So Hungry...

kitkat536
kitkat536 Posts: 27 Member
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm at a loss recently. I have been eating anywhere between 1200 and 1400 cals each day. I'm exercising and drinking tons of water, however, I'm still so hungry!!! I eat tons of protein, some fats, and carbs, but I can't be satiated. I keep wanting to eat and eat and eat.... but I'm resisting. If I start, I feel like I won't stop.
I need some ideas and help to ignore these cravings or some why to satisfy them.

Ideas???

Replies

  • Kimberlybiscuithead
    Kimberlybiscuithead Posts: 3
    Well done on losing 6lbs so far! When I start getting cravings I drink a cup of Peppermint tea..........I have it coming out of my ears at this stage!
  • stanvoodoo
    stanvoodoo Posts: 1,023 Member
    Can't see your diary so kind of hard to tell. Open the diary then maybe we can see if we can help! Thanks a Bunch!
  • 5weeks
    5weeks Posts: 38
    Are you eating your exercise calories?
  • amandavictoria80
    amandavictoria80 Posts: 734 Member
    BUMP on this one. I am the same way. Sometimes it feels like I just can't get full.

    However, something I have found works good is drinking a smoothie with protein powder (I recommend Jillian Michaels Pure Protein) with your meal. Somehow having the thicker drink with the protein works well.

    :D

    Feel free to add me if you want! :) Can't have too many friends.
  • christy_frank
    christy_frank Posts: 680 Member
    Are you also eating your exercise calories? What is your protein/carb ratio? Are you eating more protein than carbs at every meal & snack? When you are hungry, do you drink 2 glasses of water? Are you getting enough water?
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    Make sure you eat back your exercise calories
  • sarahlyzzibeth
    sarahlyzzibeth Posts: 108
    I'm having the same problem! normally i'm fine, but for the past few days, it seems like nothing i eat satiates me. And I've been eating good quality, nutritional food and drinking plenty of water and I actually haven't had time to work out so it's not like my muscles are screaming for nutrition or something to repair themselves... idk what to do! I think maybe it's because my acid reflux is in full swing and I'm digesting stuff faster? (well, not digesting, but the food in my stomach is dissolving faster)
  • TheKitsune6
    TheKitsune6 Posts: 5,798 Member
    I drink coffee and I also have a cheat day every couple of weeks where I don't worry about calories. Keeps me from binging because I have something to look forward too and prevents plateau's
  • wanderingwest
    wanderingwest Posts: 42
    I had the same problem. I noticed after awhile my body got used to the new way of eating. I also took note of the time of day that I was feeling hungriest and saved some calories for it. Other than that keep making those healthy choices and drinking that water.
  • TheresaRichardson
    TheresaRichardson Posts: 167
    Curious if you are eating at least 1/2 of your exercise calories? Your body may need the extra fuel for exercise. Congratulations on the weight loss. Keep up the good work! Feel free to add me as a friend.
  • kitkat536
    kitkat536 Posts: 27 Member
    Can't see your diary so kind of hard to tell. Open the diary then maybe we can see if we can help! Thanks a Bunch!



    I opened it up. Didn't realize it was hidden.
  • theresalizotte
    theresalizotte Posts: 29
    Try munching on some carrot sticks and celery. It gives you that munching feeling and also can fill you up. Try other fibery things like apples . The fiber can help fill you up.
  • Voncreepy2
    Voncreepy2 Posts: 1,450 Member
    You may need to eat a healthy snack. If your body is truly hungry you need to eat. I like an apple or a handful of nuts. They fill you up.
  • katekrise
    katekrise Posts: 178 Member
    What types of foods are you eating (low fiber/high fat/calorie dense?) and how much water are you drinking? Are you eating back your exercise calories? I like to supplement lots of low calorie veggies into my diet to help with feeling full. Ex. if you eat 1/2 a cucumber with a meal or 1/2 a green pepper dipped in hummus. It really helps with feeling full.
  • bjohs
    bjohs Posts: 1,225 Member
    If you haven't already done so, go to the top of your page and click on "Settings". Then click on "Diary settings". Add "Sugar" to your Nutrient Tracking list and save the changes. This will help you monitor your sugar intake on a daily basis. Without seeing your food diary, a suggestion would be to make sure your sugar and carb counts aren't too high. Those things will be absorbed by your body quickly and make you "feel" hungrier than you really are. Another thing to check is to drink water when you feel hungry. Although you are drinking lots of water each day, your body may be becoming dehydrated at the time the hunger sets in. Our bodies confuse dehydration with hunger. Drink a glass of water and wait 20 minutes. If you are still hungry, have a snack.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    If it's true hunger, I'd say you're not eating enough. Or,, atlhough you say you get plenty of protein, it might not be enough. From what I understand, the standard level that MFP gives us is a bit low, especially for someone who is exercising regularly.

    :nevermind the rest, you already opened up your diary:
  • atanner3
    atanner3 Posts: 6
    How many veggies are you getting? When I have that hunger feeling and I know that i've ate my calories I turn to some raw veggies. Carrots are my personal favorite but you could use pepper sticks, cucumbers, celery, etc. They are high in water and fiber to help you feel full, and you crunch on them for awhile without eating too many calories.
  • zenchild
    zenchild Posts: 680 Member
    Try eating a mint or a small piece of dark chocolate after a meal. That little bit of sweetness tells your brain that you're done eating.
  • Raguirim
    Raguirim Posts: 17 Member
    You might want to make sure you eat 5 to 6 times a day. Which will equal out to breakfast lunch dinner and 2-3 snacks. I had the same problem, it also helps if you plan your meal a day or two ahead that way you know what your going to eat and don't go over and at the same time you won't be too hungry because your eating every 2-4 hours. Hopes this helps
  • LeonaB17
    LeonaB17 Posts: 304
    Looked at your diary - if you are hungry - eat some of your exercise calories! Simple as that. You don't have to eat all of them - but it looks like you have a lot of calories left over every day - eat some of them if you're hungry.
  • bjohs
    bjohs Posts: 1,225 Member
    Now that I can see your diary, here is my first suggestion:

    Your breakfast is very light... too light. Some days you even skip breakfast. When I started getting between 400-500 calories at breakfast (with at least 30g of protein), about 300-350 at lunch and 300-350 at dinner... my weight started to come off quickly. Add snacks in between meals to hold you over so you can make smart choices.

    I also see you do a few processed meals like HC steamers, etc. Add "Sodium" to your Nutrient Tracker and watch those numbers. Frozen meals, cheese, low fat or fat free foods, sugar free foods, etc. are all high in sodium.
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    I looked at your diary and I think I would be hungry too. Definitely need to bulk up your meals with veggies and fruit--they are low-calorie and fill you up.

    Great snack I love is plain or vanilla yogurt with PB2 (powdered, defatted peanut butter -- delicious!!) mixed in, it's like eating peanut butter pudding!! you can order PB2 online -- check it out, it's amazing and so many fewer calories than regular peanut butter.

    Check out my diary for food ideas; I eat about 1600-2000 calories a day, work out 6 days a week, and I like to think I eat a very healthy mix (skip back over my last weekend bc I was away and didn't log this past Thurs-Sun).

    blessings.
  • eeeekie
    eeeekie Posts: 1,011 Member
    I would say stop eating the packaged dinners/lunches from Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice. The chicken isn't really good chicken, it's processed and won't keep you full. Plus, if you make your own chicken you can eat more for less calories and add a veggie with it. Bulk up that dinner for less sodium also! Those dinners/lunches are packed full of sodium. Sodium makes you retain water which will show lack of loss on the scale. Try to turn on your sodium and track it for a week and see how that goes.

    Watch Sodium
    Up Water Intake
  • jujubean1992
    jujubean1992 Posts: 462 Member
    fiber and protein fill you up! and when your full you won't wanna munch.

    EDIT: i peeked at you diary and instead of the dinner as i've seen a couple other posts say you should just makke it your self. boneless skinless chicken breast is cheep at the meat market i go to and they have tons of pre marinated mixtures i usually buy 2 breast of each kind and have them cut it into tenderloins for me then i just pop it in the oven at 350-400 depending on if it;s thawed or not for any where to 45 mins to an hour 15 minutes. i just cook all of it then have leftovers for later. and they are delish! also you can buy a pack of 8-9 tenderloins at wal-mart for around $9 where i live and marinade it yourself. i've also just put them in the oven plain with a little butter and a lot of herbs and spices and it's delish that way too.

    also adding a sodium to your tracker is a good idea too, it looks like your diet coke has nothing but really it has tons of sodium the only drinks that totally zero out are water unsweetened tea (brewed your self not bottled or canned) and black coffee.
  • hazelnutflav
    hazelnutflav Posts: 391 Member
    when you find youself getting hungry make a healthy salad followed by two bottles of water that should do the trick just be sure that the salad is a healthy one, if you need help creating a healthy one ask for ideas.

    this always works for me
    1)romaine lettus
    2) cherry tomatoes 4
    3)half of a cucumber
    4)4 black olives
    5)lite italian dressing in a seperate container used for dipping
    6)4oz of any deli meat, tuna,salmon,chicken breast,cubed ham, etc..what ever you like
    7)orange pepper 8 slices
    8)two 16oz bottles of water, drink the water until your hunger stops
  • Ruchell
    Ruchell Posts: 236 Member
    Sometimes I'm finding that what feels like intense hunger is really just one craving and once it's met it goes away. Unlike you, I don't ignore the hunger but I was filling it with healthy, low-cal foods and not understanding how I could still be hungry. Sometimes one cookie or a few salty crackers is just enough to curb it, doesn't devastate my calories for the day and wasnt worth feeling miserable and starving over! I also second a mug of hot tea--something about the warm drink helps when I'm feeling hungry between meals.
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