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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you need to deal with a certain amount of hunger to lose weight?

170 replies

Cushionwoman · 20/05/2016 21:39

I feel this way.

I've done exercise and healthy eating. Yes I felt better. But did I ever really lose weight? No.

I'm now sticking to three healthy, smaller meals with no snacking and it's working.

I do go to bed hungry though.

The only other time in my life when I've actually lost weight I had to do this too.

Is that the true nature of a proper lose weight diet? A certain amount of hunger and discipline?

Or is it just me?

OP posts:
ArgyMargy · 21/05/2016 13:22

When I used to diet (before I realised that dieting makes you fat) I would be so obsessed with meals that hunger was irrelevant. For me, being hungry is a sign that I should eat - surely that's normal? If I can't access food at that stage then I can go on to feel hunger that's actually painful.

There's lots of crap talked about carbs. If you have a healthy endocrine system not compromised by insulin resistance or beta cell dysfunction there's no problem with carbs. However you need to have a proper balance of protein carbs & fat. And minimum refined sugar because that's just sensible.

PacificDogwod · 21/05/2016 13:27

Are all the low carbers doing some sort of variation of the Atkins?

Emphatically, no.

What I am doing I describe as 'vaguely low carbing' Grin - I am more aware of unnecessary carbs, I'll have a helping of pasta with whatever sauce and if I want seconds I'll have more sauce, rather than pasta, I have open sandwiches with plenty of yummy filling but ditch the 2nd slice of toast.

Just had lunch: 2 fried eggs, 1 slice of bacon (not a fan of bacon), cherry tomatoes, full fat greek yoghurt with cucumber and pumpkin seeds. Yum! And I am v satisfyingly full. Family had the same + rolls. Boys are now outside playing football - they are growing and far more active than me and I do NOT want them to grow up with the concept of 'dieting'. I am 50, peri/menopausal (LMP 4/12 ago) and have no intention of gaining the weight I lost in the last year ever again. AND I really like my food, so will not put up with denying myself anything - I know I would not hack that longterm.

Totally agree with GarlicSnake that there is no arguing with biology, too.

BornFreeButinEUchains · 21/05/2016 13:39

Pacific I am doing roughly same as you - just more aware of carbs.

I forgot the greek yogurt in my list earlier, its been wonderful.

I also agree with not exposing dc to concept of dieting mine dont even know I am have tweaked my diet, I dont mention it.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 21/05/2016 13:59

My way is like BreadandWine's; I don't eat breakfast, I've never wanted to. I'm never hungry in the mornings and often not at lunchtime either. Typically I eat once a day at between 4 and 6pm.

I try not to snack and am fortunate that I don't have a sweet tooth (very). Losing weight is a discipline and we all have to find the ways that personally work for us.

Thanks for Grays, it sounds very tough.

GraysAnalogy · 21/05/2016 14:58

Thankyou so much for all that kind, it's difficult to eat at work because whilst i'm based in cardiology I need to be all over the hospital so when I do grab a quick minute my food could be stored all the way at the other side of the hospital. I usually always have mints or tictacs because they help with the cravings. Oh and slow cooker

KindDogsTail · 21/05/2016 15:07

That's bad luck Grays. I can see how very difficult it would be for you.

It's odd how little real help with their basic health a health institution like a hospital gives the people it depends on! Timely nutrition and small rest breaks are the fundamental true medicines for good health after all.

Original poster
Cushionwoman · 21/05/2016 15:07

I think you do need to find something that works for you.

I'm type one diabetic and so there's an added level of something there - when my sugars drop I DO need to use something to take it back up again. Be if glucose tablets or orange juice.

I stuck to SW to the letter for a week and put on a pound!! I was gutted - but maybe that's because I do need to supplement with sugary things ag times.

So it's hunger for me. I am learning to big panic at hunger and just 'be' with it. I don't mind it now as I know it means it's taking me closer to my goal.

Thank you for all these interesting perspectives!

OP posts:
Original poster
Cushionwoman · 21/05/2016 15:08

Sorry for ridiculous typos.

OP posts:
GraysAnalogy · 21/05/2016 15:12

It's odd how little real help with their basic health a health institution like a hospital gives the people it depends on! Timely nutrition and small rest breaks are the fundamental true medicines for good health after all

This is so true. My trust has even banned staff from having water with them.

iminshock · 21/05/2016 15:19

Yes . You absolutely need to embrace hunger to lose weight.
As soon as your body starts to eat into its fat reserves you will feel hungry. It's how your body works.
Once I realised this I lost 4 stones.
Anyone who says otherwise is either fortunately unusual or lying.

PacificDogwod · 21/05/2016 15:22

Ah, Cushion, as an insulin dependent Type 1 diabetic you would of course have to be very careful about 'low carbing', but has 'carb counting' ever been taught to you?
And of course there will be a world of difference between fast carbs (refined sugar, sweet juice etc) and slow carbs (vegetables, wholemeal everything).

Gray, that sounds a bit dubious tbh. Your trust has a duty of care for you. I'd be very tempted to bring that up with Occ Health Thanks

Blueberry234 · 21/05/2016 15:26

I had the part of my stomach removed that produces gherilin I don't feel hungry but I do get head hungry still. Less so if I reduce quick release carbs though

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 21/05/2016 15:27

Feeling some hunger is a good thing.

Don't know why people are so scared of it.

PacificDogwod · 21/05/2016 15:28

Blueberry, wow, really?
What did that entail?
Was it done in the UK??

KindDogsTail · 21/05/2016 15:30

Very difficult for you with type 1 diabetes Cushion, good luck.

In case any of these tips might be helpful (only with a doctor's agreement0 here is a link.
www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/10-natural-substances-may-help-cure-type-1-diabetes

lcoc2015 · 21/05/2016 15:33

Yabu but i agree you should only eat when you feel hungry and then only until you are satiated. And obvs eat the right food aswell. I've lost 2 stone that way but it is coming off very slowly so i need to be patient and consistent to keep it going.

KindDogsTail · 21/05/2016 15:34

As soon as your body starts to eat into its fat reserves you will feel hungry
With the wrong food and too little of it, it could be eating into your muscle reserves and storing fat!

TresDesolee · 21/05/2016 15:35

Totally agree that different things work for different people and a lot of it is psychological. I tried low-carbing and put on four pounds in three weeks - but I don't like meat or fish and I absolutely love veg and fruit (and all carbs tbh) so the whole thing just made me murderous.

Weightwatchers works for me because nothing is banned and it steers you very firmly towards fruit and veg. I've lost nearly 4 stone over a year on WW in the past and it's what I turn to now if the weight starts creeping back on, although I've never regained most of what I lost.

Fundamentally though, the one thing you can't eat a lot of if you want to lose weight is carbs. For me, so much is about portion size. And yes, being peckish occasionally, but not truly gnawingly hungry.

bertsdinner · 21/05/2016 15:36

I lost a lot of weight calorie counting, about 1200 a day. I didnt bother thinking about carbs, sugar etc just ate loads of fruit and veg. I expected to be and was hungry, very hungry at times. You get used to it though and I think the end result was worth it.
A lot of my eating was boredom eating, routine, eg had to have a 4 finger KitKat at 11am with my coffee. I found breaking this habit harder than the actual hunger.

Original poster
Cushionwoman · 21/05/2016 15:41

Hello!
Yes I've always carb counted - not sure how T1s don't carb count!

I'm happy to low carb.

However the body does need a certain amount of carbs so I don't see them as an enemy. More than you may think!

OP posts:
maggiethemagpie · 21/05/2016 16:46

I low carb, and I base my meals around meat and vegetables (excepting breakfast, which is either a low carb shake or low carb porridge made with almond flour or almond butter)

I do use a bread substitute, made with soya flour called liv life which is great.

I avoid normal bread, potatoes, pastry, cereals, rice, fruit, pasta.

I do eat green veg, nuts, things like that.

I do have a medical problem with carbs though, I am diabetic, and my pancreas function is virtually nil.

If I do eat carbs I put on weight very fast, I have to inject insulin whereas if low carbing I can just get by on oral meds. On holiday recently I relaxed the reins and put on 10lbs in two weeks.

I've tried to find a way to have carbs in my life without getting either ill or fat, or both, and sadly there's just no way round it, carbs and I don't really get on with each other so I've learned to live without them.

maggiethemagpie · 21/05/2016 16:49

Cushionwoman I also gained weight on SW - 3lbs in fact. Maybe it's a carb thing. You can eat quite a lot of carbs on SW. I wish they'd do a low carb version!

GarlicShake · 21/05/2016 16:53

However the body does need a certain amount of carbs so I don't see them as an enemy. More than you may think!

Yes. Considering that every balanced diet advisory anywhere offers something like these, I wonder what stresses VLC dieters might be putting on their bodies.

To think you need to deal with a certain amount of hunger to lose weight?
To think you need to deal with a certain amount of hunger to lose weight?
To think you need to deal with a certain amount of hunger to lose weight?
curren · 21/05/2016 16:53

I wish they'd do a low carb version!

they do. It's the SP plan. I do it and use my Syns so it's low carb high -ish fat