Ok - girls, tell me what to do on this one. Ravenous hunger. Yesterday, for no good reason I was a bottomless pit of starvation. The diet has been going pretty well. No real slip ups. Lots of water, no soda, very little beer, healthy food choices. I've lost 7 pounds in about 10 days, so, I think it's going pretty well. But yesterday was differant. I had yogurt and coffee for breakfast. I split a Subway 6 in in half and ate half for lunch and half for afternoon snack. That's usually plenty of food for me by that time of day, but yesterday, I could feel the pit of my stomach churning and just screaming for food. I ended up buying a gas station tamale on the way home from work! That's all I could think of fast that wasn't fried, or processed. What caused it, how do I keep it from happening again, and what do I do if it does?
OH I have sooo been there! I need to go there againnnnn.......I am gonna try getting my self back on healthy food/ correct portions again and exercise starting today! YAY...
ANYhooo... keeping healthy snacks and water on hand is a good idea like they said below. Just wanted to add that I read somewhere that sometimes people interpret the thirst signal as hunger. So maybe try a glass o water first when you get the 'screaming hungries' =)
You need a more healthful and filling breakfast. There is no fiber in yogurt. Everyone should strive for at least 25 grams of fiber per day.
If you eat the recommended 5-9 fruits and veggies everyday, I don't think you would have to diet to get to a healthful weight.
As Jennifer said, you triggered the famine response with too few calories and also caused you blood sugar to drop drastically.
This is SOOOOO normal when you are rapidly losing weight (CONGRATS) and even when you are slowly losing weight. You get ravenous sometimes.
The best way to NOT have that happen is to preemptively eat! Like, keep a stash of healthy snacks with protein in them (cheese and crackers, granola bars, little almond butter on multigrain bread sandwiches, whatever) handy ALWAYS, and if you haven't eaten in an hour or two, even if you're not hungry, EAT SOMETHING. Do not go more than 3 hours without eating, and feel free to snack much more frequently on healthy things. It's better to gulp down a granola bar and banana before you're hungry, than to wait one more hour and cruise blindly to the drive thru for a big meal in a sudden hunger coma. (Happens to me when I'm out with kids, exhausted, no snacks, and suddenly STARVING.)
Pretend you're pregnant and KEEP HEALTHY SNACKS WITHIN REACH! Also, afternoon is TOUGH! You need a BIG snack half way between lunch and dinner to keep dinner from getting out of control. Eating a few snacks before a light dinner is way better than a big late dinner! Keep snacks at work!
Also, your body sometimes feels "hungry" when it's really thirsty. Always drink plenty of water so you don't dehydrate and get misplaced hunger pangs.
Also, usually if you're legitimately so starving and you do eat something, like the gas station tamale, it's OK if you get back on track after that. Just keep tabs in general, you're doing great!
I listened to a story on NPR about dieting just the other day that described this scenario. When dieting your body interprets lower calories with a potential starvation scenario and chemically creates this reaction/sensation to the body in attempt to increase calorie intake. This is a simplified explanation as to the why. Momma W gave some good suggestions on how to handle it.
I have hypoglycemia and that sounds like you had low blood sugar. To combat that I always have an apple or prunes to munch on to give me a spike in blood sugar and reap the benefits of fiber. If possible cut out the simple carbs-like the bread in your subway sanwhich. Order thier spinach salad, much higher in fiber, has vitamin k and iron. Also try adding a handful of nuts to your yogurt and some sliced fruit the fiber in the fruit and fat in the nuts will tide you over longer. If you eat too little in the morning you will pay for it in the evening.
Keep fruit,veggies,nuts, cheese sticks,granola bars or popcorn on hand in your car..oh and extra water. When I will be in and out of my car all day with kids' activities and errands then I put these items in a little cooler with ice packs. Makes you feel less desperate and less likely to buy a high fatty and sodium packed quick filler food.
You are doing great..keep it up!!
Good luck and best wishes!!
