do you only eat when you are hungry?

metulburr
metulburr Posts: 17
in Motivation and Support
An hour ago i was staring at the clock drueling over the time to eat. Now that it is the time to eat. I am not even hungry. Should i eat to not mess up my schedule, or should i not eat because i am no longer hungry?

It drives me nuts eating on a time schedule because this happens quite a bit. If i eat i feel like i am packing on the pounds as i am not really hungry, and if i dont eat i feel like i mess up my schedule and hours later will be so hungry that i will want to eat the entire house.

Replies

  • FaithfulJewel
    FaithfulJewel Posts: 177 Member
    I eat based on hunger and how many hours since the last meal (and what that meal contained).

    For example, at the weekend I might eat lunch at 2pm... then feel hungry again at 4pm. I'll ignore it, have a hot drink, then eat some time after 6pm. If I'm still hungry at 6pm, that's when I eat, but often it's a case of eating about 7-8pm because I forget (having occupied myself with something else while drinking hot tea!)

    I don't maintain a schedule, I just say "over 4 hours since the last meal" (or snacks over certain kcal values).

    Have you tried drinking a big glass of water or hot drink when you get hunger pangs? I do IF and it certainly helps me.
  • msbunnie68
    msbunnie68 Posts: 1,894 Member
    ok...so why the time schedule? Is it due to work or study?
  • metulburr
    metulburr Posts: 17
    i have drank water while being hungry. It seems to not do anything for me.
  • metulburr
    metulburr Posts: 17
    The time schedule i figured it would help me separate the time between eating. An hour after eating i could still eat more, sometimes even still hungry. So if i ate at 12 i try to eat something small around 2 and eat a larger meal around 4-5. But the whole time i go on a merry go round of hungry.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    An hour ago i was staring at the clock drueling over the time to eat.
    Why didn't you eat then? Why torture yourself? I would have eaten

    I have set meal times (but they are fluid) and I have other foods. Frequently though especially after a long run I wont be Hungry but I eat anyway as I know my body needs the fuel. If you're not hungry but drastically under eating eat anyway sometimes hunger is not the best indicator/
  • msbunnie68
    msbunnie68 Posts: 1,894 Member
    Throw some stats at us - what calorie amount are you set at? If you are so starving constantly then you may be not eating enough.
  • metulburr
    metulburr Posts: 17
    Im aiming for 2,000 calories a day. But i feel like i eat too much still.

    For example my last meal i counted as about 500 calories...2 hours after i am still hungry.

    I didnt eat then because i i had a larger than normal meal before, and it was not 4 hours after i ate yet.
  • amwood89
    amwood89 Posts: 165 Member
    I eat when I genuinely feel hungry. If I feel hungry & I only ate an hour or so ago, then I drink some water & see how I feel once I've had a drink. If I still feel hungry, then I'll have a piece of fruit or something light. I generally eat my meals at the same time, but snack as often as I feel I need to, whilst of course still staying within my macros for the day!
  • Frood42
    Frood42 Posts: 245 Member
    During the week I tend to eat on a schedule due to work commitments and the fact I cycle commute.
    So Brekkie, Lunch and Dinner will always be around the same time.

    If I find myself full I might take a snack later, which is easier in the evening than during the day, but I try to avoid snacking as I tend to eat more than I realise, so I prefer to stick to a schedule where possible during the week.

    At the weekend I don't have a schedule and will eat when I am ready to.
    .
  • metulburr
    metulburr Posts: 17
    A lot of you have a work schedule. I think this might help in timing.

    I am a stay at home father (daycare is expensive for 3 kids). I find myself quite often walking to the fridge out of habit a lot throughout the day.
  • SuperC_85
    SuperC_85 Posts: 393
    I try and plan my daily calories out quite early,
    If I am hungry and I can fit more food in, I eat.

    If I am hungry but I dont have calories to play around with its black coffee.
  • FaithfulJewel
    FaithfulJewel Posts: 177 Member
    Try a hot drink rather than water when you've got pangs. Tea, coffee, even a cup of soup or something.

    You'll have to drink it slower and it might trick your stomach.

    As for being hungry an hour after you eat - not a good sign! Are you eating plenty of protein/a good mix of food types? I know 30 mins can be due to slow uptake of the "full" chemical, but an hour is probably a case of meal issues.
  • rbiss
    rbiss Posts: 422 Member
    I have a breakfast lunch and dinner planned with 2 snacks I eat one of these if I am hungry. Now if its 11 and I am starving, I am just going to eat my lunch. If it's 10 and I am starving, I might eat my snack. You see what I am getting at.

    I plan my day and try to have balanced meals that can carry me through. Now if I am starving and it's been an exercise day, I will eat a bit more even if it puts me over, but on non exercise days, I stick to my calories.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Main meals, I try. Snacks, nope. I typically go from slightly hungry to starving in like 10 minutes, so no, I don't always wait until I'm really hungry to eat.

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