Why am I always hungry?!?

Question

I am 16 years old and recovering from an eating disorder, and am still slightly underweight for my height. Periods still missing and stuff...Anyway I hate feeling hungry all the time! This is a sample of what I eat on a typical day, and I NEVER feel satisfied!

Breakfast: handful of dry oats, 1 banana, 1 orange

Snack: 1 Mango

Lunch: 1 portion of prawns, 2tbspn low fat cottage cheese

Snack: 1 apple and a few strawberries

Dinner: small plate of veggies and tofu, boiled.

Dessert: a few grapes

I thinks thats tons of food so why do I always have this feeling like I still want MOREEE!? Its horrible! I rarely give in to my cravings because I know that will lead to a binge and then I throw it up afterwards, and I want to recover from my eating disorder not go back to where I started! Can someone help me please? I hate this feeling of never being satisfied... I wake up starving and go to bed starving...Help please?

Answer 1

a lot of food that you are are eating is fruits, which is quite good BUT it also digests much quicker. why dont you eat a few dry fruits / prunes

i think you need to eat food thats more 'filling' so your stomach doesnt grumble again in a few hours.

have a bowl of porridge for breakfast, i find that quite filling.

a large glass of milk with cocoa powder or whatever flavour you like is also very filling, just before you go to bed.

when you snack, have a cup of tea with oaty biscuits as oats are filling.

for your lunch and dinner, include Pasta / Rice / Bread / Pitta etc which are good sources of carbohydrates, with boiled veggies or meat or whatever you fancy.

another trick is to distract yourself from food - try doing something that you really like doing - could be a hobby - could be excercise - which will keep your brain engaged and not think of food.

your gp should be able to give you good advise on how to have a balanced diet. visit www.bbc.co.uk and click on healthy living, there are lot of tips there about what all you should eat in a day.

based on this info, make a time table of food and stick to it - NO MORE AND NO LESS - you can tick away when you have eaten that way you know you are eating enough, pyschologically this will really help, as you will know that you are eating all you need to eat.

good luck and i am glad there are 16 yr olds like you who are concerned about what they eat.

:-)

Answer 2

I used to be bulimic and can understand why you think you are eating a lot and are reluctant to eat more than you are already. The truth is you know deep down you are not eating enough, you just don't want that stuffed feeling you get after a 'big' meal which makes you feel fat and greedy, and sees it down the toilet 20 minutes later. I'd advise against eating chips or mcdonalds as a few people have suggested as these foods (personally) are the ones that are most likely to make you feel bad and throw up. Introduce carbohydrates a bit at a time. Start off with having a wholegrain piece of toast with your breakfast then say a week later introduce a little pasta or potato into your main meal. Too much to soon and your likely to feel stuffed. I found constantly eating from a bag of mixed sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and raisins kept me from feeling hungry, they are good for you and don't be put off by the fat content, there are only good fats in the seeds. Good luck.

Answer 3

That might be a question to ask a doctor. It could be a number of things, ranging from a eating disorder, to a high metabolism. I suffer the same thing, as well, although mine isn't an eating disorder. Far from it, actually. I just have a high metabolism, and it shows. On average, I'll eat five to seven meals (Not snacks) a day. The worst part about this? I don't gain an ounce when I eat. I blame it on the tape worm (He doesn't exist, but its funny to watch people's reactions to the statement). I'll eat anywhere from one to three pounds of food, per sitting, and barely gain any weight, at all. I have multiple check-ups, each year, and I'm healthy as can be. The truth is, people are different. There's no "set food amount" a person should eat. How big are you? If you're tall, or just naturally hefty, you'll eat more to maintain your body type. If this is a concern, as I stated, just talk with your doctor about it. I'm sure they'll offer you an answer, if anything. If you just have a healthy appetite, I suggest buying non-name brand food items.... or getting a second job. :P

Answer 4

if u go to gp u could be sent to deiticion that will help find a diet the will fill u up and help u to put on wiegh but i dont think a handful of dry oats for breakfast and a small plate of veg for dinne is enough try to slowly build the amount u r eating so that u r not hungry but do it slowly do u r not tempted to binge the throw up and make sure u keep eating all the healthy food u r eating coz its alot better for u, congratulations for beating the eating disorder and good luck xx

Answer 5

Your diet is very good. The only thing missing is carbon hydrates, and that is the reason why you are so hungry. The kind of food you are eating is very healthy but doesn't provide a lot of energy (for the exception of the mango). I believe you are still studying, and carbs are essential for a student, as that's the kind of energy that your brain needs when you are focused and trying to memorise or assimilate something, as it is burned very slowly. Even though your diet is healthy try to increase in some carbs (rice, bread, pasta, to keep it healthy choose wholemeal stuff), you are very young and your body needs it, specially if you had an eating disorder.

Answer 6

Okay, it's okay, just relax. You're fine, just don't go binging after you think you ate too much.
I'm 5'3 and 110 pounds...I'm actually under the average weight for my height and age. I'm a teen, also.
This is what I eat on a typical day...

Breakfast-
one over-hard egg, with a piece of toast and a glass of no-fat milk.

Lunch-
peanut butter cracker, apple, three cookies, juice, sometimes carrots, sometimes a few chips.

Dinner-
a main "entree" such as chicken or spaghetti, garlic bread, grapes, milk.

Occasionally ice cream or cookies for dessert.

And you thought what you were eating is a ton of food? LISTEN to your body, girl! When your body, not your mind, is telling you you are HUNGRY it needs you to EAT! You probably need carbohydrates to keep you energized, they give you energy, not all those sugars from fruit. You also need protein, it also keeps you full. It's good that you're eating, but eating healthy doesn't always mean fruits and veggies. Also try healthy fats (unsaturated), I think those things are really what your body needs now.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Hmm doesn't really sound that much for dinner a few boiled vegies and tofu...hmm bit bland aswell! have a nice big spaghetti bolognaise or cottage pie or pizza with salad. get a nice recipie book to inspire you (Delia Smith's recipies are yummy as they are really homely and hearty meals...and really easy to follow - she has done a veggie recipie book aswell). Have your tried oats so simple porridge in the morning - really quick to do and fill you up really well. At luncg have bread and soup or jacket spud with a filling or sandwiches. And drink plenty of water.

You sound like you eat really healthy food so you cant be going too wrong!

Answer 8

What you are eating is mostly fruit and low fat foods like the cottage cheese and prawns.
You need more bulk to satisfy you. You need carbs like potatoes and pasta and rice.
Dont just eat fatty foods to fill you up like pizzas and burgers, but food I have just mentioned and fish.... lovely stuff!
Your present diet is not adequate calorie wise and its no wonder your still hungry.

Get into da pasta and enjoy..

Answer 9

That's not alot of food at all. All the food you mentioned there doesn't even equal 1 meal for me and I'm 100pds wet and wearin boots. Eat more filling foods like pasta and Rice. You will be ok even if you eat a couple Mcdonald's meals. Your stomach is telling you that the quantity's your eating isn't enough.

Eat more!!!!

Answer 10

that isnt enough food u need full meals not tbs or a handful u need to eat or u will be a toothpick u only think it is enough because u r recovering from a eating disorder EAT MORE u will be healtheir