how can I control my hunger?

Question

I seem to get hungry every 3 hours but I force myself not to eat til its been atleast 4.5 hours since last eaten anything. Just 3 hours ago I ate chicken potato salad and beef stew. Now im starving and I refuse to eat for another 2.5 hours. Im over weight too by about 40 pounds. I eat meat so what can I do to control my hunger?

Answer 1

* You might want to think about finding a Weight Watchers meeting near you. It's inexpensive and they have a helpful little pamphlet-size book so you can figure out what foods to be eating, and what portion size, in moderate-size regular meals and occasional snacks, so that you don't get hungry all the time and then eat something fattening due to sheer hunger. Go to Weight Watchers at least once or twice to see if it works for you. I actually think it's a very helpful program even though I've only done it a couple of times in my life.

* You also might want to go for a checkup. There are medical conditions that can cause this.

* Are you sleep-deprived? I get much hungrier when I'm sleep-deprived -- and I actually have read that it's a common phemomenon.

* Exercise will actually make you less hungry, amazingly enough. If you have a good YMCA in your area, with good exercise equipment and maybe even a swimming pool, you could join that - it's not expensive and if you have very low income, they do have a program to assist you to join. Even if you think it would be too embarrassing to exercise, just start slow with a few minutes on the treadmill. I started back in February and have lost 20 of the 35 pounds I needed to lose.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

It's ok to eat every 3 hours. Just eat less than what you would normally eat in a regular meal. The healthiest eating habit is to eat 6 small meals a day. For instance, eat a half of a sandwich at a time (skip the mayo all together though). Eat more frequently, but reduce the amount you eat at one time. Also, drink lots of clear fluids (water, green tea) to help boost your metabolism. You mention eating meat. That's good, meat helps keep you full longer than grains and carbos do. Make sure you choose lean or light meat though, because there is little nutrition in the fat of meat. Also, limit your red meat intake to one or two servings a week. Fish and chicken are healthier alternatives. Also, skip fatty dairy foods. For instance, instead of eating chicken potato salad, eat a baked potato and some chicken breast. Instead of beef stew eat chicken soup or vegetable soup.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I think what you really want to know is how to lose weight and
be healthy and not suffering. Here it is !

It is not the calories that you consume, but the calories absorbed
by you body that counts. Imagine eating a 5000 calorie meal
and it passing through your body in 5 mins - you body would
have little chance to absorb it. But you would then be hungry
again and start chomping down. How to find that magic balance?

Refined sugar products raise your blood sugar quickly as they
are easily absorbed into your system. When blood sugar is
high, your body uses some for energy and insulin converts the
rest to body fat and stores it as such. Refined starch products
are almost as bad for the same reason. Mix water and flour and
you get glue, so even whole grain bread has little chance of
moving on without help. Meat and cheeze have no fiber and
have a similar problem. Mix meat and refined starch in a meal
and your body pumps out different chemicals to break them
down that oppose each other and confuses your body and slows
the process even farther. Your system does not know how to
process other products like coffee, so even though it has no
calories - it mixes with other food stuffs and slows it down.
Other additives in processed food must have the same problem
and when your body gives up on processing it - it shoves it into
fat cells for storage until it has time to get back to it, however
it doesnt because it is busy with the next load coming down the
shoot. Your digestive system also drains your energy that is
needed to repair other stuff in your body and can contribute to
other problems.
Having said all that - what is the solution?

1 - Forget the morning coffee if you can - I havent yet, but drink
a cup in the morning an hour before anything else.

2- Have a meal of fresh fruit (all you want) Any time you want.

3- When you feel hungry again - eat more fruit, but if you really
feel like protein - eat some eggs without the bread. It doesnt
taste as bad as you might think.

4- Hungry again ? eat more fruit or veggies being carefull of
the dressings. Some cans of veggies are fine and dont have
a lot of junk in them. Read the labels. A can of peas or beans
can be satisfying and delicious and cheap and easy.
Feel free to eat a tomato or cucumber with anything.

5- A couple of deep fried chicken breasts in Canola oil is tasty
and not greasy. Feel free to have a salad or other veggies
with it.

6- When you really feel like having a meat meal - think about
baking or broiling and forget the bread.

7- If you really want some potatoes or other root veggies - clean
them up and leave the skins on - Boil, steam or bake them
and then eat them with a bit
of black pepper on them. Try to forget the other toppings.
they dont taste that bad by themselves or dust them with any
dry seasoning that makes you smile.

8- Drink water and low carb drinks - Talking rain and Crystal
light are two that I like. Even skim milk and all fruit juices
have way too many calories and little fiber , so keep them
down to a very small serving once a day.

9- A tablespoon of Metamucil a couple of times a day helps keep
things moving along as well.

10- Good luck.

Answer 4

I have lost 85lbs, so take some advice here....
eat something every 2 hours, try nuts, yogurt, granola bars, and drink alot of water and sugar free drinks, something a little healthier then chips and candy. Watch your carbs. try to stay under 200 a day. All you really have to do is watch your breads, potatoes and pasta and you can just about to it. I try to watch what I eat for breakfast, a salad for lunch ( a nice salad chief with meat and all on it) and I can have just about what ever I want for supper. There are hardly any carbs in meat, and anything under 2 carbs you dont have to count. You can check your local hospital for a nutrition class and its free (thats what I did) if your not a big seafood eater, try fish oil pills, they are high in omega 3 just like fish. And try drinking Green tea, 3 cups a day can help boost your metabolisim. Check out www.calorieking.com you can find carb counts on food and even resturant foods. I have his book got it at walmart for $4.88 Calorie Fat & Carbohydrate counter plus 170 fast food chains and resturants. it list calories carbs and fat for all foods. Good Luck (hope I was some help)

Answer 5

You're going about this the wrong way.

First of all, in order to stop from overeating, you should be eating smaller amounts more frequently. Try eating a small amount every two hours. Think about the way toddlers eat. They won't sit still for long... so they may eat a piece of toast at 8a.m.... then a banana at 10a.m.... then 1/2 a sandwich at noon... an apple cut up on a plate at 2p.m.... some carrot sticks at 4p.m.... a little meat and veggie at 6p.m... and a container of yogurt at 8p.m.

They eat when they're hungry... but not more than they need to stop the hunger. They don't stuff themselves ever.

Now... aside from that... you're trying to lose weight and you're eating chicken potato salad and beef stew? In one sitting? Okay... consider WHAT you're eating and the amounts you're eating.

Aim for small amounts of meat... few carbs... TONS of veggies... but limit sauces, dressings, gravies and additional fat/calories that are not a part of the food itself.

Try something like this:

Breakfast - bowl (about 1 cup) of low-sugar, high fiber cereal with fat-free milk OR small bagel with lowfat cream cheese OR bowl of oatmeal (1/2 - 3/4 cup) with Splenda.

Mid-morning snack - 1 piece fresh fruit or small serving fruit salad.

Lunch - BIG salad with a little lean protein (tuna in water, lean chicken or turkey) and tons of veggies. Lowfat dressing... no cheese... 4 to 6 whole wheat crackers

Mid-afternoon snack - 1 oz lowfat cheese and 1 pc fruit (like a cut up apple or pear

Dinner - 1 serving (3 to 5oz - about the size of a deck of cards) lean protein (baked or broiled with herbs, seasonings, but no sauces except something like Worchestershire or mustard) Vary chicken, whitefish like trout and whiting, salmon, lean beef no more than once/week, consider going meat-free and using portabello mushrooms as your "meaty" item.

1 serving carbs... no more than 3/4 to 1 cup... best if it's brown rice or whole grain pasta, but if you're dying for pasta, best to just allow yourself the treat. Use caution what you top it with!!!

All the veggies you want! Top your foods with simple marinara, Butter Buds, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, etc... avoid all cheese sauces and cream sauces. This is where your fat content is. If you're dying for something rich and creamy, make your own alfredo sauce using fat-free evaporated milk and shredded parmesan cheese. You'll never know it's not heavy cream.

Cooking methods are broiling, grilling, stir-frying, steaming, etc. Don't fry anything or cover it with gravy or sauce.

Just remember... small servings... eat something about every two hours... this way you won't gorge yourself because you're starving and you won't make less healthy choices just because you're so hungry. If you feel deprived... your diet won't work at all.

Also... when you're hungry? Drink a big glass of water (sometimes our brain reads thirst as hunger) and then go for a walk. Exercise actually reduces hunger while toning you and getting you back in shape!

Good luck to you :)

Answer 6

Drink plenty of water. When you get hungry in between meals then eat lots of fresh vegetables. Cucumbers, celery, carrots, radishes. They all have 0 calories and you can eat as much of them as you want. They will fill you up. You'd be surprised. Also, see your doctor and a nutritionist. Good luck!

Answer 7

Sometimes when you feel hungry, you are actually thirsty. Try drinking more water between meals - might make a difference.

Also, increase your protein intake or eat foods that are Low GI - will keep you fuller for longer.

If it makes u feel any better, I eat like a horse myself !

Goodluck.

Answer 8

Drink water

Answer 9

Keep you mind and your body "active"!! I know it is true for me....I tend to be an emotional ''eater" When your tummy starts to say "I'm hungry" and you know you really can't be DO SOMETHING!!!! inertia tends to make us crave food when our body simply doesn't need it. Occupy your mind and your body....If you are at home, get up and get busy....also you can brush your teeth, and drink some water, but mostly you need something to do!!! I hope this is helpful to you....good luck!!!!

Answer 10

How about drinking water when you are hungry? This is what I do and it is a good way to control your weight. Good luck.