Increasing protein but still hungry

nic632
nic632 Posts: 295 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've recently started increasing my protein intake and cutting back on the carbs but I've found that I'm actually hungrier since doing this than I was before when I used to eat mainly carbs. I even started having appetite suppressents a few days ago, but that's not having any effect.

I've tried drinking more water (well actually drinking it!) too but that's not helping and all I want to do is eat all the time! I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited August 2016
    Maybe you need more food. Maybe you need to eat more carbs and/or fat. Be careful with appetite suppressants. What's your height, weight, sex, age, activity level? What's your calorie goal, and are you hitting that? How is your current macro split?
  • littlechiaseed
    littlechiaseed Posts: 489 Member
    Eat more carbs. They aren't bad.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Personally, quality carbohydrates are more satiating for me than anything...legumes, lentils, quinoa, brown rice, oats, millet, faro, barley, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc. There's nothing wrong with carbs.
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    Do what works for you within the confines of basic nutrition and a reasonable calorie deficit
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Then increase the carbs back. For some people carbs promote hunger, for others they promote satiety. It appears you are the latter (as I'm I).

    Manipulating macros is just an attempt to find the easiest most comfortable configuration to make dieting easier. If carbs make dieting easier for you, then reducing them would not be beneficial for your diet. Leave low carbing for those who thrive on it, and continue eating to your own preferences and hunger signals.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Sounds like that experiment didn't work.
    What individuals find most satiating is just that - individual.

    The other thing is to make sure you have set an appropriate and sustainable calorie deficit of course.
  • Angelajeanmcmahan85
    Angelajeanmcmahan85 Posts: 23 Member
    Qai Oatmeal super food REALLY helps me
    Quinoa
    Bulgur
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    How much protein?
    Are you eating fats and oils?
  • V58phipps
    V58phipps Posts: 3 Member
    I have been eating 5% carbs, 55% fat and 45% protien. I have breakfast around 9am and supper around 7 pm with a mozzerlla stick snack at 2pm. Seems to be working for me because I don't find myself hungry during the hours I'm not eating. :)
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    Try increasing fibre and fat while you're at it?
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Increasing protein and cutting carbs isn't satiating for everyone. What people find satiating varies. I don't find fat satiating at all (I do find protein to be), and many carbs, especially legumes, potatoes/sweet potatoes, and fruits and veg, are for me.

    Were you hungry before the change? What calories and macros are you eating? (Opening your diary could get more specific advice.)

    Meal timing matters for some too. I find I am satisfied with three larger meals and a bunch of small meals doesn't work for me at all.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Oh, if you just started sometimes it's a matter of getting used to the change and you want to eat when you used to (or your mind freaks out at the perceived restriction so you think about food more). That goes away if you give it time, but I found that having low cal foods to nibble on (raw veg, sometimes things like pickles that are low cal but strong flavor) helped get past this. Also stuff like distracting myself (walk, music, get coffee instead of food) or thinking about what was really going on/getting conscious (journaling worked for me for this).

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