I'm hungry. Bt that's ok.

chivalryder

I come from an endurance sport background (long distance mountain biking) and from this sort of activity (or any sport, really) that hunger is a bad, bad feeling. If you are feeling hungry, it's because your bady is running low on nurishment and is telling you thatyou need to refuel. It's the same as pain: it's your body telling you that something is wrong.

The problem with waiting until you're hungry before eating, is your body is already losing efficiency by the time it starts telling you something is wrong.

Now, with regards to hunger, this may not necessarily be 100% true. However, with thirst it definitely is. When you become thirsty, it's because you're dehydrated to the point where yur body is losing its efficiency. If you lose just 2% of your bodyweight in water (which can be done in an hour of exercising) your body efficiency drops by 20%. Not good.

jkwolly

I just plan my targets around having an evening snack, since I usually have lunch and dinner early!

Just spread them calories/macros out!

asdowe13

It strikes me that people are using the word hungry in very different ways.

To me being hungry doesn't mean "I could eat." It means "my body is telling me I need to eat."

So no you really I shouldn't be hungry on a regular basis.

I don't listen to my body. It's not that smart. My brain is though, and it knows better than to listen to my body.

I am ALWAYS hungry, and I can ALWAYS eat.

weightliftingdiva

It strikes me that people are using the word hungry in very different ways.

To me being hungry doesn't mean "I could eat." It means "my body is telling me I need to eat."

So no you really I shouldn't be hungry on a regular basis.

I don't listen to my body. It's not that smart. My brain is though, and it knows better than to listen to my body.

I am ALWAYS hungry, and I can ALWAYS eat.

^^ This.

BigT555

im finding that i never knew what true hunger was until i started cutting back, now that i do know i love it. i used to be such a picky eater, hated most veggies and gorged on meats and starches. now im not picky at all, im learning that everything tastes great once you let your body get to the point where it actually needs food, instead of just wanting it. last night i had a foodgasm over a piece of stir fried carrot, i used to despise carrots to the point of gagging

jkwolly

im finding that i never knew what true hunger was until i started cutting back, now that i do know i love it. i used to be such a picky eater, hated most veggies and gorged on meats and starches. now im not picky at all, im learning that everything tastes great once you let your body get to the point where it actually needs food, instead of just wanting it. last night i had a foodgasm over a piece of stir fried carrot, i used to despise carrots to the point of gagging

BAHAHAH! :drinker:

sharonKay65

For a long time my brain and my eyes told me I was hungry when really my body was not. It's still a work in progress learning to differentiate between what is actual hunger and what is years of compulsive over eating and cravings trying to trick me.

favoritenut

'There is no need ever to be hungry'....I think that's part of the problem, to me and my mind set anyway - that its never ok to be hungry.

Actually I think its ok to get a bit peckish now and again, and NOT feed it. Its not crazy oh my god my stomach is growling and acid is going on, just a teeny feeling I would normally associate with being uncomfortable - arghh... quick, I'm gonna die, eat something!!! Where-as actually, it's not that uncomfortable, I am not gonna die, I just need to clean my teeth and go to bed...?!

I like that, I can relate to that... and yes its okay to be a little hungry, especially before bed, I agree with your idea to drink water or tea, sometimes when you feel hungry I've heard that it could be that your just thirsty, I try to do that too.. good luck

sharonKay65

I agree with this. I am learning, that as I lose weight and get healthier, as long as I am eating right I rarely get truly hungry. When I do, I know it's time to fuel my body, not just eat out of boredom, stress etc... I cringe at the thought of some of my previous eating habits before I started changing my diet and exercising on a daily basis. I look at food with a whole new attitude now!

ElkeKNJ

I actually thought it was normal, as we (or most of us) are eating on a deficit, and our body is fighting that.
I don't like to be hungry, and am experimenting with my calorie-budget every day to see how I can keep the hungry feeling away.
For example, today, I was going to eat nuts as an afternoon snack, but as they proved to be too expensive, I switched to grapes.
I want to spend more calories this evening, as both me and my husband are at home tonight, and we have a bottle of champagne open.

Liftng4Lis

When in doubt, drink a glass of water and wait 15 minutes. If you still "feel" hungry, EAT!

marissanik

If you're hungry - EAT. Maybe your calorie goals are too low and your body is trying to tell you something.

However, if I know I've eaten all my calories for the day and it's a decent amount, normally water helps me. But I don't feel hungry anymore.

otter090812

I'm still learning about what hunger is, and it's not as straightforward as I used to think (i.e. feel hungry -> eat), which got me to the middle of the 'obese' range.

First step for me is to check whether it's hunger, or whether it's sadness, anger, boredom, loneliness or tiredness sneakily masquerading as hunger. With those little devils ruled out, then I check it's not thirst, and then, finally, I have to remind myself I'm not going to die of hunger if I have to wait another hour until dinner.

365andstillalive

Personally, I get hungry in the evenings, so I eat. I don't see the point in depriving myself if my body is giving me signs that it would like nourishment. I understand ignoring a craving, but if I'm hungry that's different.

I noticed a trend early on in my weight loss, I'm always hungry when I wake up, again in the mid morning, then again in the early to mid afternoon, eat a normal dinner between 5-7 depending on my work schedule, and then always between 8-9 I need something small. That hasn't changed from my start at 235 to where I am now in the low 170s.

I suppose instead of trying to ignore it or satiate it with a glass of water when I know it's probably a call for more nutrients, I've made it possible for my body to have what it needs at the intervals it asks for it.

Kabiti

Reading this thread is making me hungry!! It's very easy to trigger hunger and I'm just re-starting so hunger is common.

On the other hand, I was never hungry but for that first week or three and I had excellent results before by eating the right things. Leafy greens are very filling.

2013sk

I also feel hungrier in the evenings too, But then I work out in the evenings too - What times do you work out?

Also why don't you try having a later dinner & a bit bigger?

Have a snack before bed to fill you up?

Pick high protein foods - They will keep you fuller for longer : )

yc4king

The very first thing I did when I started my lifestyle change was train myself to be able to tolerate hunger. Hunger to me was like an order from my body to find food immediately.

It was a painful 2 weeks of forcing myself to feel hungry, but then feeling good every time I triumphed over my body by forcing it to feel hungry for at least 2 hours before eating anything. Eventually the extreme hunger turned in to mild hunger, and then eventually just in to a "signal".

So now when I feel hungry it's not "real" hunger, it's simply a signal that I get from my body that feels like "hey, you might want to eat something in the next while, but if you don't it's no big deal, just think about it".

I am perfectly ok with being hungry. I have my plan for the day and if I feel hungry outside of that plan then TFB because i'm not changing the plan.

There are lots of people that say you should never feel hungry, or that it isn't good for you, or that they think X,Y,Z. All I have to say is that's great for them, i'm glad they are living the way they are and it's working out for them, but what worked for them won't work for me. I feel the hunger "signal" half the day, I can't eat all day. I'm also the healthiest i've ever been in my life. Lost 50lbs, running 5-10km multiple mornings a week, all the while eating healthy and feeling hungry quite often. My diary is public, check for yourself.

Hunger is just a signal, you can choose to ignore it whenever you want. Whether you choose to or not is up to you but there is no one right or wrong answer. Find what works for you and do that.

WalkingAlong

A lot of people here say they can't trust their hunger signals. I think really experiencing them is the first step in learning to read them right and trust them. If you're afraid to ever get actually hungry, you'll never learn how to tell what is hunger vs. the urge to munch.

vismal

A lot of people here say they can't trust their hunger signals. I think really experiencing them is the first step in learning to read them right and trust them. If you're afraid to ever get actually hungry, you'll never learn how to tell what is hunger vs. the urge to munch.

This is completely true! I constantly was mistaking boredom, cravings, etc for hunger. There is now a distinct difference for me and being able to know that difference is HUGE

Nojoke81

Since I decided to do something about the state of my physique I quickly came to the conclusion that part of sorting my sht7 out was getting used to being hungry for a few hours a day.

Being hungry won't kill you, get used to it.

Francl27

For me it just really depends on what kind of hunger I have. Most of the time... it doesn't bother me. But sometimes I get so hungry I get physically sick (probably blood sugar or hormones related). Then it's another problem entirely and I HAVE to eat. So yeah, I'm afraid of being hungry and getting to that state.

zyxst

I'd like to clarify what my "hunger" is. When I'm hungry, I get abdominal muscle cramps. If I leave it for 30 minutes, the cramps move around to my back, feeling a lot like labor pains (or kidney stones). Then I get dizzy, light-headed, and have difficulty standing upright unless I'm touching a wall or something. Since I hate being in pain when it can be easily avoided, I eat when I start getting hungry.

I wanted to say that so I wouldn't be lumped in with the people who think I'm boredom eating or thirsty or have First World Problems about not getting to the nearest Micky Ds.

lizchic82

I also feel hungrier in the evenings too, But then I work out in the evenings too - What times do you work out?

Also why don't you try having a later dinner & a bit bigger?

Have a snack before bed to fill you up?

Pick high protein foods - They will keep you fuller for longer : )

Thanks. Last night I worked out 5.30-6.40pm. Then came home, and ate tuna, green salad, greek yogurt and berries, with flaxseeds. Finished eating by 8.20...posted around 10pm ish...I ate over 130grams of protein yesterday, so I know I am getting enough, or at least on the right ratios.

When I posted, I was purely noticing (for once) how my body actually *felt* rather than how I *thought* it should feel... Seems alot of people understand, the notion that we must eat whenever we feel the slightest pang of hunger, or think we feel hunger, is what landed us as overweight in the first place. I am not one to be starving hungry, as I know thats the point at which I am not serving my body properly, and its telling me something very important. I am however, trying to feel comfortable with listening to my body appetite and not to my head appetite!

lizchic82

Since I decided to do something about the state of my physique I quickly came to the conclusion that part of sorting my sht7 out was getting used to being hungry for a few hours a day.

Being hungry won't kill you, get used to it.

yep :-)

missdibs1

I always plan a 9 PM snack into my macros If you are honest with yourself, and plan accordingly/follow the plan you will not be hugry I have a bit of fruit or if it i spost workout a few egg whites and a bit of fruit Dont ignore your body!

Bellodesiderare

I go to bed when I get hungry that late... lol

vismal

I always plan a 9 PM snack into my macros If you are honest with yourself, and plan accordingly/follow the plan you will not be hugry I have a bit of fruit or if it i spost workout a few egg whites and a bit of fruit Dont ignore your body!

You can say that about yourself but you can't make the blanket statement that "if you plan accordingly you will not be hungry". Different people experience hunger in different ways. Some people can do everything right, plan perfectly, eat satiating foods, and still be hungry. Just because this doesn't happen to you doesn't mean it doesn't happen to anyone else.

rayonrainbows

reading this thread has really helped me form & clarify opinions i didn't even know i had about hunger.

i remember last night thinking this is the first time in forever that i'm choosing to not eat whatever i want until i'm stuffed, just because my tummy said WTF where's my 500-midnight-calories it's used to getting, not to mention the constant flow of calories from sipping drinks all night that my body has come to expect.

and turns out this morning i'm fine. i didn't wake up wanting to eat my arm. in fact, i still haven't made bfast because i'm waiting on my bf to wake up.

anyway 'hunger' obv. has different connotations for everyone, so there's going to be a mix of opinions on how to 'treat' it (or how to view it as something that doesn't need to be 'treated').... i feel like most everyone on this thread has expressed a pretty healthy view of hunger --> if it bothers you, or is a starvation signal, plan your day better to accommodate it, or just eat something that satiates without going against your fitness goals --> if it's just your body's habitual response to boredom, thirst, sadness, excitement, whatever, treat it as the bodily experience it is, and learn to rise above it.

i feel like both solutions that people have mentioned are a healthy way to deal with this complicated bodily signal, and approaching hunger without that paranoid fear so much marketing has ingrained in us can be really satisfying in regaining control of our that part of our lives

cavia

Since I decided to do something about the state of my physique I quickly came to the conclusion that part of sorting my sht7 out was getting used to being hungry for a few hours a day.

Being hungry won't kill you, get used to it.

^^This. I find it very hard to feel full. It doesn't matter if I'm dieting, maintaining or bulking, I'm hungry most of the time. I've just accepted that I can't eat going by my hunger cues alone or I'd be back flirting with 200lbs on the scale. It's a small price to pay , imo.

MyMalfunction7

I definitely do experience a desire to eat way, way more often than I experience actual, physical hunger. Especially the last few weeks, when I've been in recovery from surgery and laying around the house all day, I've been eating out of boredom more often than not and it's been giving me some issues. I'm still trying to learn how to separate physical hunger from just wanting a snack, and it's rough. Luckily, I'm back to work soon haha.