Hungry? I wonder if that is such a bad thing.

I was just doing my “morning ritual” of late – creeping the forum – drinking my tea – reading posts – and one post “I really can’t do it” – made me think about the psychology of deprivation – and wonder if we really prepare ourselves appropriately before we start a weight loss program.

Weight loss – the process of burning away more calories than we add – is by its very nature a form of deprivation.  We WILL be hungry – a lot – and more often at the start than ever. 

I’m wondering – have we given “hungry” a bad wrap err… rap?  There are a lot of posts here dedicated to weight reduction strategies that do their best to avoid hunger – not a bad idea – but is it practical to only embrace strategies that avoid hunger – not to mention embrace strategies that vilify HUNGER?

Maybe the hungry people out there – not starving – but hungry – who are feeling hunger – should embrace that feeling – because every moment you are there you are WINNING.  And if you start to get that empty hollow acid feeling in your stomach – drink a couple of glasses of water, throw in a banana, or an apple, then embrace the hunger AGAIN – win the battle… love the feeling of your hunger!  Who knows… maybe the feeling will pass – maybe it won’t.  But if you’re going to feel HUNGER until your next meal – don’t hate the feeling – don’t dwell on how to kill it – look at the feeling as SUCCESS.

Original Post by legaleli:

because every moment you are there you are WINNING. 

(It's a cheap shot, but here it goes.....)

So anorexics are the real winners?

Eli - I lost weight without feeling deprived, or hungry. Sure, I got hungry, like "It's time for lunch"-hungry. But I never let myself get to that "empty hollow acid feeling." Why does it seem like your posts are always trying to defend your desire to eat as little as possible?

Yes, people should probably anticipate that at some point when trying to lose weight they're going to feel hungry.  It's a good thing to have an edge of hunger right before a meal so that you have an appetite and your food is satisfying and welcome.   People who claim to never feel hungry have simply lost their appetite and food must lose a lot of its pleasure as a result..   It's not natural to feel constantly full of food the same as it's not pleasant to be feeling starving hungry. 

However, it's emphatically not constructive to treat hunger itself as something you should embrace, 'love' or see as an indicator of success.... that's a very slippery slope.

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Original Post by legaleli:

because every moment you are there you are WINNING. 

(It's a cheap shot, but here it goes.....)

So anorexics are the real winners?

 

Eli - I lost weight without feeling deprived, or hungry. Sure, I got hungry, like "It's time for lunch"-hungry. But I never let myself get to that "empty hollow acid feeling." Why does it seem like your posts are always trying to defend your desire to eat as little as possible?

Actually, I eat 2800-3100 a day maintenance.  That said, my weight loss programs – generally wildly successful, are based on the motivation of results – and are the result of strict dieting and exercise. 

Your suggestion that my post supports anorexia is pedestrian and misleading - but maybe it was just a joke.  I said that the “hollow feeling” is undesirable.  You suggest I didn’t.  Don’t blame me for your failures.

I don't like to make a virtue of suffering. I'm not trying to lose weight to be pure and strong-willed. In fact, if I overdo it, I would find myself quite weak and preoccupied with trivialties (it is bad enough counting calories).

There are much, *much* better things to appreciate in life than hunger. Hunger is life's signal to eat. It is unpleasant enough so that one will get off one's behind and do some gathering/hunting. You should only fight it if the payoff is going to be worth it.

There are much better ways to measure your self-worth.

Edited to add: I now think my post sounds a bit judgmental. Things that help achieve your goal can only help, I suppose, as long as you don't end up moving the goalposts!

My point is that the HUNGER feeling is generally interpreted as deprivation - which is wrong.  When we were cave dwelling hunter gatherers and even before then swinging from tree to tree we burned a lot of calories - and our bodies have evolved to tell us to eat - to consume - because food was far more scarce 10,000 years ago than now.  We have not developed many signals to tell us to stop eating.  We are over wired for hunger now - to be overly simplistic about it - HUNGER is normal.  To see it as deprivation is not a good thing.  To feed the HUNGER might not be smart...

Yeah, I just can't get into "hunger."  I've said it here before, and I'm saying it again, but on a restricted caloric intake, I am always hungry.  It is not at all comfortable, and is certainly not motivating.  I am always planning and anticipating my next meal.  Sure, I've slowly lost 45 pounds over the last 7 months, and I'm still losing, and I plan to continue until I've reached my healthy weight.  My mouth waters for the day that I am able to eat for maintenance, which will add a comfortable buffer of an extra 500-800 calories a day so I can get on with my new lifestyle.  But for now, it's deprivation, and I neither embrace nor love it.           

Original Post by flonklar:

Yeah, I just can't get into "hunger."  I've said it here before, and I'm saying it again, but on a restricted caloric intake, I am always hungry.  It is not at all comfortable, and is certainly not motivating.  I am always planning and anticipating my next meal.  Sure, I've slowly lost 45 pounds over the last 7 months, and I'm still losing, and I plan to continue until I've reached my healthy weight.  My mouth waters for the day that I am able to eat for maintenance, which will add a comfortable buffer of an extra 500-800 calories a day so I can get on with my new lifestyle.  But for now, it's deprivation, and I neither embrace nor love it.           

45 pounds in 7 months... F****** FANTASTIC.  How is your exercise program coming?  I bet you're a lot faster - a lot stronger - better.  I don't like hunger either - but yours also brought 45 pounds of "see ya".  Do you know that you - in 28 weeks - have done more than most can ever do?  That makes you a star. 

I guess, while you don't like hunger - maybe there are ways to beat it down - a shot of vinegar, apples, honey - whatever - you certainly have learned to overcome hunger.   7 months of solid dieting - 7 MONTHS!  If you could bottle your resolve you could make millions.

Thanks.  Sure, I have motivation to "be hungry," and of course I'm benefitting, but still...

I actually have NO exercise program.  I do industrial plant maintenance for a living, so my job is relatively physical.  My daily activities burn about 3000-3500 calories a day, so I have no desire to add any gymwork to that.  I don't feel stronger or faster, nor do I feel any less so.  But I AM losing weight, slowly and steadily.

But again, I don't consider it "dieting"- I'm just (permanently) changing my eating habits, maybe a little more drastically until I get to my destination.  I'm exactly halfway there, so maybe another year or so, but if that's what it takes, I'll put up with it.  But I still don't like it!

Original Post by flonklar:

Thanks.  Sure, I have motivation to "be hungry," and of course I'm benefitting, but still...

I actually have NO exercise program.  I do industrial plant maintenance for a living, so my job is relatively physical.  My daily activities burn about 3000-3500 calories a day, so I have no desire to add any gymwork to that.  I don't feel stronger or faster, nor do I feel any less so.  But I AM losing weight, slowly and steadily.

But again, I don't consider it "dieting"- I'm just (permanently) changing my eating habits, maybe a little more drastically until I get to my destination.  I'm exactly halfway there, so maybe another year or so, but if that's what it takes, I'll put up with it.  But I still don't like it!

Your exercise program IS work - Christ... your days must be something to see!  I'm honestly surprised you don't notice a difference at work with 45 pounds gone - but then again - you ARE a big man still - just not AS big - maybe in in the next 20-45 pounds...

And regarding the "not dieting" thing - I get it - and it's so true - in the traditional sense of the word you are NOT dieting - just making a permanent change in your habits - which includes eating less for now... 

Industrial plant maintenance - as in walk softly and carry a big wrench?

As in, walk A LOT and yes, carry a big 36" pipe wrench, as well as lots of other fun stuff! 

I VAGUELY remember being somewhat below 200 pounds, and yes, I think getting around required a little less effort.  Hope to be there again sometime!

I actually like your post!

As I sit here, 700 cals in for the day, I am still hungry!!  But, I do agree, it isn't such a bad thing. 

Kudos on an eye-opening post my dear!

There's a lot of foods that are lower in calories but bulky (vegetables for the most part) that can be dressed up with a bit of salt and pepper or some light dressing to help fill you up.  Not the candy, cakes, and ice cream that we tend to crave, but good healthy food will help keep you from serious hunger and not blow your calorie allowance.  Also taking a bit more time eating can be helpful.

Original Post by smwhipple:

There's a lot of foods that are lower in calories but bulky (vegetables for the most part) that can be dressed up with a bit of salt and pepper or some light dressing to help fill you up.  Not the candy, cakes, and ice cream that we tend to crave, but good healthy food will help keep you from serious hunger and not blow your calorie allowance.  Also taking a bit more time eating can be helpful.

Oh believe me, I've tried all the tricks.  Sure, I can get filled up momentarily by eating broccoli and squash until I'm ready to puke, but it doesn't last long.  I can't think of a better way to put it- I'm just constantly "hungry."

Are you getting enough fluids?  When I'm thirsty, sometimes the signal comes across as hunger.  Have you had your blood sugar levels checked?  Thyroid? I'd discuss this with your doctor as constant hunger really doesn't sound good.

For me, a 500 calorie deficit doesn't cause constant hunger although it doesn't cause satiation, but then I also keep a calorie range so that I can go up to maintenance on those days that I just need a bit more.

Original Post by flonklar:

Original Post by smwhipple:

There's a lot of foods that are lower in calories but bulky (vegetables for the most part) that can be dressed up with a bit of salt and pepper or some light dressing to help fill you up.  Not the candy, cakes, and ice cream that we tend to crave, but good healthy food will help keep you from serious hunger and not blow your calorie allowance.  Also taking a bit more time eating can be helpful.

Oh believe me, I've tried all the tricks.  Sure, I can get filled up momentarily by eating broccoli and squash until I'm ready to puke, but it doesn't last long.  I can't think of a better way to put it- I'm just constantly "hungry."

And that's the nature of a fast-track program to get to where you want to be - the AWESOME thing about YOU - you're not quitting - you're plowing ahead - where many would just say F*** IT - you are not.  That's inspiring.

Try adding a bit more olive oil to your diet - fats actully cause a hormonal reaction which triggers the feeling of fullness.

I love this, OP. Calm down everyone else.

Original Post by raynsong:

I love this, OP. Calm down everyone else.

Everything's calm here Captain, just having a friendly conversation and sharing some opinions and experiences.

legaleli - I see exactly where you are coming from.  Never mind the nay Sayers.  Your idea is bit abstract (and very Buddhist) and that can be difficult to explain.

Let me try - its not about feeling hungry all of the time gratefully or accepting you will be hungry all of the time.  Neither of these is true.

But understanding that in order to reach your goal you WILL have to take on some challenges that might be uncomfortable.  That the discomfort is natural and sometimes the best strategy is to accept that you are not comfortable.  Once you have accepted that the discomfort is there, there is less resistance to the situation and therefore one is happier. 

Often it is the resistance to what IS that makes us unhappy and if we accept what IS - then we find that thing we resisted is not so bad after all.

Although I am neither Buddhist nor a believer of Evolution, I also agree with the OP. My problem is that I tend to want to squash that feeling of hunger a little too often and end up eating way more than I should that day.

Anything can trigger hunger with me and even after a very filling meal.

I am glad to be reminded that I might have to get used to feeling hungry at times if I am to lose more lbs.