Straight talk. How do I ease the HUNGER?

jamface11

I've been trying to replace processed snack foods (muesli bars etc) with fruit during the day, but just never find them as satisying. Its getting better the longer I do it so I think for me its just changing my palate because I've never been a big fruit person.

My biggest problem is every now and then I feel deprived and get massive cravings for anything bready esp croissants from the bakery down the road :P

BobOki

Tons of awesome advice in this thread, and thats what i was hoping for. I think I will make another thread so people can list their secret foods and subsitutes as the few that have messaged me had some great ones.

I am saddened that I will have to eat more veggies. I dislike them, they just taste bad, feel bad, and smell bad. Love me some fruits, maybe I can subsitute some fruits for veggies or something to ease into it. Or maybe start making some fruit shakes then start adding in veggies till I damn well good and like it.

So, an excuse, grown man does not mean automatically not lazy man ;P I will have to force myself to start cooking, which really is ok, I love cooking.

I never even thought about bringing a cooler, amazing advice. Something so simple and just over my head. It will take all my willpower each morning not to load it up with beer and be the hero at work ;P

One more question, for the moment, does anyone know a LOW calorie red wine? I have taken to having a glass or two of red each night, or a lot of nights, but the calories are high.

rovernio

lots of water

clover5

Don't sugar coat anything, not needed.

I dislike most veggies, so thats out, and I never really liked breads much. Ican't go around eating 100% meat all day, and fruits and nuts are very very much not filling.

OP you need to willing to try some different foods and with an open adult mind. Even vegetables.

seeeekret

Start the day off with a high-fiber, low-calorie meal, such as plain oats and an apple. The fiber with keep you full for longer. And drink tons of water!
If you're dehydrated, your body will make you think you're hungry when you're really just thirsty.

pants77

I also hate almost all vegetables but I try to eat as much fruit as I can, especially berries. Some things I have found that work for reducing hunger pangs:

1. Fruit (as mentioned), and squeeze in the veggies you can tolerate as often as possible.
2. More frequent, small meals. It's a good idea to eat 4-6 meals a day, or at least to have a piece of fruit or a string cheese or something between meals to tide you over. If you go into a meal really hungry you're much more likely to overeat. It's like going to the grocery store on a full stomach - bad idea. Small meals with a protein component and a fiber component are very helpful.
3. Carbonated beverages. This is kind of a double-edged sword. You'll feel fuller, but you'll be gassy. Pick your poison there, I suppose.
4. Eat your calories, don't drink them. I like milk and whey protein after a workout but it doesn't fill me up much. If I had more time I would eat more grilled chicken or fish but I just don't have the time to cook it and the precooked stuff is full of processed junk.
5. Drink as much water as you can without feeling sloshy. Sometimes hunger isn't hunger, it's thirst. Sounds stupid but it's true.
6. Whole wheat instead of white wheat products. I try never to eat white bread of any kind - I can't spare the calories so if there's going to be bread it has to add to my fiber count.
7. Keep at it. I've been watching calories for 2 1/2 years straight now and I very rarely ever feel really hungry. There's often some element of hunger in the background but I've learned to tune it out - if I really feel HUNGRY, I know it's because I've been shorting my protein and need to get some chicken or steak in there ASAP. You will eventually learn to tune out the hunger that's not really hunger.

pants77

Don't sugar coat anything, not needed.

I dislike most veggies, so thats out, and I never really liked breads much. Ican't go around eating 100% meat all day, and fruits and nuts are very very much not filling.

OP you need to willing to try some different foods and with an open adult mind. Even vegetables.

I agree with this to a point, but I also believe very strongly that people have a tendency to sabotage their efforts at eating better by setting unrealistic goals for themselves. For example, I know it would be much healthier for me to eat a load of cruciferous veggies every day. However, I simply cannot get them down without gagging. If I were to set out to eat broccoli and cauliflower every day, I'd fail.

Instead, I say "ok, I can't eat those veggies but I do like/tolerate things like carrots, peas, green beans, cucumbers, etc, so I'm going to eat as much of those as I can, eat more fruit to get my fiber in, and then make sure to take B vitamin and multivitamin supplements to fill in the gaps." It's not ideal, but it's something I can maintain.

Trying new things is important and setting optimistic goals is also important, but none of it matters if your goals aren't realistic. You have to be able to maintain your plan or it just won't work. Eating food you absolutely hate every day is not sustainable.

Morgaine_on_the_move

Try roasting vegetables. I hate tomatoes raw, but roast them in salt and pepper and a bit of olive oil, and they become amazing. Same with cauliflower and carrots.

rextcat

fiber, and try one big @$$ salad at the end of the day.

cmriverside

Tons of awesome advice in this thread, and thats what i was hoping for. I think I will make another thread so people can list their secret foods and subsitutes as the few that have messaged me had some great ones.

I am saddened that I will have to eat more veggies. I dislike them, they just taste bad, feel bad, and smell bad. Love me some fruits, maybe I can subsitute some fruits for veggies or something to ease into it. Or maybe start making some fruit shakes then start adding in veggies till I damn well good and like it.

So, an excuse, grown man does not mean automatically not lazy man ;P I will have to force myself to start cooking, which really is ok, I love cooking.

I never even thought about bringing a cooler, amazing advice. Something so simple and just over my head. It will take all my willpower each morning not to load it up with beer and be the hero at work ;P

One more question, for the moment, does anyone know a LOW calorie red wine? I have taken to having a glass or two of red each night, or a lot of nights, but the calories are high.

You're so funny, OP. I wanna work at your work.

Also, if you have to drink, a glass or two of dryish red wine is the best choice - like a Cabernet. I tend to want the 300 calorie craft beers - the IPAs - myself. So I had to adopt the 3-day-a-week-max rule. And then only one.

Do you like bananas? Add half an avocado to a banana shake. I know it sounds weird, but it's gooood. Also a cup of spinach in a smoothie doesn't really add any flavor. Spinach is one of the best veggies you can eat - it's awesome in eggs. If you can figure out how to get 3-5 servings of veggies you are golden -or fruit. The problem with fruit is the sugars. But I added fruit first then slowly switched to veggies. I admit to drinking V8 low sodium spicy and pretending it's a Bloody Mary.

brneydgrlie

1) You are eating way below your calorie goals.
2) You should be drinking A LOT more water.
3) ALWAYS eat breakfast!
4) Try to get more calories from higher fiber foods and good fats (like olive oil and avocado) - this will make you feel fuller and more satisfied.
5) Try "hiding" fruits and vegetables in your food. For instance, you can sub 1/4 cup of applesauce in when mixing pancakes in place of oil. Or putting chopped up mushrooms, pepper, and carrots in when mixing a meatloaf. You can also add these same things to tomato sauce, and they will not taste "vegetabley" once cooked. Do you like things like eggplant parmigiana? Eggplant is a vegetable, and there are ways to make this pretty healthy.
6) Beans are also a vegetable with high protein and fiber content. Do you like Mexican food? Order black beans or refried beans with your meal.
7) Greek yogurt is a great way to get calcium and protein. You can add more benefits to it by mixing in fresh berries or some chopped nuts and a drizzle of honey.

Pearl177

Both hot tea and decaf coffee work for me.

cbh142

oatmeal fills me up

brneydgrlie

Regarding the cooking and lunchtime issues you speak of, here is what I do often. I cook 3 or 4 different things on a Sunday afternoon. These are things that either taste good at room temp or heated, or are just really quick to heat up. For instance, I'll make shredded chicken in my crock pot, to have in wraps or put on my salad. Or that meatloaf I suggested - ever have a meatloaf sandwich? They are pretty good! Or make meatballs for a meatball sandwich. I also cut up all my salad stuff, and have them ready in containers in my fridge. So, when I get ready for work in the morning, I have all these variety of containers in my fridge, and I can pretty much just grab one and go. And, if I choose to throw together a salad, it takes less than 5 minutes, because everything is prepped. I also keep a can of nuts in my desk at work, and will sometimes bring a container of strawberries or blueberries with me to snack on throughout the day.

chloeraesmommy

im 10 days in, the hunger feeling is getting better for me, im hoping my body will just get used to this new eating

brneydgrlie

You could also keep a jar of peanut butter or almond butter at your desk and just bring a fresh apple with you to work every day. Sliced apples with peanut butter on them rock!