Hungry.....often
 

Howdy all. I am following the diet exactly ( 3 IPs a day, one of which can be restricted, lettuce and 2c. veggies at lunch and dinner). and I find that in between meals I am REALLY hungry. I don't mean just that "well I think I could eat something" feeling. HUNGRY.

I saw the idea of eating veggies as a snack between meals, however, I think veggies are gross :p:p:p:p:p and it is all I can do to choke down the ones I am required to eat. Also, my coach said not to eat between breakfast and lunch or between lunch and dinner. I am the most hungry during the day (about 90 mins after breakfast, getting increasingly hungry til lunch, then again about 90 mins-2 hours after lunch---I try to put off eating lunch as long as possible (sometimes as late as 2pm) so I only have one part of the day where I really feel like I want to chew off my own arm.

Edited to add----I have tried drinking a lot of water to try to "fill up" my stomach and it works great---for about 30 minutes. Then I have to pee several times in an hour and I am super hungry again.

I am kind of frustrated because I keep seeing people writing about how they can barely eat and how full they feel---that is NOT happening for me.

Suggestions are of course, welcome!

I am on day 5. for the first 3 days I was ALWAYS starving. Now I can barely finish my food.

I told my coach about how hungry I was and she said it was important for me NOT to feel hungry. I was told to snack on veggies. eg. If I had my 2 cups of veggies for lunch and was still hungry later... I would have a cup of veggies (usually cucumbers with salt on them) then for dinner I would make only 1 cups of veggies, because I had the other cup for snack.

Every coach seems to say something different though.

I've been on this almost 2 weeks, and quite honestly, I would rather be hungry than eat more vegetables, since as I said, it takes great discipline to choke down the ones I am required to eat. Thanks tho.

I understand I hate veggies to. In fact, before IP I never ate them. Maybe when I was a kid, but not in many many years.

I totally understand
 

I hate veggies too. I would tolerate them occasionally before IP. I have actually found one I do like though, it's raw Fennel. It's also good in veggie blends. One way I can eat the veggies is I use the WF Russian (or Thousand Island) dressing. I make the hamburger bowl with shredded cabbage, I put in about a cup or so, then I add some sliced pickles, some cucumber, cooked onion, then I break up my patty and add the dressing. It is pretty good that way. I add spices to the patty also, like sea salt, garlic, and whatever else I have on hand at the time. There are some I absolutely can't eat though like mustard and collard greens, broccoli and cauliflower! I hate, absolutely hate those!

I mostly eat them raw but have stir fried them. You may also want to try the turnip fries, I love those! Peel your turnip(s) and slice them like fries. Preheat your oven to about 350 and line a cookie sheet with foil. Spray your non-stick spray over the foil and then put on the fries, seasonings and I always add I can't believe it's not butter. Make sure you cook them long enough or else they taste terrible!! It takes about 15-20 min. you can taste them to make sure. They should be a little brown on the edges. They are really good!

So I eat one bowl and one serving of fries per week to help me out and I've also started eating some sauerkraut and pickles. I'm not much for cooked veggies, but I try to rotate a few each week to keep variety.

Originally Posted by WASaBubbleButt:
You know what? Veggies are an aquired taste. I used to HATE them, couldn't stand them. Some made me gag. (Some still do but that's another story.) But my point is that if you eat enough of them for long enough you learn tips and tricks to make them taste good.

It used to be the only vegetables I ate were the ones on top of my burger. Today, totally different. Now I crave them and they make up the majority of my diet.

Give it time.

I agree - it is an acquired taste.

I LOVE to eat whether i'm hungry or not. So, I literally cut things up. For example, if I make an IP omelet in the morning, I eat half of it right away when i'm hungry in the morning and then I'll eat the second half about an hour later. The omelet is also great to "hide" vegetables where I load it up with mushrooms and broccoli. OR try to make things with vegetables that mimic other foods like french fries made from turnips! YUM!!

I have been on IP for 2 weeks now. What is really helping me with my hunger is in the afternoon for lunch I eat slowly. First my salad with my veggies then I drink a bottle of water I then sip on my shake. It takes me about 30 - 45 mins. to eat my lunch. As for breakfast I take my vitamins with a bottle of water then have my shake slowly drinking it and about an hour later have my coffee. It is really hard for me to have black coffee but I been doing flavored beans like hazelnut and it helps. I did buy some coconut milk hazelnut creamer I need to see it is ok to add to my coffee.

I didn't see your protein for dinner...I hope you're getting that in! Also, if you are still hungry try adding another IP pack. Many coaches suggest that during your first week or so it is advisable to have 1 or 2 extra nonrestricted packs a day to get you thru the rough parts. Another option would be to add a hardboiled egg as a snack when you feel that hungry. Stick with it...it gets easier everyday and it is definitely worth it!

It is CRAZY that the coach is telling you to eat nothing between lunch and supper!! I am super hungry during the day too....so I always eat my snack at 2-3. This is what I do and I am satisfied.
Breakfast at 8 (IP + 1-2 extra eggs)
Lunch at 11
Snack at 2
Dinner at 5

I am not a night time snacker so this works for me, but when I am moving and expending energy during the day, I get hungry, so I eat then. I've averaged a loss of 3.6 lbs / week so far.....so it is FINE to make the food work for you!

I think at your weight you should may very well need 4 IPs/day.

As to getting used to eating veggies.....I have spent a lifetime hating ALL of them. I've managed to get myself to the point where I can eat spring greens and broccoli without gagging. I have tried many others and found them just too repulsive. I will try the "turnip fries".

Jaclyn- I do not have the luxury of being able to eat slowly. I eat lunch at my desk everyday. I have three teenagers, work as a supervisor in child welfare and I am pursuing a PhD in counseling. While I understand logistically the benefits of slowing down, that is not an option at this time. Other than sipping whatever drink I'm having for lunch.

Willbethin- I follow requirements for dinner. My strategy is to eat dinner somewhat late and then have my last IP of the day about an hour later so that least one time a day I can feel almost satisfied instead of perpetually either on the brink of hunger or starving. It is the one time of day I get some relief.

I've been on IP for a couple of weeks, too, and am still hungry. I'm not a healthy veggie lover either, but that's why I weigh what I weigh. Meat, potatoes, dairy, bread... my foods of choice!

I"m also envious of those who say they're full, but I've had to make up my mind that I CAN be hungry, and it won't hurt me. It's a new feeling... I rarely let myself feel true hunger in the past 20+ years. The grumbling must my stomach healing from all the stretching and stuffing it's had to contend with all these years.

It's not fun. But I know my body is getting the nutrition it needs. I also know that if I don't take control of my eating, I'm going to end up on the cardiovascular surgeon's table, or worse yet, the morgue gurney.

I don't mean that to sound preachy, words on a forum don't show tone and emphasis. :) Just to share that I've decided I am in control, and hunger isn't going to rule me, and sympathize.

Also, I'm surprised a coach is having you stick that closely to timed eating. Mine doesn't care when I have a snack, and I choose mid-afternoon instead of evening. I also divvy up my eggs like SWP, and those eggs are crammed with veggies. I'd think any coach would have you do what works to keep you on program and losing as opposed to creating an obstacle.

And, at some point, the hunger monster :yikes: has to slow down, surely!

Tate, I used to feel the same hunger so I can understand too.

My coach gave me a few options, and it's been working for me. She says this is not a calorie based diet, and if you need to eat something more, then eat it. She says to add another packet, a cheese string, or low calorie, 0 carb & fat deli meat. For herself, she prefers to wrap a piece of meat around a pickle and munch on that. I like the cheese strings, but usually I will take an RTD chocolate drink to work and keep it for after lunch, in case I get hungry mid-afternoon. If budget is an issue (is for me :)), you can use alternative drinks as long as they are IP plan compliant.

Good luck, and let us know how you're doing.

Originally Posted by serendipityberry:
It is CRAZY that the coach is telling you to eat nothing between lunch and supper!! I am super hungry during the day too....so I always eat my snack at 2-3.

I think at your weight you should may very well need 4 IPs/day.

Thx for the info. In part, I would like to add an IP, but I am losing about 1 pound a DAY at this point and quite frankly will starve myself silly if it gets the weight off that fast. In 13 days I have lost 14 pounds. I have been on a gazillllllion diets and they have all been soooooo slooooowwww, but I was comfortable doing them. If I have to be uncomfortable for awhile to get the weight off faster, I can deal with it. If I can add and IP or a little extra protein without slowing my loss, I would be very happy about that, too. I will talk to my coach about it at my next WI (Thursday).

Originally Posted by RetroChick:

I"m also envious of those who say they're full, but I've had to make up my mind that I CAN be hungry, and it won't hurt me. It's a new feeling... I rarely let myself feel true hunger in the past 20+ years.

And, at some point, the hunger monster :yikes: has to slow down, surely!

I agree and have generally taken that attitude. This is, after all a diet, and by its very nature i am not going to feel full and satisfied most of the time (especially since I can't readily increase volume via vegetables :barf:).

I suppose i had the expectation (based on my friend who tried the diet) and on what I saw posted here and the advice from my coach that at some point I would not be hungry. I can shift that expectation and just choose to accept hunger as part of the process. My inquiry was more to determine if there was something I was missing here, since "everyone else" seems to be full after eating. I sincerely thank you for piping up and letting me know that I am not alone in the "being hungry" category! ;)

Originally Posted by Tate:
Howdy all. I am following the diet exactly ( 3 IPs a day, one of which can be restricted, lettuce and 2c. veggies at lunch and dinner). and I find that in between meals I am REALLY hungry. I don't mean just that "well I think I could eat something" feeling. HUNGRY.

I saw the idea of eating veggies as a snack between meals, however, I think veggies are gross :p:p:p:p:p and it is all I can do to choke down the ones I am required to eat. Also, my coach said not to eat between breakfast and lunch or between lunch and dinner. I am the most hungry during the day (about 90 mins after breakfast, getting increasingly hungry til lunch, then again about 90 mins-2 hours after lunch---I try to put off eating lunch as long as possible (sometimes as late as 2pm) so I only have one part of the day where I really feel like I want to chew off my own arm.

Edited to add----I have tried drinking a lot of water to try to "fill up" my stomach and it works great---for about 30 minutes. Then I have to pee several times in an hour and I am super hungry again.

I am kind of frustrated because I keep seeing people writing about how they can barely eat and how full they feel---that is NOT happening for me.

Suggestions are of course, welcome!

My starting weight is 240 and my coach has me eating 4 packets a day. I'm just starting my third week, and still feel some hunger, but I'm figuring out which packets are most satisfying. I think the puffs just make me feel hungrier. I do mostly pudding-shakes.

Originally Posted by hollyfer:
My starting weight is 240 and my coach has me eating 4 packets a day. I'm just starting my third week, and still feel some hunger, but I'm figuring out which packets are most satisfying. I think the puffs just make me feel hungrier. I do mostly pudding-shakes.

I never added a 4th packet. I have just learned to embrace hunger as part of the process and whenever I am hungry, I just remind myself that I never saw a person who was literally living a lifetime of starvation be fat. This is temporary. Once i get the weight off, I won't have to be so hungry all of the time....I can do anything for a little while.

Originally Posted by willbethin2011:
I didn't see your protein for dinner...I hope you're getting that in! Also, if you are still hungry try adding another IP pack. Many coaches suggest that during your first week or so it is advisable to have 1 or 2 extra nonrestricted packs a day to get you thru the rough parts. Another option would be to add a hardboiled egg as a snack when you feel that hungry. Stick with it...it gets easier everyday and it is definitely worth it!

my first week i had 5 packets every day. my coach said it was fine, and better to have the extra packets instead of feeling hungry. not sure if that was for emotional or physical reasons, but it certainly did help. my second week, i was barely hungry at all and could hardly fit in the 3 packets. if you are happy with your losses, i'm sure that "dealing with the hunger" is just fine. if you find that your body is going into starvation mode, though, i would definitely add one more packet and see if that helps. either way, you have a good attitude and you will succeed!

I am in week 3 and just started having some restricteds. I had a bar for breakfast yesterday and it seemed to cause hunger and cravings all day. Maybe if you eliminate the restricted items for a while it would help witht he feelings of hunger. I was over feeling hungry and then yesterday was horrible. I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this with the bars?

Originally Posted by Pxlkitty4:
if you find that your body is going into starvation mode, though, i would definitely add one more packet and see if that helps. either way, you have a good attitude and you will succeed!

Will do. I have been on lots of diets, and most of them I was avoiding hunger, but had slow losses. Figured if it meant I could have faster weight loss, but had to battle hunger, it was worth it. I want out of Phase 1 as fast as I can get there!

Originally Posted by mom24boys:
I am in week 3 and just started having some restricteds. I had a bar for breakfast yesterday and it seemed to cause hunger and cravings all day. Maybe if you eliminate the restricted items for a while it would help witht he feelings of hunger. I was over feeling hungry and then yesterday was horrible. I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this with the bars?

I can get that when I have the southwest curls. I've been so sparing with my bars, and usually had them in the evening, but I don't think they're a good choice for me. Very candy like. I could eat the whole box.

Originally Posted by hollyfer:
I can get that when I have the southwest curls. I've been so sparing with my bars, and usually had them in the evening, but I don't think they're a good choice for me. Very candy like. I could eat the whole box.

I think I'll try that, switching to having a bar in the evening. Thanks

I've been on this for a little over 3 mts. I've been pretty hungry lately and losing slowly - so my coach has me adding a 4th packet and told me to eat every 3 hrs. I wasn't able to fit the extra packet in over the weekend - but am starting today. I just had dinner 2 hrs ago and I'm starving. So off to have by bedtime snack (my 4th packet) and to bed.

I whole heartedly agree with RetroChick, being hungry is not a feeling that people like us are used to. I can honestly say that until I started this diet I had not felt a hunger pang for literally YEARS!! How could I when I kept my stomach, and mouth full of unhealthy foods all the time. It is an uncomfortable feeling, but you will be rewarded for it in the end. Just know that you are eating healthier than you've probably eaten in years, and that you,(despite how miserable you may feel at times), are not going to starve to death. Keep your chin up.

Originally Posted by Tate:
I've been on this almost 2 weeks, and quite honestly, I would rather be hungry than eat more vegetables, since as I said, it takes great discipline to choke down the ones I am required to eat. Thanks tho.

Tate, my son is on IP. He's about your size. His coach has encouraged him to have an extra RTD mid afternoon. He says it's better to have it than to feel hungry. Bryan was getting shaky and sometimes light headed. Having that drink midday has not affected his weight loss and he feels much better! HTH!

Right from the beginning, my coach told me that it is important for me not to be hungry.

She suggested the following:

- Hot drinks (tea, herbal tea) are better at making you feel full than cold ones;
- Celery sticks;
- Cooked ham slices (watch for sodium and fat content);
- Hard boiled eggs (preferably the whites only);


Someone from the Board suggested dill pickles and those are great for me!

If you are very active, you may actually need an extra packet per day until your weight comes down some more.

:goodluck:

ETA:

Are you having one restricted per day? If not, maybe it will help you as they are higher in carbs than the non-restricted.

Also, have you tried the omelet? I find it the most filling of the items that I have tried so far.

THIS JUST IN!!! LOL I ordered the "Magic Noodles" 0-0-0, plant fiber, They remind me of the noodles that are in "cup-a-noodles." Just rinse them well with hot water (to warm them up) and add them to the IP soups or whichever Packet seems like it could have noodles and BAM you feel like you had a really big meal! I bought them directly through their website. Each pack is 2 servings--they are v-e-r-y filling) I think the Magic Rice may even be good in IP Pudding if you like tapioca.

I was only told to have 3 IP packets a day. I find that if/when I would get a hungry feeling I drink a few cups of water, and then try to stay busy, go for a walk, do some cleaning, play with my kids, do an activity that I did not do before that I would associate with a "snack" this has helped me a lot.

Originally Posted by rjslilmommie:
I was only told to have 3 IP packets a day. I find that if/when I would get a hungry feeling I drink a few cups of water, and then try to stay busy, go for a walk, do some cleaning, play with my kids, do an activity that I did not do before that I would associate with a "snack" this has helped me a lot.

I've been reading that some coaches give people who are over 200 lbs 4 packets a day until they reach Onederland... (I've been taking note because my husband wants to do IP when I phase off). I think everyone should check with their own coach before making any changes.

I am on week 14 and I still find myself hungry. I try to drink more, water or tea to hold me off.

Originally Posted by hollyfer:
I can get that when I have the southwest curls. I've been so sparing with my bars, and usually had them in the evening, but I don't think they're a good choice for me. Very candy like. I could eat the whole box.

The bars and choc. soy puffs are so good! I dont' want them to end!!
I've been having cravings lately too, i wonder if it is the restricted items???
I've been having the odd diet pop, I know that isn't helping. Sometimes I feel deprived!!

Originally Posted by SusieB:
Right from the beginning, my coach told me that it is important for me not to be hungry.

She suggested the following:

- Hot drinks (tea, herbal tea) are better at making you feel full than cold ones;
- Celery sticks;
- Cooked ham slices (watch for sodium and fat content);
- Hard boiled eggs (preferably the whites only);


Someone from the Board suggested dill pickles and those are great for me!


:goodluck:

The ham I could try. Egg whites? Pickles? Celery? :barf: Really--I would rather just be hungry. I do drink tea on occasion if it gets too bad. I hadn't tried celery or a pickle in a long time---tired a bite of each this weekend and about gagged.

Originally Posted by Hollmark:
Sometimes I feel deprived!!

Well, I do not look at it as "deprivation". I am choosing to avoid a large number of foods in order to lose a lot of weight quickly. I will be able to eat anything I choose (in moderation, of course) once the weight is off.

I'm 3 1/2 weeks in and I'm hungry most of the time until I eat dinner. None of the options my coach has for keeping me from getting hungry (snack on cucumber, celery, eat breakfast later, etc.) don't work for me because I'm a teacher so I don't get the option to snack throughout the day and my meal times are determined for me based on my schedule. He suggested hot tea to try and help.

I had never considered that the restricteds could be causing hunger - I've had them from the beginning and I've been hungry from the beginning. I was hoping when I started the diet that I wouldn't be hungry like I was before, but I find I am hungry just like I was before. I'm hungry by 10:30 am, eat lunch at 11:15 or 1:00 (depending on the day), and hungry again a couple hours later. I could handle this diet much better if I weren't hungry most of the time. I haven't cheated and don't plan to, but I really want to! I just want some carbs to make me feel FULL. I haven't felt full since starting the diet, which I'm sure contributes to my hunger.

Originally Posted by amoderngirl:
I'm 3 1/2 weeks in and I'm hungry most of the time until I eat dinner. ......

I find I am hungry just like I was before. I'm hungry by 10:30 am, eat lunch at 11:15 or 1:00 (depending on the day), and hungry again a couple hours later. I could handle this diet much better if I weren't hungry most of the time. I haven't cheated and don't plan to, but I really want to! I just want some carbs to make me feel FULL. I haven't felt full since starting the diet, which I'm sure contributes to my hunger.

I find that hunger is less tiring if I remind myself it has a purpose and that it is not for forever. It is a state---an uncomfortable state, but it is manageable. It means my body is burning stored fat (which is the goal) and ti will end (at least temporarily) when I have my evening meal. I am choosing hunger to achieve a goal. I am not a "victim" of hunger. I am not "owed" fullness. I am committed to what must be done for now---even if it is somewhat unpleasant.

It's true...the foods in IP are not full of sugar, so sipping on a shake throughout the day is not a bad thing...it's not triggering your insulin. I was told not to worry about eating as long as it is strictly on the list and I found that to be perfect for me. I also increased my olive oil on salads (with salt and pepper) and still lost fat without any troubles.

Have all of you who are veggie haters tried putting sliced cauliflower, zucchini and broccoli into a baking dish - rolling them around in olive oil and salt and then baking them until they are golden brown on top? If you have not tried this...it's kind of amazing.

Originally Posted by amyniagara:
It's true...the foods in IP are not full of sugar, so sipping on a shake throughout the day is not a bad thing...it's not triggering your insulin. I was told not to worry about eating as long as it is strictly on the list and I found that to be perfect for me. I also increased my olive oil on salads (with salt and pepper) and still lost fat without any troubles.

Have all of you who are veggie haters tried putting sliced cauliflower, zucchini and broccoli into a baking dish - rolling them around in olive oil and salt and then baking them until they are golden brown on top? If you have not tried this...it's kind of amazing.

I also do this with asparagus and occasionally fresh green beans, then throw them in the BBQ (pellet). They are delish! My Grandkids love them this way as a snack.