I usually go through a period of two weeks of little appetite followed by two weeks of intense hunger. I don't think it has much to do with training and dieting, because I don't lower my caloric intake too much during the "low appetite" weeks (usually about 1500 to 1600), and this has been happening even when I didn't use to exercise. I think it might be related to the menstrual cycle because it usually coincides with it. Usually, during the first two weeks of the cycle I have the “low appetite” weeks, then the next two weeks (after ovulation, probably) I feel very hungry all the time. This is becoming frustrating, as I’m trying to lose body fat. Have you heard about this before? Should I “listen to my body” and increase my caloric intake during the “hunger weeks”, with clean food, of course, or will it only keep me from achieving my goals? Do you know a technique I can use to control my appetite during those weeks?
Hunger Attacks
- Thread starter Mariela
- Start date
merrybaker
Cathlete
I go through the exact same thing . I thought I was crazy !!! I think Vitamin B-12 and B-6 help !!! .I resently just started taking again ,And this month its truly helping .... My Dr had me take um when I was on the Pill ,years ago .I kinda forgot about it til recently ....Any how so far Its helping ...Try it Even St Johns Wart can help here too . I will try that too soon !!!! 
You can't ignore that chocolate group! IF you're eating that often and are physically experiencing hunger, then eat more. SInce you exercise regularly, you most likely can keep your calories around 1800-2000 and still lose weight. Try adding some very filling low glycemic foods, like black beans, slow cooking oatmeal, whole grain extra fiber bread with a little peanut butter. A huge salad made of a variety of raw veggies and maybe some fat free cottage cheese will fill you up while providing vitamins and antioxidants. You can be pretty liberal with the amount of salad you eat as long as you don't add a bunch of fattening junk to it.
If this helps, here's my favorite super filling burrito recipe:
whole wheat high fiber tortilla (14 g. fiber, 10 g. protein, 80 calories)
3/4 c. refried no fat black beans (8g. fiber, 9 g. protein, 140 calories depending on brand)
1 serving Gimme Lean Ground Beef Style (2 g. fiber, 8 g. protein, 50 calories, no fat) I brown it in a skillet with chili powder and cumin. Here's a link to what I'm talking about:
http://www.lightlife.com/gimmeleanbeef.html
1 T. fat free sour cream (~ 20 calories)
1/8 cup fat free cheddar cheese (~ 25 calories)
1 T. salsa (~10 calories)
About half way through one of these burritos, I'm stuffed, but if you decide to eat the whole thing, it's only 325 calories which is great for one small meal.
HTH!
If this helps, here's my favorite super filling burrito recipe:
whole wheat high fiber tortilla (14 g. fiber, 10 g. protein, 80 calories)
3/4 c. refried no fat black beans (8g. fiber, 9 g. protein, 140 calories depending on brand)
1 serving Gimme Lean Ground Beef Style (2 g. fiber, 8 g. protein, 50 calories, no fat) I brown it in a skillet with chili powder and cumin. Here's a link to what I'm talking about:
http://www.lightlife.com/gimmeleanbeef.html
1 T. fat free sour cream (~ 20 calories)
1/8 cup fat free cheddar cheese (~ 25 calories)
1 T. salsa (~10 calories)
About half way through one of these burritos, I'm stuffed, but if you decide to eat the whole thing, it's only 325 calories which is great for one small meal.
HTH!
Hi Mariela,
I use to get those all the time, when I was younger and lived at home it drove my mother nuts. As the moment I didn't eat my usually amount, she'd worry that I was getting sick or something.
One thing I found that worked for me, was during the hunger period was to break down my food as much as possible and eat constantly, there or four bites then wait 30 minutes eat a little more etc. I manage to get it up to about every two hours. And the hunger craving drastically disappeared. My doctor told me this was due to my period being so energy draining, from the really bad PMS, so during the week before and after I actually forced myself to eat a bit more, and that helped as well. But I finally got tired of being doubled over in bed for a week, and got rid of the whole darn thing. Non-Surgically, just a shot that stops the whole thing.
And now I have normal eating patternes and I acutally have 4 weeks to every momth, that I can do things in.
Good luck I do hope you find the reason for your cycle doing this to you.
Kit
I use to get those all the time, when I was younger and lived at home it drove my mother nuts. As the moment I didn't eat my usually amount, she'd worry that I was getting sick or something.
One thing I found that worked for me, was during the hunger period was to break down my food as much as possible and eat constantly, there or four bites then wait 30 minutes eat a little more etc. I manage to get it up to about every two hours. And the hunger craving drastically disappeared. My doctor told me this was due to my period being so energy draining, from the really bad PMS, so during the week before and after I actually forced myself to eat a bit more, and that helped as well. But I finally got tired of being doubled over in bed for a week, and got rid of the whole darn thing. Non-Surgically, just a shot that stops the whole thing.
And now I have normal eating patternes and I acutally have 4 weeks to every momth, that I can do things in.
Good luck I do hope you find the reason for your cycle doing this to you.
Kit
There is a very simple answer.
If you are hungry, you must eat. Hunger is the body's signal to you that it requires more calories for its basal metabolic functioning. This signal is perfectly natural. What is unnatural is to ignore it.
It has been medically proven that a woman's calorie needs increases during the second half of her cycle. Give your body that extra meal it needs. To starve it is to sabotage your diet goals. To feed it isn't. If you manage to convinve the body that food is scarce it simply holds onto its fat stores.
Clare
If you are hungry, you must eat. Hunger is the body's signal to you that it requires more calories for its basal metabolic functioning. This signal is perfectly natural. What is unnatural is to ignore it.
It has been medically proven that a woman's calorie needs increases during the second half of her cycle. Give your body that extra meal it needs. To starve it is to sabotage your diet goals. To feed it isn't. If you manage to convinve the body that food is scarce it simply holds onto its fat stores.
Clare
nancy324
Cathlete
I'm the same way. Always have been. I think it's natural for your hunger level to change, and I respect my body by eating more during the hungrier times. I just make sure to eat good stuff. I wouldn't try to artificially control your appetite.
Editing to say I just read Clare's post and totally agree with it.
Editing to say I just read Clare's post and totally agree with it.
THANK YOU for posting this! I go through exactly the same thing. I've been trying to figure out just what type of food my body is craving more of (i.e. protein, complex carbs, dairy, essential fats, etc.). I'm learning that I need to eat more of the "good stuff" so I don't get too starved and binge. BECAUSE ALL I WANT IS ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!! I always eat really clean, but during those 2 weeks, I could probably eat a half-gallon of ice cream a day and still want more.
I appreciate the reply about the B vitamins. I'll have to make sure I'm getting enough of those.
I love this Forum--It's great to know we're not alone in the things we go through. And I always appreciate everyone's advice.
Carol F
I appreciate the reply about the B vitamins. I'll have to make sure I'm getting enough of those.
I love this Forum--It's great to know we're not alone in the things we go through. And I always appreciate everyone's advice.
Carol F
Thanks to everybody for your suggestions and replies. Clare, thank you for your sound advice. Kit, it's weird: I don't suffer from bad PMS or feeling tired during the period...or maybe I am not aware of it. (I doubt it; I would have noticed and I keep track of irritability (as I am bipolar) and ovulation, etc. Too many factors, it gets confusing.)
I think I am going to try upping up a little during the "low appetite phase" and see if I still need to up my calories during the "hunger phase". If I sitll feel hungry, I will up the calories, eat frerquent, small meals, and make sure I eat only or mostly nutritiuos and clean stuff. I do take B vitamins and I will continue to take them, along with the multivitamin and my fish oil.
I think I am going to try upping up a little during the "low appetite phase" and see if I still need to up my calories during the "hunger phase". If I sitll feel hungry, I will up the calories, eat frerquent, small meals, and make sure I eat only or mostly nutritiuos and clean stuff. I do take B vitamins and I will continue to take them, along with the multivitamin and my fish oil.