Absolutely ravenous!

[CompanyCrowdFight]

I’m trying to lose weight - enough that my shorts will fit, once I’ve seen the button back on I thought I was doing ok l.
But I’m absolutely ravenous today and every time I stand up I get a fuzzy head and a few seconds of blackness. I’ve eaten 4 slices of brown toast this morning, picked at some cold chicken from yesterday that’s meant to be for lunch today, a couple of squares of dark choc and a cereal bar, had 3 cups of tea and a glass and a half of water. And a pinch of salt. Why do I feel starving, when quite clearly I’m not. Am I missing a particular food type?

I read something somewhere which has always stuck with me that carbs are like putting kindling on a fire (i.e. it sparks up and dies down) and protein is more like putting logs on the fire - slow energy release etc.

So toast won't really fill you up long term but upping your protein will. I find bread particularly bad for making me feel light-headed and lacking in energy if I have it on its own or with not much protein. I reckon you need to go down the meat, eggs, pulses route - those should fill you up much better.

So what do you eat for breakfast then?

Have a couple of boiled eggs, a few slices of cheese and some tomato/salad leaves. You need some protein.

Something like a big omelette will help. Skip the bread.

Breakfast here is scrambled egg with some spinach and feta, seriously keeps me full until lunchtime. If I have cereal or toast I too feel like it just kick starts my appetite.

Where are you in your cycle?

Focus on getting protein and at least 5 portions of veg per day and that will help.

Get outside, start doing something
Go to work
Housework
You’ll forget about it.

Are you bored with lots of time on hand?

I'm on the pill, so no real cycle. I've been outside already today, done some errands for me and my neighbour. I'd love to go for work, unfortunately no one wants to employ me. Housework is boring....

Ok, so more protein. I'm not a fan of eggs or meat first thing in the morning, is there anything that is quick and easy and involves no cooking? Or do I need to train myself to eat eggs?

Do you like yoghurt? My current breakfast of choice is fruit (buy frozen and defrost for ease), Greek yoghurt (Fage full fat) and low-sugar granola (Jordan's) with a very small swirl of honey if needed. Fage is high in protein and this breakfast keeps me full until lunch. Have a banana at 11 if you're hungry by then.

Sliced ham/chicken, protein shake, Greek yogurt. Anything protein rich. I can eat carbs and never feel full.

Four slices of toast?!?!

Greek yoghurt for breakfast, or eggs.

Where's your veg and fruit?!
Have the cold chicken but add a load of veg or salad with it
Have 2 pieces of toast then Greek yoghurt and fruit

I don't love excluding food groups but I do better with lower carb.

I have eggs in some form usually or sometimes Greek yog (always total full fat) or cheese and a little bit of fruit.

Sometimes (and appreciate this is the opposite of low carb) I have a banana and a coffee.

I can't have toast or porridge or granola etc - makes me starve by 10.30.

Too much carbs Id say. If I have carbs in the morning I'm starving an hour later. In summer I have a Starbucks mocha or coffee for breakfast. Most supermarkets have the bottled ones.

To add, I'm trying to eat better and my usual food is

B - raspberries and Greek yoghurt
L - chicken salad or chicken salad wrap, sometimes tuna instead of chicken. When I say salad I mean a massive salad (as per MN!)
T - meat and veg or whatever I want but a small ish portion then lots of salad or veg

Snacks - protein shake, fruit, boiled eggs

@CompanyCrowdFight

I'm on the pill, so no real cycle. I've been outside already today, done some errands for me and my neighbour. I'd love to go for work, unfortunately no one wants to employ me. Housework is boring....

Ok, so more protein. I'm not a fan of eggs or meat first thing in the morning, is there anything that is quick and easy and involves no cooking? Or do I need to train myself to eat eggs?

No wonder snacking if literally doing nothing but snacking!

Iron will is your only solution

What was the pinch of salt for?

@CompanyCrowdFight

I’m trying to lose weight - enough that my shorts will fit, once I’ve seen the button back on I thought I was doing ok l. But I’m absolutely ravenous today and every time I stand up I get a fuzzy head and a few seconds of blackness. I’ve eaten 4 slices of brown toast this morning, picked at some cold chicken from yesterday that’s meant to be for lunch today, a couple of squares of dark choc and a cereal bar, had 3 cups of tea and a glass and a half of water. And a pinch of salt. Why do I feel starving, when quite clearly I’m not. Am I missing a particular food type?

You've probably got diabetes.

As pp have said you do need to address that breakie. No protein so won't fill you for long and if you tot up calories that would be a 1/3 of my recommended 1200 a day limit to try and shift 2lb a week (more if you're putting anything on it).

You also need to try and stop picking (I know - loads easier said than done) as you just keep going thinking you've barely eaten anything.
Bulk out your meals with massive portions of veg / salad. Have fruit if you crave something sweet after and include protein and (healthy) fat with each meal to keep the appetite under control e.g egg & avocado with your salad.

I think accepting that some are just like this and there's no filling you is ok, but not falling off the wagon completely. So if you've had a lousy morning try and get back on track for lunch & dinner. I have a habit of just thinking 'f*ck it' and having what ever I want since I've ruined it anyway which is why I'm always 2 steps forward 1 back

Definitely try fruit and yoghurt for breakfast. I usual make up a big fruit salad and keep it in the fridge. That means I only have to put some in my bowl in the morning, add yoghurt and I'm set.
Chicken is great for lunch. I'd have It with loads of salad or a veggie couscous.
Also try drinking more water. It's amazing how hungry we feel sometimes when in fact you're just thirsty.
Nuts are good for a quick and filling snack.

What did you eat yesterday. I fast so I'm very aware of my hunger signals, if I overdo sugar/refined one day I'm starved the next day.

What was the pinch of salt for I was craving something salty and figured it was healthier than a packet of crips or something!

You've probably got diabetes.
Wouldn't this have been picked up on a blood test? (I had full bloods done last year)

Also try drinking more water I've been trying to do this the past few weeks, I realised I was drinking maybe one glass a day. Come to think of it, I didn't have all that much yesterday.

For lunch we (me, 9 &11) had the meat from two large chicken legs minus what I snaffled earlier, 5 handfuls of pasta and one large courgette and and aubergine. DC had some fruit. We'll have a large salad this evening.

* You've probably got diabetes.*

Quite a leap there

What did you eat yesterday
ummm, good question. 2 Croissant + jam, 2 buns + honey for breakfast. lunch was bbq - chicken leg, aubergine, pepper and pasta; evening - salad of one lettuce, avocado and packet of cherry toms between 4 of us, bread and cheese, yoghurt and an apricot.

You need to eat satiating foods. They are normally protein rich with moderate fat. Keep carbs at an absolute minimum. No sugar, no soda, your cravings will disappear. I’m low carb and am pretty much never hungry. My issue is I just like the taste of food 🙈