I never feel full

It was worst for me the first few weeks. Always starving! After that, either I didn't feel as hungry or just didn't notice it so much. I can tell you that the amount I can eat at a time has really dropped, so I figure I just learned to be having less in my stomach.

I'm kinda the same way. Until I retrain myself to eat smaller meals, I always think I need more food. I was hungry for a few weeks when I started. I haven't felt full in a very long time, but usually I'm not hungry after I eat now.

Eating healthier foods does help but not completely.

I always find the same problem when I am embarking on a healthy eating programme (I try not to call it a diet!) I think the problem is psychological as much as physical because as soon as you start limiting your portions you feel like you are being deprived of food and always want to eat more. You could try snacking between meals constantly on grapes and other fruits or vegetable sticks to ward off the hunger. The fact is though that to lose weight you have to get used to eating less and that might mean feeling hungry all the time for a week or so. Once you've got through it it is worth it because your stomach will shrink and be satisfied with less.

Another really good thing is to eat slowly. It takes awhile before your brain gets the message you're full so sometimes we over do it before our brain gets the message we are full. This really works.

It is going to take some time. You stomach is used to the large portions you have been consuming for so long and has stretched to accomodate them. In time, your stomach will shrink and you will begin to feel full with less food.

Also, the PPs have some great suggestions. Eat slowly, drink more water, fill up on fiber rich foods. Protein also helps you feel fuller longer. Try eating peanut butter on a slice of toast with fresh fruit for breakfast. Have a handful of almonds for a snack. Toss some beans in a healthy salad. A little bit of protein added to each meal might help.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

Hunger is a complicated, uncomfortable, diet-ruining phenomenon :mad:
It's important to understand that there are different types of hunger and they're caused by different things, and of course just being hungry doesn't always mean you need more calories, but sometimes it can.
The two types of hunger are limbic (mental) and somatic (physical). Basically, if you're in a large deficit and your stomach is empty and you really need nutrients, that's somatic; if you've already eaten but you're craving something else and you're not 'satisfied', that's limbic.
So, step one is taking a look at how many calories you're eating compared to how many you're burning. If you're burning 2000 calories a day, do NOT eat anything less than 1500 calories. You shouldn't have more than a 500 calorie deficit (without the supervision of a doctor); if you do, that is real hunger you're feeling, and you need to eat more.
Step two is waiting. After you've eaten, it takes 20 minutes for your stomach nerves to send a signal to your brain saying "I'm full up!" So always wait 20-30 minutes and drink a full cup of water before you decide that you're indeed in need of something else, and make it small and very high in protein, fiber, and/or fat (like PB, nuts). You won't be able to eat as much, but it will help regulate your blood sugar and promote feelings of fullness.
If you are eating enough and you are still hungry after step two, step three is realizing that your hunger is limbic, and you should just stop thinking about the food. Go for a walk, do the dishes, have a conversation in another room. If you stop thinking about what food you're craving, your limbic hunger won't be causing false sensations.

Hello,
Songbyrdsweet is absolutely correct. When I was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago, the change in my eating discipline was just monumental. I NEVER felt full because of the serious limiting of carbs and fats. Fat helps slow down the absorption of other foods, most fiber is in carbohydrate rich foods so it was a double whammy. Remember to balance ALL of the different kinds of foods, Proteins, carbs, small amount of fats, etc.
I can tell you that it DOES get better. Take Songbyrdsweet's advice regarding making sure your hunger is truly a need for calories, and then if it is, eat something that is really good for you and then just enough to satisfy. Hang in there. It WILL get easier and better if you hang in there.
Cowboy

I brush my teeth ALL the time. It really helps! I think the mint helps as much as the cleanliness.

A change in eatting habits can do this, it was hard the first few weeks. I had to set times to eat and I drank water like a dehydrated camel in between. I eat every 3 hours and I do it a bit backward because I am not a huge breakfast fan I eat snack, breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. Eventually your body will get used to the "feeding" schedule and some of that hunger will start to ease up.

Stick to it, you have made a decision to get yourself healthy and it isn't always comfortable to change but we are stronger than we think. Stay positive! :happy:

try foods with fiber.There is a post cereal called grape nuts and that fills me up quicky.Its kinda tasteless but if u can get over that .Try eating warmer foods such as soups or drink tea without sugar instead of water. I read somewhere that warm foods tell your brain that you are getting full.

Hey! Try eating Grape Nuts mixed in flavored yogurt! It is quite a treat!!

Pam-If you feel hungry and need something to get you through to your next meal/snack, you can always snack on water heavy vegetables without any guilt. Cucumbers, radishes, cabbage and celery all count. I also made a "smoothie" today with only frozen fruit and lemonade. I used about a cup of fruit (peaches and strawberries) and covered them over with lemonade and blended. It was only 100 cals and I totally felt indulged. Good luck and don't quit now! The first few weeks ARE the hardest. :flowerforyou:

Hey I know how you feel accept with me it is like I freak out when I get hungry. Especially right before dinner. That is a crazy time at my house anyway. But between my sone screaming "mommy, I'm gonna die, I gotta eat" and the pain in my stomach, I always start to eat while making dinner. Anyway the hungry all the time does begin to wane. Good Luck and God bless.