Appetite Suppressants

sydneymae20
sydneymae20 Posts: 8 Member
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
I am always hungry. I could eat a big, balanced meal and end up hungry less than 30 minutes later. It makes controlling how much I eat feel impossible. I've read that if you are consuming enough protein and fiber, this shouldn't be a problem. The thing is, even on days I'm consuming as much as if not more than my recommended amount, I still have the hunger problem.
Does anyone else have this issue? How do I control this? I want to try appetite suppressants but I don't know what kind to try out.
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Replies

  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    How many calories are you allocated and what is your weekly weight loss goal?
  • ChescasFeather
    ChescasFeather Posts: 27 Member
    I drink herbal teas as appetite surpressants they help with cravings and drinking enough fills me up :) Sometimes I add Splenda (2cal per tsp) which really helps with the sugar cravings x
  • ElizabethNJ
    ElizabethNJ Posts: 32 Member
    A lot of times we confuse thirst for hunger. Every time you "feel" hungry when you know that you ate, try drinking water or tea.
  • sydneymae20
    sydneymae20 Posts: 8 Member
    My goal is to take in 1,700 calories a day.
    2 lbs per week is my weight loss goal, but just starting out (again), I may adjust my goal to 1 lbs per week.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    In your profile you said that you are dealing with depression... Are you currently under a doctor's care? If so, then your lack of willpower and binging is something that you should be discussing with your doctor. If not, then you probably should find a doctor who can help you through this.

    An appetite suppressant is a quick fix and will not address your underlying issues.
  • sydneymae20
    sydneymae20 Posts: 8 Member
    I drink herbal teas as appetite surpressants they help with cravings and drinking enough fills me up :) Sometimes I add Splenda (2cal per tsp) which really helps with the sugar cravings x

    I'm trying to get more into drinking tea! I've only really ever had green tea, so I'll definitely give that a shot. Thank you. :)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    It's more a habitual and mental issue than an actual physiological one (unless of course you're actually eating too little for your body).
    Appetite suppressants aren't the answer. They teach your body nothing about how to adapting to eating less naturally because you're ingesting a chemical to deter hunger. Once you get off them, then your body will respond differently and weight regain is likely.
    Since you've mentioned issues, it might benefit you to speak with professionals to identify your problem and an RD to help you figure out an eating plan you can sustain for life.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    My goal is to take in 1,700 calories a day.
    2 lbs per week is my weight loss goal, but just starting out (again), I may adjust my goal to 1 lbs per week.

    Two pounds a week may be too aggressive. One pound a week will give you more food plus you can eat back about half of your exercise calories.
  • Lasmartchika
    Lasmartchika Posts: 3,440 Member
    edited November 2014
    My goal is to take in 1,700 calories a day.
    2 lbs per week is my weight loss goal, but just starting out (again), I may adjust my goal to 1 lbs per week.

    There you go... you hit it on the nail... aim for one pound. It's better to slowly lose weight... just the same way you gained weight... slowly. That's why you still feel hungry. With one pound a week, you'll have more calories to eat and you'll still be losing pounds. :flowerforyou:

    And stay away from appetite suppressants.
  • sydneymae20
    sydneymae20 Posts: 8 Member
    edited November 2014
    A lot of times we confuse thirst for hunger. Every time you "feel" hungry when you know that you ate, try drinking water or tea.

    I need to keep trying that. I have before and I still had that uncomfortable hungry feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe I need to drink more. Thank you. :)
    mitch16 wrote: »
    In your profile you said that you are dealing with depression... Are you currently under a doctor's care? If so, then your lack of willpower and binging is something that you should be discussing with your doctor. If not, then you probably should find a doctor who can help you through this.

    An appetite suppressant is a quick fix and will not address your underlying issues.

    I have been on medication and in therapy for going on 6 years now. I will definitely try discussing it further with my doctor. Thank you. :)
  • evarga12
    evarga12 Posts: 55 Member
    Try drinking more water throughout the day & even more along with your meals.
  • lsgibbs83
    lsgibbs83 Posts: 254 Member
    Ditto on the water. I drink at least the recommended 8 glasses per day, usually more.

  • sydneymae20
    sydneymae20 Posts: 8 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    It's more a habitual and mental issue than an actual physiological one (unless of course you're actually eating too little for your body).
    Appetite suppressants aren't the answer. They teach your body nothing about how to adapting to eating less naturally because you're ingesting a chemical to deter hunger. Once you get off them, then your body will respond differently and weight regain is likely.
    Since you've mentioned issues, it might benefit you to speak with professionals to identify your problem and an RD to help you figure out an eating plan you can sustain for life.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    You're right. I never used to have this issue, I think my body has become accustomed to eating too much and it needs to adapt to eating less again. Thank you.
    Most people are "hungry" due to bordom and their old eating habits trying to convince them to eat. If you're eating enough and you are still hungry, stomach grumbling and all, maybe try upping your water intake. Drink a glass with every meal. Another thing you could try is upping your protein and fat macros. That can help keep you fuller for longer. And if youre still hungry after all that, maybe try metamucil. I have a glass a day (also help you reach your fibre goals if you don't) and that keeps me full.

    All the best

    Thank you so much. :)
    Branstin wrote: »
    Two pounds a week may be too aggressive. One pound a week will give you more food plus you can eat back about half of your exercise calories.

    Very good point. Thank you. :)
    There you go... you hit it on the nail... aim for one pound. It's better to slowly lose weight... just the same way you gained weight... slowly. That's why you still feel hungry. With one pound a week, you'll have more calories to eat and you'll still be losing pounds. :flowerforyou:

    And stay away from appetite suppressants.

    You're right. I need to be patient and do this right. Thank you. :)
  • sydneymae20
    sydneymae20 Posts: 8 Member
    evarga12 wrote: »
    Try drinking more water throughout the day & even more along with your meals.

    Thank you! :)
    lsgibbs83 wrote: »
    Ditto on the water. I drink at least the recommended 8 glasses per day, usually more.

    Yeah, I really need to work on drinking more water. Thank you. :)
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Listen to ninerbuff.

    There are effective appetite supressants that are easy to find, but honestly... those are value added items, and not to be the foundation of a strategy.

    Learn to control your desires first. That will probably be all you will ever need.
  • janiceesmith12
    janiceesmith12 Posts: 29 Member
    You can always "challenge" your hunger. I question myself. Do I think I'm hungry because the clock says it is lunch time? Do I think I'm hungry when I'm really sleep deprived or bored or something. I will decide that I'll have a glass of water and wait 10 minutes. If I'm still hungry after 10 minutes, then I'll have a healthy snack. I find I have to really stay mindful to avoid eating "just because." Lots of time after the water, I get busy with something else and realize I wasn't really hungry. I was just standing in the kitchen bored thinking I was hungry.
  • DaniJeanine
    DaniJeanine Posts: 473 Member
    Try pu-erh tea and drinking lots of water throughout the day.
  • layla17cc2
    layla17cc2 Posts: 3
    edited November 2014
    I'm not sure if you take any medications, but hunger and weight gain can be side effects of certain meds, especially antidepressants.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    At the beginning of this journey my doctor gave me phentermine (I didn't know until I picked up my prescriptions). I figured I should take it - as my doctor gave it to me. So I did. For about three days. I realized that regardless of what my doctor thought, it wasn't the way *I* wanted to lose weight. I wanted to do it right, so I did. I'm losing weight at a really good pace on my own (208 days, 58 pounds lost - 25% of my original body weight - gone). And knowing that I've created my own success is really, very empowering.

    So my advice? Don't do it. You've got this all on your own.

    Also: water. Drink a glass, wait 30 minutes. If you're still hungry, eat a small something.

    You'll get there.
  • sydneymae20
    sydneymae20 Posts: 8 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    Listen to ninerbuff.

    There are effective appetite supressants that are easy to find, but honestly... those are value added items, and not to be the foundation of a strategy.

    Learn to control your desires first. That will probably be all you will ever need.

    You're right. I suppose I was just looking for an easy fix, and I've learned in the past that isn't the best way to go about things. Thank you. :)
    You can always "challenge" your hunger. I question myself. Do I think I'm hungry because the clock says it is lunch time? Do I think I'm hungry when I'm really sleep deprived or bored or something. I will decide that I'll have a glass of water and wait 10 minutes. If I'm still hungry after 10 minutes, then I'll have a healthy snack. I find I have to really stay mindful to avoid eating "just because." Lots of time after the water, I get busy with something else and realize I wasn't really hungry. I was just standing in the kitchen bored thinking I was hungry.

    That's a great idea. I really need to be more mindful when it comes to my eating habits. Thank you. :)
    Try pu-erh tea and drinking lots of water throughout the day.

    I'll look into pu-erh tea, and I definitely need to consume more water. Thank you! :)
  • sydneymae20
    sydneymae20 Posts: 8 Member
    layla17cc2 wrote: »
    I'm not sure if you take any medications, but hunger and weight gain can be side effects of certain meds, especially antidepressants.

    That was one of my first thoughts. I've been on different medications in the past, but finally have been able to stick with Effexor and Wellbutrin for the past 2 or 3 years. I don't think hunger or weight gain is a side effect of either of them. Weight loss and loss of appetite is actually a side effect of Effexor. >.< Thank you though. :)
    At the beginning of this journey my doctor gave me phentermine (I didn't know until I picked up my prescriptions). I figured I should take it - as my doctor gave it to me. So I did. For about three days. I realized that regardless of what my doctor thought, it wasn't the way *I* wanted to lose weight. I wanted to do it right, so I did. I'm losing weight at a really good pace on my own (208 days, 58 pounds lost - 25% of my original body weight - gone). And knowing that I've created my own success is really, very empowering.

    So my advice? Don't do it. You've got this all on your own.

    Also: water. Drink a glass, wait 30 minutes. If you're still hungry, eat a small something.

    You'll get there.

    Congratulations!! I'm sure it is a lot more rewarding knowing you have been able to lose the weight yourself rather than with the help of a pill. Thank you so much. :)

  • Just thought I'd add in my 2 cents. I'm 23, 5'4, and 138 pounds. For most of my life I've dealt with being constantly hungry. I struggle with disordered eating, and I've spent a lot of time beating myself up for feeling hungry. I'd think, "You CAN'T be hungry. You just ate. You're just greedy." People would tell me that I was just thirsty, so I'd choke down litres of water before and after every meal. And you know what? I'd feel bloated, sick - and hungry. I went to the doctor and got blood tests ("You're as healthy as can be!"), I tried "natural" appetite supressants like cinnamon and peppermint tea, I tried supplements, I tried those weird wheat pills that blow up inside your stomach to make you feel full. Nothing worked, and I was miserable.

    And then I discovered VEGETABLES. Well, I didn't discover them, exactly. I'd been eating them in relatively moderate amounts my whole life. But I discovered that I could eat crazy, completely un-moderate, (near) endless amounts of vegetables until I was full and happy and giddy and I wouldn't come anywhere near my calorie limit. I didn't even replace my normal meals with vegetables - I just started bulking everything up with them. Add a three or four whole zucchinis to my pasta sauce. (Seriously. They're only, like, 30 calories each.) Four heads of bok choi to my noodles. Half a head of broccoli to my frittata. A whole bowl of iceberg lettuce on the side of my chicken.

    Eventually, once I got used to most of my meals being bulked out with vegetables, some of the other elements started to fall back. I used to eat 250g (DRY) of pasta for one meal. Now, there just isn't enough room in my bowl because it's full of mushrooms, zucchini, tomatos, onions, broccoli, spinach, carrot - you name it. I'm lucky if I eat 80g of pasta, and I don't have to cut down on food. In fact, I even allow myself seconds sometimes, and my calorie intake is LESS than what it used to be.

    I still deal with cravings - for candy, fries, soda, cookies - and my cravings are what are currently holding me back in terms of my end weight loss goals, but for me cravings are different from being really, truly hungry. And when I'm really, truly hungry, no amount of water or internal scolding will do. But veges help. :smile:
  • MissJay75
    MissJay75 Posts: 768 Member
    OP - love your attitude! Your willingness to listen and learn is refreshing. All the best to you.
  • floridagirl7264
    floridagirl7264 Posts: 318 Member
    I'm like this too, but found that I'm not actually hungry. I just want to keep eating. I make myself wait at least 30 mins before eating something else. After waiting 30 mins, I don't want to eat anything else. I think it just takes me that long to make the connection from my stomach to my brain that I'm not hungry anymore.
  • popsicklestar
    popsicklestar Posts: 166 Member
    I feel the same way, and I'm mostly just trying to maintain now, not even lose. Eating more fiber and protein and filling up on high volume veggies and water and tea does help, but it doesn't completely stop the problem in my case either. Hunger is caused by ghrelin and leptin levels, and certain people are genetically and hormonally more disposed to hunger like myself. I've found that to maintain the weight that I want, sometimes I just have to be a little hungry, and I just have to accept that. Working out helps also. As far as appetite suppressants, I once tried Meridia, and it works, but it's something you only take for 3 months and then stop, not something you take continually.
  • cristina115
    cristina115 Posts: 1 Member
    OP, I understand your pain. The previous poster has it correct. I have leptin resistance, which means that the signal in your brain that tells your body it is full, is not working. If you try to restrict food/calories as leptin resistant person, your body actually confuses it for starvation, thus making the weight loss process even more difficult. Leptin resistance goes hand in hand with other hormonal issues. So, even if I eat a protein packed meal, I am still hungry 1-2 hours later. One way to tell if you are leptin resistant is to test your fasting glucose level (related to insulin). Normal people should be around a value of 5.

    1) One way to conquer this is to start eating Paleo. Paleo eating forces you to fill up on veggies and ensures you eat protein, which is satiating, and not gorging on sweets, rice, bread, potatoes, pasta or other filler food. It'll keep your blood sugar level too. 2) Another way is to talk to your doctor and try phentermine or another prescription appetite control drug, under their care of course, to stop the hungry messages and allow you to have a clearer way to approach food. You won't be hungry as much but you have to commit to use the time on this drug to re-evaluate how you eat, and take advantage of not feeling frantic about being hungry. Great for approaching food with better clarity. Will also give you energy to workout.

    For now, I'd recommend glucomannan pills (konjac root aka fiber) that fills you up. Or what works for me is a glass of water with chia seeds (I also add lemon juice)....stir and voila, chia seeds will fill you up (it's a protein).

    For depression, Wellbutrin is also used off label for weight loss. So, that is another way to kill two birds with one stone.

    The good news is that leptin resistance goes away once you hit an ideal weight...your body will start to react to leptin and tell your brain that you are full. In the meantime, see a doctor for some labwork and best of luck to you.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Exercise. Not kidding. On days I work out I have next to no trouble staying within my range. On rest days, I am a raging hangry beast. Go figure.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    And now for something completely different.

    Try taking your time while eating, chew your food, a lot. This will give your stomach time to recognise it is being fed, and help stimulate that full feeling.
    ( I take 20 minutes to down .5cup cottage cheese, 2 slices of toast, and 1-1/2cups of fruit and veg for lunch, and feel much fuller than when I used to just wolf it down)

    Eat with a knife and fork ( avoid eating with your hands) putting your cutlery down between small bites.

    Don't stand in the kitchen or by the open fridge door and snack. Take what you want put it on a plate then sit down to eat.

    These are old fashioned ways of curbing ones appitite, but they have worked for me. I am much more aware of what I have eaten and enjoyed the flavours more.

    Cheers, h.
  • lingo10
    lingo10 Posts: 305 Member
    edited December 2014
    100 cal yogurt, upping your protein a bit, eat your heavier meals earlier, eat more slowly, eat every 3-4 hrs of low cal mini meals, there is a ton of different things to do. I find spices are great as well like cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne etc, great when you make snacks or foods with them. Also water dense veggies are awesome to help fill you up! :) App pills don't work :(
  • jjsilcox96
    jjsilcox96 Posts: 63 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    It's more a habitual and mental issue than an actual physiological one (unless of course you're actually eating too little for your body).
    Appetite suppressants aren't the answer. They teach your body nothing about how to adapting to eating less naturally because you're ingesting a chemical to deter hunger. Once you get off them, then your body will respond differently and weight regain is likely.
    Since you've mentioned issues, it might benefit you to speak with professionals to identify your problem and an RD to help you figure out an eating plan you can sustain for life.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    Thats what i was thinking
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