Starting out and starving (long)

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  • I felt that way at first, but I realized that the light-headed/low blood sugar feeling was only if I had a lot of carbs (even good ones). You might try going a little more low carb. Snacks like 2 tablespoons of hummus and some baby carrots are only a little over 120 calories, and I find it fills me up pretty decently.

    I have realized that even if I can make some higher-fat foods (ie pasta) into healthier lower-cal versions, that carbs are always my trigger foods for hunger, so I very rarely make them. And if I do, I need them to be with lots of veggies and protein. One of my go-to meals is rice with black beans, a piece of fish and big serving of broccoli.
  • When I started working towards my weight loss goals in February I was hungry all the time. I just kept reminding myself that I was used to eating a lot more throughout the day and it would get easier.

    I made sure to keep healthy snacks around for those times that I had to eat and that helped, but I just sort of had to wait out the starving hunger pains.

    Then one day I realized I wasn't as hungry all the time. I'm not sure when it happened but now when I start to feel hungry, I have a good idea that it is actually time to nourish my body.

    Hang in there, make sure to eat foods that count when you do eat and you'll be fine!
  • Yikes on your menu, sweetie. That would have me feeling hungry AND sick all at once.

    Let me give you a sample of what my Loseit has for me yesterday. I can eat this at my weight and still lose at least a pound a week.

    Breakfast: 635 calories
    1 hardboiled egg
    1 ounce aged Gouda cheese
    9 slices bacon (I was having major bacon cravings)
    Coffee w/ heavy whipping cream and SF syrup

    Lunch: 563 calories
    4 cups lettuce
    1/2 avocado
    3 tbs homemade bacon vinaigrette
    1/2 cup bell pepper
    1 cup cucumber slices
    2 tbs chopped green onion
    2 slices bacon, crumbled
    1 ounce Parmesan, grated

    Snack: 70 calories
    Hardboiled egg

    Dinner: 501 calories
    4 ounces broiled rib eye steak
    Mushroom sauce (made with 1 tbs butter, pan drippings, 1 ounce white wine, and 5 large mushrooms, chopped)
    Coffee w/ 1 tbs heavy whipping cream and sf syrup (for dessert, Mmm!)

    Fat grams were 135, net carbs (minus the fiber) were 20, and protein grams came in at 105. My calories were actually under budget, at 1769, but I just wasn't hungry for more. My menu was decadent, filling, and incredibly delicious while still allowing me to lose weight. NO hunger. And it wasn't even a particularly good day, nutritionally, as I had way more cured meat products that I normally do, since I was craving them.

    What you eat is SO important. My menu keeps me in ketosis, which prevents my hunger and burns my stored fat nicely. My food is bulky AND nutritionally satisfying, and with a good 7 cups of veggies each day it is still incredibly nourishing, even with 69% of my calories coming from fat. Keeping carbs low, protein moderate, and fat high is a sure fire way to please your appetite and keep your body running well. Whole foods, no grains or sugar, keeping it minimal on dairy and artificial products, and cooking from scratch doesnt take a lot of time or mental energy, but the payoff in terms of energy and pounds lost is immense!

    I hope this helps give you some ideas about what you could be eating that would be more filling and satisfying
  • Quote: Y'all are awesome! - I definitely agree that 1) I need to eat more protein and 2) making my food look like more by slicing it up are terrific suggestions. I also love the idea of eating something small every two hours - just knowing I have to wait a long time before my next meal probably makes it worse in my head. And it makes sense that it will take my body time to adjust to eating smaller (and more correct) portions.

    A typical food day for me is:
    Breakfast - Activia light yogurt (70c); either a thin sliced whole wheat bagel w/ 1 tbsp fat free cream cheese or a hard-boiled egg or oatmeal; banana
    Lunch - Healthy Choice with chicken and broccoli (around 280-320c); apple; banana; whole wheat triscuits or wheat thins; light string cheese; baby carrots; fat free sugar free pudding
    Dinner - salad w/ 1 tbsp fat free dressing; chicken breast or turkey sandwich w/ light mayo and 45 cal whole wheat bread; baby carrots; broccoli or green beans; banana; grapes or watermelon; V8 juice
    Snacks - I usually eat a pack of peanut butter crackers throughout the day to stave off hunger and lightheadedness; yogurt occasionally; light soy milk with whole grain cheerios occasionally; apple or grapes or watermelon daily; baby carrots daily; special K bar soon before going to bed
    I also drink, and always have, 6-8 bottles of water a day, no sodas or juices (except I have recently added V8 juice in an attempt to get more veggies, ish).

    Looking at it, it does look like I could use a lot more protein, but I don't necessarily know where to get that from. I also am not a vegetable fan...

    I have lost 4-5 pounds in 3 weeks so far. I have my goal with LoseIt set at losing 1 lb a week, so I can go nice and slow and steady and hopefully be more effective in the long run that way, so my loss seems to be in line with that so far.
    wow thats a butt-load of sugars! holy cow lady lol
    dairy over load, processed carb over load ~eeeck

    i think your spot on with aknowledging the low proteien intake ...and water? no mention of water, may want to make that a priority

    get your carbs from veggies, they are processed in the body differently than grains are.

    water lentils beans and meats will help curve the hunger, but also keep in mind that huger pains are more of a Pavlog dog type thing for us who are used to large amounts of food all day long, you wont actualy starve if your tummy rumbles and you let it

    when hunger stricks, do something to keep your self busy and ignore it
  • I read always being hungry can be sign of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, so maybe check that just in case.
  • Almost everyone who achieves morbid obesity is exhibiting insulin resistance, just FYI (myself included, before I managed it with diet) . And a diet like that would most certainly exacerbate it. Low carb/low glycemic load diets are much kinder to the body in terms of energy management - both in hormonal terms and the actual output (how we feel and act).
  • One thing I didn't see mentioned (unless I missed it) is trying to eat fewer, larger meals. Or maybe you already do.

    People say that several small meals a day is better for you, better for your body, keeps your energy up and boosts metabolism. Which does no good if you're starving and over eat. I found that fewer, larger meals helped me get through the day. It was like my body needed to feel really full. My stomach was full, I was used to the full feeling, and it helped me get through longer periods without feeling hungry.