Why is my appetite so high? Help me figure this out...

My period ended 2 days ago, I'm not on any medication whatsoever, I am hydrated, and I take a women's multivitamin daily. I'm not bored. Or pregnant. My finals are coming up soon so I'm kind of stressed, and it's really cold out...but I just don't get it. My appetite is INSANE right now and every day I commit to a "weight loss plan" just to end up eating maitenance at the end of the day. It's really important to my self esteem that I start losing weight. What do you think I can do to get my appetite under control? Has this ever happened to anyone?

i've noticed an increase in my appetite recently because i've been drinking diet soda. gotta stop that! i've also been stressed. i used to be an emotional eater. this year i have really stopped that but for some reason today i got upset and completely binged. so i'm in the same boat as you.

First make sure you've got your maintenance numbers right.

Make sure you're getting enough fiber, protein & fats & eating a balanced diet.

Then make sure it's your appetite. Are you getting headaches? Are you really hungry? Or just not satisfied?

Finally, consider eating the maintenance calories for your desired weight instead of focusing on a lower number. It might be easier for you to feel successful & your body will feel more satisfied.

Now this might be a stretch and I don't want to worry you but these are things worth checking out.

1. it could be a thyroid condition.  If you develope an overactive thyroid you will constantly be hungry.

2.adult onset diabetes.  In fact one of the first symptoms of biabetes is constant hunger and thirst.

these are worth checking out.  better safe than sorry.

My guess (since it is finals) is you are burning the candle on both ends and are not getting enough sleep.  The stress isn't helping either.  Sometimes my work throws me into stressful situations which bumps my appetite, and when I am getting only 6 hours of sleep, coupled with the stress - WOW! will my appetite go through the roof!

Also there may be a temptation to snack on sugary treats especially if your energy level is going down and you need to study more.  The rise and fall in blood sugar levels also will trigger your appetite.

My suggestion is to get at least 8 hours of sleep for the next couple of days and lay low on any sugar or high carb foods that convert to sugar in your blood.  If this is not possible due to the demands of your studies and deadlines, try not to eat past full and when exams are over and you can get some sleep see if everything doesn't go back to normal.

i know i eat like a fiend if i start out my day without some sort of protein. just cereal or fruit, or just a bagel, and i'm starving like an hour later and i can't stop eating all day, especially if i follow that up with like a salad for lunch.

but if i eat protein like eggs for breakfast, i literally stay satisfied for 4 to 6 hours. i like to pair it up with some kind of bread too, like an english muffin, and a little bit o' margarine, so i'm good to go. so say you have a boiled egg, english muffin w/ a pat of margarine, and an apple. that's about 350-400 calories. you should be able to rein in your calories, and not be hungry for 3-5 hours. try it!