Health & Support

It seems like since I started my diet, I will get very hungry very quickly (20- 30 minutes) after eating meals (mainly dinner). Directly after eating, however, I am satisfied. I have cut down my caloric intake significantly and I'm down to 1350. I am a college student and pretty much would eat fast food all day long. So, if I had to guess, my previous daily caloric intake could have ranged anywhere from 2500- 4000 depending on what exactly I ate. And needless to say, I was NEVER hungry while binging fast food. I don't think I'm not eating enough, because I am satisfied when and right after I eat. I never used to exercise though, which I have been lately. Could it be a huge jump in the speed of my metabolism? Or anything else? I'm a little confused!! Thx

Yes, it does happen to me. I eat and often feel very hungry within a short period of time. I try to do things to preoccupy my time and hopefully get my mind off of me but that does not always work.  I always felt full too whenever I ate what I wanted, I think it was because I felt satisfied.  I don't always feel satisfied when eating what I should be.

You may not be eating enough fiber or protein in your diet. I was having this problem too and then I started eating more fiber and that helped a lot. You may also try to eat more healthy fats (such as nuts) to help you feel full longer.

Make sure, in the first place, that 1350 is enough for you.  If you're young, doing exercise and very overweight then you automatically burn up a lot more energy than someone older, lighter and less active.  I think you'd certainly be able to lose weight more effectively on 1700-1900 a day.  Use the CC tools to find out what the right level should be.  

Next is to look at the type of food you're eating.  The hunger-pangs you describe sound like a dip in blood-sugars.  If your meals include a lot of processed, sugary or refined foods.... white pasta, ready-made foods, white bread, potato crisps, 'diet' desserts, sugary breakfast cereals...  these cause a surge in blood-sugars straight after eating.  Your body starts to produce insulin in large amounts to bring the sugar levels back down.  When it goes too far, you get a dip in blood-sugars and you feel hungry. 

Less refined foods such as fruit, vegetables, high-fibre wholegrains, lean protein and home-cooked foods can help you get around this problem because they don't spike the blood-sugars.  Fill the space left by cutting out the junk foods with bulkier but low-cal wholefoods and you'll be able to go longer on less.  Best of luck

Not 100% sure, but what I've heard is that certain food digest faster than others.  Fast food takes longer to digest so keeps that "full" feeling longer.  If you've moved to healthier foods, i.e. lots of fruits and veggies, you'll find they digest faster and you feel hungrier more often. 

** edit ** happens to me too!