Hungry All the Time!!

mung222

I am seriously hungry all the time. I try to eat healthy and I try to stay within my allowed caloried but I am starving. I eat plently of fiber. I drink lots of water (as evidence by how much i pee). I do several small meals throughout the day so I can space it. Nothing seems to be helping. I need either a very strong appetite suppressent or another trick I haven't tried. I'm having such a hard time losing weight.

itsjustdawn

What is your calorie limit? And what exactly are you consuming? Lots of protein? Good carbs? Veggies? Some more information will be helpful for us to try to help you :-)

cranberrycat

I deal with hunger, as well. I have found that it is a matter of carb choice, and if I get a bunch of veggies on my plate and balance it out with something of substance (like adding beans), it helps a lot. Also, I make sure to have protein with each meal, and I don't go fat free. A small amount of a healthy fat (olive oil, avocado, etc) will help tremendously.

pitbullmama

What is your calorie limit? And what exactly are you consuming? Lots of protein? Good carbs? Veggies? Some more information will be helpful for us to try to help you :-)

This.

Appetite suppressants are not the answer

Articeluvsmemphis

can you open your diary, more people will try and help you. maybe need to up your calorie limit.

mung222

My calorie count is at 1200 but i usually consume around 1300. I eat lots of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats and fish. I can't eat too many vegetables though bc they make me extremely bloated and gassy. I'll do whole grains. I stay away from sugars and anything that could cause a spike in my blood sugar. I am 190 lbs and only 5'2''. My goal weight is 125 which is healthy for my body frame.

mung222

can you open your diary, more people will try and help you. maybe need to up your calorie limit.

I didn't know i could do this. I'll try

maddymama

Are you breastfeeding your baby? I glanced at your profile and saw that you have a little one. If you are breastfeeding then you need to up you calories to a minimum of 1800-ish.

If you aren't, you may still want to up your calories a bit. What is your weightloss set at? If it's two lbs per week, you might want to drop it to one. Also, an open diary might help.

I eat a ton of fiber and protein. I also exercise daily so I can eat back my exercise calories. Healthy fats are wonderful, too.

mung222

Are you breastfeeding your baby? I glanced at your profile and saw that you have a little one. If you are breastfeeding then you need to up you calories to a minimum of 1800-ish.

If you aren't, you may still want to up your calories a bit. What is your weightloss set at? If it's two lbs per week, you might want to drop it to one. Also, an open diary might help.

I eat a ton of fiber and protein. I also exercise daily so I can eat back my exercise calories. Healthy fats are wonderful, too.

I am not breast feeding. And I have it set at a number between 1 and 2lbs a week. I think. I'll have to go back and readjust it. I'll try upping my calories some and see if that helps. I may be doing too drastic too quickly. I would exercise more but i am nursing a broken foot and torn tendents (sp) in my ankle so i'm limited in what i can do.

maddymama

Are you breastfeeding your baby? I glanced at your profile and saw that you have a little one. If you are breastfeeding then you need to up you calories to a minimum of 1800-ish.

If you aren't, you may still want to up your calories a bit. What is your weightloss set at? If it's two lbs per week, you might want to drop it to one. Also, an open diary might help.

I eat a ton of fiber and protein. I also exercise daily so I can eat back my exercise calories. Healthy fats are wonderful, too.

I am not breast feeding. And I have it set at a number between 1 and 2lbs a week. I think. I'll have to go back and readjust it. I'll try upping my calories some and see if that helps. I may be doing too drastic too quickly. I would exercise more but i am nursing a broken foot and torn tendents (sp) in my ankle so i'm limited in what i can do.

YEOUCH! That sounds painful! Good luck in being active.... that is rough.

lornathewizzard

In terms of water, spacing out meals etc, it sounds like you are doing the right things. I personally would try upping your calories. Check what your BMR is (in the 'tools' bar I believe) and I would suggest eating at least that number as that is what you're body would need if you were literally in a coma. IMO, slow progress is the best kind because you're more likely to change those bad habits and keep the weight off. Hope you see some positives soon!

Jingram2b

Eat more protein. It will help with hunger. Carbs won't (generally).

The spacing of meals probably isn't helping your hunger either and, further, it's not necessary. Since meal spacing it doesn't seem to be working for you on a psychological level, you should consider stopping the 5-6 meal a day thing.

Edit: I just read that you're eating only 1200 cals a day. Eat more and make sure you incorporate resistance training.

30yearssincebikini

For me, two things helped. The biggest thing was probably joining the gym. Since I have been exercising regularly, my hunger/cravings have all but stopped. Also, eating a lot of unprocessed food, like lean meats etc, has made my cravings diminish. At least I think that's why I don't crave food as much as I used to. But definitely exercise. Do you exercise?

sobriquet84

PROOOOOOTEEEEEEEIN. and a good amount of dietary fats, too.

I've seen this question many times on these boards. Usually, after looking at their food diary, the number one source of calories in their diet is carbohydrates.

Dammitviv

I am seriously hungry all the time. I try to eat healthy and I try to stay within my allowed caloried but I am starving. I eat plently of fiber. I drink lots of water (as evidence by how much i pee). I do several small meals throughout the day so I can space it. Nothing seems to be helping. I need either a very strong appetite suppressent or another trick I haven't tried. I'm having such a hard time losing weight.

I had a similar problem. A couple months ago, I upped my calorie allowance to 1500 and was eating 5 small meals; but I found my stomach growling constantly. Three weeks ago I decided to try something different. I still have my goal set at 1500, but now I eat a much larger breakfast 400-500 calories, and around 300 calories for lunch. The big breakfast keeps my tummy happy until about lunch time. I have an afternoon snack and a decent sized dinner. In the last 2 weeks, I finally started seeing the scale move.

I have also found it helpful to bring a container of frozen veggies to work, if I get hungry towards the end of the day I can throw them in the microwave and "steam" them and that keeps me from snacking while I cook dinner.

maryd523

I agree with the above post that eating a bunch of small meals throughout the day isn't helping you. I personally think that makes me hungrier, since one can't really eat their fill at one setting, so you are never really satisfied.

albinogorilla

I can't offer any suggestions, I am also hungry all the time. For me, when i am hungry, i hammer down 16-32 oz of water. It helps, but doesn't make it go away. I take in over 150g of protein a day, and I drink 1 gallon of water at least per day.

I personally feel like when I am hungry, thats a good thing. I take in enough calories to support my activity, but to lose weight, to me you should be hungry. Being hungry to me reminds me I am doing this right..........also fighting the cravings is a battle of wills........

alix1105

i'm not sure about a hunger suppressant... but I was definitely having the same problems as you when I started. I was like.. WTF? How do people only take in 1200 calories a day?! that was crazy to me. lol But i started watching my portions (which helps A LOT!), I be sure to eat breakfast every day! (this was a huggeeee part that helps me get through the day!) and I started taking more vitamins which helped not only provide me with more energy, but burn more energy as well. I started taking a multi-vitamin, vitamin C, and the one that helped the most is B12. That DEFINITELY boosts my energy and burns a lot too. I love it. Just take small steps tho. Definitely don't cut your diet down to what MFP tell you to if it's not what you're used to. For instance, I started out eating probably about 2000 cals a day. I slowed down moderately every week.. to 1800 cals, then 1600, then 1400 and so on.. it's different for everyone. you just have to find whats right for YOU.

jadedone

Eat more protein. It will help with hunger. Carbs won't (generally).

The spacing of meals probably isn't helping your hunger either and, further, it's not necessary. Since meal spacing it doesn't seem to be working for you on a psychological level, you should consider stopping the 5-6 meal a day thing.

Edit: I just read that you're eating only 1200 cals a day. Eat more and make sure you incorporate resistance training.

I have the opposite problem. If I don't have a little bit of starchier carbs (typically 2 servings a day) I will have insatiable hunger. No amount of nuts, healthy fats, protein, fruit or veggies will solve it. I have 1/2 -1 cup of carbs, and suddenly things are fine. Definitely experiment, our body chemistry can be very different.

potluck965

After a year and a half I am still hungry all the time :ohwell:

HealthyHappyVegan

I actually find exercise to be a great hunger suppressant! But be careful, it makes some people far hungrier.
I have recently been burning anywhere around 700 calories at the gym about 4 or 5 days a week. It's great because you then get a ton of calories to eat back, and if it works for you like it does for me, you'll be less hungry too

gp79

If you're having trouble getting started, you may consider going through your pantry / fridge / freezer and getting rid of the junk. Replace them with better choices, lean meats, vegetables.

Log absolutely everything. Build your diary in advance and be sure your drinking plenty. Some of those hunger feelings may be able to be satisfied with water. Diet drinks if you must have something carbonated.

Alot of what you're going through is likely your mind, trying to keep you in your "learned behavior".

eliz_in_pink

Eat more protein. It will help with hunger. Carbs won't (generally).

I find when I eat more protein it helps supress my hunger. Try a protein shake in the morning with a LOT (not just 10 grams) of protein.

I hope it works for you, as it did for me. I know everyone is different :flowerforyou:

jla891

im also recommended for 1200 calories a day!!! im starving... trying trying trying ...and like that guy said...hungry to me though makes me think...HEY ..you really dont need to eat....you'll eat later. Hang in there... or try a BIGGER breakfast in the am.....

reyna99

YEp more protein! At least 1 gram per weight so if you weigh 130 you should be getting that many grams of protein!

skinnylove00

MORE PROTEIN AND FIBER!!!!!!!!!!

MoooveOverFluffy

I am seriously hungry all the time. I try to eat healthy and I try to stay within my allowed caloried but I am starving. I eat plently of fiber. I drink lots of water (as evidence by how much i pee). I do several small meals throughout the day so I can space it. Nothing seems to be helping. I need either a very strong appetite suppressent or another trick I haven't tried. I'm having such a hard time losing weight.

I had a similar problem. A couple months ago, I upped my calorie allowance to 1500 and was eating 5 small meals; but I found my stomach growling constantly. Three weeks ago I decided to try something different. I still have my goal set at 1500, but now I eat a much larger breakfast 400-500 calories, and around 300 calories for lunch. The big breakfast keeps my tummy happy until about lunch time. I have an afternoon snack and a decent sized dinner. In the last 2 weeks, I finally started seeing the scale move.

I have also found it helpful to bring a container of frozen veggies to work, if I get hungry towards the end of the day I can throw them in the microwave and "steam" them and that keeps me from snacking while I cook dinner.

^^ THIS. i also used to do the several small meals a day thing, but i was ALWAYS hungry. Now, i find that eating a bigger breakfast helps me eat less throughout the day. and PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN!! Last things, is i will sometimes have an unsweetened herbal tea to help "fill me up" in between meals.

THINtense

It helps me to snack on fruit! Fresh raspberries, apples, and blueberries are my favorite! Of course, I always want them with raw cashews or peanut butter, but that's another story I also agree with the suggestion about going to the gym! While it can definitely make you hungrier, I know that I definitely don't want to "un-do" my progress by overeating or making unhealthy choices after I work out, so I'm less likely to pay attention to my hunger...if that makes any sense!

karentr75

First of all - if you are eating 1200 calories a day, you need to re-examine that. Or see a nutritionist. This is the problem with some of these programs. Please digest this: eating 1200 calories a day is the absolute LIMIT and you should never,ever go lower, In fact, 1200 calories a day is barely enough to keep your body from eating itself. Up your intake immediately. Eat more protein. Eat more nuts (count out 12 almonds at a time with a piece of fruit. I do it every day). Eat one ounce of raw avocado and put it in a salad along with your protein.

You should be eating1500 a day at the very least. I am 5'6 and I currently weigh 142. My goal is to hover around 135. I'll get there very soon. I am a nutrition and fitness writer who went to graduate school and gained about 15 pounds. I'll admit that. But, I know what I'm talking about.

Start researching on the Internet. Go to some .org (nonprofit), .edu (university) or .gov (government) websites and see what you really should be eating. This calorie counter should be used as a GUIDE and not the be-all, end all. You do not trust .com websites generally. They are for-profit. Attached is a link to a very reliable source: Colorado State University: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09353.html

vivianahm

I can't offer any suggestions, I am also hungry all the time. For me, when i am hungry, i hammer down 16-32 oz of water. It helps, but doesn't make it go away. I take in over 150g of protein a day, and I drink 1 gallon of water at least per day.

I personally feel like when I am hungry, thats a good thing. I take in enough calories to support my activity, but to lose weight, to me you should be hungry. Being hungry to me reminds me I am doing this right..........also fighting the cravings is a battle of wills........

I agree with many things that have been said:
I am hungry most of the time, but when I began using MFP I was hungry all the time. I t gets better as you get used to it. I am still very hungry in the afternoons.
I try to eat something when I'm hungry, I think it helps more than just staying hungry. Right now I was starving and ate two rice cakes and 1 cup of lettuce with lemon juice.
Try to discover what types of food work best for you, as someone suggested, for me eating avocado is a great appetite suppressant, and it's healthy, so I try to eat it often.
I also "discovered" (i know everyone knew this but me) that if I workout I can eat more! It's a big motivation for working out!
And the reason I quoted the above: what has helped the most is getting used to feeling hunger. I think I had forgotten how to feel hungry, I ate too much! I also try to take it as a reminder of successs!
Good luck

cbl40

1200-1300 calories/day I find so hard to do as well! I have always had a hearty appetite. I exercise a lot, which allows me to eat more calories, but it makes me more hungry. ; ) So, it's finding that balance. I agree with another member saying to eat a 400 or so calorie breakfast. Nancy Clark, a well known sports nutritionist, says it is good to eat a 400 calorie breakfast and 400 calorie lunch! Keep it up, you'll get there!!