Appetite Control!

[vstowe]

I have been on WW for a few weeks things are going slow, but OK. My mail problem is I feel hungry all the time.

Do any of you have any suggestions for curbing my appetite. Any help will be appreciated. I would love to post next week and say "WOW, I lost!!"

[vstowe]

TYPO! I meant to say my main problem LOL!:D

[BevP]

Other than the usual drink lots of water I don't have much help. Remember, often when we think we're hungry, we are actually thirsty so drinking water is more than just a diet 'trick'.

I do know that it can take your body a little bit of time to get used to being fed less. Personally I'm not on WW but if I'm REALLY hungry I try to find what I'm hungry for and eat some of that. If I'm just hungry, I'll try to find a smart snack like fruit or such to take away grumblies. If I'm just bored, which happens often, I try to find something to do far away from food and kitchens. I have been known to drive to the library just to get away from the kitchen!:D

[Alisa]

Try drinking big, huge glasses of water. And keeping with the caring, nurturing nature of the BB - you're not starving yourself, are you???

Here's a recent thread you might want to check out...
http://www.cookinglight.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12690

Cheers!

[vstowe]

I am eating at least 1000 cal a day, so I don't think I am starving my self.

[KValley]

Originally posted by vstowe
I am eating at least 1000 cal a day, so I don't think I am starving my self.

vstowe- I'm sorry, I'm going to poke my big nose in here, admitting I'm not a nutritionist and that I don't know what your WW plan is (or really that much about WW), but good lord my dear, I hope this is either a typo or that you are getting significantly more than 1000 calories a day. Below 1200 and your body goes into starvation mode, you mess up your metabolism, lose muscle- it's not a sustainable, healthy way to treat yourself. No wonder you are hungry!! As I said on another post, 1800 calories is the general, agreed upon amount in order to get in a full RDA of nutrients, but that is variable...

Okay, off the soapbox now! I'm sorry- don't mean to be so adamant- this just shocked me!

[SusanT]

I must agree with Kvalley - 1,000 is too low to have a healthy diet.

[vstowe]

Wow, I was given misinformation from a diet group (not WW). I thought at least 1000 cal's was sufficient.

Thanks so much! I am so glad I ask. I am really new to this BB but the support here is SO helpful, I take any advise I can get

THANK YOU!:D

[Don]

I have been having the same problem. Unfortunately, I am constantly craving food because I recently had a kidney problem and am now on a steroid that makes you constantly hungry. At the same time, I have been told that I have to restrict my protein intake to allow my kidneys to heal and I have to watch my carbohydrate intake due to diabetes. The only solution that I have found is to eat raw vegetable sticks. I am eating about 4 pounds of raw baby carrots per week. While the carrots have carbohydrates, they have enough fiber that I can get away with eating them. I have also nibbled on raw celery for a change of pace. A little low fat veggie dip can also help. Still, I sympathize with your challenge. Good luck.

[emilycat]

Vicky,

I hope I'm not butting in here, but I just wanted to reiterate what Julie said -- 1,000 isn't nearly enough for your body to maintain ready energy stores, nor is it sufficient to supply your body with all the essential nutrients. It'll throw your metabolism out of whack, your body will eat up muscle before fat because it's so hungry, and so forth. I'm really disappointed that a diet group would be so irresponsible as to give you such misdirection!
Anyway, check out the thread entitled, Calorie Consumption, farther down on this page -- it should give you a good idea of what you should be getting.
Good luck! :)

[MelissaAS]

Hi vstowe:

A few ideas about the hunger bunny: Herbal Tea (lots- I love peppermint), frequent snacks (grape tomatoes, carrots, V-8, melon), and distraction (a good book). When I switched to a controlled eating plan in January, the first few weeks were brutal- it does take your body time to adjust from whatever # of calories before to after (for me, this jump was from about 2200/day to 1200/day- looking at it that way, no wonder it was tough!).

I'd also like to mention (although I know there is dissention in the air on this) that anything over 1000 calories will keep your metabolism going, according the MD/PhD experts running the weight control study I'm in). That said, they recommend 1200-1500 calories/day, depending on your initial weight (I think it was anyone over 150lb. starting weight was put on the 1500/day, anyone under put on the 1200/day goal). Just my experience...

Take good care and be good to yourself (baths, long walks, and good reads are calorie-free).

Melissa

[rolling pin]

After dinner, when I typically want something sweet, I have a cup of coffee with fat-free flavored (hazlenut is my favorite) creamer. This works well for me, plus I get out of the kitchen and distract myself on the BB. I'm having CL desserts only on the weekend, so I'm in better control of eating and I have something to look forward to!:)

[GayeC]

I hate drinking water and have resisted it for a long time. But now that I am on a 1500 calorie/day diet I have started drinking a lot (for me) of water -- at least 6 8 oz. glasses per day, more if I can stand it. It has really helped my hunger. I agree with many of the ideas already suggested -- hot tea with a little sugar and lemon often helps me get through a desire to "munch." But, on 1000 cal. per day, I would say that you are probably truly hungry. Perhaps try increasing your calories and adding a little extra walking to speed up your metabolism.

Good luck with your weight loss program.
Gaye

[SusieO]

Are you sticking to the lower end of your Points range every day? If so, try aiming to eat more towards the higher end. Also try eating more high-fiber foods. I'm a lifetime member of WW (and former employee), and I have to tell you that you should not be hungry on this program.

[JulieM]

SusieO said what I was about to say... high-fiber foods. I've been on a 1200 cal./day program for about a month. It takes a little effort and careful planning, but you can do it without being hungry all the time. What I do is try to avoid simple carbs like bagels, and replace them whole grains, because they stay with you longer and make you feel fuller. Also, it's important to get some good fats with the meals in order to feel satisfied. For example, I typically have a whole grain cereal with dried cranberries for breakfast with low-fat soy milk, but I add 1/8 cup of sliced almonds to it for the added fat and fiber (and nutrition too). Or for lunch I might have a Honey Wheat english muffin, toasted, with a tbsp. of natural peanut butter and an apple. Even though the muffin is not whole grain, the fat and fiber in the peanut butter and apple make it a satisfying and low-cal meal. And at dinner I fix a variety of vegetables in large quantity so that I can fill up on those instead of the meat or starch. Someone else said it earlier, but for me, sipping a hot cup of green or herbal tea throughout the day really does the trick to keep me from feeling hungry between meals.

Some days, 1200 calories is just not enough and I end up with 1400 or even 1500, but you'll still lose weight at that level. I think it's important not to feel hungry and to go with the flow of what your body tells you, or you may become depressed and discouraged and end up binging. Good Luck!:)

[AmyO26]

I agree with SusieO...try eating at the higher end of your points range and be sure to include foods that are high in fiber. I am a ww lifetimer, and I almost always ate at the "top" of my range. It was easy to stick to the program because I rarely, if ever, felt hungry or deprived. I like to eat (BIG understatement), and I know I would be frustrated and hungry on 1000 calories a day :(
In addition to meals, I snack about twice a day (once during Oprah and then again in the evening). If you are looking for a high-fiber low-fat snack, try Quaker Corn Bran Cereal. I love to eat it dry, and 3/4 cup is only 90 cals. Frosted Wheat Bites are also good!
Hope this helps...best of luck!
Amy :)

[laden]

It's no wonder you're hungry all the time. The 1000 cal/day is way too low. I've been a lifetime member of WW for years and I still follow the program, keep the journals, go to meetings, etc.

I guess I could be classified as a volume eater. I need a lot of food to keep me satisfied. (I don't like to be hungry and with WW I never am!) These are some things that have worked for me:

the WW Garden Vegetable Soup (the recipe is in the 1st week's material I believe). I usually double the recipe and add a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes. The soup adds no points but it can really take the edge off your hunger. I keep it in the fridge or freeze in individual containers so when I need it, it's there.

I keep a bowl of salad (or package of pre-cut salad greens) in the fridge and add all the summer vegs to them. When I'm hungry I just eat all the salad I want. (I usually use FF Italian dressing so it's zero points)

Canned asaparagus has been a life saver for me! If I'm wanting to snack I open a can of asparagus spears, drain it and eat the whole can for zero points. (That's one of my favorites.)

Just make sure to include lots of vegetables in your diet, drink lots of water, the hot tea thing someone mentioned is great too. Try new recipes (CL is the best).

I have always stayed in the top range of my WW points and it helps me not feel deprived. I hope this helps you.

Lisa

[tlwaltz]

I'm really glad I stumbled upon this site today.
For all that I know about dieting, I didn't know that 1000 calories a day was not good!
I've recently began a weight loss regimen again.
I am trying to do this in a healthy low fat way, not by starvation.
I found a calculator in about.com that will help me track my calories and fat grams each day, and when I used it for todays connsumption, I thought I had overdone it at 1325 calories.
(But only 22 grams of fat)

I'm glad to know that my 1325 is probably about right.
I have a question, what vegetables are NOT good when dieting and which are the most beneficial?
Any tips are appreciaed.

[JulieM]

Originally posted by tlwaltz

I have a question, what vegetables are NOT good when dieting and which are the most beneficial?
Any tips are appreciaed.

tlwaltz, welcome to the board! You'll find lots of help, support and friendship here. Many others are more knowledgeable than I am on this subject, but I would think you'd want to choose vegetables that are lower on the glycemic index. For example, I believe sweet potatoes are lower on the index than white potatoes. And as for fruits, berries are significantly lower on the index as well as lower in calories than, say, tropical fruits. :)

[tlwaltz]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JulieM
[B]

tlwaltz, welcome to the board! You'll find lots of help, support and friendship here.

Thanks for the welcome, I look forward to the support I think I will find here!
I have "fat" content books but guess I need to find some lietrature on the vegetables.
I appreciate your input.
I can deal with yams! Love them.

[Kjente2]

well, if you look back to the june 95 or 96 I think issue cooking light you will see this advice backed up...

find a movement that you like and do it. I don't like the term exercise, I don't want to join a club, I have a job, I don't need to make movement a job, if you get my drift..so find a movement, MAKE TIME, and do it! This along with however you choose to feed your body..and you do need to feed it or you'll kill it. the article also quoted a book, eat what your body tells you it needs...toddlers eat what they want and only what they want, most do fine..some days its cheerio's all day, another mac and cheese, another strawberries..how we stop listening, who knows..but i honestly started to follow this advice and it works great for me..are you eating cause you're hungary or cause of whats eating you...hard to identify sometimes..I like to walk..I like to bike..I swap them off...find the joy and go for it!
thats my 2 cents worth..

[glmajer]

There are no bad vegetables when it comes to dieting - it's what you put on them that's bad. I get tired of people saying "oh you shouldn't eat raw carrots -because they have a higher sugar content" or "corn and potatoes are starches and should be avoided" - all vegetables in moderation are good for you. The key is moderation and watch how you prepare them (fried zucchini is not a good idea when dieting) and what you put on them. Variety and moderation are the key!