What about hunger?

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  • rasp12
    rasp12 Posts: 17
    I found that I was hungry when I started in early January before I joined here. For breakfast, I usually have cooked oatmeal with a tbsp of bran and wheat germ added plus fat free yogurt with fresh fruit and tea. I was really hungry by 10:30am. I suddenly realized that I could try 1/4 cup of cottage cheese and reduce the yogurt to 1/2 cup and increase my protein. It worked very well and I have stayed on top of the hungries ever since.
    There is a drawing in kind of feeling as the weight came off but even that has eased lately as my body adjusted to the lower carb intake during the rest of the day.
    Try modifying your breakfast to see if that eases the hungries first.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    So we know calories in vs. calories out, BMR, TDEE, macronutrients....and on and on. On paper we know what our body needs. But if I am giving my body everything it needs, why am I extreemly hungry at times? Not just emotional hunger....stomach growling, low blood sugar, cranky as hell. What role does hunger play in this weight loss journey? Do we just ignore physical hunger? If I eat more when I'm hungry, I go way over my "magic number" of calories. Thoughts anyone?

    I had the same problem starting out, then I found out I wasn't REALLY giving my body everything it needed. My carbs were too high, and my fats and proteins were too low. I took some fruit out of my diet and reapportioned in some lean meat and cheese to fill that caloric void, and my macros were much closer to being in balance.

    Voila!!!! I'm not a starving hungerbeast all the time, it's MUCH easier to keep within my goals, and I'm losing weight without (too much) discomfort.

    Now, I won't say there aren't days I go over. I do. I won't say there aren't days I'm a bit peckish. I am from time to time. Cinnamon gum helps a LOT.

    EDIT: I just looked at your diary - if you're logging correctly you are VERY short on proteins.
  • spngebobmyhero
    spngebobmyhero Posts: 823 Member
    eat healthy fats. you won't get the blood sugar, hangry feeling
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Could be that your TDEE isn't properly calculated for your activity level, maybe you went on the low side to be safe? Or didn't include your exercise? Or, as some others have pointed out, it could be about the quality of your food - lean proteins and healthy fats are great for helping you feel full longer as they tend to be harder to digest than carbs. (or rather they're processed differently)

    From what you've said about how food is working for you, you sound like me. If I eat a meal of mostly carbs, like cereal, milk and banana slices for breakfast, I'll be starving and woozy in a couple hours. Pretty much all of my snacks and meals contain protein - I couldn't get through my day without it. And, as someone else suggested, swap out things like diet snacks and granola bars for whole foods like fruits and veggies. They tend to stick with you longer and are a more natural source of sugar and fiber.

    My only other suggestion - if you're only eating three big meals, try eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day.
    Good luck!
  • Flamenquero
    Flamenquero Posts: 132
    Drink water if you feel hungry. You might actually be thirsty.
  • kalynn06
    kalynn06 Posts: 368 Member
    If I just feel like I have an empty stomach, I drink herbal tea. since it makes me feel full. If I feel crabby, lightheaded and hungry, I eat whether it will put me over my calories or not. If it keeps happening, examine your goals to see if they are too aggressive and look at what you are eating. Eating high carbs without balancing it with adequate protien and fat makes me a starving mess.

    Food is fuel. Compromising your ability to live your daily life by denying your body fuel is neither healthy nor sustainable.
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