Why am I always hungry?

Question

I Turned vegetarian 2 weeks ago.
Was Vegetarian for 2 years 10 years ago (did not experience this constant hunger).
Ate predominately Vegetarian most of adult life (meat once or twice a week).
Have always eaten lots of grains, legumes, and veg, even when meat-eater.
Very active lifestyle.

I Cant figure out why my stomach is constantly crying for food, I dont want to be snacking all day long.

Just to clarify
I've always eaten healthier than most vegetarians i know.
Its not my 1st time being Vegetarian
Its not a weight issue (6'3" and 190 Lb)

I drink 2 to 3 litres of water a day and have been since I was 20 (now 35).

Answer 1

Make sure u take supplements and a really good multi vitamin, that could help a lot your body will be missing a lot of nutrients meats can carry.

Answer 2

From the sounds of it, you probably should be snacking all day. Well, okay. Not ALL day... but have a small snack every two or three hours... nothing huge. For example, a handful of nuts (quit snickering!) or two pieces of fruit. Since you ARE so active, your body is going to need more fuel than some people who are answering your questions (*cough* b!tch who called you a fat lard). You do not have an eating disorder, it sounds like you are actually very active. You are going to need to be fueled up a lot more than people who sit around on their lazy, skinny (or fat) a$$es all day and don't do anything.

I'm not a complete vegetarian. I eat red meat once every two weeks or so. I mostly eat fish and chicken, which I love.

You need to keep in mind that all of the fruit you are eating has a lot less calories in it than a piece of meat the same size. Sure, you may eat a handful of nuts, but you're only eating maybe 150 calories. A piece of meat the same density and size of that serving is perhaps double the calories.

Good luck.

Answer 3

It very well could be an emotional problem, maybe stress from something unrelated, or it could be that your body is just adjusting to having had protein from meat( which is the best form of protein in most cases) you need full rib sticking food, and wheat grass alone aint gonna cut it right now, so depending on whether or not you can go for animal products(Vegan vs. non-Vegan) you may have a tough section here. Take supplementals if you think that will help, ask a nutritionalist here. Futhermore, snacking all day is not a bad thing if its good things you are eating. Lots of fruit, and other fiber rich foods, should help.

Answer 4

chances are you have a very fast metabolism.
I am 5"6 103lb
I eat three meals a day and i probly snack about 4 times daily. LOL
I am a vegetarian and i eat alot of wheat, Beans, veg ect.
I get at least 3hours of exersize daily.
as long as you eat and exersize a good amount, and dont over do anything its fine.
eat healthy snacks like nuts, fruite or yogurt.
Also if you feel hungry try drinking a big glass of water, you may be dhydrated.

Answer 5

I don't know but I have the opposite problem. Since becoming a vegetarian I'm not hungry at all.
To your problem: You might miss the fats that are in meat or you eat too healthy. Try to incorporate nuts and seeds in your diet, they might help a lot!

Answer 6

This may sound really lame after everyone attempts (almost everyone) to help you, but if I were you I'd go to a nutritionist and have a balanced diet worked out until my body adjusts.

He/she will also be able to advise you about supplements.

You should probably have a full medical checkup. You could have blow blood pressure or be anemic? This is easy to determine and clear up with a visit to a GP.

Answer 7

Are you drinking plenty of water? Hunger is often really just your bodies way of letting you know you are dehydrated. You should drink at leat eight 8 oz glasses a day, of good quality water. Avoid tap water, "purified" or "enhanced" water, as it all contains chlorine which dehydrates you as well. I add a couple of slices of cucumber and lime to my water. The cucumber gives it a silky texture and light taste. Good luck, hope you resolve it soon. Also, the "hunger" could just be a detox symptom from going off of meat-it will soon pass

Answer 8

Hi! I'd really like to help, but even being a vegeterian myself, I don't have an answer. Maybe this is why...? Since you changed your diet, your body is lacking all the protein and things you ate before or simply craving them. Try putting a little more protein in your diet. I hven't experienced this before, but then again, I've been a vegeterian all my life. Sorry I couldn't help! xx

Answer 9

I see a lot of questions from vegetarians in this forum. Most complaining about some ill or another. I don't mean to be abrasive but I have to ask: What do you guys expect? You are a member of a species, whether you like it or not, that has spent a few million years evolving into an omnivore. Our teeth show it, our digestive systems show it and our life style shows it. If you eat nothing but vegetables you will have the same problems a rabbit has if you feed them nothing but meat.

I would like to understand it but it really escapes me. I am a diabetic, I couldn't be a vegetarian if I wanted to, just too rich in carbohydrates. I'll grant you most people don't get enough fiber in their diets but a diet that is 100% fiber is no good either.

I spent some time in the 1960 with some of the hippies. The very health conscience one, not the druggies. Many of them were thin, to the point of being gaunt. They looked malnourished and basically sick all the time. This what I base my skepticism on.

If you would care to take the time, I would love to hear from you about your reasoning. I honestly would like to understand this insistence of some to ignore what we are in favor of something we aren't.

In the hopes you will write, may I thank you in advance.

Answer 10

I was a vegetarian for 5 yrs. Perhaps your body is adjusting to this lifestyle again. It also sounds like you need protein, try eating nuts like almonds and cashews.