Hunger - how do you cope?

[ocd]

It sounds a lot like you have ulcers or some other stomach condition. Hunger is not a burning sensation, at least it sure isn't for me.

I strongly suggest seeking the opinion of a different medical professional than your regular doctor.

Quite frankly, you are getting nowhere with this thread.

 

[Jeanette401]

As a side note, I don't think most of us here consider a vegetarian or Atkins to necessarily equate to a healthy diet in the terms we think of. Not to say that they can't be healthy, but you can eat really unhealthily on both.

In your current plans are you 1) getting 1g of protein per lb of lean body mass? 2) Trying to eat lots of fibrous veggies when hungry? 3) Getting some protein and some fat and some fiber with every meal?

Personally I tend to experience hunger as either the stomach growling on empty (usually before my first meal of the day) or as a mild gnawing sensation. The burning in your stomach is not something I've ever experienced as hunger.

If you think leptin & grehlin are an issue, have you had them tested? There's also a study that just got picked up by the NYTimes that basically says that eating higher protein, and eating 3 meals a day within an 8 hour window both lead to higher fullness. I personally have found that the 8 hour window makes it somewhat easier - because if I get the urge to eat after the cut off time - too bad. And if I'm hungry before - too bad. Just wait until it's time and cope.

Also - instead of having a tsp of vinegar, you may consider getting pickled okra. Two of them are 5 calories, plus the have the vinegar and it may be a little more palatable. But that's not really related to the hunger issue.

 

[TheW8LossMaster]

I guess i was kind of vague. All i meant by "think like a thin person" was to be active. People who are fit and in shape lead active lives, and an active lifestyle makes it 10000000x easier to cope with hunger. Like anything it takes time to recondition your brain to feel hunger ONLY when you need to eat, but the more you stick to it the less hungry you will be.

But hey congrats on the weight loss. Obviously youre doing something right. But like they say no pain no gain. And every time you feel hungry look at it as hunger is youre weight leaving the body. And dont tell me losing all that weight doesnt make you even more motivated to continue!

 

[Jacklinger]

I guess i was kind of vague. All i meant by "think like a thin person" was to be active. People who are fit and in shape lead active lives, and an active lifestyle makes it 10000000x easier to cope with hunger. Like anything it takes time to recondition your brain to feel hunger ONLY when you need to eat, but the more you stick to it the less hungry you will be.

But hey congrats on the weight loss. Obviously youre doing something right. But like they say no pain no gain. And every time you feel hungry look at it as hunger is youre weight leaving the body. And dont tell me losing all that weight doesnt make you even more motivated to continue!

You're right, losing weight, is great motivation!








Also, not dying is pretty good motivation too. I really am beginning to understand the joys of being alive and would like to continue if possible.

 

[Jacklinger]

As a side note, I don't think most of us here consider a vegetarian or Atkins to necessarily equate to a healthy diet in the terms we think of. Not to say that they can't be healthy, but you can eat really unhealthily on both.

In your current plans are you 1) getting 1g of protein per lb of lean body mass? 2) Trying to eat lots of fibrous veggies when hungry? 3) Getting some protein and some fat and some fiber with every meal?

Personally I tend to experience hunger as either the stomach growling on empty (usually before my first meal of the day) or as a mild gnawing sensation. The burning in your stomach is not something I've ever experienced as hunger.

If you think leptin & grehlin are an issue, have you had them tested? There's also a study that just got picked up by the NYTimes that basically says that eating higher protein, and eating 3 meals a day within an 8 hour window both lead to higher fullness. I personally have found that the 8 hour window makes it somewhat easier - because if I get the urge to eat after the cut off time - too bad. And if I'm hungry before - too bad. Just wait until it's time and cope.

Also - instead of having a tsp of vinegar, you may consider getting pickled okra. Two of them are 5 calories, plus the have the vinegar and it may be a little more palatable. But that's not really related to the hunger issue.

OK I'll ask my doctor about ulcers but he never mentioned anything before when I talked to him about being hungry all the time.

 

[KaraCooks]

he never mentioned anything before when I talked to him about being hungry all the time.

Did you say you were hungry all the time, or did you describe the location and type of pain?

Honestly it seems like you WANT to be hungry - and you don't want to entertain the idea that there might be something else going on.

 

[Jacklinger]

Did you say you were hungry all the time, or did you describe the location and type of pain?

Honestly it seems like you WANT to be hungry - and you don't want to entertain the idea that there might be something else going on.

Why would I want to be hungry? If that were true, wouldn't I have asked for advice on how to increase hunger rather than cope with it?

Yes I told him I was hungry all the time and described how it felt. He didn't seemed concerned except that it would harm my attempts to lose weight and that's why he wanted me to get gastric bypass.

 

[heatherisadork]

Have you been evaluated for reactive hypoglycemiareactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugarlow blood sugar)? Get your blood sugar checked to make sure it is not high just to be sure there's no diabetes. Blood work doesn't really show if you are reactive hypoglycemic or not.
If you are reactive hypoglycemic make sure to cut the sweets. No sweetened sodas, juices, candy, pure sugar, etc. Make sure to have protein and complex carbohydrates (like whole grain/whole wheat breads). Lots of vegetables w/ your lunch and dinner. Fruit is fine as long are your eating a balance diet. Also, don't skip breakfast. Have eggs/egg beaters, whole grain cereals, etc. Eat snacks in between meals - low sugar granola, low sugar yogurt, fruit, cottage cheese, etc.

You can search for a hypoglycemic diet online. It's actually the same as a diabetic dietdiabetic diet.

Also, you are diabetic, which doesn't help. I high recommend you follow a diet strictly for diabetics. Your doctor, although he is your doctor, is not helping you. Sorry, but from what you've described, he isn't qualified for your condition/problem/concerns.

Diabetes in itself can cause hunger.

And you really do need to get into the mind set that just because you think you are hungry, doesn't mean it isn't emotional. It may not be but you should at least RESEARCH it and understand that emotional eating does in fact exist, what the person feels and craves is hunger/food however it may be caused from emotions. If you aren't eating a balanced diet or enough calories you will always feel hungry, especially as a diabetic.

If you are losing weight through restriction, you will be hungry. I am eating 1200-1500 calories a day (I'm a women and currently not very active since I broke my foot) and I do feel hungry often, however it's really easy to ignore by drinking tons of water and filling my stomach up with it, eating foods high in protein and fiber, with some healthy fat and carbs, and staying distracted by things such as reading books, education myself about nutrition, watching t.v., playing with the dogs, talking on the phone, taking a shower... there are plenty of things to keep oneself distracted.

You should pay attention to how you feel emotionally as well, it is possible to be addicted to food. And don't ramble about how "I understand it but I don't believe I've ever experienced it. I don't want to eat just because I'm sad or happy or apoplectic. I want to eat because I'm starving." because obviously you are NOT starving. And you know you aren't.

 

[Jacklinger]

Yes I have had my blood-work done and yes I am diabetic. I have type 2 diabetes. And it is probably partly to blame for my increased appetite.

I'm already monitoring my blood sugar levels and they have normalized in the past 6 months, but my appetite problem remains unchanged. I do avoid sugar. I never drink juice, soda, etc. I will rarely have something like a candy bar or small desert because it doesn't make my blood sugar spike any more as long as I take my medication with it.

My medication is Metformin. It's a glucophage. It's been described to me as a carb-blocker except it doesn't really block carbs, it binds with them and slows down their absorption. When I first started taking it, my appetite became normal, I stopped feeling hungry constantly and only got hungry around normal meal times. I lost about 60 pounds, but then, as usual, my body readjusted itself and my old appetite started coming back until I was back up to 300 again. That's when my doc asked me to consider gastric bypass or else I was probably going to die.

You take a shower when you're hungry? I've never done that. I'll add that to the list of things to try.

I'm still not convinced that my hunger is emotional. In fact, when I DO become emotional, my appetite tends to suppress, not increase. It's when I have no feeling in particular that my hunger is at it's worst. And the emotions don't make it go away, they just seem to distract me from wanting to eat. Sometimes I'll watch a really heavy drama but I can't do that every day because it's so darn emotionally draining.

I'm going to try that shower trick-- except my skin gets dry easy. Maybe not.

 

[heatherisadork]

My skin is pretty sensitive too, sometimes it burns after showers haha, but gotta keep up with that hygiene. You don't need to distract yourself with a show that will be sad and emotionally draining, go with comedy or action sometimes.

I know its hard, I'm hungry a lot while restricting calories, and I didn't eat anywhere near 5k calories a day. i went from around 2000-2500 a day to 1100-1500 a day and even that is a big change for anyone.

Honestly, if you've tried everything that has been suggested on this thread I'd still recommend seeing a counselor to address coping methods for this problem, doesn't mean this is emotional eating, it just means you are learning strategies to live with this.

 

[summer123]

I'd still question weather or not its emotional.
If you have eaten enough to maintain your weight and you are a healthy weight, your body has no real need for any more calories and I'd say its likely to be emotional.

You have to really consider all emotions- I react differently to each emotion, I think most people do (most people don't burst into tears when they feel bored, most people don't start shouting abuse when they feel happy...etc) each emotion will have you want to react differently.

Saying your hunger suppresses when you feel emotional- yes, but which emotion. Its likely when you feel overwhelmed or sad you may not want to eat, but what about lonely? or stressed? both emotions actually make us desire certain hormones which food (for one option) can bring.

As babies we eat and its normally our main care giver who feeds us. We have a hormonal resopnse to this and food becomes related to being close to someone. When we feel lonely we can sometimes crave food to get back that hormone and not feel lonely. Even if our rational mind tells us otherwise, it can be a deep seated thing and can lead to mindless eating or late night snacking. I'm not saying its the only reason but it can account for some peoples behaviors.

Then theres boredom. People can want to eat through boredom for every reason from stress (which in itself requires energy and out bodies know this, when it senses stress it can sometimes send out signals for carbohydrate style foods) or stimulation- something to do, to prepare, to think about, to focus on.

Then there are addictions (well known food addictions are things like sugar, salt, refined carbs, fast-food, caffiene... but there are others out there I'm sure!)

Theres nothing bad about you if you find your eating for emotional reasons, its something that happens to many people and I'd say the majority of people. Its normal, it can make it harder to lose weight, maintain a healthy diet or even cut back on crap but once your aware of it, it can mean the power is all in your own hands and I guess the responsibility of knowing that (and therefore having no one else to blame) can be too much for some people.

Look, get yourself checked out, make sure your fit and healthy, that your hormones are all in check and if there are any vitamins or nutrients your lacking.

Next look at your parents, your siblings, your grandparents- see if you can spot any trends, see if you can see if your bosy wants you to be at the higher or lower end of normal. This by no way a scientific way of doing things as genes can remain dorment for generations but it should give you some idea. Both my parents are overweight, both battle with an addiction to dense salty foods, my mum being into dairy my father prefering pork, refined carbs and anything else he can get his hands on. It shows me that I have the genetics to be at the higher end of the healthy BMI spectrum so means that if I am trying to lose weight, it will always feel like an uphill battle as my body pobably wants me to be much larger. Its something I am aware of, its something I will need to out up with and its the price I pay to have a body which I'd prefer to live with. (And one which can run faster!!). Genetics can play a part.

If all of these turn up a blank and your not losing weight, maybe you really do need to consider the emotional side of things- the reality is that if your eating/not eating to deal with your emotions, your not always going to be aware of what your eating/not eating about- its the nature of the game! If you were aware- (and I mean fully not sort of maybe have a vague idea), you'd not really be eating as much or even wondering why in the first place.

 

[jkristina]

Why? Again, here you are eating stupid amounts of food and then insisting that this is healthy. Why on earth would you eat FIVE CUPS of oatmeal and claim it's healthy??????

FOUR HUNDRED CALORIES????? How much olive oil did you use? 2 eggs is 140 cals. Olive oil is 120 cals per tablespoon. So if this came to 400 calories, then you're scrambling 2 eggs in 2.5 tbsp of olive oil .. they must be swimming. You might as well poach them in oil and let them slide down your throat w/out chewing. God. I'm shuddering at the thought of that much oil for 2 eggs.

A thousand calories? That must have been all bread and very little turkey .. because if you ate enough turkey to be satiated, you'd come in at significantly less than 1000 calories per sandwich.

Nothing but carbs which will burn off quickly and leave you hungry and in the middle of an insulin crash - totally leads to insatiable hunger.

There is no way that a turkey chopped steak should come to 700 calories unless it's chock full of fillers and crap.

A single medium potato is about 180 cals - w/out any toppings. What size potato are you eating that it's 300 cals? And agian, this is totally white starchy carbs that will lead to an insulin crash and yes, hunger.

Sugar and simple carbs. Another insulin crash.

It sure does. And it's in no way a healthy plan -loaded with simple carbs, sugars, white starches, and oils and very little protein, fiberous veggies, or healthy fats (other than the revolting amount of olive oil the eggs were swimming in).

Again, you seem to have no idea what a HEALTHY eating plan is .. no wonder you're hungry all the time. You're eating all these starchy, sugary carbs that burn off quickly and lead to total carb crashes and crazy hunger. If I ate like you do, I'd be starving all the time, too.

Where are the veggies? Where are the proteins? Where are the complex grains? Where are the things that will help you feel satiated and full and not cause your insulin to spike and crash over and over and over again?

Honestly I on't even know what to say anymore. Do you really really really think this is healthy? Do you really think that this is good for you? Do you really think that this is providing you with the nutrition you need? There's no one single vegetable here. Not one bit of healthy fats. And you wonder why you're hungry all the time? Do you REALLY think this is reasonable and healthy?????? Do you really not get why you're starving all the time on this? Do you not see that there's a middle ground between stupid starving yourself and eating ridiculous amounts of starchy, unhealthy, crazy food?

Wow...this response is 100% what I was going to say.

When you eat carbs your body is not sustained and, as a result of the insulin spike, you will left with extreme hunger. I would highly suggest cutting down on the carbs. 5 cups of oatmeal is way way too much. You should have no more than a 1/2 cup oats and add a protein or fat to this.

 

[jkristina]

Kara has exellent advice here.

Its also recommened to add MUFAs to your diet. I eat a jar of natural PB a week. I make sure to have a lot of EVOO everynight with my grilled chicken breast. Trail mix is also a fave. If you tend to pick at foods instead of having large meals, trail mix (raw, unsalted with dried berries, as these have the least amount of sugar) are palatble to most peoples bodies. Nuts are a great way to get healthy fats in your diet and sustain you for longer periods of time. I have lost over seventy pounds and not once have I ever counted calories. I am not a big believer in calorie counting. People tend to become overly focused on "certain numbers" which can actually lead to weight gain (thinking you must achieve a certain number everyday). Cals are like the scale IMO.....the numbers will NOT be the same everyday.

From the diet I see here, there is not balance. I am not a carb person at all, I only get a bit of rice and trail mix with 6-grain oats once a week. for me, this works just fine. My body responds better to a higher fat/protein plan. I workout everyday and have always maintained the energy level to sustain cardio DESPITE the fact I dont consume too many carbs.

I think you would benefit from eating smaller meals, please dont eat processed foods as these contain a ton of salt and addictives that will further halt weight loss. Try eating more healthy fats, not animal based fats as these are high in saturated and will have a negative effect on your LDL.

 

[Jacklinger]

Kara has exellent advice here.

Its also recommened to add MUFAs to your diet. I eat a jar of natural PB a week. I make sure to have a lot of EVOO everynight with my grilled chicken breast. Trail mix is also a fave. If you tend to pick at foods instead of having large meals, trail mix (raw, unsalted with dried berries, as these have the least amount of sugar) are palatble to most peoples bodies. Nuts are a great way to get healthy fats in your diet and sustain you for longer periods of time. I have lost over seventy pounds and not once have I ever counted calories. I am not a big believer in calorie counting. People tend to become overly focused on "certain numbers" which can actually lead to weight gain (thinking you must achieve a certain number everyday). Cals are like the scale IMO.....the numbers will NOT be the same everyday.

From the diet I see here, there is not balance. I am not a carb person at all, I only get a bit of rice and trail mix with 6-grain oats once a week. for me, this works just fine. My body responds better to a higher fat/protein plan. I workout everyday and have always maintained the energy level to sustain cardio DESPITE the fact I dont consume too many carbs.

I think you would benefit from eating smaller meals, please dont eat processed foods as these contain a ton of salt and addictives that will further halt weight loss. Try eating more healthy fats, not animal based fats as these are high in saturated and will have a negative effect on your LDL.

Thanks for the advice. I've done the health food thing though. Trail mix especially was huge vice for me at one time. I could go through a big bag every day. And don't get me started on natural peanut butter. I would spoon up the PB and roll it in trail mix and just eat it until half the jar was gone. Then I would feel hungry again a few hours later.

I've done tofu and spinach, salads, fruits as snacks, fruits as meals (ever seen a guy eat 30 oranges in a day?) vegetables as snacks (oh my carrot addiction!), and lots of other combinations of foods generally considered to be healthy. The only diet I haven't tried is an Indian food diet because for some reason I can't stand curry.

These days I eat mostly from the "healthy" menus at restaurants like Baja Fresh. If I do get a hamburger, it's usually all the food I will have for that day. I admit the healthier items do tend to make feel slightly more sated, but the core problem is just that the hunger doesn't go away for very long. There seems to be no magic food that can make me stop being hungry without eating a ton of whatever it is.

So I'm just on the look out for non-eating tips on coping with hunger, which there are plenty that I've read about here already. So far the things that work best for me are coffee, music, and going for a walk.

 

[MB11]

Yeah, I drink coffee. I've never really heard anything before about it helping, but it definitely does for me, and I guess if it does for the op as well there must be something to it. I will usually just drink it black in the afternoon if I get hungry (although in the morning I add about a teaspoon of coffee mate and some splenda).

 

[Jericho]

Thanks for the advice. I've done the health food thing though. Trail mix especially was huge vice for me at one time. I could go through a big bag every day. And don't get me started on natural peanut butter. I would spoon up the PB and roll it in trail mix and just eat it until half the jar was gone. Then I would feel hungry again a few hours later.

I've done tofu and spinach, salads, fruits as snacks, fruits as meals (ever seen a guy eat 30 oranges in a day?) vegetables as snacks (oh my carrot addiction!), and lots of other combinations of foods generally considered to be healthy. The only diet I haven't tried is an Indian food diet because for some reason I can't stand curry.

These days I eat mostly from the "healthy" menus at restaurants like Baja Fresh. If I do get a hamburger, it's usually all the food I will have for that day. I admit the healthier items do tend to make feel slightly more sated, but the core problem is just that the hunger doesn't go away for very long. There seems to be no magic food that can make me stop being hungry without eating a ton of whatever it is.

So I'm just on the look out for non-eating tips on coping with hunger, which there are plenty that I've read about here already. So far the things that work best for me are coffee, music, and going for a walk.

...dear lord. I think you need to take a moment to learn weight loss 101 or more importantly, smart eating. You are eating mostly from the healthy menu of Baja Fresh? How much cause those things aren't as healthy as you think. And if you eat a hamburger, that all you will eat?

No offense but your looking for a magic food not the be hungry is the least of your problems.

 

[Jacklinger]

...dear lord. I think you need to take a moment to learn weight loss 101 or more importantly, smart eating. You are eating mostly from the healthy menu of Baja Fresh? How much cause those things aren't as healthy as you think. And if you eat a hamburger, that all you will eat?

No offense but your looking for a magic food not the be hungry is the least of your problems.

Well people keep recommending magic foods to me. So far it's been about 5 pages of nothing but magic foods and telling me I'm crazy because I won't eat their magic foods. One would think that eventually one may begin to feel insulted. But stress causes cortisol production, which increases appetite, and that's no good at all.

 

[ChefChiTown]

Well people keep recommending magic foods to me. So far it's been about 5 pages of nothing but magic foods and telling me I'm crazy because I won't eat their magic foods. One would think that eventually one may begin to feel insulted. But stress causes cortisol production, which increases appetite, and that's no good at all.

You just answered your own question. How do you cope with your hunger? You deal with your stress. How do you deal with your stress? You man up and handle your business. Find ways to relax and, when you can't do that, suck it up and deal with it.

I don't know what's stressing you out and I don't know what's going on inside of your head, so I can't tell you exactly how to fix your problem - nobody can; that's 100% something only you would know. But, this thread hasn't been filled with 5 pages of people recommending that you eat magic foods; it's been filled with people trying to help you and you doing nothing but shooting them down by asking question after question after question and giving them excuse after excuse after excuse.

Not to be a dick, but, at some point, you're going to have to realize that you are ultimately the only one who can help yourself. No matter how much helpful advice you get, it's not going to do shit for you unless you man up and realize that whatever you're doing isn't working for you; and whatever you're doing obviously isn't anything that's been recommended to you.

Personally, my belief on the issue is that you just have to suck it up and deal with the hunger by demonstrating willpower. Think of it this way...

When food is in front of you, you eat because you want to. Not because you have to, but because you want to. The same goes for when you don't eat it. You don't eat it because you want to not eat it, not because you have to not eat it. And, want is all part of willpower.

 

[KaraCooks]

I so know I'm going to regret this, but ...

Well people keep recommending magic foods to me. So far it's been about 5 pages of nothing but magic foods and telling me I'm crazy because I won't eat their magic foods.

Show me exactly where anyone has suggested "Magic foods" and what they have suggested. Please provide exact quotes and links to the posts?

Because as near as I can tell, YOU are the one obsessed with magic foods. Everyone has recommended over and over that you try to get a balance of proteins, healthy fats, and complex grains in each meal and snack and instead you talk about things like eating baby carrots until you puke, 5 cups of oatmeal at a go, whole bags of granola, etc. ... as tho eating those things in simply ridiculous quantities is going to make you less hungry.

We have suggested to you that carb loading will cause you to feel hungrier faster as it causes insulin spikes. You've rejected that.

We've suggested that balancing your carbs with protein and healthy fats helps satiety (a scientifically proven fact). You've rejected that.

We've suggested that the fact that you feel "hunger" even though you feel that your stomach is full is indicative of the fact that what you're feeling is either emotional or habit driven. You've rejected that.

We've suggested that, based on the description of the "pain" that you describe as hunger, you might actually be dealing with something else - an ulcer, diverticulitis, some kind of irritable bowel syndrome. You've rejected that.

You've rejected every option offered to you; not because you've actually tried/researched those options, but because you are simply determined that you're going to be hungry and no one is going to give you a reason not to be ... because then you wouldn't have anything to suffer for.

You are the only one obsessed with "magic foods" here. You are the one who REFUSES to attempt healthy eating. Not healthy eating according to YOUR definition (a bag of carrots until you puke and tofu soup) but REAL healthy eating - a balance of proteins, fats, and complex carbs.

Quit trying to push your issues onto the people who are offering you real advice. You obviously don't really want advice. You want magic foods and sympathy.

Not gonna get either here.

 

[Jacklinger]

You just answered your own question. How do you cope with your hunger? You deal with your stress. How do you deal with your stress? You man up and handle your business. Find ways to relax and, when you can't do that, suck it up and deal with it.

I don't know what's stressing you out and I don't know what's going on inside of your head, so I can't tell you exactly how to fix your problem - nobody can; that's 100% something only you would know. But, this thread hasn't been filled with 5 pages of people recommending that you eat magic foods; it's been filled with people trying to help you and you doing nothing but shooting them down by asking question after question after question and giving them excuse after excuse after excuse.

Not to be a dick, but, at some point, you're going to have to realize that you are ultimately the only one who can help yourself. No matter how much helpful advice you get, it's not going to do shit for you unless you man up and realize that whatever you're doing isn't working for you; and whatever you're doing obviously isn't anything that's been recommended to you.

Personally, my belief on the issue is that you just have to suck it up and deal with the hunger by demonstrating willpower. Think of it this way...

When food is in front of you, you eat because you want to. Not because you have to, but because you want to. The same goes for when you don't eat it. You don't eat it because you want to not eat it, not because you have to not eat it. And, want is all part of willpower.

I thought you already recommended willpower in a previous post? I haven't forgotten already. Thanks though.

And yes, I am aware of the cortisol thing. That's why I mentioned it. I believe you're reading too much into an idle comment.