Always Hungry?

Hey guys,

I've been "dieting" all my life, but I'm really serious right now because I have a pretty large wardrobe that no longer fits me. It's really depressing for me to get up in the morning and look at myself. But that's not the point. My problem is, I'm always hungry. I ate a fairly reasonable amount of food yesterday, totaling about 2100 calories (which is a lot for a woman at 5'7", 195 lbs), and yet I still kept feeling hungry. I think that sometimes vegetables give me a stomach ache and I think that I'm hungry. I don't know. And I get these massive cravings for bread. It's like I don't care if I never eat another thing as long as I get plain old bread. I think it's my comfort food, and I have this weird conception that it makes my stomach stop hurting - and it does. Anyway, I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions about any of this. As a side note, I actually stopped eating breakfast because it would make me hungrier all day. Now I hardly ever eat before 11am and try to keep it down to two meals and two snacks (small, healthy snacks), because that seems to help more than eating a tiny bit all day and feeling like I'm starving, like some people suggests. As another note, I eat mostly whole foods, fruits and veggies, and still I'm getting fat. What is up with that?

You should eat breakfast.  When you get up in the morning your metabolism needs a reason to get started.  If you don't eat breakfast it has no reason to rev up and do what it is supposed to do.  That might also help with the weight loss you aren't experiencing.  Exercise works as well.

As for bread - eat a piece.  Make sure it is really good bread as well as good for you.  I, too, find it is satisfying to have a dense piece of bread and the flavor is great!

I think anyone will tell you that you NEED to eat breakfast.  That's your fuel for the rest of the day.  You should try to eat 5-6xs a day.  I usually do Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner.  Every meal should have a protein and fiber.  This is what will keep you full and satisified.  Get some veggies in there.  I try to do a small salad and a cup of veggies with lunch and dinner.  That along with a protein and a complex carb, will leave you full, I promise you.  Try to choose 100% whole wheat bread instead of white bread, if you have a craving.  White bread is a simple carb, and will only act like it's filling you up, and then shortly after you will be hungry again.  Last year I started out at 5'6" 196 lbs, and was eating 1200-1400 calories and was plenty full.  You can eat 2000 calories a day, but if you're not eating the right stuff, then you can still feel hungry, and not lose weight.

Hope that helps you some.  hang in there you can do it!

I would suggest trying to eat a little something for breakfast to get your metabolism pumping in the morning.  Try a mix of carbs, protein and a little bit of healthy fat (think whole grain bread with a bit of peanut butter, or an apple with peanut butter or a small handful of nuts.).  I know you are saying breakfast made you hungrier all day, but what were you eating?  If it was straight carbs, that might have been the problem.  I think that not eating before 11 am is hurting you, because by the time you eat, your body is crying out for food.  Also, are you drinking enough water?

When I'm hungry I just drink tea - a bit overbrewed green tea, without sugar, without milk, just tea - The bitter/astringent taste takes my hunger away (well, maybe the theine helps too) and it has a lot of health benefits, or so they say.

I agree with the other 'posters'.  You need to eat breakfast.  I think part of your problem is that you are not eating enough protein food.  Eating more protein makes you feel fuller.  Im not saying that you go on a high protein diet, Im just saying that you need to eat more protein than you are doing at the moment.  Get rid of that white white bread crap you are eating and replace it with chicken breast, Tuna Steaks, eggs etc. 

I had a similar problem to you, where I dieted in the past and I was absolutely famished.  Im now on a higher protein diet and in addition eating 6 smaller meals a day.  I dont tend to feel hungry now because I always seem to be eating.  Im currently on 2050 calories per day and its easy to stay within that.  It seems like you are eating good foods otherwise when you say whole foods, fruits and veggies.  Make sure you are eating enough protein and the hunger pangs will dissappear.

Good luck

 

I am also 5'7" and weigh 195 - and always hungry!!  My cravings are always bread also!  I have found that if I eat a serving of Triscuit crackers that it helps.  I almost always eat for breakfast a piece of whole wheat toast with peanut butter on it - I don't like breakfast food (HATE eggs) and I love bread so it is a compromise....

Another thing I have discovered is when I am really hungry (where my stomach hurts) is to drink a bunch of water and it helps get me by until I can have a healthy snack.  Sounds cliche, but it really works for me.

I have only been doing this for a week, haven't lost any weight yet, but am certainly more aware of the calorie intake now!