I'm not complaining whatsoever, in fact I'm estatic, but I'd still like to know why. For the longest I was hungry all.the.time. I mean ALL the time. So I looked at my diet and everything seemed to be in order. Well long story short I had to go back into weight loss mode and I decreased my cals during the week, not by much from like 1700-1900 down to 1500-1800, didn't change my weekends too much and I went from eating 5-6xs a day to eating 3-4xs a day and I decreased my crystal light intake to maybe once a day if that down from probably 2-3xs a day.

So do you think it's a combo of lower cals, eating bigger meals less often, and less artificial sugar or something in particular. I want to know because once I'm officially back in maintenance mode again what ever it is I want to keep doing it because I am so much happier right now without this constant nagging hunger.

My guess is it's the artificial sugar. There have been several studies that point to it making you feel hungry because your body tastes the sugar and prepares to digest something- then nothing comes. This leaves some people feeling ravenous. I know it was the case with me. I drink unsweetened iced tea instead. Or water.

Artificial sweetener always makes me feel hungrier than I should be - I've cut it out pretty much altogether.

I'm somewhat in maintenance mode myself. I think it's the artificial sugar. Also, it's summertime and I naturally find myself eating less, the heat personally kills my appetite, lol.

What about real sugar and carbs? In the process of decreasing your calories did you also decrease the amount of refined carbs you might have been eating?

Refined carbs make me starving...as well as my younger son, who struggles with weight a little, ( 13 years old, 5'6" 158 pounds to start). He's been conditioning for football and decided to take off a few pounds. For the last month or so he quit having his morning cereal (honey nut chex) and extra bread and pop/treats and replaced it with protein. He swore he was hardly ever hungry then and was eating around 1800 calories a day.

He dropped around 9 pounds in 4 weeks. Then we had a b-day party for my oldest son, he had some cake and ice cream and for the next week was eating everything in sight. He ended up gaining back like 3 pounds. Yesterday he got back on the wagon and is in misery today. He is roaming the pantry "looking". I told him to give it 3-4 days sugar free and he should be back to where he was...We'll see

Lori - I haven't decreased refined stuff at all. I already don't eat much of it other than on the weekends, then I more than make up for it

If it's the artificial sugar I'll be thrilled. I really really hope it's that simple. I was in agony for months, just constantly hungry.

Sigh....it is so random. Unfortunately for me, I am stuck in hungry every minute of the day mode. Miraculously I maintained my weight for the month of July, but I have no idea how. It is a constant struggle to eat sensibly. Whatever it is that is making you feel less hungry, I want some of it! LOL

My vote is for artificial sweeteners! I used to LIVE off diet pepsi and crystal light. I could never figure out why I was always hungry. Now that I virtually have no artificial sweetener other than in my coffee, I find I manage my appetite better.

Real sugar does not have the same effect on me for some reason. In any event WOOT!

Okay, one last question...Since you have jumped back into losing mode to get back to your goal weight, You are saying that you have still been eating more than enough of the refined carbs on weekends? I though I read somewhere that you were eating clean on weekends. I must have been thinking of someone else.

Maybe it is sweeteners...I don't usually consume them, but I have read all kinds of horror stories about them.

It could be the artificial sweetener, but I am sure it is the 3 meals a day instead of 4 or 5 feedings. When we eat and how often we eat affects the levels of various hormones. Leptin, insulin, and ghrelin are important hormones that cannot do their job if we keep putting "food" into the system. We need about 5-6 hours between meals for them to signal hunger and have time to burn fat. These hormone levels rise and fall and become hunger's timekeeper. The need for frequent feedings is a myth. There are some exceptions, but most of us are not an exception. If you are interested in learning more, there is plenty of information out there. The biochemistry can get deep though.

Currently I follow a modified Medifast program and eat every 2-3 hours, but the meals are very small. This is for weight loss, not for maintenance. I do feel hungry when I pass 3 hours, but if I stay on the schedule, I don't. OTOH, I can see that having larger meals less frequently would also work.

I feel less hungry eating this way, which is pretty restricted, than I did when counting calories, even though my calories are now lower. Back when counting calories, I often felt hungry. I think it's because the sugary carbs and other refined carbs are restricted on this plan. I personally do better with small, measured amounts of natural-source sweeteners (e.g. honey), fruits, and whole grains in measured amounts.

I drink diet cola and I haven't noticed that it makes me more hungry. But people have a lot of variation in their reactions to artifical sweeteners.

Jay

I'd say bigger meals less often might be a big component too. Either way I'm glad you're not hungry 24/7 any more. That is a TERRIBLE feeling.

For me, I haven't noticed a connection between artificial sweeteners and hunger. But I will tell you that I do go through periods or phases of ravenous hunger. It usually only lasts 4-5 days at a time but I try to load up on veggies during those times.

I know for me that I can eat a huge plate of salad, and be horribly full. Then of course I have to have just that one little snack to finish off the meal, usually something sweet, dry cereal is my enemy of choice, and I can eat it and suddenly not feel full anymore, and eat and eat till I realize, wait a minute, now I'm way past full.
I say power on with the less hungry days!! I'm jealous

Gosh Lori, I hope I never said that I was eating clean on the weekends cause that would have been a big fat lie!