How often do u think of food in a day?

Bubblywendy

I'm just getting started here and I find that a whole lot of my head space is filled with food all.the time .. "When do I get to eat next" , " I feel like eating this this and this" , " yumm peanut butter" ," what's for dinner". .... And the list goes on. I can't help it its like a mega food obsession. I tried distracting myself with reading, tv, exercising (which makes me hungry and think of food even more!!) , walking and even sipping on tea... And no, eating something does not diminish the thought...

Can't someone help me stop thinking about food??

Laurenluv

A lot of the time I can't wait to fall asleep just so I can wake up and eat breakfast! I think that whenever I am on some kind of program like this one, I think about food a lot more because I have to be so much more aware of it. I do find that exercise takes my mind off of it a lot. When I am done working out, all I really want is water and it seems to suppress my appetite for a while. Maybe the more time you spend eating healthy and logging your meals, you'll get used to it and not obsess so much.

I know you hear this a lot, but it has proved so true to me: keeping on a healthy diet will keep your blood sugars even. When they are even, your cravings will lessen. If I have a bad cheat day when I am at some sort of event and I eat a lot more carbs, I find myself thinking (and eating) a lot more food until I force myself to get back on track. Something to consider anyway.

Good luck!

alyngard

For me, after the first few weeks, it was no longer an issue. If you are used to eating a lot (as I was), yes, you will be hungry initially and therefore thinking about food. I've found that by eating the right types of food, plenty of protein, less processed foods, more fruits and veggies etc, really makes a difference as well. You can feel full on a lot less than you think. I also agree with the previous poster regarding sugar levels, once that levels out a bit, it helps curb the cravings. At this point I really only think about food when I'm preparing it, or if I'm planning on going somewhere during my usual meal times and I have to figure out if I should bring something with me or if I can wait till I get home. It really does get a lot easier, it's just a matter of staying strong for the first few weeks.

godsgrl33

I think about food often as well, and I've been doing this for 8 months. Usually, an hour after I eat, I'm looking at the clock and starting to wonder when I will eat next, or what is the next meal. It's not that I'm even hungry-I'm just bored or whatever. You are probably more aware of it because you are trying to lose weight, so it' s at the top of your list of things to think about. You're eating less than you were, so naturally, you will think of food. Stick with it, it will get easier. Just think to yourself-"is it worth the calories in this ______(you fill in the blank) to have to work it off later?" If it is, then have it. If it isn't, then eat something with less calories.

christyb77

the whole time im awake! what am I going to cook, when am i going to eat....never ends

fatzant

if i'm awake i'm thinking about food, i'm counting down the mins to my mid morning snack! mmm apples :noway:

Nicolee_2014

All the time! It drives me nuts.

I was driving home thinking 'what am I going to have for lunch, I could have this, no it's not that healthy, could have this, no won't fit into my calories' ugh! Good thing is I didn't resist any of the million take away places I drove past.

You have to think about it constantly, in a sense. So that you are prepared. Fail to plan - plan to fail.

I feel some days like I'm obsessed with food :grumble:

Synapze

Protein! ...and Water! Pack in the Protein, Drink up, and you wont think about it as much.

melaniecheeks

I pre-plan. I log my diary in the morning with what I intend to eat that day. No more thinking required!

If plans change then it's easy enough to alter the diary.

Fattackler2013

I used to think about food a whole lot, but now it's not really an issue. I've only been eating when I am physically hungry so if I'm not sure I'll drink some water and then see how I feel afterwards. I've been following Paul Mckenna's advice via his Book, CD and DVD combination (I can make you slim) and so far it has been working out great for me.

I hope that you can do something about your thoughts/feelings about food soon because it makes things a lot easier. I wish you the best of luck.

MinMin97

I am enjoying reading this. Fantastic suggestions in here. I think it's good to have a strong, healthy appetite. It's a first world problem btw lol! I'm with Melanie, it's good to prelog your food, if you can. And yeah, your habits will change.

mothib79

I use to think of food all the time too. You just have to fill your body with the right foods. I eat every 2-3 hours now cause my body needs it since I am now in better shape. Oh and keep drinking water.. Dehydration can be confused as hunger.

HealthyVitamins

I think about it all the time and like another poster said, after my evening meal I cant wait to go to sleep to have breakfast

I do drink water, and protein in every meal - I still think about it though even though I'm not hungry.

pinkraynedropjacki

Was all the time. Now since starting 4:3 I hardly think of food at all. In fact I hardly think of counting it anymore.

elephant_in_the_room

I believe as soon as you are on an energy deficit, you start to be preoccupied with food. The more severe the deficit, the more. It's how nature has wired our most urgent survival instinct into us, and it's what makes weight loss so hard.

You can try tricks: pre-planning takes the obvious actual necessity to think of food away. So do (possibly) intermittent fasting strategies like 5:2.

Other tricks are trying to alleviate the feeling of hunger. One that is rarely mentioned: Try chewing chewing gum (without sugar) for extended periods of time when you can't eat.

teamAmelia

Pre-logging helps me not overeat (if my day goes according to schedule and I can actually eat what I logged). That way, you can plan a meal that will stay within your limits and if you sit down the night before and plan your meal, the next day, you already know what you're going to eat. So, you don't sit there and wonder, "Hmm, this sounds good for lunch...No, maybe..." Try that. Even if it doesn't stop your cravings, I still think pre-logging works w keeping you in your limits, and that's really what it's all about.

drefaw

I pre-plan. I log my diary in the morning with what I intend to eat that day. No more thinking required!

If plans change then it's easy enough to alter the diary.

^^THIS^^

bettbett87

So much of my day revolves around food because I'm trying to figure out where in our busy lives I can fit in meals for the children. So I'm always trying to think of something healthy that is also suitable for my children and their nutritional needs. Trying to fit this around working part time, keeping them entertained, going to the gym and putting them to bed is hard work!
Also, at the weekends, food is such a central part to how I plan what to do with my day. Do I go out for lunch with the family? Do we go for a picnic? What will we have when we get home from shopping? What can I snack on while I watch a movie with my boyfriend.

I don't think about food because I'm hungry, I think about it because it's a hobbie! And an important part of my role as a mother!

strongmindstrongbody

I wish I could say it gets better, but as I get further into the weight loss and have to cut calories more, my focus on food is through the roof. All I can say to myself is, look but don't touch. (And hope that my appetite dies down soon!)

Chadomaniac

Less than Sex .

But its still A LOT

BlackPup

I'm always thinking about food. Like some of the others I tend to preplan, if I get hungry at night I start planing the next day!
I find it easier to keep to calories when I eat healthy foods than if I eat junk foods high carbs or fast foods.
Exercise is good cos you should eat back the calories so if I'm really hungry then I exercise enough for a snack.
Try to notice what emotions are associated with your preoccupation with food, is it Bordem, loneliness, sadness, low self esteem, stress etc or are you actually thirsty, if I'm really hungry I'll try to have a couple of drinks.

hookilau

When I'm not having odd BG highs, every 6ish hours or so, sometimes less. :huh:
As long as I'm eating enough fat, my blood sugar does not go crazy high and I don't want food.

Strange thing though...I've only been diagnosed with T2 for about 4 months, still working out the bugs.
I read that one cannot *eat* one's way to diabetes and that it's a combination of genetics and diet/lifestyle. This was comforting in a way as the first emotion upon diagnosis while sitting on that loud crinkly paper all I could feel was shame. (I had about 30#'s to lose).

To this end, it's been theorized that weight gain or excessive weight comes BEFORE the T2D Dx and is a symptom of metabolic disorder (which is what D is).

I was *sure* this was the case as I'd read it in articles that did NOT tout 'Healthy Whole Grains' or advocate that 180mg/dl is fine after a meal :noway: (Jenny Rhul, Dr. Richard K. Bernstein, Dr. Peter Attia etc.)

This became glaringly apparent to me as during my cycle, my BG's which are usually quite predictable according to what I eat, go totally bananas. Inexplicable highs :grumble: and the ensuing HUNGER that finds me thinking about food every. 15. minutes.....and so darn full while considering what to eat next that I can literally feel I'd bust if I consumed one more thing.

But there it is. Unreasonable and excessive hunger, a symptom we look for in animals, figuring out a differential diagnisis.

This should've been a symptom I recognized (worked as a Veterinary Technician for a number of years) as I've had this crazy hunger for the better part of the last 15 years (my early 30's) and it never occurred to me that it was abnormal. By the way, my diagnosis was an incidental finding :ohwell: with a casual BG of 266 mg/dl.

Excessive calories contributed to my weight gain but the breakdown in chemical communication kept the calories in storage & hoarding more all the while, completing the equation.:frown: This was why all the weight lifting, walking and yoga I was doing did nothing. It likely burnt off the excess glucose in my muscles but did nothing to help my liver and pancreas.

leebesstoad

I pre-plan. I log my diary in the morning with what I intend to eat that day. No more thinking required!

If plans change then it's easy enough to alter the diary.

^^THIS^^

+2. Agree wholeheartedly. If you are in control of what you eat by preplanning it, you'll think about it less. The only time I think about it is "time to eat again". I've been doing this for almost 7.5 months now. 5-6 meals a day. Preplanning almost the whole time. And I've been hungry and thought about food maybe twice in that whole time.

JTick

I have logged in for over 370 days in a row, and I still think about food all day long. I am constantly planning, counting, switching foods around in my mind to meet my macros. However, I'm a little OCD about number and counting in general. I also have a brain-dead job at the moment, so there's not really anything else to spend my time thinking about. It doesn't bother me, it doesn't ruin my day if something doesn't go right, it's just kind of how my life is now.

KenosFeoh

Thoughts about food = TNTC.

(too numerous to count)

mominstands

the whole time im awake! what am I going to cook, when am i going to eat....never ends

Yeap This is me too.

livelovelaugh91897

I don't think about food cuz i know if i do then it's going to get all chaotic and I wont be able to control myself. Instead I try to do everything that has nothing to do with food. It's hard and that why having friends on My fitness pal can help you control it. You should add me, it just makes this adjusting to a new lifestyle easier.

LemonLizard

All the time!

It's not even just that I love how food tastes, I'm addicted to cooking and baking, and it just happens that my favorite thing to make are sweets..

It doesn't even help when I'm full. I'll be thinking about what I can make next even when I'm stuffed! I'm thinking pre-planning my meals out would be helpful, but I have no idea how to do that. Any suggestions for that would be great.

highervibes

I tend to think of food several times per day, depending on how busy I am. If I am not busy-- I think of food more often. If I'm super preoccupied or busy, not as much.

me too.

maybeazure

All the time, unless I am thinking about exercise. I'm obsessed. It isn't that I'm really hungry either, I'm just mentally counting calories for different options. I think it's a normal part of the process. When I start eating without thinking about it, that's when I'm in trouble.

fitmomhappymom

All. Day. Long.
I did a 3 day juice fast and literally all I could think about was food. It makes you realize how addicted to eating junk we are. I wasn't hungry, I just wanted to pig out on sugar and junk food.