The Full Factor and Fiber

Basilin

I keep hearing that fiber is supposed to make you feel full. This makes no sense. Fiber makes me feel stuffed for 30 minutes, and then starving again in an hour (i.e. a bowl of oatmeal with milk and fruit), since fiber doesn't actually provide much nutrients. If you're "full" it's just in volume and not in substance, which seems counterproductive to balanced meals because you have to eat a lot to get those nutrients out of the meal, but you can't eat a lot because you get full quickly. Of course, fiber does provide many benefits to digestion, but being satiated isn't one of them in my experience.

What I have noticed is that eating well rounded meals with fat, some protein, a mix of complex and simple sugars, and micronutrients makes me feel full and satisfied for a long time, regardless of fiber content. Fat being the most important for long-lasting fullness.

So, does fiber actually aid in fullness? What is your take?

Foamroller

I take about 20-30g fiber supplement, 10g before meals. Because getting the same amount of fiber in foods, will make me go over budget.

Taking fiber helps me limit my portions. So instead of 2-3 portions of dinner which I can easily do when I have something I love, I can now only eat 1 portion. Problem solved. It also makes the fullness last longer for dishes like soup.

I do take care to eat fiberrich foods like fruits and vegs as a part of a normal healthy diet.

Fiber is a godsend for me concerning IBS. I'm convinced my weight loss journey would have seen far less results without the extra fiber.

If you are against fiber, then no problem. No one is forcing you to eat more of it:)