Does anyone else have this problem?

It seems like every time I start a diet, I immediately start to feel hungry, even if I have recently had food. Like today, I had an english muffin with a slice of fat free cheese for breakfast, and then I had some watermelon around 10am. By noon, my stomach was actually growling. It's obviously a mental issue, but the question is, do you experience this problem, and if so, how to you get around it?

the only thing that ever helps me is drinking water and chewing gum.

or i got these soluble fiber pills that are a god send i swear. take one with a big glass of water and it expands in your stomach to make you feel full. and it helps you poo better haha! thats always a plus.

its called Glucomannan. just google it and you can order it i got 180 pills for like $10

oh but be very careful with that fiber, you HAVE to drink at least 8 ounces of water or it could be very bad for you.

I would suggest adding some more protein to your meals. It should help you stay fuller for longer. For example, add some eggs whites to breakfast so it's a breakfast sammie! = )

If your stomach is actually growling, it is not mental! I agree with ccrun4fun about adding more protein, and then also keep fruits and veggies around for munching. I have to munch a LOT of veggies to fill up and so I'm very careful to keep the protein coming, too, but that tends to be more at meals and regular "snacks." The munchy stuff is for "anytime" and keeps me from getting too hungry.

Also, you may be setting your intake too low. I bumped my up to about 1500 and find I am a lot less likely to get hungry. I work out a lot, too, so I definitely needed more good food.

Being able to recognize and respond appropriately to real hunger signals is a great strength for "life long fitness" if you ask me. Overweight comes from eating when you don't need to and/or overeating when you are hungry. Thus, knowing what to eat and when you need it is good!

Neither an english muffin with fat-free cheese, or fresh watermelon, are items which will 'stick with you' for very long... I'm not surprised that you were very hungry come lunchtime. Watermelon is mostly water, after all! Try having some protein and more fiber with your meals.

English muffin = 120 calories
Fat Free cheese = 30 calories

For about the same amount of calories you can have a whole bowl of oatmeal.  I think you'll feel full longer.

1C oatmeal - 166 calories

1C watermelon - 46

Instead of the watermelon, try an ounce of tuna, a smidge of fat free mayo and some celery to eat it on. 

1 oz tuna (packed in water) - 33 calories

1T fat free mayo - 11 calories

1 large stalk celery - 10 calories

Now my suggestions are ever so slightly higher in calories but I think you'll find that the extra 10 or 20 calories is well worth it.  You won't be ravenous by lunch.

I did have the same problem in the past.... This time when i started a lifestyle change I went to the doctor and discussed some options and the fact that I feel hungry because I know I am not going to be able to eat. My doctor asked me why I cant eat. She told me that I need to budget my calories like I would budget my check book. And now I dont feel hungry, because I know that I can eat... Maybe that is a psycolgical thing... but maybe try it... So far in two and a half weeks I have lost 13 pounds, and I have eaten pizza, ribs, even chocolate satin pie.. all because I have budgeted and been able to keep with in my calorie range. Try it, it may work, because if you know that you are on a diet and cant have something, then you are going to want it even more, If you are making a lifestyle change and want to eat the foods you love, just make sure to have portion control and also to budget your calories so you can eat the foods you love.

OK, I'd say that since you had breakfast and a mid-morning snack, you should have lunch too!

Its only natural-

Breakfast

Snack

Lunch

Snack

Dinner

Of course your stomach is growling!  I don't know your stats, but that looks more like a snack to me, not a breakfast, where you should be getting a pretty large chunk of your daily cals, ideally.  You don't have to ditch the English muffin.  Just buy ones with higher fiber/protein content, pref. whole wheat or the Thomas brand ones, "Light" if you are lucky enough to be able to find them in stock somewhere.  Spread a little tomato paste, pizza or spag. sauce on a toasted one and then top with a slice or two of Canadian bacon (the large rounds, not the "pizza size" ones), or refried beans & salsa if you don't do meat, and your cheese.  Run it back through the toaster/broiler until bubbly.  You can add a slice of tomato to this or some onion/bell pepper slices, too, whatever you like.  Breakfast pizza, and it's healthy and filling!  Or throw a couple of cooked egg whites or an egg or sub. on there w/ your cheese on top.  None of those additions will set you back very many cals, and will help keep you full much longer! 

Or, toast your muffin and spread PB and thinly sliced apples or pears on top.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and/or raw sugar/honey, or even yogurt).  Also, low-cal additions, but loads more fiber, protein, and healthy fats.  Just don't go overboard with the PB (and measure it).

Eat more (cals/fiber/protein/healthy fats) for breakfast, and you shouldn't get as hungry! 

I also experienced seeming to feel hungrier when I first started modifying my diet.  These feelings DO pass, if you keeping plugging away, but if you aren't eating enough to sustain you, particularly for breakfast, you are shooting yourself in the foot from the word go.  Hang in there, though, it does get better.   Then eventually you get to a point where you think, "I've got to eat more than this?" 

I'm going to reiterate what's been said in a few replies already.  You need to balance each meal with protein, carbs & fats.   Protein & fiber will fill you up while fat will keep you feeling satisfied.   I find that eating 5-6 smaller meals per day helps me a lot.  Your breakfast of an muffin & cheese will not keep you satisfied for very long.  Add some egg whites, or even whole eggs for that matter. I recommend making breakfast your biggest meal of the day - say about 35%-40% of your daily calories. 

i've experienced it and its because your body used to having more calories by that time. i find that the cure is either eating more fiber or timee. eventually your body does get used to it and it will stop growling.

i dont actually have this problem but TELL ME WHERE THE FAT FREE CHEESE IS FROM!! haha :p

xx

PROTEIN IN THE MORNING! instead of the english muffin, make an egg white omlet, you can use 4 egg whites for only 60 cals (aprox 15 cals per egg white) mixed with fresh cut up veggies, fat free cheese, and a slice or two of turkey bacon you will be full for at least a few hours! Protein is very filling and so is fiber, so up those two things in your diet and you should feel better, good luck!

The cheese I buy is from Borden. Each slice has 30 cals and no fat. I wouldn't eat it on its own but it tastes ok on stuff. Also, I believe kraft makes ff cheese.