Having trouble losing weight because I feel the urge to eat...

[BigToque]

I've been going to the gym pretty consistently for the last 3 months and have dropped ~15lbs. (well, went for 2 months and dropped 15, then slacked for a month and have just maintained / lost 2-3 lbs)

One huge problem I've discovered is that I'm always feeling the urge to eat, and I'm positive that it's not because I'm actually hungry.

Right at this very moment I feel I want to get some pizza (basically the one real junk food I eat). I'm literally going insane because I ate like an hour ago and I know I'm full, but I just have this uncontrollable urge to eat.

How do you get past this? I've got studying to do, but I can't focus on it at all because all I think about is eating!

I'm tired of this endless loop of eating junk and gaining weight, but it seems no matter what I do, I start feeling like this again. I know I'm gonna go get the pizza because it'll calm me down, I'll feel full, and then I'll study. Then I'll feel shitty because I couldn't not get the pizza.

FUCK!!


Moved to H&F forum, to better assist you. AT Mod DAPUNISHER

 

[Chaotic42]

Go to the doctor and get some blood work done. Maybe you have some dietary imbalance.

 

[Ns1]

constantly snack on healthy shit

the problem is finding something that'll help w/ the salt fix; check out these bad boys

http://robscape.com/products/potatoflyers/original

The best tasting baked potato chips I have ever had.

You (and I) are basically addicted to salty, protein-y food. I'd kill a man for a carne asada taco right now

 

[jiggahertz]

I had a hard time with this while in school. Somehow when studying I always felt the urge to eat. I'd recommend going to the library or something so you're not steps away from the kitchen. Drinking something or chewing gum can help too. My cravings are the worst at night, so when I feel them coming on I'll go to bed.

 

[jiggahertz]

constantly snack on healthy shit

the problem is finding something that'll help w/ the salt fix; check out these bad boys

http://robscape.com/products/potatoflyers/original

The best tasting baked potato chips I have ever had.

You (and I) are basically addicted to salty, protein-y food. I'd kill a man for a carne asada taco right now

120 cals/oz, not as bad as pizza but could still do some pretty good damage if you don't control your portions of it.

 

[BigToque]

Go to the doctor and get some blood work done. Maybe you have some dietary imbalance.

I've been to the doctor a couple of times recently for my sleeping troubles. Each time I got a bunch of blood tests and everything came back completely normal. Blood pressure was 120/80, resting heart rate <60, cholesterol was low.

As far as my doctor is concerned I'm perfectly healthy, except for the fact that I'm overweight.

 

[Ns1]

120 cals/oz, not as bad as pizza but could still do some pretty good damage if you don't control your portions of it.

Only 5g of fat and like .5 of it is sat fat. A notable improvement over anything delicious and salty =P

The serving size is pretty decent too, it's like 18 chips instead of some ridiculous amount like 6 chips. The entire bag is only 650 calories. I say "only" because the alternative would be some fries from Carl's Jr.


Personally I'm not interested in the calorie number as much as I am about the breakdown of calories.

 

[darkxshade]

You have an oral fixation that you have to unlearn.

I am now backing away...

 

[gorcorps]

It might be boredom... That's my problem. If I'm lying around the house I'll naturally head to get something to eat just because. It's an issue.

 

[Mo0o]

You have an oral fixation that you have to unlearn.

I am now backing away...

Pretty much this. Maybe you use to snack a lot when you studied or when you were stressed so food carries more emotional weight with you.

 

[sjwaste]

I'm the same way. I'm slightly overweight, but I got there by eating too much of things that are ordinarily good for you. I don't eat a lot of crap, even when I eat out at lunch, it's usually something reasonable.

I've been going back to the gym, and my urge to eat is worse - and it was kind of bad to begin with. Unlike some that crave sugar and fat, I'm more looking for salt and protein. The only "real" solution I've found was to have reasonable options available. It's a lot easier to not look for chinese food or a hot dog if I have some extra grilled chicken or a pork tenderloin sitting in the fridge. Calories are calories, I know, but I've just resigned myself to not losing weight as quickly as I could so long that I'm not eating things that are terrible for me.

It's not necessarily boredom, anxiety, or stress. I don't have much of any of those going on right now, but I'm basically always hungry to some degree. I just really, really like food. Thankfully, the things I like aren't horrible, but I will eat too much of them if I'm not careful. Flavor is a hell of a drug.

 

[MJinZ]

You guys are strange. I'm 210 right now and carrying a bit of extra weight, but I never feel the urge to eat things and I can even go hungry without being bothered.

What actually bothers me is if I feel like I don't eat enough to maximize my lifting. I keep thinking maybe I should get some more milk, cottage cheese, or protein drink before bed.

Only reason I overeat is because I can't stand the thought of muscle loss lol.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Try drinking more water. Lots and lots of water.

 

[Squisher]

I'm the last one to talk diet, but I wonder how much of your diet is simple carbs?

Cutting out grains, starches, and naturally sugary foods such as fruit and even some veggies (corn and carrots) can go along way to stop food cravings. Cutting out this stuff 100&#37; isn't easy or really advisable if that is what you want to eat. What I do for fruit is eat it an hour before a meal, problem solved.

 

[zoiks]

Cut sugar out of your diet. I've noticed that when I eat sugar, I end up eating more food than normal.
You also have to train your body in eating healthier stuff and cutting down on carbs. I remember when I first gave up sugar, rice, pasta, bread and other starchy stuff, my hands were literally shaking for the first week or so due to my dependency on carbs.

 

[Leros]

Try having some green tea after a meal. It should help reduce your appetite.

 

[OUCaptain]

Didn't read the whole thread. When you're hungry and your common sense says you shouldn't be, drink a large glass of water. All upsides, no downsides. Your mind often mistakes thirst for hunger.

 

[coldmeat]

I'm actually losing weight because my hatred for cooking and doing dishes overpowers my hunger.

 

[dfuze]

I also use the chewing gum and water methods to help control my eating.

Remember though, even if you eat healthy, there is nothing wrong with having a cheat meal once or twice a week. And when you do eat that stuff, don't go overboard so you don't feel the guilt.

 

[mizzou]

it's ok, feeling hungry is part of losing weight.

I would say go a month or so and your body will adjust

 

[tynopik]

it's ok, feeling hungry is part of losing weight.

bingo

weight loss IS starvation

you will be hungry

get over it

 

[DangerAardvark]

Try having some green tea after a meal. It should help reduce your appetite.

Or coffee. Caffeine is an appetite suppressant.

 

[BoberFett]

bingo

weight loss IS starvation

you will be hungry

get over it

Wrong.

Hunger is based on the "fullness" of your stomach.

Eat an Oreo cookie full of sugar and that's dense calories, a lot packed into a small item. I could eat an entire sleeve of Oreos before I feel full.

How many heads of iceberg lettuce would one have to eat before feeling full? One?

How many calories are in that head of lettuce? 100? Compare that to a sleeve of Oreos and the 2,000 calories it contains.

Dieting is eating the same amount, but doing it intelligently and eating less calorie dense foods. Anything else is destined for failure.

Start meals with a broth based soup and a salad as a starter. They contain lots of water and you'll feel fuller after the meal even if you cut back on the calorie rich main course.

 

[rcpratt]

Go to the doctor and get some blood work done. Maybe you have some dietary imbalance.

Spare me. He's "hungry" because it's a habit.

Every time you feel hungry, drink a glass of water. And get a bunch of gum, that helps my oral fixation. Cook healthier meals.

 

[MJinZ]

I'm the last one to talk diet, but I wonder how much of your diet is simple carbs?

Cutting out grains, starches, and naturally sugary foods such as fruit and even some veggies (corn and carrots) can go along way to stop food cravings. Cutting out this stuff 100% isn't easy or really advisable if that is what you want to eat. What I do for fruit is eat it an hour before a meal, problem solved.

Fruit lol. I hate fruits.