What to eat to cope with incredible hunger?

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Replies

  • KaysKidz
    KaysKidz Posts: 208 Member
    Beef jerky is my go to. 40 calories a serving.
  • LushFix
    LushFix Posts: 303 Member
    Can you have watermelon?
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,168 Member
    Review your diary (and your memory) and look for patterns that involve the days where you're more hungry. Some things to think about:
    • Enough sleep? Good sleep quality, or no?
    • Macros different that day (especially protein/fat, which many people find satiating), or the day before?
    • More or less fiber that day, or the day before?
    • More carbs or sugar (they make some people crave-y)?
    • Did you do extra exercise or get extra activity that day or the day before?
    • How has your hydration been from water, other beverages, or water-containing foods?
    • Is there something different in the timing of your eating (calories, or macros), such as more/less that morning, the previous night, etc.?
    • More/less stress than usual?
    • More or fewer calories than usual the day before?
    • Later or earlier eating the night before?
    • etc.

    If you can find a pattern, you can make a change. If you don't immediately see a pattern, consider experimenting with some of those variables to see if it makes a difference. Perhaps making some notes (in the notes section of your MFP diary) about issues like sleep quality or stress, or time of day for each meal if that varies, might help you identify patterns as you go forward.
  • biggsterjackster
    biggsterjackster Posts: 419 Member
    On days like this I eat a lot of eggs throughout the day.
  • wortn
    wortn Posts: 17 Member
    Thank you for all your support. It actually got me thinking about trying ketogenic diet. This is my second day. I'm doing okay and not terribly hungry. I guess upping my fat and protein helps.
  • wortn
    wortn Posts: 17 Member
    On days like this I eat a lot of eggs throughout the day.

    I love eggs, but scared of all the cholesterol.
  • cocobee2016
    cocobee2016 Posts: 11 Member
    Greek yogurt works for me too with crushed walnuts and a little honey or jam. Oatmeal satisfies me too, I add mashed banana as sugar only makes me more hungry.
  • BelleCakes2018
    BelleCakes2018 Posts: 568 Member
    wortn wrote: »
    On days like this I eat a lot of eggs throughout the day.

    I love eggs, but scared of all the cholesterol.

    There is nothing to be scared of at all. That scare was a lot of years ago now and sadly has never left us, even though they were wrong. For a Keto diet, eggs are your best friend so don't be afraid of them :)
  • biggsterjackster
    biggsterjackster Posts: 419 Member
    wortn wrote: »
    On days like this I eat a lot of eggs throughout the day.

    I love eggs, but scared of all the cholesterol.

    Funny thing, my cholesterol is really good. Just had a blood check done.
  • allaboutthecake
    allaboutthecake Posts: 1,535 Member
    wortn wrote: »
    On days like this I eat a lot of eggs throughout the day.

    I love eggs, but scared of all the cholesterol.

    The fat & the cholesterol & calories are in the yolk.
    The protein is in the Whites.

    If your body has too high cholesterol, just limit the yolks. I eat alot of whites only & they are very tasty. Cheap source of protein.
  • dlkfox
    dlkfox Posts: 463 Member
    I find that high-fiber really helps. Enjoying my fats, which are satiating. Protein with a little carb. Avocado is a fantastic choice if you have the calories (and not allergic) because it contains so much fiber and has that satiating fat. Personally, if I start my day with "Nature's Path - Flax Plus Raisin Bran", there is so much fiber in that meal that I cruise all day like I'm not even dieting.

    Good ideas about distracting yourself in case it's boredom and waiting it out a little. Some days are just harder than others.
  • VykkDraygoVPR
    VykkDraygoVPR Posts: 465 Member
    wortn wrote: »
    On days like this I eat a lot of eggs throughout the day.

    I love eggs, but scared of all the cholesterol.

    Thankfully (or not, depending), cholesterol levels are more dependant on genetics than foods. Eggs are perfectly fine for you. Personally, I hate the taste of cooked eggs, so I only ever eat them raw (in smoothies), but ymmv. I tried adding a raw egg to oatmeal once. Would not reccomend. Dunno how I got it down.

    I like to eat something fatty and meaty if I'm actually hungry. Bacon, sausage, or even just chicken breast with sriracha. When I just want a snack, it's usually chips, or cheez-its.

    And to echo the sentiment, I get CRAZY hungry when I am sleep deprived.
  • Apples!!!!
  • cindyminer125
    cindyminer125 Posts: 7 Member
    I found years ago that sweeteners that are lower calories can cause you uncontrollable hunger. Stick with unsweetened or lightly sweetened with sugar or honey. Also I agree with adding lean protein, I like boneless, skinless chicken, eggs and tuna which are very satisfying. Low carb is the way to go.
  • DoNotSpamMe73
    DoNotSpamMe73 Posts: 286 Member
    Liquids first, eat slowly. After at least 20 minutes or more have a single serve meal then have some more water.
  • VykkDraygoVPR
    VykkDraygoVPR Posts: 465 Member
    I found years ago that sweeteners that are lower calories can cause you uncontrollable hunger. Stick with unsweetened or lightly sweetened with sugar or honey. Also I agree with adding lean protein, I like boneless, skinless chicken, eggs and tuna which are very satisfying. Low carb is the way to go.

    I find that low / no calorie sweeteners have no impact whatsoever. I mean, they kinda taste like crap, but otherwise...
  • frannyupnorth
    frannyupnorth Posts: 56 Member
    I’m going to assume that you are eating enough to meet your BMR and that you aren’t dieting so hard that you are truly physically hungry. If you are, then ease up on your dieting and take it a little slower with a smaller deficit.
    If not, then I found it useful to make a little flow chart for myself to look at what was causing my hunger. I explored my own personal mental and physical hunger types and triggers for those.
    Triggers;
    • See it
    • Smell it
    • Feeling cold
    • Emotional (happy/sad/stressed)
    • Hedonic Memory (knowing it tastes good/cravings)
    • Cultural (not wasting food, accepting food to be polite, specific events you relate to food)
    I also looked up information about the difference between your stomach growling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomach_rumble, so it sounds noisy around 2 hours after you’ve eaten as there is no food to dampen the noise that it makes all the time. This is different from hunger pangs that kick in 12 to 24 hours after the last time you ate. A single hunger contraction lasts about 30 seconds, and pangs continue for around 30 to 45 minutes, then hunger subsides for another 30 to 150 minutes.
    By thinking about it this way I was able to separate when I actually needed a 200 cal snack to stop REAL hunger pangs and when it was my tummy rumbling or I just could smell food cooking etc.
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  • rosecropper
    rosecropper Posts: 340 Member
    Had that yesterday! There was chocolate cheesecake at work. Said no all day, until last hour of job & I gave in... Had one tiny slice which turned out to be 450!!! Calories.
    Then came the hunger.
    And ice cream , And French fries , And grilled cheese sandwiches- 1700cal over for day!
    A technique which used to work for me years ago- that I'm wanting to try again:
    Think of a food or activity you don't like. Some food you can carry with you, or an activity you can do most anywhere.
    Anytime you want to eat over your meal plan- have to eat the bleh thing or do the ugh thing first. So snacking isn't "bad" or "off limits". It just has a higher immediate & tangible cost than it used to. Paid up front.
    I wouldn't have eaten the cheesecake yesterday if I had asked myself "is it worth it?"
  • AigreDoux
    AigreDoux Posts: 594 Member
    Honestly, if you have eaten enough calories and still hungry, I'd do something else. Clean the house, go for a walk, go to the library, etc. PPs have good suggestions of satiating foods, but if you are "hungry" out of boredom or comfort or whatever (I get this way a lot!) it's best to redirect yourself.
  • GYATagain
    GYATagain Posts: 141 Member
    Nuts or unsweetened nut butters? Since you can eat bananas, what about bananas dipped in unsweetened peanut or almond butter?

    This^^ When I am having a day where my belly thinks my throat has been cut, I reach for a banana cut into pieces with a smear of nut butter - for me, natural peanut butter. It is fairly high in the calories, but always does the trick. (funny thing is I don't even particularly like bananas :D )