Thread: WHY am I still hungry...

What is your caloric intake....

Your meal choices that you posted look poor.

Are you eating fruit?

I think it's more important to have a balanced diet. My wife eats all the time. She eats all day long. Just one thing after another. And she's got a high metabolism. If you eat the right foods then you can increase your metabolism, burn fat, and gain the muscle you want. Also, consider how often and how hard you work out.

Originally Posted by iwantmuscle2

I have recently made a commitment to eating better, NOT a DIET, but a whole lifestyle change. I am trying to train myself to only eat when my body tells me that I am hungry. I try to balance my meal as best as I can without having a lot of money to really buy the food I need.

last night was a great example. I ate breakfast (cold cereal w/ skim milk) took my vitamin. Ate a couple snacks, granola bar and drank water. I know I ate a couple more things, but can't remember what....they weren't bad though. For dinner, was whole wheat spaghetti w/ sauce, no meat and one slice of whole wheat bread w/ a little olive oil blended butter on it. I was finished eating by probably 5:40 and was hungry again at 6:50....so, I made a protein shake. Why would I be hungry that soon? It seems like I am hungry all the time (at least every 2hours or so)

I don't own any supplements, but a multi-vitamin and protein powder, I have creatine, but I have no idea what it's for or how to use it.....Please help...

This is EASY. Almost everything you ate was a carb. Carbs very easily make your blood sugar/insulin jump up. When this happens, you feel hungrier.

Change your diet so that none of your meals are based off of carbs as their primary nutrient. Instead, eat foods that have almost 1/2 of your nutrition from protein. This will make a HUGE difference.

So, instead of spaghetti, try some chicken and veggies. Instead of granola bar, try a protein bar. Instead of cold cereal, you can try oatmeal or eggs. (yes, oatmeal is a carb too, but its very low glycemic so it doesnt spike your blood sugar)

This is probably the main thing that allowed me to lose 70 lbs and keep it off. Its like torture trying to stay satisfied when your meals are primarily carbohydrates. I try never to eat a meal that is primarily carbs. If I eat some carbs, its in moderation and with a protein source.

While you are at it, make sure you continue to drink enough fluids so that you don't accidentally confuse thirst for hunger.

Originally Posted by AnimalG

This is EASY. Almost everything you ate was a carb. Carbs very easily make your blood sugar/insulin jump up. When this happens, you feel hungrier.

Change your diet so that none of your meals are based off of carbs as their primary nutrient. Instead, eat foods that have almost 1/2 of your nutrition from protein. This will make a HUGE difference.

So, instead of spaghetti, try some chicken and veggies. Instead of granola bar, try a protein bar. Instead of cold cereal, you can try oatmeal or eggs. (yes, oatmeal is a carb too, but its very low glycemic so it doesnt spike your blood sugar)

This is probably the main thing that allowed me to lose 70 lbs and keep it off. Its like torture trying to stay satisfied when your meals are primarily carbohydrates. I try never to eat a meal that is primarily carbs. If I eat some carbs, its in moderation and with a protein source.

While you are at it, make sure you continue to drink enough fluids so that you don't accidentally confuse thirst for hunger.

True, carbs definitely don't fill you up like protein will. Try to eat more protein and lots of FIBER. Fiber will def help make you feel full longer. Also staying hydrated helps.

And granola bars are mostly crap, held together with sugar. They are about the same as a candy bar nutrition wise.

Don't get it confused, carbs are definitely important, they are what give you energy, but try to choose higher quality carbs.

Originally Posted by iwantmuscle2

I have recently made a commitment to eating better, NOT a DIET, but a whole lifestyle change. I am trying to train myself to only eat when my body tells me that I am hungry. I try to balance my meal as best as I can without having a lot of money to really buy the food I need.

last night was a great example. I ate breakfast (cold cereal w/ skim milk) took my vitamin. Ate a couple snacks, granola bar and drank water. I know I ate a couple more things, but can't remember what....they weren't bad though. For dinner, was whole wheat spaghetti w/ sauce, no meat and one slice of whole wheat bread w/ a little olive oil blended butter on it. I was finished eating by probably 5:40 and was hungry again at 6:50....so, I made a protein shake. Why would I be hungry that soon? It seems like I am hungry all the time (at least every 2hours or so)

I don't own any supplements, but a multi-vitamin and protein powder, I have creatine, but I have no idea what it's for or how to use it.....Please help...

Your diet is unbalanced. You need more protein at each meal and you need veggies and a little fruit in your diet.

If I ate that much starch without protein and veggies I'd be hungry too.

What are trying to accomplish?

You got all the diet help, also make sure your work out is consistent. You can increase your metabolism by working out, or even doing cardio.

as far as my caloric intake...I am not writing it down. I am estimating off of everything I eat during the day. Last night after I worked out i ate 5 slices of lean turkey bacon on 2 ww slices of bread with probably a tsp of lght mayo, a fruit jello cup, and 1/2 can geen beans sprinkled with lemon pepper. Is that a lot of food? It sounds like a lot to me, but I felt satisfied, not completely full.

I absolutely love fruit. I try to buy a lot, but when I have it, I eat a lot of it and run out quickly.

How can you make adjustments if you aren't going to put the effort in to learn about how your eating impacts you?

Originally Posted by iwantmuscle2

I absolutely love fruit. I try to buy a lot, but when I have it, I eat a lot of it and run out quickly.

Don't eat just fruit. The key is to balance your diet with carbs, protein, fiber, fruit, and veggies. You want a well-balanced meal that is nutritional and provides enough caloric intake to match your metabolism.

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

How can you make adjustments if you aren't going to put the effort in to learn about how your eating impacts you?

I agree.

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

How can you make adjustments if you aren't going to put the effort in to learn about how your eating impacts you?

I understand that you have to watch everything you eat. I am willing to make adjustments, I am still trying to figure out how all this works. Do you write down what you eat?
Are you saying that I should keep a journal on how certain foods make me feel ( energetic, sluggish, ...etc) I really am not a lazy person, I thought I was doing it correctly. I do appreciate the help trust me.

I don't need to write it down anymore. I have a good idea on what I am consuming.

However if I am going to cut. Yes I do keep track of everything.

Being new at this. It is important to understand the impact various foods and calories will have on you.

Just my .02

I want to add that to a certain extent you might just have to live with some hunger.

In my personal experience, even when my diet is appropriately balanced (you need to work on that) I'm still hungry most of the time if I'm losing weight.

I want to thank both of you so much for your help. I am doing better with writing things down. I am hoping to have a progress pic posted around this time in january. About the hunger thing, I am working on that. If I notice myself getting hungry and I know I shouldn't be yet, then I make myself drink a large glass of cold water.

The next option is to eat more often. You can keep your calorie intake the same but spread the meals out more throughout the day. If you just have breakfast, lunch and tea/dinner then you're going quite long periods without anything for your tummy to play with.

Aim for 6 smaller meals per day, if you can't manage that try 5, if you can't manage that try 4, if you can't manage that give up and go home.

Don't be scared of good natural fats at breakfast time - nowt wrong with bacon and eggs while breaking your overnight fast, though ease off on the fat late at night.

When you just have 2 or 3 meals some of that will probably be surplus and stored as fat, while if you spread the meals out you're getting maximum nutrition, no hunger pangs and no extra calories - that's a win/win!


B.

hello can anyone tell me how to ask questions on the message board.

look at the attached image, you click the new thread button, but not when you're already in a thread.