Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anyone ever feel full/ satiate without gaining weight?

96 replies

Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 15:07

Posted here for traffic.

I’m 5’6 and 10.4 stone, 40 yo female, I eat around 2600 kcals a day, complex carbs, clean protein, lots of vege, berries etc. Now and again I have a protein bar or drink but I usually stick to high quality food. I hardly eat sweets/ desserts or pizza/ burgers etc as I would just gain weight and still be hungry.
I’ve trained my whole life( I’m fit and strong / muscly) but I’m ALWAYS hungry and never really get full. Now I train for about 7-10h a week with a mixture of weights and cardio and I walk 45-60 mins a day. I honestly don’t know how so many women eat less than 2000kcal and feel satiated. I hate this constant food noise and I’m tempted with weightloss injections to not having to think about food all the time. Is there something wrong with me??
Would a glucose monitor help you think? Maybe my “ healthy” diet still raises my blood sugar a lot.

I would easily smash 4000-5000kcal a day but I gain weight if I eat more than 2600 and I would be very unhappy if I put on weight. I would love to lose half a stone but I can’t face eating even less food!!

Does anyone who is happy with their weight feel like they can eat so they get full? Or do you have to restrict yourself to not gain weight? And be a little bit hungry all the time?

AIBU- most people eat so they’re full and don’t gain weight
AINBU- most people can’t eat so they’re full without gaining weight

OP posts:
Original poster
Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 19:03

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 28/02/2025 16:41

I'm usually hungry. Running 40k a week, 5 x 30 min sessions on the exercise bike and 3 x 30 mins Pilates a week, eating one meal a day four days a week and having breakfast as well on the remaining three (when I have work) which I try to keep around the 2000 cal mark or less and I am just about holding at 9st 4. I'd like to lose half a stone but literally cannot fit in any more exercise and if I eat any less I will gnaw off my own leg.

I'm 64 and post menopause and my metabolism is shot. I would LOVE to not be hungry but the only time I'm not is immediately after eating.

I’ve heard quite a few women in menopause or post meno eating only one meal a day, is that something you think helps symptoms or is it just to restrict calories?
For me I think the only way I wouldn’t have to be hungry or gain weight is to try these weight loss injections, they’re not aimed for someone like me though!

OP posts:
Dontlletmedownbruce · 28/02/2025 19:02

I feel like eating all the time but not sure if it is hunger. The only time I feel real proper hunger is if I exercise a lot. Honestly I'm not sure if it's such a good idea unless you enjoy it or need it for MH. I'm quite overweight but when I up my exercise my appetite goes crazy and whatever I lose in fat I gain in muscle (i do weekly body scan). I think I need to focus on being generally active and restrict carbs and not worry about working out if I'm ever to lose weight.

coxesorangepippin · 28/02/2025 19:01

Humble brag much

Original poster
Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 19:00

Babybaby2025 · 28/02/2025 18:55

Nope, no matter how nutrient dense my food is, in order to lose weight and keep my bmi in a healthy range, I have to spend most of my time feeling a bit hungry

It sucks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 19:00

Semiramide · 28/02/2025 16:47

I also found that training my abs to be super strong has curbed my appetite. Lots of planks, crunches, sit-ups and other abs exercises. It’s hard to explain but just feeling my tight abs stops me from overeating. If ever I do eat more than my body needs I feel overly full, bloated and sluggish.

Interesting! You probably are really in tune with your body as well!

OP posts:
Original poster
Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 18:58

Zanatdy · 28/02/2025 18:56

I could only dream of eating that many cals. I can’t
eat more than 1600 ish without gaining, darn short height genes. Are you genuinely hungry? Do you drink plenty of water? I tend to eat 1100 when dieting and I do feel very hungry in week 1, then my body adapts.

ah I feel for you, I’d die on 1600 😳

OP posts:
Original poster
Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 18:57

Baninarama · 28/02/2025 16:36

This. You might well be pushing your body into stress mode, where its demands are higher.

Show quote history

I’d definitely gain weight if I stayed on the same calories but didn’t train as much

OP posts:
Original poster
Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 18:56

Maxorias · 28/02/2025 16:44

It's not normal to be hungry all the time.

Are you sure it's actual hunger ? Not boredom, or thirst, or just enjoying eating ?

It surely can’t be actual hunger, I don’t have a growling stomach all the time. It’s just that I can always eat more and it’s annoying having to think about food all the time

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 28/02/2025 18:56

I could only dream of eating that many cals. I can’t
eat more than 1600 ish without gaining, darn short height genes. Are you genuinely hungry? Do you drink plenty of water? I tend to eat 1100 when dieting and I do feel very hungry in week 1, then my body adapts.

Babybaby2025 · 28/02/2025 18:55

Nope, no matter how nutrient dense my food is, in order to lose weight and keep my bmi in a healthy range, I have to spend most of my time feeling a bit hungry

Original poster
Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 18:54

Maxorias · 28/02/2025 16:44

It's not normal to be hungry all the time.

Are you sure it's actual hunger ? Not boredom, or thirst, or just enjoying eating ?

It probably is more of the fact that I like eating! I’m not physically hungry like having a growling stomach but I could always eat more! That’s so annoying as I don’t want to think about food all the time

OP posts:
Original poster
Greedybugger · 28/02/2025 18:52

LegallyBlende · 28/02/2025 15:46

What do you mean by complex carbs, clean protein, lots of vege, berries etc?

I was looking at meals labelled clean cut meals but if you looked at the label, they were far from clean.

I always cook from scratch, potatoes, sweet potatoes, legumes, lentils, broccoli or other greens, sourdough ( I make it)oats and chickpeas for example, protein sources like fish, definitely not breaded or deep fried, same with chicken, fillet steak and eggs etc, I do eat some tofu and quorn, they’re processed but I think that’s ok. Fresh or frozen berries with plain Greek yoghurt, nuts, , fats such as olive oil, avocado, nuts.

OP posts:
SpreadHummusNotHate · 28/02/2025 16:49

I’m 5ft10 and probably eat around 1800-1900 cals a day but I’ve found the only thing that keeps me feeling full is when I eat enough fibre and protein. I aim for about 90-100g protein a day and 35-40g fibre and plenty of water - I think it’s the fibre that is key to me feeling full though

rosemarble · 28/02/2025 16:48

Does anyone who is happy with their weight feel like they can eat so they get full? Or do you have to restrict yourself to not gain weight? And be a little bit hungry all the time?

Yes, I eat until I don't feel hungry. I'm sure most people do that.
I do not restrict my intake. I do not gain weight.
I do not feel hungry all the time, but do feel hunger during the day.

I don't think this is unusual.

Semiramide · 28/02/2025 16:47

I also found that training my abs to be super strong has curbed my appetite. Lots of planks, crunches, sit-ups and other abs exercises. It’s hard to explain but just feeling my tight abs stops me from overeating. If ever I do eat more than my body needs I feel overly full, bloated and sluggish.

Maxorias · 28/02/2025 16:44

It's not normal to be hungry all the time.

Are you sure it's actual hunger ? Not boredom, or thirst, or just enjoying eating ?

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 28/02/2025 16:41

I'm usually hungry. Running 40k a week, 5 x 30 min sessions on the exercise bike and 3 x 30 mins Pilates a week, eating one meal a day four days a week and having breakfast as well on the remaining three (when I have work) which I try to keep around the 2000 cal mark or less and I am just about holding at 9st 4. I'd like to lose half a stone but literally cannot fit in any more exercise and if I eat any less I will gnaw off my own leg.

I'm 64 and post menopause and my metabolism is shot. I would LOVE to not be hungry but the only time I'm not is immediately after eating.

Baninarama · 28/02/2025 16:36

Crispyturtle · 28/02/2025 16:25

This might be a stupid question but do you think you’re hungry because of the amount of exercise you do? You must be using a massive amount of energy and therefore food if you’re training 7-10 hrs a week, could you reduce the training and maintain the same calories or do you think you would gain weight?

This. You might well be pushing your body into stress mode, where its demands are higher.

SpringleDingle · 28/02/2025 16:31

I am eating 1600 - 1800kcal/day. I do about 8000steps a day, go to the gym twice a week to do strength training and once a week I swim. I am mostly satiated. This morning I had two slices brown toast with mackerel on top for breakfast. I've had a large bowl of homemade leek and potato soup with a dollop of yoghurt and grated cheese for lunch and a chocolate rice cake as a snack. I am off to make a large dinner and if I am hungry later I'll have a protein bar (my new favourite things!) I am currently a bit peckish but it's making dinner time so I'd expect that. I am not perpetually hungry though. I am trying to lose weight so am eating at a calorie deficit and losing about 0.5lb a week.

Crispyturtle · 28/02/2025 16:25

This might be a stupid question but do you think you’re hungry because of the amount of exercise you do? You must be using a massive amount of energy and therefore food if you’re training 7-10 hrs a week, could you reduce the training and maintain the same calories or do you think you would gain weight?

Semiramide · 28/02/2025 16:20

LegallyBlende · 28/02/2025 15:46

What do you mean by complex carbs, clean protein, lots of vege, berries etc?

I was looking at meals labelled clean cut meals but if you looked at the label, they were far from clean.

I have no idea what ‘clean cut meals’ are - do you mean some kind of ready meals.

the OP clearly prepares her own food, using healthy, unadulterated ingredients.

user1471516498 · 28/02/2025 15:57

I had to reframe psychologically. So I deliberately go to bed hungry, to trick myself into seeing it as a good thing. Conversely, I have tricked myself into feeling sort of sick and a bit disgusted with myself if I feel full. I have lost 3 stone this way, and I am now trying to maintain using the same philosophy.

Semiramide · 28/02/2025 15:55

Frequent eating, especially carbs and sugar, leads to glucose spikes and excess insulin secretion, which in turn feeds ‘hunger’, whereas protein and healthy fats keep you satiated. Cutting out sugar and restricting alcohol intake has been the best thing I’ve ever done for my diet.

Sadly, we also need fewer calories as we get older…I am 70 but very fit and active. Even though I exercise 60-90 minutes most days and do sports, if I go much above 1400-1600 calories a day, I gain weight. I’m nevertheless satiated because I eat a healthy Mediterranean style diet. Two meals a day - typically an omelette plus salad for brunch and protein plus vegetables for dinner, plus a piece of fruit in between.

TheFrendo · 28/02/2025 15:51

I eat until I am satiated. Minimal carbs, lots of fat and protein. That works for me.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 15:47

I do know one thing - when I suddenly started drinking at least 1500mls of water a day plus a couple of teas/coffees - I lost a lot of weight in my lower legs really quickly - was convinced I had some muscle wasting disease at first as I wasn't losing it anywhere else but my ankles and calves totally shrank