Always starving, never full

MacCroc wrote: »

What's your calorie intake? I had the same problem for a long time, which eventually led me to having an ED, untill I realised that what I considered 'normal' intake was twice lower them my actual needs. Try this for a more accurate calorie calculator http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

rabbitjb wrote: »

You could work on reevaluating how you feel about "feeling full"

I spent a lot of time telling myself that feeling "hungry" wasn't an issue, I've just eaten, I'm patently not starving so what's wrong with feeling hungry ...and after a while that kind of acceptance started to change the way I felt about bodily cues like "hunger"

Hungry feeling isn't constant ...20 mins tops

Accept it, analyse it, say its fine to feel like this and move on

It becomes easier and easier and your mind stops doing the "oh that's hunger, I must now eat" equation ..it just ends up doing the "meh no biggie"

And you learn to separate the "I don't feel full" from the "this is actual hunger" feeling

It's emotional not physiological

HipsterDewfus wrote: »

I have never felt hunger pains until today, I've been hungry before of course but today it actually hurt. I can't imagine feeling like that all day, everyday. I'm sorry you have to feel like that, it must be really frustrating. The surgery is designed to make you feel full, so it sounds like it might benefit you. I wish I could offer you some good advice on how to cope. Keep coming here and reaching out I guess. Good luck on your surgery, I really hope it's the answer for you.

nuttynanners wrote: »

kpedersen3 wrote: »

Don't eat cereal, bread, pasta, muffins, granola bars, added sugar, nuts, hummus, peanut butter, nuts, etc. I'm not kidding. DON'T EAT THEM. It's not about eating more protein, it's about NOT eating trigger foods that activate your desire to eat and those foods that spike and drop your sugar levels. Try it. Eat eggs, protein, vegetables, fruit, Greek yogurt, etc.

Yeaaah, I'm gonna have to disagree on hummus, nut, and nut butters, there. Even granola bars can be okay if the ingredients check out. If it contains healthy fats, it's gonna help fill you up.

Also, OP, you might not like this advice but it really could be psychological. I find that I have struggled with physical pain before, only to talk to a doctor who says it is stress related! Not what I wanted to hear, but as soon as they told me to relax more, I became aware of what I was doing to cause the tension and it steadily reduced. Now, hunger may be different, but if your brain is telling you to eat more when you're already feeding yourself, you may need to just redirect your mental energy. It could just be a case of mind over matter.

Then again, we don't know exactly what you are eating or how often you are able to exercise, so it could be a number of things.

Also...maybe, before you have surgery, have your thyroid checked?

JosieRawr wrote: »

I use to not ever feel full, it wasn't hormonal for me, it was mental. I was trying to fill a hole that food could not fill. I was constantly craving something else. Though something else never helped.
I only over came it by calling it out as what it was, it was not hunger, it was an emptiness.

Now I no longer feel hungry, haven't figured out how that works, I can go over 24 hours with out eating and not feel hungry, but I track so that I'm fueling my body most days.

Archon2 wrote: »

I feel this way a lot. I was able to deal with it by either just envisioning that the hungry feeling was fat getting successfully burned off. OR - trying to feel fuller by having a coffee and a nice BIG salad with low-cal dressing to make it to the next meal. I think my body also got used to less full feeling and less food over time too, so it hasn't been as bad as it was earlier on in the MFP plan. Anyway, I don't know if the above will work for you, but I hope you find a way to deal with it.

karenlwashburn wrote: »

When I diet I do feel hungry all day even though I'm actually eating. I think the reason is that I'm eating healthier foods so they are different, I'm eating lighter foods so they are not as heavy so I feel less full and I'm thinking of food all day as I'm having to plan out each meal. On my diet now I'm actually eating breakfast which before I was skipping but now- at breakfast I'm hungry wanting even more food. My exercise has not changed but my focus on food has. Anyone that goes to more vegetables, fruit, water away from sandwiches, fast food, processed foods.. it makes total sense you feel that way!! I'm within the acceptable weight for my age and I feel that way too all the time.

Calliope610 wrote: »

This leads me to believe that is is brain function or hormones that are whacky.

I recently moved and no longer see the same doctor. In fact, my last visit 2 weeks ago, put me on phentermine and recommended weight loss surgery - Which I am doing.

How is phentermine and weight loss surgery going to correct "whacky" brain function or hormones??

libbydoodle11 wrote: »

So you think your hormones are whacky? Schedule an appointment with the doc to have blood work done.

Perhaps you can start recording your thoughts and feelings while you are consuming the food in a journal.

You can do the surgery but you still may have to address the issues going on in your head. Consider seeing a therapist to help you deal with your emotional eating issues before and after your surgery.

Also try pre planning all of your meals for each day and dividing them up into small snack sized portions and nibble or graze throughout the day. Maybe this will keep you side tracked so you are not looking for that full feeling.

This is all I have. It is hard to tell from your post whether or not you are open to advice. You sound more like you may be defending your potential surgery while venting a little.

misskittyninja wrote: »

How you over come it? I'd imagine with a better GP and therapy. I know you didn't want opinions but as other have already done, and said they'll give you some insight. I've written about my experience as well as someone i knew. Opinions are also good because then people can give you more ideas, things to try and it might actually help you.

I Think you need to see another GP. Rather than one that's okay giving you speed like medication and telling you surgery is fine straight off the bat. If i was you i'd be really annoyed that they're not looking at everything. Firstly they should have done a whole heap of test starting with the very basic blood tests. Which would have been able to pick up many fixable problems. I'm very surprised that they didn't take you through all the basics.

Sadly this happen to me =(, i saw a GP, hey told me i was obese and started selling me products instead of finding out the issue. The next one i saw tried to put me on medications for life. Then the last one i saw put me through about 8 different tests over 2 months, i even had an ultra sound o.o and he found the root of my problem and i lost 65 lbs after he found out it was hormonal. I also found out a few other things. Which has made my life so much easier.

That being said, i know you didn't want any opinions but i believe this is more fact. If you just rush into surgery without finding the issue, you'll gain all the weight back fast as they don't seem to be focused on finding out the issue causing this. Surgery removes the weight but not the issue of you gaining it. The medication is short term so same yet again. It's also a medication they won't give while you're in recovery. So that confused me too. And it most states and countries you need to be obese and have 2 or more medical conditions to take it. -short term - They also wouldn't give it to you pre surgery as it mess's with the heart too much. So not sure where it comes into play.

I'm surprise they didn't go through this, especially the tests, as it's common sense. I think you really need to seek better professional advice as you're paying for it and i'm a strong believer in being thorough. You may have something simple and easy to fix with basic medication. If not then.. and you've had all the tests.

My friends mother had her stomach stapled and with it i think she had 6 months of therapy with this to make sure she didn't over eat and kill her self during recovery. As you can only eat little amounts. If they at all think the issue is all in your head. They don't put your through the surgery until you've fixed the psychological issue as it's too risky.

So yet again, I'd make sure you see a specialist, talk it over, if he's good, he'll do all the tests required first and you should also get some counselling or therapy. I remember she recovered well. She gained a little back, around 40lbs, but to be honest i think it helped her with her issue and she was getting close to being morbidly obese. So for me surgery can be a thumbs up. Just make sure you have a good team and a good surgeon.