Hunger

[Meirariem]

I’m on W3 currently (and also participating in Red January) and this week I have noticed a huge increase in hunger. I drink a LOT of water so I don’t think it’s dehydration and will always drink before eating. It’s not the “ooh I feel like a snack” type hunger it’s stomach-growling could happily eat a three course meal type hunger. During the day I eat a lot of fruit and veg and rarely eat junk food - today for example I had two bananas, four satsumas, a ton of veg in my lunchtime soup, 2/3 a punnet of grapes and an apple. I do acknowledge that my physical activity over the past three weeks has changed significantly from pre-Christmas but what can I do to stop eating so much? Or at least find something to eat that’s healthy and will actually fill me up?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

There doesn't sound to be much in the way of carbs or protein in your diet.

My simplistic approach is that we need a wide variety of everything in our diets, just in moderation, of course.

You need protein to build muscle and you will burn carbs by exercising, so maybe your body is trying to tell you something.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

I’m with IannodaTruffe... balance is good.

On the protein side, my daughter was “hungry” after every run and all it took was a little protein to kill the hunger. We would have her meat in the sous vide for dinner, and after the run slice a little bit off and flash fry it (no oil) for a quick fix. Worked like a charm with no added food... she wasn’t hungry, just her body asking for protein.

Proteins and fats are also good at filling you up as they are more complex than carbs and sugars, so they keep your digestive system busy for longer.

[Meirariem]

Sorry, should have been more specific! I tend to have a protein shake for breakfast (not great, I know, but otherwise I’d eat nothing!), potatoes and chicken in my lunchtime soup and a protein/carb/veg dinner. I suppose I could try to up the protein even more but I’ll already eating quite a bit :/

[CatMo13 Graduate]

Maybe the sugars in the fruit are making you hungry, so perhaps snack on some nuts for protein?

[deadandalive Graduate]

What’s Red January? (Sorry, I don’t have any advice: I’m new and I’m learning from the advice in the comments too!)