Curving Cravings and HUNGER!!

CPritschau
CPritschau Posts: 2
in Motivation and Support
Okay, first off, I'm not trying to starve myself. Rather, I am reducing how much I eat in a day, and trying to eat proper portions. Today was my first day trying to curve the need to eat. I have drank a TON of water. But yet I feel so hungry still, even though I ate a full day's worth of food, I know I did. I just want to eat MORE. How do you distract yourself and limit yourself? I find it way harder than I thought.
Today I was doing good till I found a package of cookies and I COULD NOT HELP MYSELF. I only ate two, so still limited to a serving, but my goal is to eat healthy. How do you tell yourself NO?
And lastly, I have issues with low blood sugar. Today, with eating normal portions and cutting bad sugars out, I was weak, shaky, and tired. What do you suggest to replace the sugars?

Replies

  • ashcky
    ashcky Posts: 393 Member
    I busy myself with housework, crossword puzzles or exercise so I can eat more.
  • CPritschau
    CPritschau Posts: 2
    I actually never thought about using puzzles. I am an eschooler, so I spend my days at my computer and it makes it hard because when I get bored with school, I just get hungry and it is soooo easy to eat a whole bag of chips in one sitting when you're in front of a computer! I actually have a puzzle book I got a few years ago for Easter-I guess now is the perfect time to crack the spine! (:
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    I eat six times a day so I can space out my food throughout the day. as far as sugars go, have a yogurt or fruit.
  • ZimberOne
    ZimberOne Posts: 11 Member
    You may try to eat Granny Smith apple or a little bit Light Peanut Butter (without sugar) instead of sugar.
  • EngineerPrincess
    EngineerPrincess Posts: 306 Member
    I have so many hobbies/jobs/activities I have little time to snack outside of meals. That works for me. ^_^ Stay busy!
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    There are some things I've found I just CANNOT keep in the house. Oreos, chex mix, chocolates...I will hoover them in seconds. Other things like Reese's peanut butter cups (which one of my daughters and husband really like) I can let sit there all day and not think twice about it.

    If you can find something to occupy your hands/mind - crossword puzzles, knitting, something anything - that'll help.

    One thing that's helped me though is increasing my fiber intake. I usually have 1 or 2 Chocolite protein bars/day - they have about 10g fiber and about 10g protein. That's helped a LOT. I get them from www.healthsmartfoods.com. There are usually coupons on retailmenot.com (in the search box, type in carbolite). I just ordered 2 boxes of triple chocolate fudge protein bars, and used a 15% off coupon off of retailmenot.com
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    Okay, first off, I'm not trying to starve myself. Rather, I am reducing how much I eat in a day, and trying to eat proper portions. Today was my first day trying to curve the need to eat. I have drank a TON of water. But yet I feel so hungry still, even though I ate a full day's worth of food, I know I did. I just want to eat MORE. How do you distract yourself and limit yourself? I find it way harder than I thought.
    Today I was doing good till I found a package of cookies and I COULD NOT HELP MYSELF. I only ate two, so still limited to a serving, but my goal is to eat healthy. How do you tell yourself NO?
    And lastly, I have issues with low blood sugar. Today, with eating normal portions and cutting bad sugars out, I was weak, shaky, and tired. What do you suggest to replace the sugars?

    Were those cookies laced with arsenic? No? Then you're fine.

    Two cookies IS healthy. I promise. Unless those two cookies always lead to a sugar-binge later (which clearly they didn't, seeing as you were able to eat a reasonable portion then stop) there is nothing wrong with a treat that fits into your goals.

    If you restrict yourself to "healthy" foods (which in all actuality means exactly NOTHING, since the term is so subjective) all you're doing is setting yourself up for failure since you're sure to crack eventually, and will serve nothing but to make you feel like crap about yourself for said "failure".
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    btw, I think you mean curb cravings and hunger. Not curve, lol. :flowerforyou:
  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    I just tell myself when I feel like that, that its the time I am losing weight. That helps me. I know its go time and I don't want to mess it up by regretting what I'm about to eat.
    Nutrition is important. Make sure you get enought protein throughout the day.
    Empty carbs will just make you hungrier.
    Get rid of the tempting junk and keep lots of appealing veggies and fruit at hand.
    You need to have something you love everyday. Even if its a small amount.
    Good luck. You can do this!

    Edit to say that the shaky feeling is only temporary. Its your bodies way of rebelling and trying to get you to supply it with the calories its used to getting. Stay your course.
    AND congrats for only eating two cookies! That is a success story in itself!:flowerforyou:
  • Beckilovespizza
    Beckilovespizza Posts: 334 Member
    Keep yourself busy and distracted maybe going for a walk or do housework etc. Try setting yourself goals ie once the kitchen is clean I will have my lunch or once the windows are sparkling I can have my snack, that kind of thing hopefully will space out eating times but will keep you occupied. If you are eschooling maybe set a goal to complete one part of the essay before your next meal. Make sure you log everything and also any exercise you do, so when the cookie monster takes over you may stop and think that you have just busted ur *kitten* off for 200 cals, are the cookies worth it? It will take time but don't give up, it takes time to break habits. Best of luck!!

    Also I should say I agree that 2 cookies aren't going to hurt unless 2 become 20...
  • MissBabyJane
    MissBabyJane Posts: 538 Member
    Gums, water, doing something to distract myself... workout?
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
    Try looking up the "satiety index" - it shows foods that keep you fuller for longer
  • rainydays5
    rainydays5 Posts: 217 Member
    I actually never thought about using puzzles. I am an eschooler, so I spend my days at my computer and it makes it hard because when I get bored with school, I just get hungry and it is soooo easy to eat a whole bag of chips in one sitting when you're in front of a computer! I actually have a puzzle book I got a few years ago for Easter-I guess now is the perfect time to crack the spine! (:

    I do the same things. I am a full time student so I have allot of down time doing homework. It is so easy to grab a snack from the kitchen while I sit there doing it. Another time that I find myself struggling is when I am driving. I try to go back roads to school so that I do not drive past any fast food places and I avoid the snack/vending machines at school also (I do not even take money into the school with me). Some days I find that I am stronger than others and there are days that I break down. Lately it has been really hard to get back on track and I am having a hard time finding my routine again. While I want this weight loss and getting healthier to be my #1 priority, school seems to always outrank it.
    I graduate on May 10 and when I ordered my graduation gown, I ordered it with the intention of losing 20 lbs. I think that is realistic and hopefully setting some sort of short term goal will help as I am terrible with setting long term weight loss goals.

    One thing that I stopped recently was drinking Crystal Light Iced peach tea. I love that stuff!! BUT after I stopped drinking it I do not crave sweets as much as I used to. Not sure what is in that stuff but it seriously made me want to eat an entire cake. I am going to continue to watch this thread and hopefully come up with some more idea's to not crave certain foods.
  • algwynt
    algwynt Posts: 76 Member
    exersise.earn your food, you,ll enjoy im more as well.this is not going to be easy.so get your head around it its worth it .good luck.
  • Heathr_WhoLuvzDave
    Heathr_WhoLuvzDave Posts: 12 Member
    If you can down a bag of chips in front of the computer, I say make that a no eating zone. I do that in front of the tv so I only allow myself to eat at the table, in the kitchen. Logging everything makes me second guess some things. I like the puzzle idea. Good lluckon your journey :)
  • nomad1000
    nomad1000 Posts: 206 Member
    I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks spaced out through the day so I never get really hungry. I keep low(er) cal snacks available (carrots, cukes, mandarine oranges, etc.) so when I get the need to eat/crunch something, I go for those. Oh, and hot air popped popcorn is another one when I need a snack-like crunch.

    Don't be too restrictive in what you allow yourself to eat. Cookies and chocolates are OK, just in moderation and as long as they fall within your plan. I am still surprised at my loss because I am still eating the things I love (pizza, pita chips, chocolate, etc.) but just in smaller amounts. I haven't really given up any foods, just cut the portions waaaaaay back.

    And TBH, I have been known to schedule extra time on the exercise bike or a longer walk with my dogs so I can enjoy a doughnut or a chocolate chip scone. :)
  • dswolverine
    dswolverine Posts: 246 Member
    I have sugar-free hard candies that I will eat to avoid eating both at work and at home,though I try to limit my intake of those. I chew gum and drink tea as well. I find it the hardest at night after i've eaten dinner/dessert and I'm just watching tv or otherwise idle. It's easy for my mind to creep back to food, so sometimes I'll just brush my teeth and get ready for bed early, and I've found this works too. Still, if I find that I'm definitely hungry and it's not just in my head, I'll allow myself a snack. Starving isn't the way to go!
  • thegeorges11202004
    thegeorges11202004 Posts: 26 Member
    I have cut sweets and snacks except for saturdays and sundays. I tell myself I can have them but I will have to wait until a "special day" - and interestingly, the sweets don't even taste that good anymore. They are too sweet, and it is because I have changed my taste buds. I don't think totally taking things from your diet FOREVER is a good plan but having a few times or days a week where you can enjoy them and tell yourself you can make it until then, really helps me. Another thing that I have discovered about myself is that once I start in on sweets/chips/goldfish (we have 3 kids) I cannot stop. But if I don't start, I am fine.
  • LadyWeaselofVT
    LadyWeaselofVT Posts: 77 Member
    I completely understand how you're feeling. I'm eating my allotted calories, maxing out the protein and fiber but I'm still so hungry! It's especially hard to deal with at work because there's always candy and baked goods in the kitchen. Right now, I'm drinking a seltzer flavored with Sweet Leaf chocolate stevia and it helps with craving sweets but I'm just really hungry.
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    What do you suggest to replace the sugars?

    I suggest a large dose of a less gluttonous mentality which involves not thinking about food. Then you will be fine....
  • aarontfen
    aarontfen Posts: 4
    Okay, first off, I'm not trying to starve myself. Rather, I am reducing how much I eat in a day, and trying to eat proper portions. Today was my first day trying to curve the need to eat. I have drank a TON of water. But yet I feel so hungry still, even though I ate a full day's worth of food, I know I did. I just want to eat MORE. How do you distract yourself and limit yourself? I find it way harder than I thought.
    Today I was doing good till I found a package of cookies and I COULD NOT HELP MYSELF. I only ate two, so still limited to a serving, but my goal is to eat healthy. How do you tell yourself NO?
    And lastly, I have issues with low blood sugar. Today, with eating normal portions and cutting bad sugars out, I was weak, shaky, and tired. What do you suggest to replace the sugars?

    I am so glad I am not the only one!! I felt so bad about myself yesterday! I just could not stop eating. I wasn't really hungry because I had my normal meals but I just wanted to chew! I know it was because I was bored and I kept reminding myself of all the things I needed to do that would take my mind off wanting to eat. I have vowed to do better and keep myself more busy, especially when I feel like snacking!!
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    Without knowing everything it sounds like you're not eating enough. Either that or you are not eating things that fill you up. I'm going to go for the first part because that seems to be the thing lately. A lot of young women say they eat enough, but it is usually not the case.

    Also, and don't get mad but that "couldn't help myself" is just a load of garbage. Sorry I had to say it.

    I just finished lunch. It was a large bowl with about three cups or more of mesclun salad greens, about a cup of chicken meat, a couple of chopped white mushrooms, and some dressing. That filled me up. And I ate a serving of Girl Scout butter cookies.

    If you are truly eating enough and you want to curb (yes, the term is "curb") your appetite, then you need to eat lots of greens, green veggies, and low sugar fruits (try to eat your fruits in the morning). Don't keep junk food in the house. Don't make excuses for eating. Don't eat out unless it's once in a while. Cook your own food. (Everyone can cook; they just have to try).

    The more complex your food is, the longer it takes to digest and the fuller you feel.

    DON'T EAT SUGAR OR FAT FREE STUFF. DON'T DRINK DIET DRINKS. DON'T USE FAKE SWEETENERS. That makes you crave sweets. It doesn't have to be real sugar, but your brain thinks it is.
  • DonPendergraft
    DonPendergraft Posts: 520 Member
    Try looking up the "satiety index" - it shows foods that keep you fuller for longer

    Thank you for that. I can lose a certain amount by exercising and eating healthy. To go below that in order to hit my goal necessary means caloric restriction and I hate being hungry. It makes me feel tired and cranky. So I try to graze throughout the day. Trying to eat healthy with correct portion sizes of foods most likely to keep me feeling full sounds like a good idea.

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