Why does someone still fell hungry when they don't need any more food?
miriamtob
Posts: 436 Member
This question was asked in another thread and it seemed worthy of its own topic. Have we really gotten to the root of the problem, saying overweight and obesity is caused by overeating? If someone feels hungry after there TDEE has been met, those hunger signals are a physiological response. What is the cause of the intense hunger?
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I would be hungry after I reach my TDEE if all I've eaten that day was carbs for example. If your diet is balanced and includes enough protein and healthy fats as well as some carbs you probably wont be hungry. If I go over my TDEE its never cause I'm hungry, but because I have cravings and just wanna eat.0
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Me, I eat because of stress, boredom, and emotional issues. If I didn't like food, I'd probably be okay eating around my BMR even with all my walking.0
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For me, a part of this whole process was learning what actual, true hunger was vs thinking I was hungry but was in fact wanting to eat because of other things. Learning to differentiate is one of the reasons I believe I've been so successful with maintenance. I can now turn down food (even favorites), if I'm not truly hungry and it doesn't phase me at all now to do this.0
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This question was asked in another thread and it seemed worthy of its own topic. Have we really gotten to the root of the problem, saying overweight and obesity is caused by overeating? If someone feels hungry after there TDEE has been met, those hunger signals are a physiological response. What is the cause of the intense hunger?
Not to derail from the original question, but as a corollary: Why do people eat even when they DON'T have hunger signals.
In my non-professional opinion, the answers to both questions are probably roughly equivalent...boredom, stress, simply because food tastes good, etc.0 -
Sarasmaintaining wrote: »For me, a part of this whole process was learning what actual, true hunger was vs thinking I was hungry but was in fact wanting to eat because of other things. Learning to differentiate is one of the reasons I believe I've been so successful with maintenance. I can now turn down food (even favorites), if I'm not truly hungry and it doesn't phase me at all now to do this.
This. I think a lot of people mistake wanting food as hunger. Not the same.
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is it hunger or appetite?
those are two very different things...
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Sometimes you just need water.0
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^yes, I've heard that the body could mistake thirst for hunger and it feels just like hunger! Just the fact that this can happen seems to indicate there could be other things that mix up the hunger signals.0
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Sometimes, I'm just hungry. I don't know what causes it. I've eaten plenty during the day, I'm not stressed or bored or tired or thirsty. Possibly, I used up a lot of energy working on a complex problem or something at work, if I know I haven't physically exerted myself. Who knows? When that happens, I just eat something.0
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is it hunger or appetite?
those are two very different things...
Food is a sensory experience. Having a "taste" for something, wanting the pleasure of it, or desiring a certain texture in the moment... and underlying the want is WHY you want. You're happy, you're sad, you're hurt, you're bored, you're depressed, you're lonely, you're angry.
That and as someone said upthread, sometimes you're thirsty. We were out the other day and I forgot to bring my water bottle. I knew I was thirsty, but I felt ravenous. And I know the difference between real hunger and false hunger now!
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Whatever it is low carb fixed it for me. I suspect it might be undiagnosed insulin resistance that caused my insatiable appetite. Whatever is wrong with me it is physical and not emotional or a "bad relationship with food".
If you can't delay a meal without feeling sick or going for a walk or drinking water (when you're not dehydrated) sates your desire to eat I think you probably have blood sugar issues that should be addressed. Just my opinion.0 -
mamapeach910 wrote: »is it hunger or appetite?
those are two very different things...
Food is a sensory experience. Having a "taste" for something, wanting the pleasure of it, or desiring a certain texture in the moment... and underlying the want is WHY you want. You're happy, you're sad, you're hurt, you're bored, you're depressed, you're lonely, you're angry.
That and as someone said upthread, sometimes you're thirsty. We were out the other day and I forgot to bring my water bottle. I knew I was thirsty, but I felt ravenous. And I know the difference between real hunger and false hunger now!
Agreed..
I am often drinking water through out the day instead of "snacking"...
I think some people "hear" a rumble and assume it's hunger, or crave something assume it's hunger,
With the water I think it keeps us "feeling" full.
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I've really been trying to be OK being hungry this time around. If my daily needs have been met, I don't need to have anything else. It's ok to go to bed wanting. I get to eat tomorrow.
Instead of, ooooh it's the evening, lets make a treat cause it'd taste good. I can plan for an after dinner snack, and be done. Kitchen closed, nothing more till morning. And I don't even wake up all that hungry. It seems the more I eat the more I think I need to eat. It's a weird pattern. I think that's one reason why people who have always overeaten, then find it's hard to reach their daily calorie limit. It is so easy to over eat, maybe because for them eating begets eating. So when eating less, they find they don't have the same hunger signals. What do I know?
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Hunger is mostly hormonal.0
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^yes, I've heard that the body could mistake thirst for hunger and it feels just like hunger! Just the fact that this can happen seems to indicate there could be other things that mix up the hunger signals.
It's seems natural that the body would signal hunger if thirst is ignored. Food can be a significant source of fluid intake.
Any number of hormonal disorders can trigger hunger as well. Fatigue, menstral cycles, stress, menopause and other things can mess with your hormones on a temporary basis and signal hunger, besides long term disorders.0 -
I have hunger and then "hunger".
I am hungry when I have not eaten enough, or when I have eaten the wrong proportions of fuel. Food is just fuel...so if I eat the wrong kind (empty carbs, not enough protein or fiber), then my body hasn't gotten what it needs and craves more.
But...I am "hungry" when I am bored, tired, stressed out, PMSing, on my period, etc. That's not a physiologic response to an actual need, that's an emotional response to a want which my body has been taught to interpret as hunger.
"Dieting" and positively changing my lifestyle is, in part, re-teaching my body to properly interpret these signals for what they are.0 -
was talking to a friend about this last night.
its all a mind game.....
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This question was asked in another thread and it seemed worthy of its own topic. Have we really gotten to the root of the problem, saying overweight and obesity is caused by overeating? If someone feels hungry after there TDEE has been met, those hunger signals are a physiological response. What is the cause of the intense hunger?
Depends, and understanding why if you are is important, I think.
For some (but this is rarely my issue), it could be because of food choice. I normally eat in a way where it's not, however. Looking at whether your diet needs more volume or a different mix of foods would be something to think of, though. I've definitely seen posters complain of hunger with a diary that I'd be really hungry on (lots of liquid calories or the like).
For others, it may be that they are perceiving hunger for some other feeling, like with those who stress eat or emotionally eat or boredom eat.
For the most part, though, I don't actually think people overeat because of hunger or even perceived hunger. I think more often it's because food tastes good and is there. Do you keep eating in a restaurant (if you ever do) because you are hungry? Or simply because there are no cues telling you to stop eating?
I have weak hunger/satiety cues, though, so my perception could be off.0 -
^this was a very interesting article. my thoughts were going toward to much fast food, restaurants availability, including our food stores/markets providing an array of "quick foods" to take home. We really do need to get back to the basics.0 -
grandmamere wrote: »
^this was a very interesting article. my thoughts were going toward to much fast food, restaurants availability, including our food stores/markets providing an array of "quick foods" to take home. We really do need to get back to the basics.
not really seems to be demonizing food "junk food" and blaming the food for obesity when in fact food is fuel and it doesn't matter where it comes from. Burger King or our own BBQ...calories are calories and when you over eat regardless of the types of food you will get fat....
I could eat at McDonalds every day for every meal and not gain weight...and meet my macros.0 -
Several people on this thread mentioned that eating certain foods triggered them to feel hungrier. Could it be this be touching on one of the underlying causes of overweight and obesity (i.e. eating the wrong foods desensitize certain hormone receptors)? Or do those foods simply taste too good and it's hedonic hunger? It's so interesting the variety of responses here!0
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Several people on this thread mentioned that eating certain foods triggered them to feel hungrier. Could it be this be touching on one of the underlying causes of overweight and obesity (i.e. eating the wrong foods)?
I doubt it...if I eat an apple I "feel" hungry in about 30mins..but I am not hungry I just ate.0 -
Several people on this thread mentioned that eating certain foods triggered them to feel hungrier. Could it be this be touching on one of the underlying causes of overweight and obesity (i.e. eating the wrong foods)?
I doubt it...if I eat an apple I "feel" hungry in about 30mins..but I am not hungry I just ate.
It's nonsensical to say feeling hungry has nothing to do with obesity. Surely you can see that?
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lemurcat12 wrote: »For the most part, though, I don't actually think people overeat because of hunger or even perceived hunger. I think more often it's because food tastes good and is there. Do you keep eating in a restaurant (if you ever do) because you are hungry? Or simply because there are no cues telling you to stop eating?
I can keep eating (and on occasion do) when food is convenient and delicious but only up to a point; I get full and eating more is no longer enjoyable. But I'll also spontaneously eat less following high calorie days. In other words, when my appetite is normal, I'm weight stable with little thought or effort on my part even eating delicious, highly palatable foods.
I believe food norms play a part (anytime, anywhere is a good time to eat kinda thing) but I think that accounts for being overweight not the extremes. It was absolutely scary how quickly and easily it was for my weight to spiral out of control -- I was always hungry and I had no stopping point. Then, of course, I had to rely on external cues and counting calories and the like.
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Is fat really the enemy? Our bodies are designed to store excess energy in the form of fat in the event we spend a period of time without a decent meal. It's why we are alive as a species today. The trick is understanding that and watching what you consume and adjust appropriately. Your body doesn't "need" to consome more calories than you need, but it wouldn't mind having extra energy around for a rainy day.0
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mmm... but one doesn't gain weight - necessarily - by eating large volumes of food.
I gained weight by drinking my calories (soda, juices, lattes, milkshakes, beers, wines, distills) and eating ice cream and chocolate goodies... every night. Small volumes of food packed with major calories. It had nothing to do with "hunger" for me, for the most part.
When you're unaware of the calorie content in things such as peanuts or fudgy, truffly cookies, you can really go (soaring) over maintenance =/0 -
grandmamere wrote: »
^this was a very interesting article. my thoughts were going toward to much fast food, restaurants availability, including our food stores/markets providing an array of "quick foods" to take home. We really do need to get back to the basics.
I almost never eat fast food, so it played zero role in me getting fat. I did do some overeating at restaurants--too easy to think that it's a special occasion so be indulgent and ignore that it's something you do 1-2 times per week--and yet I also lost weight while continuing to go to the same restaurants as often. I simply changed my approach to ordering. "Quick foods" at grocery stores have never been a temptation.
I do think the broader issue is that food is always easily available for most of us, including foods we find tempting. This presents something we have to learn to deal with in a way we wouldn't have had to when food required time and effort before it could be available/eaten and when food would have been primarily consumed as part of a family meal.
It does help me to focus on eating regular meals, not snacking, and cooking what I eat (with exceptions, like the restaurants and I still buy lunch quite often). I think people have to figure out what makes it easier for them.0 -
AlabasterVerve wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »For the most part, though, I don't actually think people overeat because of hunger or even perceived hunger. I think more often it's because food tastes good and is there. Do you keep eating in a restaurant (if you ever do) because you are hungry? Or simply because there are no cues telling you to stop eating?
I can keep eating (and on occasion do) when food is convenient and delicious but only up to a point; I get full and eating more is no longer enjoyable. But I'll also spontaneously eat less following high calorie days. In other words, when my appetite is normal, I'm weight stable with little thought or effort on my part even eating delicious, highly palatable foods.
I believe food norms play a part (anytime, anywhere is a good time to eat kinda thing) but I think that accounts for being overweight not the extremes. It was absolutely scary how quickly and easily it was for my weight to spiral out of control -- I was always hungry and I had no stopping point. Then, of course, I had to rely on external cues and counting calories and the like.
I simply cannot claim I was overweight because I was hungry. I wasn't. I misused food and I enjoyed food and I ate too fast (like in a restaurant where one keeps eating and then regrets it vs. stopping and waiting 10 minutes and realizing you don't need any more or simply deciding in advance to eat a particular amount).0 -
This question was asked in another thread and it seemed worthy of its own topic. Have we really gotten to the root of the problem, saying overweight and obesity is caused by overeating? If someone feels hungry after there TDEE has been met, those hunger signals are a physiological response. What is the cause of the intense hunger?
I'm going to say that a lot of people overeating aren't doing so because of actual hunger but rather habit, boredom, stress, emotional issues, etc.
Beyond that, a lot of people's food choices aren't the most satiating. I can eat a bag of potato chips at the expense of a couple thousand calories and easily go over my calorie targets while likely still being hungry at some point throughout the day...I'd be hard pressed to do that with an actual potato.0
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