What counts as "keeping you full"?

I had two eggs for breakfast, 7 slices of pepperoni (a serving), and 1/4 c. walnuts at 7. I figured that was a good amount of protein, which is suppose to keep you full, right? I've been hungry since about 10. Snack time? I'm on 1550 calories a day, and I am always hungry, I'm finding it hard to stay under.

Replies

  • Are you hungry, or not full? There is a difference and a lot of people have trouble with it. I eat until I am not hungry. Not until I am full.
  • dalekhunter
    dalekhunter Posts: 31 Member
    I am hungry. There is a definite aching, burning hungry feeling in my stomach!
  • How much water do you drink? Can you add low calorie salads to your meals? I am assuming you're hitting your macros. A big bowl of lettuce, cucumbers, radish, onion, celery and other things with few calories can go a long way.
  • dalekhunter
    dalekhunter Posts: 31 Member
    The salad is a great idea. I've been buying the Fresh Express mixed greens boxes and totally forgot to do that this week! I drink a lot of water but I don't think its 8 glasses a day. Maybe 5. I'll try upping that and see where it gets me. Thanks.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    Are you exercising and if so are you eating back your exercise calories?
  • tequila09
    tequila09 Posts: 764 Member
    that is why I can't do traditional breakfast. I try to have my first meal after 1 when possible. I find myself satisfied on eating bigger meals later in the day and perhaps a fruit or veggie snack or two. Meal timing is irrelevant so just find out what works best for you!
  • dalekhunter
    dalekhunter Posts: 31 Member
    I am exercising and I do eat back a majority of my calories. I started taking B-12 vitamins two weeks ago and I wonder if that's increasing my metabolism enough to make me hungrier.
  • It's probably not. I am no pro but I recommend adding low calorie sides like salads, steamed/baked veggies, and other bulky fillers to your meals. Even for breakfast. I used to make cabbage soup that I could 'free eat' once I went over my calories for a day. It was just chicken broth, carrots, celery and cabbage all boiled together for HOURS. If i was hungry, I would have a bowl. That worked too.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    Lots of liquid and fiber can help stave off the feeling of an empty stomach for relatively few calories: water, unsweetened coffee, tea, herbal teas/tisanes, diet soda, spritzers (a bit of fruit juice with lots of still or carbonated water), clear soups (that is, not "cream of" or bisques, but veggies, egg, or lean proteins will add nutrients to a soup with boosting the calorie count radically), most raw, steamed, and roasted veggies (although you need adequate fat in your diet for your body to be able to use the fat-soluble micronutrients in veggies).

    But for standard breakfast fare, I don't think there's much of anything that "sticks to the ribs" better than oatmeal, for most people.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    For me it really depends from day to day frankly. Some days I have a huge breakfast with a lot of protein and I'm hungry again at 10am, some days I have a cinnamon roll or something and I'm fine until noon. Go figure.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    High fiber filler with a good amount of protein is usually the most satiating thing around. Fwiw the meal you listed isn't really *that* much protein. It's better than most, obviously, but most pepperoni is more fat than protein by a long shot and nuts are usually carbs>fat>protein.
  • dalekhunter
    dalekhunter Posts: 31 Member
    Okay this morning, I had one cup of greek yogurt, 1/4 cup of walnuts, 1/2 a banana, and 1 tablespoon of honey, an hour later and I am starving again! That filled me up when I ate it.
  • qtgonewild
    qtgonewild Posts: 1,930 Member
    try coffee. lol. guaranteed to keep you full.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    Okay this morning, I had one cup of greek yogurt, 1/4 cup of walnuts, 1/2 a banana, and 1 tablespoon of honey, an hour later and I am starving again! That filled me up when I ate it.

    give oatmeal a try. Many people don't feel hungry for quite a while after eating it. I eat it several times a week for breakfast and usually I'm not hungry until close to lunchtime.
    Also remember, if you have much sugar in your breakfast, it will raise your blood sugar for a short time, and then the level will drop in a couple of hours. When that happens, your brain wants to increase it again, and will give you hunger pangs to try to get you to eat again and raise your blood sugar.
  • Okay this morning, I had one cup of greek yogurt, 1/4 cup of walnuts, 1/2 a banana, and 1 tablespoon of honey, an hour later and I am starving again! That filled me up when I ate it.

    So, this morning I had 175 gms greek yogurt, 1 banana, 28 grams all bran buds (high in fiber) and 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder. Only 419 calories and 51 grams protein! I am eating lunch now but have been content all day so far. (I even worked out this morning).

    Bottom line, try increasing your protein and perhaps fiber as well. Good luck :smile:
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    I eat until I'm full -- satisfied-don't-want-to-eat-another-bite full -- and aim for those meals to have more fat than protein, and more protein than carbs and then don't eat again until I'm hungry. I end up eating two meals a day (usually) and eating less calories over all. I'm always full even with a deficit. The key for me is the fat; the more fat the better. Protein is great but without fat it doesn't keep me full for long.
  • dalekhunter
    dalekhunter Posts: 31 Member
    When y'all are eating oatmeal, are y'all doing the 1/2 c. serving size or more than that?
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    When y'all are eating oatmeal, are y'all doing the 1/2 c. serving size or more than that?

    I do the 1/2 cup serving size, make it with soy milk, and add vanilla and Truvia, with a touch of brown sugar. Fills me up all morning!
  • GingerIJones
    GingerIJones Posts: 17 Member
    I loved CleaverWard's comment; (Are you hungry or just not full)... I think I've always went for full and then some. (Problem)... Now I need to think, (Just NOT FULL)...
  • donnat238
    donnat238 Posts: 309 Member
    Make sure you are getting enough water. Have a small meal every 2-3 hours - that has really helped me! Good luck!
  • Slacker16
    Slacker16 Posts: 1,184 Member
    First of all this is complete broscience and extrapolation from personal experience, but I think different people feel "full" because of different things.

    For instance, protein is supposed to be filling and caffeine is supposed to suppress hunger. Personally, I could eat a huge ham sandwich and feel hungry again an hour later, and caffeine actually makes me hungry. On the other hand, fat and especially fiber keep me full...

    Your breakfast seems very fat and protein heavy. If it doesn't fill you up, try having more carbs, especially fiber.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    ...which is suppose to keep you full, right?

    You're not supposed to "keep full".

    You're supposed to feel a bit hungry.

    That's how the human body is built.
  • geeniusatwurk
    geeniusatwurk Posts: 68 Member
    Things that promote satiety, as I've learned so far in med school:

    1. Protein content, specifically leucine, which is measured by the hypothalamus for satiety
    2. Fiber content, which slows down gut motility and delivery of nutrients, keeping you fuller
    3. Fat content, due to slower digestion compared to starches/carbs
    4. Water, due to increasing stomach distention and triggering stretch receptors that you're full, or at least that you have food in there (may cause acid reflux in those prone due to parietal cell secretions that are signaled by the medulla oblongata)

    I'm sure there are more, but I'm only halfway through my first year.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    If I eat breakfast in the morning, I'm usually hungry by about 10, regardless of what kind of food I eat. I prefer waiting until about 1 pm to eat, I don't get nearly as hungry during the morning.
  • you might find it helpful to do a bit of research on -->"leptin" and "ghrelin." These are hormones that our bodies produce which make us feel full or hungry when we are not eating... "ghrelin levels play a big role in determining how quickly hunger comes back after we eat." Ghrelin is a huge reason I choose to do some intermittent fasting rather than multiple meals a day.

    Good luck!

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/your-hunger-hormones
  • Some of what we eat that keeps us full is relative to what time we eat breakfast and lunch. I am up at 3:45 most mornings. I eat breakfast about 6:00-6:30 a.m. and lunch about 11:40 during the work week.

    I have friends who eat breakfast around 8:00 and then eat lunch with me at 11:40.