I agree with the others that, after an adjustment period, the hunger does usually go away. During my first few years (yes, I've been at this a loooong time), I would still go through periods of hunger. It's like my body was shifting gears, even though my food and activity routine hadn't changed. So, I know how very hard it is to deal with real physical hunger, but just keep reminding yourself that it WILL pass. Other things to remind yourself of is that you've lived a long time filling yourself up in order to avoid even a hint of hunger; learning to live with a little twinge is just another lesson along the road to moderate eating habits. Whenever you're hungry, put a GOOD spin on it: My body is adjusting to having an ADEQUATE amount of food rather than an overabundance; whenever I'm hungry that's a tangible sign that I'm burning off fat; etc.
Also, here are some tips for dealing with hunger in more practical ways:
- First, make sure you're not cutting calories too drastically. If I've increased my activity level, for example, I expect a little extra hunger here and there; if, however, I'm ravenous or get hungry WAY before food time, then that tells me I do need some extra fuel. If you're not sure how many calories you need, take a look at the calculator here: http://www.jimkaras.com/loss_math01.cfm. These calculators are just a rough estimate, and lots of folks find they aren't precise for THEM, but the number they give is a good place to start.
- Do make sure you're getting enough protein; I don't eat a high-protein diet but if I'm going through a hunger period adding a little more than usual helps more than anything else. I keep some of the EAS AdvantEdge protein drinks in my fridge; that particular type has only 100 calories but is nearly 100% protein, and they're handy to grab or take to work for a late-afternoon boost.
- Eat something at LEAST every 3 to 4 hours. The longer you wait between feedings, the more you are setting yourself up for big hunger. By keeping your body steadily supplied with fuel, your blood sugar levels will stay on an even keel. You won't get as hungry between meals, you won't be as tempted to overeat when you DO eat, and you won't feel that after-meal stupor from huge blood sugar spikes. This pattern of eating will help you stay in the middle of the starving-to-stuffed scale, and you'll actually start to re-define what it means to be "hungry" and "full." Your goal is to always feel "satisfied" rather than "full," and by doing that you experience BOTH extremes less.
- Use those non-starchy vegetables! Not just plain celery! If I'm starving I will steam a pile of vegetables and dress with lemon juice or fancy vinegar. Any raw vegetable is good with salsa. There are lots of soups you can make with nothing more than non-starchy vegetables and broth (get low-sodium always, though!). If you don't care for vegetables, well ... it's something to work on.