So hungry i could cry

[DVC Sadie]

I feel for you!

I hate feeling hungry and it seems that it is the only thing I can think about until I eat. It's just plain miserable.

What sometimes works for me is to go for a walk, start reading or doing anything to try to keep my mind off of food, even if it is only for a little while.

If nothing works then just take a hunk out of that horse.

 

[Wishing on a star]

PS: you might be surprized how well high protein snacks (peanut butter and crackers or cheese and crackers, etc...) will help with that 'hunger'.

The trick is to avoid snacks or meals that are limited to sugar and refined carbs, which will burn off quickly, drop your blood-sugar like a rock, and leave you starving again in no time.

 

[paintnolish]

Drink lots of water! This helps me feel full before a meal and eat less. Also, can you "earn" a few calories back for a snack with exercise? I've never done WW but have heard about it. GL! Dieting is hard work! Sounds like you are doing well, though, so don't give up!

 

[2cats1kid]

I eat the South Beach way and it's marvellous. I started it because I had health issues other than overweight (although I was slightly overweight too - BMI was 25.9, so a little into the overweight range). It really does cut out your cravings for bad stuff and my portion sizes have cut right back. And if you are hungry on SB you just eat - but the right things!

I have tons more energy and am feeling way better, and as a pleasant side effect I have lost 14 lbs since the middle of August (BMI now a nice healthy 23.4). Definitely sticking with this way of eating on a permanent basis as it really works.

 

[Crankyshank]

I also am on WW and suffer from PCOS. Even with Metformin I'm really struggling to lose any sort of weight.
For me the most difficult aspect is that I am gone for 16hr days 3-4 days a week. It's really hard to eat healthy with that schedule, particularly when you factor in that I need to eat 5-6 small means with lean proteins.
A friend of mine swears by bento boxes to keep her full while her portions are in check.

 

[minkydog]

Thanks, y'all, for the support. My doctor has ordered several labs, including CBC, liver profile, thyroid studies, vit D, B12, and folate, as well as insulin levels. At least my EKG was normal. She has me following livestrong.com and keeping an online journal. I just went a little too far yesterday, my first day. Today I'm doing pretty good so far, although I am still hungry. I'm trying to increase my liquids. I'm a hot tea drinker, but I'm trying not to take too much caffeine. Hot tea is my personal treat. I don't really crave things like chocolate or baked goods, although if they are in the house I will eat a lot. I just don't keep junk around at all. I'm trying to increase my protein intake too.

I'm hoping that pretty soon I'll stop being so hungry. This is just miserable. I see the doctor in 2 weeks--just long enough to stick with it and not so long that I can get too far off track. Why,oh why did I let myself get into this mess? I'm so mad at myself!

 

[EthansMom]

Thanks, y'all, for the support. My doctor has ordered several labs, including CBC, liver profile, thyroid studies, vit D, B12, and folate, as well as insulin levels. At least my EKG was normal. She has me following livestrong.com and keeping an online journal. I just went a little too far yesterday, my first day. Today I'm doing pretty good so far, although I am still hungry. I'm trying to increase my liquids. I'm a hot tea drinker, but I'm trying not to take too much caffeine. Hot tea is my personal treat. I don't really crave things like chocolate or baked goods, although if they are in the house I will eat a lot. I just don't keep junk around at all. I'm trying to increase my protein intake too.

I'm hoping that pretty soon I'll stop being so hungry. This is just miserable. I see the doctor in 2 weeks--just long enough to stick with it and not so long that I can get too far off track. Why,oh why did I let myself get into this mess? I'm so mad at myself!

Vegetables are very filling and are low calorie. So, try to eat vegetables as much as possible.

Also, get some non-caffeine teas (I love Sleepytime) to replace your usual caffeinated tea.

Good Luck!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The only diet that ever worked for me is South Beach. Once I purge the sugars, I find that I eat a mroe regular amount of food without having to count anything.

I lost 17 pounds before I became pregnant and cured my cravings for sugar. Plus I was getting much more protein and the carbs I got were all good carbs (no restricting with carb counting like Atkins).


I also saw either a nutrisystme or jenny craig commercial geared towards diabetics, maybe check them out.

I'm so sorry with what you are dealing with. But I have always found that when I tried "counting" anything, I always felt like I was starving.

One of my tricks was stocking up on those freezer bags of veggies, I think bird's eye--the ones you can steam in the microwave.

I would pull out any carrots and not buy any that had corn (those are sugars--healthy, but when you are having blood sugar issues).

I would then "doctor them"--sometimes I would add a little shredded cheese or parmesan cheese.

I would have one bag with each meal--including breakfast!

For lunch I might do something like cook up a turkey burger, slice it up, dice up some pickles and add mustard--weird combo, but it was delish.

I can't wait until my stomach can handle veggies again.

 

[C.Ann]

You've received some great advice here.. Hopefully some of these suggestions will work for you..

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

OP check out the link, it has some great ways to manage hunger. Your doctor is not restricting food, just the amount. This is a great way to start with weight loss. Not everyone can diet. Diets fail. Life changes stay. It basically comes down to what goes in and how much exertion goes out. I know that doesn't help when you are hungry though... I struggle with it daily and I am sure so do the majority of people. Stay strong!

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/food/Articles/19_ways_to_fight_food_cravings_and_win_the_war_on.html

 

[M&N]

I was able to go to a diabetic nutrition class that really helped me. My insurance covered it. I was told how many carbs to include in each meal. I was also told I must have an evening snack for 15 carbs and it must have protein. I was given a goal of 1 to 2 pounds to loose a week. I am to have 30 min of exercise, if only walking, 5 days a week. It works. I do take Metformin too. My blood sugar has come down. I am perfect with it. I do eat out a lot. It's a learning process to see what works best for you...don't give up!

 

[luv2nascar]

I have two different kinds of hunger - the first is when I want junk not really hungry just want it - ask yourself if you are hungry enough to eat a salad. Just veggies no dressing if you are then eat one. You need volume. You will eat the same volume everyday just make your volume soup and salads, water stuff that is filling.

 

[DWGal210]

to you, and congrats on the weight loss so far!

I echo what others have said; for me, I have to look at it as a way of life, not as a diet. To me, a diet is something you do for a period of time. If I want long-term success, it's more about a change in lifestyle.

I am in your boat, too. I have gained weight in the last few years and it stinks. I am one of those "yo-yo" dieters; I think I have probably lost and gained the same 30-40 pounds over and over again.

For me, not getting too wrapped up in it works. Now I don't mean that you aren't paying attention to what you are eating, but for me, if I freak out about it and it consumes my every thought, that's when I have problems. I'm now learning that it's OK to have that cookie at lunch, for example, but then I'll not have dessert after dinner too. Just about making choices.

to you on your journey. And I would say that if you are that hungry, eating a small snack is better that not eating at all. Listen to your body.

Take care!!!

 

[DVC Sadie]

Thanks, y'all, for the support. My doctor has ordered several labs, including CBC, liver profile, thyroid studies, vit D, B12, and folate, as well as insulin levels. At least my EKG was normal. She has me following livestrong.com and keeping an online journal. I just went a little too far yesterday, my first day. Today I'm doing pretty good so far, although I am still hungry. I'm trying to increase my liquids. I'm a hot tea drinker, but I'm trying not to take too much caffeine. Hot tea is my personal treat. I don't really crave things like chocolate or baked goods, although if they are in the house I will eat a lot. I just don't keep junk around at all. I'm trying to increase my protein intake too.

I'm hoping that pretty soon I'll stop being so hungry. This is just miserable. I see the doctor in 2 weeks--just long enough to stick with it and not so long that I can get too far off track. Why,oh why did I let myself get into this mess? I'm so mad at myself!

How are you doing today?

I hope that the longer you go the easier it will get for you.

 

[dismom2]

Sorry you are feeling this way. I just wanted to say what another PP said---a nutritionist might be of great help to you right now. A lot of insurance companies will pay if you are diabetic, pre-diabetic, and other health reasons--I would look into that.

Also, do some research and find foods that are filling. I find that oatmeal in the mornings (or anytime) is very filling. I love salad and eat it all the time, but I need something solid, too, or i'm just not satisfied. So, have your meat, but make sure it is lean and don't put sauce all over it. I think that cutting way back on sugary foods and drinks helps a lot, too, and makes you feel so much better. I don't have time to find recipes for you right now, but I'm sure a lot of people can help you. Also...are there supplements you can take or drink that will lessen your appetite? Sometimes as a temporary solution this helps get you through the first days/weeks---just ask your doctor what you can take to help curb your appetite for now; I'm sure he or she will recommend something they feel is safe for you. Good luck.

 

[stego]

I was NOT much fun to be around the first month in WW back in '04. I was irritable and discontent. Not exactly pleasant character qualities, are they? I don't recall any amount of fondness of that month. But in hindsight, I had the best result: 20 lbs. Creating the expectation that I would lose 20 lbs. every month set me up to fail. Again, not much fun to be around.

We all have experience with life's lessons. How I deal with it right now is pretty much up to me. I do much better when I care more about what I think of myself than of what others think of me.

I will commend you for having the tests done and seeing your physician. I did the same thing as well when I started: new change in eating and activity.

PP have stated comments about 5-6 times to eat during the day. 5 years later, that is my staple. I portion up fruit on the weekend and during the work week I take it with me. I have exact times I eat my fruit snack, and you know something? It works! I always have a bottle of water at my desk.

I eat my lunch within a certain time period, then soon after is a hot cup of decaf tea. I have drawn on my experiences in what works for me. Every now and then I get those hunger pains you have described...and yeah...they are no fun.

It's not a bad thing to draw on the experiences of others but ultimately you will have to do the work to get a different result.