Question:
helping to curbing hunger.

Do anyone else out there find that eating fats such as a few tbls of peanut butter or olive oil/vineger salad dressing in your diet releives hunger pangs. I'm eating tons of vegetables and fruits and find myself constantly hungery . However, I ate a few peanut butter crackers tonight and it helped to curb my appetite. I know I can't eat this constantly but maybe it will help with the head and physical hunger.    — Jan M. (posted on November 30, 2000)

November 30, 2000
If you're eating tons of fruits and veggies how are you getting in all your protein? Maybe you're hungry because you're not eating enough protein. Protein should be eaten first and then fruits and veggies if there is room. Or maybe you aren't eating often enough...I was told to eat six small meals a day and it keeps me from being hungry.
   — Kellie L.

November 30, 2000
Yes, I agree. You've got to get some protein on board or the cravings will drive you nuts. I am not a fan of using food products for protein since you have to eat mountains of them to absorb enough, although it's fine to eat protein foods. To get protein on board quickly and efficiently, find a good protein supplement that mixes up quickly in a small amount of water. You can easily keep your protein levels up this painless way forever, adding food protein as time goes on. Whatever you do manage to absorb from food only helps in the long run. We are in a "muscle wasting disease" period while we are in rapid wt loss. There is no such thing as too much protein for us. Just be careful that it is not delivered in a high sugar or high fat way. That little bit of peanut butter won't hurt you. A CUP of peanut butter, hmmm, not such a good idea.
   — vitalady

November 30, 2000
I can definetly tell you your not getting enough protein..I am going through the same problems..not enough protein, feeling hungry to often. I try to ignore it but it doesn't work. One thing I do is eat a piece of lunchmeat, like lowfat turkey or chicken breast and that helps. I have a major problem with the protein drinks, I think they are disgusting, I never get nauseated unless I go to drink a protein shake. As a matter of fact if there is anyone out there that knows a good protein supplement in pill form, can you e-mail me?? [email protected], what about you Michelle, do you know of one you can suggest?? Maybe it would help both of us out. Good luck!
   — christine L.

December 1, 2000
Hi sweetie. No, you're not going crazy, there is a reason for those hunger pangs you're feeling. As a diabetic, I learned a long time ago the importance of eating as balanced meals as possible. Different foods "burn off" at different rates to not only provide needed energy for our bodies to funtion properly, but to also keep our blood sugar at a consistant level. This is especially important for the diabetic, but is also important to anyone attempting to lose weight or maintain weight loss. Maintaining a consistant blood sugar level is one of the best ways to keep our body convinced that it's in no danger of starvation and allow our metabolism to happily hum along at it's highest efficiency. When we "eliminate" one or more food groups from our diet, it causes a "gap" in that burning off process which in turn causes an immediate drop in our blood sugar level, throwing up a kind of "red flag" to our body that there's something "wrong". It signals the brain of it's distress and our bodies then go into a sort of "survival mode". The first thing our body will do, is slow our metabolism down in order to preserve as much energy as possible in case we should decide not to feed it anymore, and the second thing it does is to urge us to EAT a.s.a.p. in order to raise that blood sugar back up to it's acceptable level. In other words, WE GET PHYSICALLY HUNGRY! We feel those "hunger pangs" and we may get tired or maybe a little lethargic. It's simply the way our bodies have been programmed to prevent starvation and preserve it's existance. By eating properly (i.e. balanced), and including something from every food group in every meal, the "burning off process" is less likely to be compromised and our bodies feel less threatened and will "allow" our excess weight to be converted into energy when needed. It isn't necessary to "add" huge amounts of carbs, fats, or milk back into our diets in order to achieve this, but we do need to be aware of their importance and include "something" from each of the food groups in our meals at every meal. Proteins, of course, should still be stressed and comprise the majority of our caloric intake along with veggies and/or fruit, but each meal should also include a bite or two of some sort of bread (carb) like a cracker or two, some noodles or pasta, potatoes or starchy vegetable like peas, corn or lima beans. Milk can be added (if you're lactose intolerant) in the form of a cube of cheese, a spoonful of cottage cheese or yogurt. Fats should not be eliminated completely and a little can be found in nearly every food or meat. (By the way, refined sugar is NOT a food group and can (and should) be completely eliminated from our diets.) I hope this information helps you understand "why" eating a cracker or two helps "fill" you more and lessens your hunger. Try rounding out your diet a little more and see if it helps. I wish you continued weight loss success and God bless. cj
   — cj T.