Hunger sensation even after eating?
JellyyBeanz
Posts: 22 Member
Hey guys, this is a problem that I’ve experienced on and off the last 2 years or so.
So I’ll eat a meal or snack and then within half an hour I’ll get this feeling in my stomach as if I’m extremely hungry which quite often leads to me eating more until I feel literally stuffed. Obviously not good for weight loss or health.
It’s very annoying because I’ll know in my mind that I shouldn’t be hungry because I just ate but the physical sensation is so uncomfortable.
Should I maybe see a doctor? I also drink a lot of Coke Zero so I’m thinking of cutting that out in case it’s somehow affecting my digestion. Please let me know if you have any other advice.
So I’ll eat a meal or snack and then within half an hour I’ll get this feeling in my stomach as if I’m extremely hungry which quite often leads to me eating more until I feel literally stuffed. Obviously not good for weight loss or health.
It’s very annoying because I’ll know in my mind that I shouldn’t be hungry because I just ate but the physical sensation is so uncomfortable.
Should I maybe see a doctor? I also drink a lot of Coke Zero so I’m thinking of cutting that out in case it’s somehow affecting my digestion. Please let me know if you have any other advice.
2
Replies
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you need to hydrate a lot more. dehydration can feel like hunger but without the stomach growling.
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This will be somewhat controversial here, but here it is: There is a good amount of observational research that people who drink diet soda regularly are more likely to overweight than those who do not. There's a lot of disagreement about why that is, and if diet soda actually has any effect, or if it is just an association (people who drink diet soda may be more likely to have other habits that cause obesity, so it is not the soda itself but rather just an association between the two). But if there is any association between the two, there are several theories as to why, as obviously diet soda doesn't have calories, and only a calorie surplus can make you gain weight. But one theory is that artificial sweeteners can trigger hunger receptors, so it makes you feel hungrier, which causes you to eat more, which is what would cause the weight gain.
So since you are constantly hungry and also drink a lot of diet soda, I would experiment with cutting that off and seeing if that makes an improvement.
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Some people find that certain macro proportions help them feel full. For most people, protein, fat, and/or fiber help with satiety. Which one works best for you is a matter of personal preference that you would need to determine through trial and error.
I personally get hungry quickly if I eat a very carb heavy meal. However, some people find that carbs help them feel full, so my experience isn't true for everyone.10 -
This is a long-shot and unlikely, but I had this same issue and discovered after an unexpected hospitalization that I had chronic stomach inflammation and a duodenal ulcer. With treatment, those gnawing "hunger" pangs after eating have disappeared. I think seeing your doctor is a splendid idea.12
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This will be somewhat controversial here, but here it is: There is a good amount of observational research that people who drink diet soda regularly are more likely to overweight than those who do not. There's a lot of disagreement about why that is, and if diet soda actually has any effect, or if it is just an association (people who drink diet soda may be more likely to have other habits that cause obesity, so it is not the soda itself but rather just an association between the two). But if there is any association between the two, there are several theories as to why, as obviously diet soda doesn't have calories, and only a calorie surplus can make you gain weight. But one theory is that artificial sweeteners can trigger hunger receptors, so it makes you feel hungrier, which causes you to eat more, which is what would cause the weight gain.
So since you are constantly hungry and also drink a lot of diet soda, I would experiment with cutting that off and seeing if that makes an improvement.
Yes, diet soda consumption leading to increased hunger doesn't seem to be the experience of a lot of posters here, but studies do show that this is indeed a thing for a significant amount of people.
OP - if your protein goal is at least 15-20% and your fat goal around 30%, and you are hitting those regularly, along with at least 20 grams of fiber per day, cutting out diet soda would indeed be something to try.9 -
kshama2001 wrote: »This will be somewhat controversial here, but here it is: There is a good amount of observational research that people who drink diet soda regularly are more likely to overweight than those who do not. There's a lot of disagreement about why that is, and if diet soda actually has any effect, or if it is just an association (people who drink diet soda may be more likely to have other habits that cause obesity, so it is not the soda itself but rather just an association between the two). But if there is any association between the two, there are several theories as to why, as obviously diet soda doesn't have calories, and only a calorie surplus can make you gain weight. But one theory is that artificial sweeteners can trigger hunger receptors, so it makes you feel hungrier, which causes you to eat more, which is what would cause the weight gain.
So since you are constantly hungry and also drink a lot of diet soda, I would experiment with cutting that off and seeing if that makes an improvement.
Yes, diet soda consumption leading to increased hunger doesn't seem to be the experience of a lot of posters here, but studies do show that this is indeed a thing for a significant amount of people.
OP - if your protein goal is at least 15-20% and your fat goal around 30%, and you are hitting those regularly, along with at least 20 grams of fiber per day, cutting out diet soda would indeed be something to try.
I havent drunk them for years but it used to have that affect on me. I also notice that my partner has put on a bit of weight since drinking of what seems like gallons of diet coke.
I also notice that indigestion can have 'hunger pain' type elements to it at times.5 -
I used to feel like that too until I really cut back on processed foods/refined carbs. Not sure what you eat in general, but I like to have a protein source with every meal and snack. So if I want fruit for a snack, I’ll have peanut butter or cottage cheese or Greek yogurt with it, for example. Keeps me going for much longer. I used to drink Diet Pepsi a lot, but I’ve lost the taste for it. Now it’ll mostly water and tea. I still have my coffee in the morning though, it keeps me sane.
p.s. you could have your doctor check your A1C levels. Mine was in the pre-diabetic range, but now completely normal for the last year and a half and I don’t get that feeling between meals anymore.5 -
JellyyBeanz wrote: »Hey guys, this is a problem that I’ve experienced on and off the last 2 years or so.
So I’ll eat a meal or snack and then within half an hour I’ll get this feeling in my stomach as if I’m extremely hungry which quite often leads to me eating more until I feel literally stuffed. Obviously not good for weight loss or health.
It’s very annoying because I’ll know in my mind that I shouldn’t be hungry because I just ate but the physical sensation is so uncomfortable.
Should I maybe see a doctor? I also drink a lot of Coke Zero so I’m thinking of cutting that out in case it’s somehow affecting my digestion. Please let me know if you have any other advice.
Have you not mentioned this to your doctor or have you also not been to a doctor in the last 2 years? Either way it is time to see a doctor.
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I would talk to your doctor about possibly having Ghrelin Resistance. Just like one can become resistant to Insulin, you can also become resistant to Ghrelin. It's talked about briefly in this article, though they don't specifically call it Ghrelin Resistance. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-fixes-for-weight-hormones#section34
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I'm frequently hungrier after I eat than before. It's very annoying. I am 2+ years into maintenance.9
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For me, it usually means that my macros are off - especially protein. My body is telling me that it needs something different.5
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I feel that way when i eat some fruit or vegetables. i'm not sure why.1
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The fattest friend I ever had drank tons of diet soda.14
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Is your meal or snack filling? Is it nutrient dense? I could eat a 200 cal spoon of peanut butter and be hungry 30 mins later, or a giant bowl of chopped zucchini with hummus and be good for hours.
What happens when you wait it out?4 -
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Have you tried a hot beverage about the time you get hungry? Some herbal or decaf tea, or cocoa? It doesn't necessarily cure the hunger pains, but it certainly curbs it a bit. Also quite civilized.0
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Some people find that certain macro proportions help them feel full. For most people, protein, fat, and/or fiber help with satiety. Which one works best for you is a matter of personal preference that you would need to determine through trial and error.
I personally get hungry quickly if I eat a very carb heavy meal. However, some people find that carbs help them feel full, so my experience isn't true for everyone.
This is what I was going to say as well. I've always had the sensation of hunger lingering in the background, even after just eating. Earlier this year I decided to switch up my macros split and went from a high carb, low fat, lowish protein split, to a lower carb, high fat, moderate protein split (% C20, F55, P25), and it's made a huge difference in my satiety levels-to the point where I have to now be intentional about eating because I'm just not hungry.
OP, it might be worth playing around with different macros splits and see if a different one than what you're currently doing makes a difference?5 -
I have to agree with @zeejane4 and @apullum. The more carb I eat the hungrier I seem to be. I can't go too high in fat because I have no gall bladder but I try to keep my carbs a bit lower than MFP seems to recommend. Every time I find that I'm struggling I can almost always track it back to a higher carb intake. I know not everyone is the same but that's my experience.7
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This is a long-shot and unlikely, but I had this same issue and discovered after an unexpected hospitalization that I had chronic stomach inflammation and a duodenal ulcer. With treatment, those gnawing "hunger" pangs after eating have disappeared. I think seeing your doctor is a splendid idea.
It may not be such a long shot. “Extreme hunger” after eating is unusual, I would think. I have a somewhat similar story, although in my case they found evidence of past ulcers (stomach polyps) and we have a family history of excess acid production. I have on occasion felt that extreme hunger feeling when I’ve eaten plenty, although mine has always been in the middle of the night (or maybe that’s just when it was memorable). There was a thread here last year where a whole bunch of people chimed in with similar experiences. Someone said it happened to them after eating “junk food”. After reading that I cut down on carbs later in the day. It’s hardly proof positive but I think it helped.
Not at all suggesting you should modify your diet rather than see a doctor. If it IS stomach ulcers you should get proper care.
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