lasting satisfaction

NadNight

I go through cycles where I'll have a few weeks where I don't have much of an appetite or have a normal appetite followed by a few weeks where I have and enormous appetite. During those weeks, no matter how much or what I eat I always seem to feel ravenous. I don't want to be going through a pack of biscuits every day (which I've done easily...) so I've tried things like big bowls of porridge for breakfast, increasing my protein and bulking out my meals with extra veg. But the hunger returns. I want to maintain my weight but if I keep over eating every few weeks then the weight will creep back. Any ideas for meals that will keep me full?

lorrpb

Lots of salad greens and veggies. Make sure you're getting enough protein too! You might want to take a look at the volume eaters thread.

AnnPT77

Is it possible it isn't strictly food? Maybe you're already doing this, but if not:

Try using your food diary more actively for a few weeks, beyond just basic accurate food logging, until you've been through at least one or two cycles of both satiated and ravenous. Log water, too, and any zero calorie drinks that you consume in significant quantities

In the notes section, put some brief notes about things like length/quality of sleep, subjective stress level, boredom, key points in your menstrual cycle (if applicable), OTC or non-daily prescription meds, maybe even weather. Note unusual activities, even if you don't log their calories.

Look for patterns, either the day of the ravenous/satiated feeling, or the day before. Was there something different about timing of eating, or timing of volume, or timing of macro nutrients or even specific foods? Caffeine? Alcohol? Sleep? Stress? Activity? Social triggers? Food triggers? Excess calorie deficit sometimes?
Etc.

If you can find a pattern, you can identify and try a strategy to fix it.

Yes, this is annoying and time-consuming. But you're only doing it for a limited time, for a purpose: To better and more happily accomplish your goals.

Best wishes: I hope you can find a happier approach!

seltzermint555

I agree with AnnPT77 about figuring out a pattern to this stuff.

To me it sounds menstrual cycle related. I apologize if for whatever reason I am way off on that.

I know when I'm ovulating I am usually ravenous. My libido is in overdrive as well. So all I want to do when I get home from work is jump my husband and eat ALL the food. But right before menstruation, I have zero appetite, and have to pay closer attention to my body's hunger cues or I wind up with massive headaches when I don't eat enough. Whereas 2 weeks earlier in my cycle, I would have not had that problem because I was eating at the very edge of my calorie deficit naturally.

Apparently, a lot of women have the opposite experience, and that is where we get the stereotype of PMS cravings. If you figure out what makes your appetite go up and down, you're ahead of it a little bit and can plan accordingly and that really helps.

kokonani

Yes, definitely volume eat. I think alot of women go through this every month, some worse than others. I usually fill up on alot of broccoli, cucumber, celery, beans, anything filling but lower calories. Then at least I feel full as to not over-do it on junk like chocolate, cookies, ect. when I cravings hit. Drinking lots of zero calorie beverages throughout the day helps also.