HELP!!! I am getting so frusterated- I feel like I eat all the time! I don't eat that much for a meal (probably a third of what my boyfriend eats) but then I am hungry in an hour and will grab something to munch on...then a short time later...hungry again! This makes me go over my calorie limit BIG TIME!

I know the best thing to do is to just pick healthier foods, but it's so hard to grab a yogurt or prezels when I am really REALLY craving something different and worse for me.

I dont know if I should just go cold turkey from sugar and salt (I dont even know if I could do it) so I dont crave foods so bad like this...I'm starting to wonder if there is a good appetite suppressant out there, but I dont want to do something like that, especially if one doesn't even exist.

I try to write down what I eat, I try to think about WHY I'm hungry etc etc etc...I also try to distract myself or chew gum..but it comes down to just wanting the food and eating it. I don't know if I really am hungry or not or what is going on, but I can't stand it anymore!

Any ideas?

Lately, I too have been hungry all the time. I don't know if it is from my workouts or what. But I need help too. I am stuck at the 143 weight, only because I have been eating too much!

Maybe it's not how much you're eating but WHAT you're eating. Some people say carbs/sugary stuff makes them hungrier. What about lean proteins like sliced turkey breast, low fat cheese, some veggies w/low fat dressing. Eat things with lots of fiber, that helps you feel full. Super dry foods (chips, pretzels, etc) have no fluid and hardly any fiber so they probably don't fill you up as much.

Drink plenty of water. Sometimes your body is just thirsty but you think you're hungry.

Treadgirl: If your working out you definitely need to eat plenty. I've read in this forum that people that work out often make the mistake of not eating enough so their body hangs on to whatever little fuel it gets. Try feeding it a little more, maybe that's the ticket for you.

Pilatesgrl: I would recommend you stop chewing gum. That actually makes you hungrier! I do notice that's true at least for me. It's almost as if my stomach is waiting for something to fall from all the chewing and nothing...lol. Plus it can make you bloated b/c you're taking in a lot of air when you chew.

Anyway, I know I'm no expert, but I hope this helps you. I know it's terrible feeling hungry all the time. Good luck!

I think a lot of times it's more mental than true physical hunger, not always of course. Like Friendlycat said though, if you really make an effort to eat things that will stay with you longer, like proteins and fats and complex carbs rather than simple carbs that might help. There's a huge difference between hunger and appitite too, if it is just that you have a large appitite, than that is something you are going to have to work on inside your head. There's no easy answer to this, it is one of the biggest obsticals of losing weight.

Maybe you're just not eating enough of the main meals (one third of what your boyfriend eats, you said)?

I read about this strategy... if you're hungry and shouldn't really be, wait 15 minutes and see if you're still hungry as before. If yes, get something to eat then. If not, problem solved. Ah, and don't forget to drink lots and lots of water.

I know for a fact that when I cut sugar out of my diet, my cravings aren't nearly as bad. Almost non existent. I still allow myself natural sugar. Fruit, and honey and such. I ate cake and had soda this week end, and this Monday, I went nuts wanting sugar. The stuff is a drug! I think cold turkey it too hard. you can cut out cokes first, and just gradually cut it all out. I bet you'll be able to tell the difference.

same thing here! Usually an orange would kill all my sugar cravings when i'm having clean food, but then when I have a tiny piece of chocolate, bam! I'm just buying the whole candy isle at walmart!

i think everyone's comments are very helpful-- it could be you are having sugar crashes, not eating enough at meals, working out a lot, or just having some emotional issue going on (like stress/boredom, or my nemesis-- major wanderlust) that is causing you to eat more.

can you provide a sample day of your eating habits? that may help us pick out what the exact problem is.

also, fyi, i was having this same problem and it was because i am hypoglycemic (meaning my blood sugar CRASHES after i eat). remedy was to eat minimeals with PRO or FAT and to avoid simple sugars.

i've also done some research on hunger after meals and some sources think that high fructose corn sruyp actually makes people hungry. Maybe if some of the sweet things you are snacking on have this instead of actual sugar (which is very common) it might be adding to the hunger feelings.

I find that adding protien to every meal really helps. Although i still sometimes find myself thinking I am hungry right after I eat and mindless snacking ensues. For this I use vitamins that control sugar metabloism in the body like magnesium and chromium, and cinnamon helps too. I like "Blood Sugar Formula" by Vitalogic. This really helps stablize me. but like i said, if i eat just a yogart or something, im starving really soon. eggs for breakfast for me!