To be starving?

[Pollyputhtekettleon]

I'm trying to lose a stone and have started myfitnesspal app to do calorie control for a month and see how I go. I've never dieted before but ive just had 3 babies (in 3 yrs) and I found a love of cake in my second pregnancy.

Anyway, so far today I have had a bowl of porridge (decent size) made with whole milk, a big banana, a cup of tea and cup of coffee, both with whole milk. I am starving for the last 2 hrs! Surely that is a normal breakfast whether I'm calorie counting or not? I am physically hungry (growling tummy etc) and not just psychologically hungry.

AIBU to be hungry on that? Lots of people manage with no breakfast at all!

[LunaLoveg00d]

I like the Oat so Simple sachets which are 36g each, made with semi skimmed milk that's about 180 calories. I generally try to wait as long as possible to have breakfast though and think eating at 6.30am is the problem.

MFP does work. You soon get to know what is filling and what is just empty calories. You also swiftly learn that Curly Wurlys are only 85 calories each.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Yum almonds would be nice on porridge. Add a few cherries and you could pretend to be eating a bakewell tart.

[PinkFondantFancy]

Adding ground almonds to your porridge will add protein and might help keep you full up for longer

[StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine]

Signed up for MFP, last night and, for a 1lb a week weight loss, it's allocated me 1390 calories. I've also linked it to my fitbit, which gives me an extra 200 a day to play with if I want to.

I'm going to experiment with a no-S approach on days that don't start with an S. I like my wine, too much to miss out on a weekend. I think I'm in the right frame of mind, this week, as I've reached a stone overweight and I'm beginning to feel it and have convinced myself that most cake that I haven't made myself is revolting (didn't take much convincing, to be honest - it's almost always disappointing).

[BornFreeButinEUchains]

blitheringbuzzards1234 Tue 24-May-16 13:03:56


Hilarious!

A protein breakfast (usually an omelette or something egg based) is the only way for me to not feel starving by mid morning. In fact I tend to feel less hungry if I've had no breakfast at all than if I eat something cereal based

same here.

Low carbing has been a Revelation for me.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

porridge..and a boiled egg is a good combination
Together? yuck!

[oldlaundbooth]

There are porridge people and non-porridge people.

Some people find it super filling, others don't.

What DOES make a difference in the porridge conundrum is what liquid you use.

If I use water, I will be hungry almost immediately.

If I use full fat milk, it'll take a lot longer, due to the fat and protein which is more filling.

Porridge made with FF milk and a boiled egg is a good combination, maybe an apple mid morning if you eat an early brekkie.

Best breakfast ever? Full English breakfast, no toast

[Dudess]

I feel I need to stand up for porridge... When Teaching it's the only breakfast that sees me through to lunch. I add dried fruit and cinnamon.

[PegsPigs]

5:2 diet info here thefastdiet.co.uk/

It's basically 2 days 'fasting' eating 500 calories and 5 days eating 'normally' Don't do the 2 days back to back though.

I found I tolerated being hungry more on the normal eating days because of the feeling of hunger on the fasting days. So I naturally ate less than before I was dieting at all because I could live without a snack.

FWIW I'm really not sure you should be dieting whilst breastfeeding but that's your choice. I waited till my DD was finished before I did the 5:2. Lost a lb a week for 7 weeks (my target) then maintained it by doing 6:1 for the next few months till I got pregnant

[Verbena37]

A portion of porridge if you're doing weight watchers is 30g. That with a banana, a handful of blueberries and a drizzle of honey, should keep you on til lunch.

As I'm currently not working, I tend to grab a cuppa whilst making packed lunches, then take DS to school, then have brekkie about ten. I'm not ready for it before then so having it later means I then eat less at lunch and tea.

[MrsArchchancellorRidcully]

Lambzig I'd say that 1200 cals a day is actually way too low for anyone.

Forget cals. At least 4 days a week focus on 'good' full fats (so not processed or fried things etc) but ff natural yog, milk, avocado, nuts etc plus lots of protein, veg and a small amount of carb. As little added refined sugar as you can manage. I do 5:2 and am losing (and keeping off) about 1 stone a year without even trying (I have wine and treats too).

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Completely agree with Lonny It's fine to feel hungry. You will get used to it and I think you enjoy food more if you are genuinely hungry, rather than eating because you're tired or bored.

There are ways to suppress your appetite;
Exercise,
Drinking a lot of water, also foods containing lots of fluid (soup, melon etc)
Caffeine,
Eating protein with everything,
Filling up on fruit and veg.

If you have a weakness for cake, don't cut it out completely as you'll be tempted to think, sod this and eat a gateaux.
Best to have a small slice in the afternoon or mini cake like a teacake or scone. You then aren't depriving yourself of treats.

The sad fact is, if you want your body to use up your excess fat, you need to eat less than you need so you will be hungry. It's not easy.

Good luck,

[Cambam2010]

I can't have cereals - only because I can't stop at a small amount. Once I start eating them, I could easily finish off the box. When I have had porridge I've tried to have the 35g Slimming World amount but this just leaves me very hungry within an hour.

At the moment I am doing LCHF. For breakfast (7:30am) I have 2/3 egg omelette with ham/pepperoni, cheese and spinach. Lunch (12:30) I have a salad of lettuce, spinach, 2 cherry tomatoes, cucumber, sprinkle of cheese, ham, avocado and a few walnut halves broken up. Dinner (6pm) I will have some kind of meat with a side of cauliflower or broccoli or courgette. I try not to snack as this sets me off on a feeding binge, but if I do have to have something it is usually a handful of nuts.

It takes a few days of low carbing to lower my appetite then I don't get the hunger pangs. I do top up my diet with supplements - mainly Magnesium and Potassium.

[learnermummy]

I find that if I eat breakfast then I'm hungrier in the day (goes against normal advice). So I find 16:8 intermittent fasting works for me. 16 hours fast, 8 hours eating per day. I tend to eat between 11am and 7pm, as healthy as I can, but do have the occasional treat and am losing 1-2 pounds per week.

[CassandraAusten]

Ivegotyourgoat in response to your question about eggs, I think in the past people were told not to eat too many eggs to avoid high cholesterol. But more recent research shows that eating eggs every day does not increase the risk of heart disease.

[Lambzig]

This is really interesting as MFP tells me 1200 is the absolute highest for me (5ft 3, exercise 5 days out of 7 including a long run at the weekends, otherwise at home with kids). I do find it really difficult to stick to, so end up going off track after a couple of weeks. I have at least a stone to lose.

Eggs for breakfast works for me - often cooked in a fry pan with lots of veg (onions, courgettes, spinach tomato).

[Sundance01]

I'm another one who is always hungry after eating porridge - although strangely muesli fills me up completely.

Try something else

[amberlabamba]

Carbs and sugars tell your brain to be hungry again much faster than protein. A diet high in fat and protein will keep you full and help you lose weight faster.
I swear by the keto diet. Once you get to day 3/4 and are over the sugar withdrawals it's easy and you are not hungry.

[BabyGanoush]

1200 cals, is that really sustainable?! I'd become obsessed by food if I tried that

[oliviaclottedcream]

Yes I agree have an egg every morning and maybe some of that revolting German black bread stuff, as it's low in carb's, but filling.

[MadSprocker]

That would be difficult! Enjoy your riding. I went back after a 25 year break, and the aching muscles. The Sprocker is my exercise, but I do the things above to build up my steps as I too loathe exercise.

[Pollyputhtekettleon]

MadSprocker (do you have a cocker spaniel by any chance?) I've never been a great lover of exercise but am starting back riding (horses) tonight and am thinking of swimming in the evenings too. It's been hard being pregnant and/or with a newborn for the last 4yrs straight.

[zoobeedoo]

High protein (chicken chicken and more chicken) and carbs from fruit and veg works for me. Allergic to wheat and gluten free tastes like shit so have had to cut out a lot of baked goodies. Protein has to be digested in your stomach bag, unlike carbs which pass quickly into your intestines, meaning your tummy is empty quicker. This is why protein keeps you full for longer and can make you feel sick if you eat too much in one go (eg three boiled eggs bleurgh...) I also use protein shakes if I am training a lot but they are so sickly sweet. Pregnant now, but after pregnancy it will be long fast walks, lots of weightraining, protein shakes and mountains of veggies. And chicken.

[MadSprocker]

You say you are quite sedentary op, and lack of movement will make a difference to weight loss. Try building walking into your routine. Park further away from the doors at the supermarket. Walk backwards and forwards hanging out the washing, build those steps up.

[Gottagetmoving]

Have one or two boiled eggs or scrambled eggs and a slice of wholemeal toast.
Now'they' say that fat is not as bad for you as they thought - I am going to have a full cooked breakfast some days. When I do that, I am never even slightly hungry until about 6 pm!
Its the snacking that is the problem with weight gain.