Trying to eat healthy and still hungry..

P

Poe1

New member
So I'm and 18 year college student from Canada who is trying to eat healthy and lose weight but is having some problems...

The problem is not that I'm having trouble exercising or eating healthy, it's that I'm ALWAYS hungry. Even after I have a good meal, I'm starving. It doesn't matter what I eat... I haven't given into any craving, I'm just sick of being uncomfortable all the time...

My mom thinks it could be because I've cut out all junk food that my body is confused... is this possible? If so, will it go away in a little while once my body gets used to less calories and more energy being used?
 
Got a few thoughts on this.

One, it could be true that you're having some difficulty adapting and you're getting cravings for junk and sugar. If so, stay strong, it'll fade with time (I find it never goes away, but I get such cravings rarely).

Are you having a good mix of protein and complex carbohydrates at each meal? Is there soluble fibre in your foods? Both of these may help you stay full for longer. In general, how do you choose your food? Personally, I make satisfaction (including but not limited to not feeling hungry) a priority of mine. Could you try experimenting with different foods to see what helps keep you full? (Porridge/ oatmeal is a very good one for me. Same with rye bread, although watch the sodium on that) Also, if you choose foods that aren't calorie dense, they'll literally fill your stomach, contributing to feelings of being full (vegetables are especially good for this- I steam mine).

Other people suggest drinking lots of water- I find this to be a very short term solution and one which leaves me running to the bathroom a lot, but most people don't drink enough water, so it's certainly worth a go.

Do you snack? I'm not trying to suggest you break your diet, don't worry. I'm thinking of my own experience. I need to eat quite regularly or else I start to feel sick (not even necessarily hungry, more dizzy and feeling like I'm going to faint). I incorporate this into my own diet by making these healthy choices- fruit, vegetables, a low calorie cracker with something on top (tomato, cottage cheese). This may also help stave off feelings of hunger until the next meal.

How are you determining what's healthy? I know it's not trendy or anything, but I calorie count, and that way I can justifiably eat when I feel like it, as long as the numbers add up. (I also try to stick to the nutrional guidelines for the UK, which is where I live)

Finally, are you still growing? (At 18 this is possible- though much more likely if you're male than if you're female) If this is the case, I'd advise talking to a doctor about this as you don't want to hamper your development.

Hope this is of some use.
 
Thanks for your response! I am a girl, and I'm pretty sure I'm done growing, I've been 5'6'' for almost three years now, haha.

As for what I'm eating... I did notice there is a lot of dairy in my diet right now, and I'll be going to the store later to get some fruit and grains. I'm trying to avoid as much sodium as possible on the labels, and I look for a low calorie number with a high protein number. I did get some bananas the other day, but I dropped them on my way home so now they're all bruised and I'm not wanting to eat them.

I find water helps for about an hour, but I don't drink nearly enough water anyway.

I do snack, I usually have a nutrigrain bar or some cheesestrings, the latter of which aren't that filling.

I'm figuring it is junk food craving, which I'm avoiding fairly well. I did have to eat fast food once this week, but I'm going to leave my "cheating" to a once a week thing.

Thanks for your help!
 
I'd advise swapping out the nutrigrain bar. I haven't looked at one in ages so they may be better now, but the last time I looked they were just hyped up junk food. I'd opt for a low calorie cracker with some tomato on it or something like that (or a bag of low calorie rice crackers- not sure how low calorie the sweet flavoured ones are). They're probably also reasonably high GI.
 
Also, re fast food, are you in an area where they have to post the calories of their meals? (I wish they'd do that here) If so, I would choose based on the calories in a meal (if not- is it salad based? how is the meat cooked? how much meat is there? that sort of thing). I try to plan meals out quite carefully, but I think I might be becoming (just a wee bit) neurotic about it sometimes. :leaving:
 
OK, thanks! I only have one or two left so I'll finish them up.... I just assumed they were healthy :/ I do like crackers and peanut butter, I'll have to get some of that...

And yes, they do have to post the nutrition info in Canada, so I'll be sure to look at that next time I go out!
 
For filling snacks, maybe don't feel guilty if you have multiple snacks between meals if you keep them small? I'd particularly advocate fruit and vegetables for this. For example (taking examples from my own food diary), a 150g apple (an ounce is 28.35g, sorry, I work in metric) has 75 calories, a 100g kiwi fruit contains 50 calories, 250g normal sized tomatoes contain 45 calories, 300g carrots contain 123 calories (about the same as one of those nutrigrain bars, apparently!), a 225g orange contains just 110.2 calories, 265g spinach contains 65 calories. All of these (to a greater or lesser extent) are filling, and some of them really hit my sweet cravings (particularly the kiwi fruit, orange, apples, and tomato). This has been working really well for me- I'd experiment along those lines.
 
Here's my thoughts on your problem.

First, start a food diary in the right section. And try to say how much food you eat. If your mum usually serves your food, start serving it yourself and measure things onto your plate so that you report them accurately. And you will have the benefit of know also how much you are eating. You might not be eating enough. Be rigourous, report everything including every cup of tea of coffee and at least once say what you put in it. This way we can give you feedback on what you are eating.

2. Again if your mum is cooking, ask what's in the food. How much oil, fat, flour, sugar especially.

3. I agree with drinking water. I am finding it very good. I drink by the cup. Starting with a cup when i get up in the morning. In the first few days or week of your diary, write down what time you drink the water and how much. Drink before or after each meal. Drink every time you have a break going somewhere. Some people over do it. If you are going to the loo so often its a real nuisance, cut back. YOu should not have to get up in he middle of the night for the loo. I believe that often people eat when in fact they are thirsty. I know i used to do that. I also used desire a cup of coffee when in fact, i was thirsty. But because I had the habit of coffee and drinking water it didin't feed into my consciousness that it was water that i actually needed. I don't think i started drinking water as any sort of habit till i was in my 30s.

4. Visit your gp. There could be hormonal issues. Do you have any depression. Otherwise, it could just be other hormonal issues. Raise this possibility for discussion with your doctor. Try and search the problem of always hungry on google and look out for those articles that might be trying to address the problem from the point of view of hunger hormones or brain chemicals. I have read about these on wiki somewhere. I have also at times felt like eating straight after a meal and always wanting to eat. If you are eating enough healthy food, and everything else is normal, i do think its some sort of hormonal or brain chemical thing. I don't think you should necessarily have to take any medication for this, preferably not. With you it might simply be a matter of adjustment. Maybe you just started on this diet at the wrong time. Maybe its to do with menstruation. I know i am more inclined to need more food and have wacky hormones around this time of the month.

Also can you note on your diary how much activity you do in a day and what your weight and height are.
 
hey

have you tried any appetite suppressant supplements? I use forged burner from transform, and I seriously don't even realize I haven't eaten sometimes.
 
I agree with Amy and fourtyfor, you got some really good advice there.

Please don't listen to people suggesting appetite suppressants or anything like that though - those things cost only money, don't work in the long run, and cause more damage than good.
 
I have been feeling the same way! I think it's because I used to eat so many carbs and now my body craves them and doesn't know what to do without them. Peanut butter crackers work really well, but just make sure you portion control and count the calories. :)
 
"Regardless of your weightloss question, the answer is to eat more vegetables"

Good work drinking water, I feel like thats a huge part of it.

Are you getting your 25g fiber per day? This goes a long way to helping you feel full.

Also, try adding a cup of broccoli to a meal, or any vegetable that you prefer. If you eat a bowl of 2 of veggies with your meal, youre going to feel absolutely stuffed.

EDIT: Try and stay away from fast food/high sugar/sodium if you can help it. In my experience, these satisfy for a little bit, but affect the body and make you even more hungry an hour or 2 later.
 
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