So, I have been back at calorie counting for 2 weeks now and I have gotten to where I'm not hungry near as much. At first it was all I could do to resist eating and I would pretty much feel like I was starving most of the day, but now that I'm in control of what I eat and how much I eat, I don't even feel hungry most of the day and usually have to make myself eat something. I keep telling myself that food does not control me, I control my body and what and when I want to eat. Have any of you ever experienced this? Do you think it's just because what I'm eating is filling me up because my stomach has shrunk? I'm just curious as to what others think. Maybe it has been all in my head the whole time.

I doubt your stomach has shrunk that much, but yes your body has adapted to the lower level of cals. That said, hungry comes in other form, tired, irritability not just the phyical pangs in the stomach. Hunger also depends on many factors, for where I am in my womanly cycle plays a huge part. I can pretty much tell you where I am based on my hunger levels. 1 week of the month I have to force myself to eat, 2 weeks of the months I'm hungry during normal times and 1 week I just can't eat enough. It goes in cycles. Then of course if there is added stress in my life that will effect me as well. And of course how I've been exercising. That actually doesn't affect me as much as it used to, but the more intense my workout sometimes effects my hunger levels. Anyway my point being that you will see changes in your hunger levels throughout this journey it will constantly change. Good luck!

You know, I never thought about it until now...I do have a week that I do not have an appetite...never really thought about it.

And I just read some things about your stomach shrinking and yeah, you're right, your stomach cannot actually "shrink" without surgery but you will start feeling full on smaller amounts of food. I love that! I love that only half my plate is gone and I'm actually full.

I've gone through this too, being more satisfied with less food. I think part of it is that I'm eating more nutritionally dense and therefore more satsifying food, part of it is that I can recognize real hunger better, and part of it is that I've adjusted well to my new lifestyle.

I sometimes have to make myself eat too. It's not so much "I must eat something now!" as "It's 3:00 and I haven't had lunch. I should eat a small something so I'm not ravenous at dinner." I find it a really good thing because it allows me more control and to be satisfied with less food, which is I think where you're coming from too. I'm happy with it as long as it doesn't prevent me from getting my necessary calories, which hasn't happened except for one or two days.

I'm back to calorie counting myself. I have one week down. I thought that was a great comment. This past week, I eat a handful of nuts as opposed to a bag of chips so it feels like I have less of an appetite. And in the evening I don't graze through the kitchen like a madwoman so I do my best to put food out of my head. I think you are right...a good part takes place in the head because there is no way my body would want or need 5 slices of pizza for lunch. How much of appetite is in the head? And my average cal intake this week was 1733. Not low by any means.