getting started

[elenidelis]

Hi. Any tips on how to handle the hunger when you first start to drop the calories?

[mjay_gal]

It helps to know which is the reason for your hunger first.

Rest, Hunger, Thirst and Sex. If you are deprived of one factor, your body may trigger another. (Example: When dehydrated, your body may signal you to eat. When tired, your body also signals you to eat. No sex, eat etc)  

If you are hydrated, restful, "satisfied" yet hungry, Then you are truly in need of food. Go get something healthy to snack on. It must be healthy because if your nutrition intake is unbalanced, you will feel hungry, even after you've eaten.

If you were truly hungry yet you only drink water, your body may enter starvation mode, and then your metabolism will drop, which makes it so much worse.

Solution: Stay hydrated always, sleep earlier. Snack on low calorie healthy foods. (Juice, fruits, cereal, fibrous foods)

[shaggy5552]

It is physically impossible to become fat if you eat exactly what I recomended even if you eat every time you are hungry which we will say is every hour (it is for me) and my body fat is 4-6% and I've been doing this for a year. I do workout quite regularly though. Also I love peanutbutter (not advised to over do, it is just my way to "cheat" lol). I probably have 1/5th a large jar a day then bag of nuts. I have recently been trying to get fats from avocados also so I can get a larger variety of fats, and coconut milk.

drink water and more water

[Devoncroix77]

I have found a little of both to be true. If I am hungry all the time, it is a red flag that I am not making the right food choices. If I am making good food choices I can keep my calories in check and stay full. However boredom hunger is common and can often be solved with water or unsweetened tea. If I still feel hungry after fully hydrating myself then I can assume it is real hunger.

  In the late evening I have a cup of spiced chai tea wth 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp whole milk. It is a nice 34 calorie treat that nixes any desire for a desert.

thanks
good advice

[New_Me]

If I ate every time I 'thought' I was hungry I would be twice the size I am at least.

Hunger is often thirst in disguise.

[shaggy5552]

You should be eating when ever you are hungry. If you are TRUELY eating right you don't have to count calories. What you should be eating-atleast 50% vegetables (little to no calories), fruit in moderation (but if you regularly work out it is fine to have when ever you want, still better than more american food options), eggs (good quality protein that releases hormones that tell yourself you're hungry, just as fat does. Carbs release little of this hormone (PYY)), nuts (fat provides a healthy diet, the regulate body processes, help memory, protect against HIV and haults processes required for cancer (only get from natural sources i.e. nuts, vegetable oils(extra virgin), peanut oils are ok as long as they arent processed, limit butter usage but not too bad, meat (also good in protein and fat to fill you up faster), and fish which has n-3 fatty acides (fish oil supplements naturally) and large amounts of protein. As long as you avoid wheat, dairy, and processed foods you should do great and feel amazing. When you eat healthy you actually begin to eat less, it helps to avoid great tasting foods that use artificial flavorings because it chemically makes you crave more food. Book Suggestion The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf. I've done it for a year and a half, it has changed my life.

[New_Me]

For me it works to drink a glass of cold water when I start feeling hungry -  sounds simple but it works :)