassers. : ) We have a 90/10 distribution between bypass and band. The newbie bandsters need people like Robyn and I to stick around. I'm so glad you're there for your newbies as well. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait for a day like this....to not be hungry all the fricken time!
ReplyDeleteright now I can't let myself get hungry or I make poor choices but I relish the day when I forget to eat.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you're saying about not letting yourself get hungry. I used to snack around the clock but I was always ready for the next meal. I'm still learning a few of my signals such as thirst. If I think I'm hungry and what I want is watermelon, I'm probably thirsty. Live and learn. Enjoy your support group. That's why I still attend WW meetings. :)
ReplyDeleteI get a headache when I am hungry. I love the Chatty Cathy signal; I am always chatty and can turn catty fast so that one won't work for me!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and appreciate the information you are providing. I'd love to talk with you more in depth about your current diet and meal plan would you be open to speaking with me?
ReplyDeleteSure, email me: lapbandgal@yahoo.com
DeleteYup sounds like you described hypoglycemia symptoms. Awesome that you don't feel hungry much but as always be careful with waiting when you get those type of symptoms, developing hypoglycemia can be dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia when I was 7 years old and for me, sometimes hunger IS an emergency. I have passed out before. I need to be really careful about sugar - you may have noticed that I never eat sweets on an empty stomach. I have NEVER had a donut or pastry for breakfast. I NEVER drink sugar sodas. I almost never eat sugar sources without protein or fat or fiber to slow it down. And if I go too long without eating, I get a screaming headache, massive confusion, and dizziness. It sucks. I DO get weird about how far I am from food and I think part of my lack of loss is that I can't drop my calories any lower without getting that terrible feeling, I can't exercise without eating enough to do so, and I can't seem to lose any more weight without starving and feeling terrible pretty much all the time. It's horribly frustrating, that's for sure. The ONLY thing I can really do at this point is go to super low carbs (in ketosis range) - I'm pretty sure that's the only way I'll lose another pound and good lord, I don't really enjoy the thought of going back on Atkins. But I might have to. (Jeez...sorry I hijacked this topic and wrote a novel here.)
ReplyDeleteI hear ya :) isn't the coolest to realize you are actually hungry when you get a little eye crossing dizzy or grouchy spell? I, like you, never felt hungry before and when I did...i was running for whatever I could cram in my mouth.
ReplyDeleteMy band has gotten kind of loose during the last month. I need to go back in cause my self control when I get hungry is tanking a bit.
:)
xxxoooo
Your post on "hunger" just hit a nerve with me today. I am pre-band waiting on insurance approval as I write this. As I called my mother yesterday morning to tell her the news that my package had been submitted, this is what I hear! "well Michelle I hope you know what your getting yourself into", I mean when you want food watch out!". Then she says that "you are so nasty when you are hungry". Your father and I are concerned that you are going to have this surgery and then get upset or mad when every else is eathing and you cant.
ReplyDeleteI really did not know what to say to this...I mean this is my MOM who knows her daugther. I began to panic and think bad thoughts.
Will I still be obsessed with food?
Will I hate on others because they can eat and I cannot?
Will I feel deprived at family events that involve food?
HELP!
That is sooo awesome. What a great feeling, I'm sure! (NOT the dizziness)
ReplyDeleteI know I tell you this all the time (but probably not enough)... thanks so much for your wonderful posts and support. You really are such a wonderful help and so inspirational. So, THANKS AGAIN!