Any ideas for reducing hunger

M

megs

Cathlete
I am struggling to lose about 10lbs that I have gained over the last 6 months or so. I am 42 years old and had my third child two years ago. I breastfed him for about 16 months and returned to my pre-pregnancy weight quite quickly. Over the last few months though, I have found my hunger difficult to manage and believe that this is the reason why I have gained the weight and why I am having so much trouble losing it. I would be grateful to hear any suggestions on how I might be able to reduce my hunger level to return to my happy weight.

Meg
 
the simple way and but the hardest way
look at your children when they stop to be hungry they stop eating
try this. at the beginig it will be difficult because we eat with our eyes and nose but try to listen to your stomach and when u think you stopped to be hungry stop eating.tell yourself the truth which is if u will be hungry in another half an hour than u will eat again.no problem.it just in your mind.im trying to do that and when i pay attention i succed.
most importent thing DO NOT EAT WHILE READING its a disaster

good luck

dont fight the weight embrace it and it will run off.

sharona:)
 
Stock the house with fruits and fresh veggies (carrots, celery, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers). Then make sure you have a snack every two hours. Snack healthy.

I find because I'm very active that I get quite hungry and if I remember to have a small snack then I don't gorge when it's meal time. I also have a tablespoon of trail mix after doing a Cathe workout so that I don't get so hungry that I'm eating everything in sight. My favorite trailmix right now is dried cranberries, almonds, peanuts and chocolate chips.

Also drink a glass of water when you feel hungry. I found (due to working out) that quite often my body would say "I'm hungry" when actually it was thirsty.

I was reading that it's important when you're eating to focus on the food (i.e. no TV, no reading, no multi-tasking). Also put the utensils down between mouthfuls. It actually takes your stomach 1/2 an hour to register that you put food in it. So take your time and savour what you eat.

Always eat breakfast so that your body doesn't think it's being starved. Studies say that people who eat breakfast eat fewer calories over the course of the day.
Hope this helps!
 
Make sure you have healthy food available. Try to eat every 2-3 hours, 5-6 mini meals throughout the day. This will help keep your blood sugar steady and eliminate being hungry. Here's an example of what I eat:
meal 1-protein shake w/frozen berries & a tiny bit oatmeal tossed in
meal 2-egg whites w/peppers & tomato, steelcut oats
meal 3-green salad with chicken or fish
meal 4-fat free cottage cheese and yogurt or an apple w/peanut butter
meal 5-protein and fresh vegetables

Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Good Luck,

Diana
 
Yep, this works for me too. I drink plenty of water all day, I keep my water bottle close by at all times. I have to eat a good breakfast or else I'll end up starving & eat everything in sight by lunch! And having healthy snacks helps too.

Also, fill up on things higher in fiber- cereals w/ more than 8g fiber, whole grains, fruits, & veggies. They will keep you full longer & so will lean protein.

HTH!
 
Agree with Diana - that is a great way to keep your body fueled and typically after you have eaten like that for a few days or so, your body gets acclimated.

And as the others mentioned - water, water, water.

Good luck - keep us informed ;)
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. Some great ideas for healthy eating! I have always resisted eating the 5-6 mini-meals a day but I think this may be the missing link. I'll let you know how I go.

Thanks again,
Meg
 
For me, I eat several meals a day, but I must avoid eating anything that will trigger hunger- like sugar, high fructose corn syrup. Eat as close to nature as possible. Many additives in food today make us hungrier. Eat whole foods and avoid processed.
Eat raw veggies all day, including breakfast. High fiber will give you a full feeling. I have broccoli, or sniff sniff...spinach, with my morning omelette.
 
If your problem is more in the evening, then just get busy with something...talk to an old friend on the phone, go outside and find something to do because being outside will keep you FAR away from the fridge. Take a drive, etc. until it is time for bed.

Everyone else has some fantastic advice too for during the day. I would listen to that as well.

Charlotte~~
 
>For me, I eat several meals a day, but I must avoid eating
>anything that will trigger hunger- like sugar, high fructose
>corn syrup. Eat as close to nature as possible. Many additives
>in food today make us hungrier. Eat whole foods and avoid
>processed.

I agree.
Natural foods work with our natural hunger responses. Processed foods (and the many 'non-foods,'like HFCS and partially hydrogenated oils, that scientists have come up with) don't.

Start each meal/snack with something raw (fruits or veggies).

Snack on nutrient-dense, calorie-poor foods (rather than calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods, which most processed foods are).
 
Here's a different thought...maybe you're not eating enough!

If you're hungry constantly, your body may be in "starvation" mode. What is your caloric intake on a daily basis? Sometimes actually INCREASING what how much you're eating (of healthy foods) can help you drop that extra weight.

If you're always hungry, there's probably a reason for it!
 
Meg...

No, your gonna have to let your body get used to less food. Your stomach will adjust. Its not gonna be easy and you will have to make yourself stay away from the kitchen and the snacks.

I know cause I have done it and still do it.
I am 46 yrs young:7 , 5'2" and weigh 100 lbs.
when I started my journey 3 1/3 yrs ago, I weighed 138.

I wish you well
Rhonda:7
 
If your hunger is REALLY hunger, then I would eat something healthy, like the examples other posters have given.

I have a little trouble with night time noshing unrelated to hunger. Lately what I've done is fix myself a tall glass of unsweetened cranberry juice and seltzer. The taste isn't for everyone, but I find the tartness of the cranberry keeps me from eating other things, and it's something that I end up sipping slowly.
 
Try this. If you feel hungry, eat fruit or vegetable. Nobody ever got fat from eating too many apples or carrot sticks. If you say to yourself, but I really want that cookie instead, that's not hunger. That's a preference for calorie-dense food.
 
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