HELP! I'm always STARVING!

shan11180
shan11180 Posts: 110 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey all! I've been logging my chow and exercise for almost 2 weeks now and still find that I am STARVING during the day. I had hoped it would pass as my belly adjusted to the minimizing of food, but still am having trouble. I wonder if anyone has any advise/ideas or if I just need to continue to try and be patient?

I typically try to eat every 2 hours - not too much, but more as an attempt to try and fend off the starving feeling. Usually by the end of day at work, I'm so dang hungry I could eat the steering wheel on my way home. I'm filling my day with good calories and try to get as much protein as possible, but it isn't working as wonderfully as I had hoped.

Anyone out there struggle with this? Or does anyone have any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks in advance! :)
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Replies

  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
    If you open your diary we can help the most. What is your calorie goal?
  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
    Also, age, sex, weight, weight loss so far, height, and activity level?
  • CaseyBowman86
    CaseyBowman86 Posts: 1 Member
    I am only on day 4 and I am with you on the hungry part! I think it's because we are burning the healthy calories instead of our body storing it as fat. I would maybe try homemade smoothies. Best of luck!
  • skinnymodel_128
    skinnymodel_128 Posts: 5 Member
    I read a quote that said 'you shouldn't be hungry when you're dieting. Either you're not eating enough or not eating enough protein' so try and eat a bit more or more protein and see how that works :) good luck!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Sustainable goal (1 pound a week)
    Plenty of protein and fat (change your macros to 40% carb, 30% fat and 30% protein)
    Eat at least half your exercise calories back
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,148 Member
    Maybe you're not the type to be able to function eating every 2-3 hours? I tried it because, you know, it's One of Those Things You Do to Lose Weight, but I was constantly hungry and ended up overeating on 12 shortbread cookies (about 2400 cals). After that, I went back to how I ate meals before - small breakfast, medium lunch and supper, small snack before bed. I do best with "big" meals (500-800 cals). I'm not satisfied, but not hungry either.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    zyxst wrote: »
    Maybe you're not the type to be able to function eating every 2-3 hours? I tried it because, you know, it's One of Those Things You Do to Lose Weight, but I was constantly hungry and ended up overeating on 12 shortbread cookies (about 2400 cals). After that, I went back to how I ate meals before - small breakfast, medium lunch and supper, small snack before bed. I do best with "big" meals (500-800 cals). I'm not satisfied, but not hungry either.

    This is a great point. I am a big meal plus night time snack person too. Do some experimenting to find out what works for you.
  • JSurita2
    JSurita2 Posts: 1,304 Member
    I agree with increasing your protein intake. Also eat fiber rich foods that will help keep you full longer. I think we do have to go through a little "hunger" pains (if you can even call it that). It gets better the more you get used to it. Drink plenty of water. Sometimes people confuse thirst for hunger.
  • jskyjse
    jskyjse Posts: 28 Member
    I had to get to the three week point before I lost the starving feeling. Hang in there!
  • saramatthews919
    saramatthews919 Posts: 161 Member
    Try drinking water that fills you up or I find chewing gum as it's not always food you want just a taste
  • sgthaggard
    sgthaggard Posts: 581 Member
    Honestly, a large part of the reason I exercise is so that I can eat more and avoid hunger.
  • megantischner
    megantischner Posts: 85 Member
    When I first started with MFP, I think it took me about 3-4 weeks to adjust. Give it another week or two. Also, try drinking more water. That can sometimes help keep away those hunger pains.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    It seems to me that if you aren't hungry when you are dieting, you aren't doing it right. Ideally, your body will lead you to eat at a level that would maintain a healthy weight. When we lose weight, we are eating below that level.
  • got2be160
    got2be160 Posts: 12 Member
    I fill my dinner plate with more veggies .......helps with the after dinner hunger !!
    Spinach salad on the side helps too
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    It seems to me that if you aren't hungry when you are dieting, you aren't doing it right. Ideally, your body will lead you to eat at a level that would maintain a healthy weight. When we lose weight, we are eating below that level.

    wow we agree..nice.

    I agree with this...I was only hungry when I was restricting to a too low of a calorie goal...once I got educated and realize I could still eat over 1200 I stopped being hungry and exercise became a way to eat my ice cream too...
  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    It seems to me that if you aren't hungry when you are dieting, you aren't doing it right. Ideally, your body will lead you to eat at a level that would maintain a healthy weight. When we lose weight, we are eating below that level.

    I agree that we need to expect some hunger and hunger is a sign you are doing something right (if your goal is weight loss), but starving and having difficulty functioning is not necessary and probably counterproductive.

    I'm in a good place with my diet when I notice some hunger about an hour before meals and for the couple hours before bed.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    girlviernes wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    It seems to me that if you aren't hungry when you are dieting, you aren't doing it right. Ideally, your body will lead you to eat at a level that would maintain a healthy weight. When we lose weight, we are eating below that level.

    I agree that we need to expect some hunger and hunger is a sign you are doing something right (if your goal is weight loss), but starving and having difficulty functioning is not necessary and probably counterproductive.

    I'm in a good place with my diet when I notice some hunger about an hour before meals and for the couple hours before bed.

    That. But I tend to think that this is what is normal. I think that most of us used to eat so much that we avoided hunger, and that probably wasn't a healthy behavior. I tend to think, on the balance, "naturally thin" people wait to feel hungry before eating, while people with weight problems eat before they're hungry. We learn to think of hunger as an emergency. I'm learning to embrace it.

    Also agreed? Being over-hungry is not good and is either a sign that you're at too aggressive a deficit or that maybe you should play around with your macros a bit, or a combination of both.

  • MsJulesRenee
    MsJulesRenee Posts: 1,180 Member
    girlviernes wrote: »

    I'm in a good place with my diet when I notice some hunger about an hour before meals and for the couple hours before bed.

    Same here but never noticed it until I read that :) Good advice
  • T00GlaM0r0US
    T00GlaM0r0US Posts: 31 Member
    zyxst wrote: »
    Maybe you're not the type to be able to function eating every 2-3 hours? I tried it because, you know, it's One of Those Things You Do to Lose Weight, but I was constantly hungry and ended up overeating on 12 shortbread cookies (about 2400 cals). After that, I went back to how I ate meals before - small breakfast, medium lunch and supper, small snack before bed. I do best with "big" meals (500-800 cals). I'm not satisfied, but not hungry either.

    I do best with larger meals too - and I have to preplan or I will go over.

    I suggest more protein OP.
  • shan11180
    shan11180 Posts: 110 Member
    girlviernes wrote: »
    If you open your diary we can help the most. What is your calorie goal?

    It's open now. :)
  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    girlviernes wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    It seems to me that if you aren't hungry when you are dieting, you aren't doing it right. Ideally, your body will lead you to eat at a level that would maintain a healthy weight. When we lose weight, we are eating below that level.

    I agree that we need to expect some hunger and hunger is a sign you are doing something right (if your goal is weight loss), but starving and having difficulty functioning is not necessary and probably counterproductive.

    I'm in a good place with my diet when I notice some hunger about an hour before meals and for the couple hours before bed.

    That. But I tend to think that this is what is normal. I think that most of us used to eat so much that we avoided hunger, and that probably wasn't a healthy behavior. I tend to think, on the balance, "naturally thin" people wait to feel hungry before eating, while people with weight problems eat before they're hungry. We learn to think of hunger as an emergency. I'm learning to embrace it.

    Also agreed? Being over-hungry is not good and is either a sign that you're at too aggressive a deficit or that maybe you should play around with your macros a bit, or a combination of both.

    OMG, I was 100 lbs overweight and always had to be carrying some form of food with me in case *gasp* I should ever be hungry!
  • skm4jc
    skm4jc Posts: 62 Member
    First thing I always do is drink 8-16 oz of water, then try to wait 10 minutes. If I still feel hungry after that, I'll eat some celery or a cheese stick.
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    1. Are you eating at least SOME of your exercise calories back?
    2. I've found that eating more frequently throughout the day keeps me from feeling hungry.
    3. Also, Are you getting enough water? Sometimes when you aren't getting enough water, you feel hungry.
  • shan11180
    shan11180 Posts: 110 Member
    Thanks all! I've actually been drinking about 10 cups of water per day in an attempt to avoid the starving/hungry feeling, but it doesn't always work. I think mamapeach is probably right on when she said that we (overweight folks) tend to eat before we get hungry and find the hungry feeling as an emergency. I'll give it another week or two and then will definitely make some changes if I'm still finding myself in this same position.

    I don't really have a deficit goal yet as I'm trying to adjust to the changes before making more. :smiley:
  • shan11180
    shan11180 Posts: 110 Member
    MsMargie1116 wrote: »
    1. Are you eating at least SOME of your exercise calories back?
    2. I've found that eating more frequently throughout the day keeps me from feeling hungry.
    3. Also, Are you getting enough water? Sometimes when you aren't getting enough water, you feel hungry.

    I actually have been eating back almost all of them. It helps motivate me to do exercise - probably not the best way to motivate myself...
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    It seems to me that if you aren't hungry when you are dieting, you aren't doing it right. Ideally, your body will lead you to eat at a level that would maintain a healthy weight. When we lose weight, we are eating below that level.

    wow we agree..nice.

    I agree with this...I was only hungry when I was restricting to a too low of a calorie goal...once I got educated and realize I could still eat over 1200 I stopped being hungry and exercise became a way to eat my ice cream too...

    Are you really agreeing?

    Whilsy i might agree that hungr could be a sign of you eating a lower amount of calories I don't think you have to be hungry to be doing it right. You cna lose weight quite well and avoid hunger by untelligently using the calories you have available to find fod that will satiate you overall, it may be food type or it may be meal timings. Losing weight does not have to involve hunger, just eating burning more calories than you consume.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    Lots of nonstarchy vegetables to "fill the hole." That's the only way I kept from going mad during the weight loss phase.
  • soapsandropes
    soapsandropes Posts: 269 Member
    Being hungry is natural. If you are never hungry then you are eating too much (or there is something else wrong). I prefer the larger less frequent meal approach, then I get the full feeling and a period of hunger. If I did little meals every 2-3 hours I would constantly be grumpy and slightly hungry. The skeptic in me always side eyes ads that claim that people are never hungry when losing weight.

    Make sure that you are hydrated, getting some fiber, and sticking to your calorie goals. Find some things to distract you (exercise is great). Think about why you are hungry, are you emotionally eating?
  • shan11180
    shan11180 Posts: 110 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    Lots of nonstarchy vegetables to "fill the hole." That's the only way I kept from going mad during the weight loss phase.

    Probably a stupid question, but what would one consider nonstarchy vegetables?
  • shan11180
    shan11180 Posts: 110 Member
    soapsandropes wrote: »
    Being hungry is natural. If you are never hungry then you are eating too much (or there is something else wrong). I prefer the larger less frequent meal approach, then I get the full feeling and a period of hunger. If I did little meals every 2-3 hours I would constantly be grumpy and slightly hungry. The skeptic in me always side eyes ads that claim that people are never hungry when losing weight.

    Make sure that you are hydrated, getting some fiber, and sticking to your calorie goals. Find some things to distract you (exercise is great). Think about why you are hungry, are you emotionally eating?

    DEFINATLEY an emotional eater, but obviously trying to get a handle on it by paying more attention to the how's and when's of eating.

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