I'm hungry... what would you do?

SRP

Cathlete
Okay, folks -
I have a nearly perfect menu for the day, in terms of fat/carb/protein ratio, as well as calories. This is according to info I plugged into FitDay.com. I have one orange left to eat until dinner.

BUT I'M STARVING.

What would you do? Ignore it and be good, or say the heck with it? I really want to eat clean, and I know I usually eat a bit more than I should. Current calorie estimate for the entire day, including the dinner I haven't eaten yet, is about 2100.
 
Oh Shannon, just have yourself a little snack. Don't panic. Maybe a handful of peanuts or pretzels or something. EAT! ;-)
 
I usually do. Hunger is not something I typically tolerate. But I'm trying to get a feel for the "recommended" amounts, proportions, etc. How do people survive?
 
In the words of my little Italian grandmother, Mangia! Eata! Eata! Eata!

You know, sometimes you just have to listen to your body. Charts provide a nice guide, but that's all they are and there needs to be room for flexibility.

Michele
 
Okay, just to be argumentative.... what happens if the so-called hunger is actually just habit? For instance, I KNOW that when I think I'm hungry right before bed, that's just habit because I got used to having a snack. Heck, I eat at 7 pm. There's no way I should be hungry after that. So is being hungry now just the habit of having snacks around? I'm gonna eat my orange and just suffer for the rest of the afternoon.

ETA: or who knows? I may have to zip on down to the cafeteria. Heaven help me, their food is awful.
 
I am always hungry. I have been trying not to eat every 30 mins - 1 hour, but gosh, I am having a hard time too. It is all good eats, but STILL!!!!! Somebody stop me!! I don't eat in the late evening though. I just plain starve. It is almost 2pm and I think I already ate 2500 calories!!!!!

Charlotte~~
 
Instead of the orange, have some sliced red peppers, cucumber, maybe even a small romaine salad. You can probably make a nice salad for the same amount of calories in the orange.

For the future, maybe divide up your meals a bit more, so you eat a bigger 'snack' at 'orange time' and a smaller dinner. Or, depending on how many calories are in your dinner, put some of those calories earlier in the day (when your body needs them because it's going to be active).

Of course, if the 'hunger'is actually habit, then try some flavorful herbal teas (with maybe a bit of stevia). The warm liquid, as well as the flavor, can be satisfying, especially if you go for something like a chocolate/mint flavored tea, or something that satisfies the flavor you crave.
 
I think habit-hunger feels different, personally. I can generally tell you when I am snooping through the cupboards because I'm bored or fidgety as opposed to when I am STARVING, you know what I mean? Physical hunger = shaky, unable to concentrate, etc.

I think Kathryn made some good suggestions. Perhaps you should be gonig for more fibrous stuff in your smaller meals so that it will fill you up longer. Also, fruit by itself can cause a sugar crash later on, so you may want to pair it up with something. I love bananas, but I never eat one without peanut butter. (Of course I'll eat peanut butter with nothing but a spoon, but that's a whole other story. ;) )

Marie
 
Marie, PB and I are old friends. Maybe too good of friends. I can go through a jar in a week with absolutely no problem. I try to restrain myself!
 
>Marie - you eat spoons? Plastic or metal?}(


Wooden would provide more fiber. ;)
Though metal would give a mineral boost.
 
Shannon,

I got into this habit of dipping my apple into the peanut butter jar. I was horrified to see I ate about 1/3 of the peanut butter in the jar over one apple!!!!

Charlotte~~
 
Oh Charlotte - I've done that before. Now I never, never, eat PB straight out of the jar. Even so, I do quite a bit of damage.
 
See Shannon, this is why I do low carb. I can eat any amount of anything anytime I want as long as it's low carb. I am never hungry, except when I get stuck in an 8 hour mtg (I am not being facetious about that, it happens to me almost every Monday night).

Anyway, I know the diet's not for everyone, but one of the reasons it's so effective is you can have large portions & snacks so you don't get hungry.
 
I would also recommend instead of an orange to eat something with protein. Protein is more filling. When I'm starving and don't think I'll make it until dinner I usually eat a few nuts and that always seems to keep me satisfied.

Katie
 
Yogurt. I went upstairs to the little deli, and they had yogurt. Paid a fortune for it, but it was the best I could do. My other options were beautiful chocolate desserts, bagels, and ice cream. Okay, maybe I should have grabbed the triple layer chocolate torte, or whatever it was....
 

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