To think that to stay in the healthy weight range I'm going to be hungry 70% of the time for the rest of my life.

[AliceAbsolum]

I've tried eating when I feel hungry, I put on about half a stone a month. Bmi is about 22.

I eat a balanced, protein rich diet based on lean fish, loads of veg, etc. But about an hour after eating each meal I'm generally hungry. Don't drink alcohol, try to avoid processed foods. Don't feel overly stressed, don't smoke etc etc.
Drives me mad.
I run 5 miles most days just to be able to eat an extra 400kcal!
Urgh.
Anyone else?

oddly running makes me less hungry.
but I'm also of an age where I need to watch my calories.

BMI is a terrible indicator. Weight, height, bone structure, muscle, shape etc all impact.

The only time this wasn't the case for me was when I was keto.

But I couldn't handle keto either.

I eat just enough now to be not hungry and I know that's true as i don't like the feeling of being too full!

I might try and do keto just for three weeks just to lose this ten pounds again.

I cannot do it for ever though.

Try some other distractions.

Many jobs won' allow you time to eat for a 4 hour stretch- can you manage that?

yeh I really should look in to low carb.
Keto was amazing (results wise) but I was dreaming about toast.

Read 'Burn' by Herman Pontzer. It explains how doing lots of exercise doesn't burn extra calories as your body compensated by burning less calories in other areas. Not that exercise isn't good, it is. I run 80 miles a week and can put on weight if I don't watch what I eat.
Try and eat food rich in protein, and good fats as they will fill you up more.
Avoid processed food, sugar and refined grains. Fast from time to time (I never eat breakfast, don't miss it at all)

My GP said that " at our age " ie 50/60s you have to starve yourself to lose any weight 🙄

Genuinely I had no idea I was supposed to keep myself hungry

Is this why I’m 4 stone overweight?

@AliceAbsolum

Bmi is 22 so I reckon that is healthy.

Maybe I'm just not very tolerant of the hunger.

Drink a glass of water.

I am hungry about 70% of the time but have come to enjoy it. Plus anticipation of the next meal 😍

I’ve always been slim but I’m permanently starving. A friend pointed out to me recently that I’m always saying I’m hungry which made me realise I am.

Be careful what you wish for though. Decades of anorexia have made digestion and absorbtion of nutrients a never-ending problem for me. I am constantly taking digestive enzymes, which help a bit, but I have premature fullness, stomach pains, and constant IBS symptoms. I am currently trying really hard to get to a BMI of 18 and stay there its very very difficult. Maybe some people want to look like me (I don't) but I am permanently tired, anxious and cold. I really, genuinely wish I had a better appetite and enjoyed food more. Eating is not a pleasure.

I’m going to second the weightlifting. I weight lift four times a week; talking serious, heavy lifting (bench, deadlift etc) I’m 5ft 1 and eat about 2500-2700 calories per day and don’t really gain much in the way of fat (muscle yes). I do two 15 mins sessions of cardio each week and that’s it. I don’t eat meat, and don’t smoke or drink.

No, you will not.
When you feel hungry one hour after a meal, you are not really hungry. It is likely that you are thirsty. Drink some wpater. For me a hot tea, like ginger and lemon, is better.
Drink plenty of water.
Stick to a meal plan.
You will only really be hungry for a week max. Then you will be ok with your new portion sizes.
Drink when you feel hinger or want a snack between meals. But not sugary drinks, as those have quite a few calories! Snack on fruit.
You do already have a healthy diet, so it will only need to reduce portions. And up your activity levels. An extra walk, some gym, swimming...

When I was on a huge weight loss mission last year I used not bother with weights at first thinking it was all about the cardio - but weights makes a huge difference in weight loss - it really does

@OneAugustNight

I’ve always been slim but I’m permanently starving. A friend pointed out to me recently that I’m always saying I’m hungry which made me realise I am.

This was me for DECADES I'd eat enough to keep me full for 90 minutes but then the amount Id eaten when I was so hungry when I ate it, kept me ok not satiated for at best 2 hours and then I'd have to wait another 90 minutes before I'd allow myself to eat.

I will say that keto was the exception to this but I don't like meat much.
I think my favourite foods are carbs!

This thread inspired me to have two eggs just now. Instead of toast. I wanted toast.

@OlympicProcrastinator

Yup. I have found I need to live strictly on 1200 calories to stay a healthy weight. I’m starving but if I eat when hungry I just get fat.

Discovered the other day that in the olden days, women generally died shortly after menopause so I figured once we hit 40 plus we are destined to ‘not work’ properly

Nobody needs to be on a 1200 cal diet to stay a healthy weight for goodness sake. That's absolutely rubbish.

I just wish women could enjoy their healthy, strong bodies without so much sacrifice to hit a specific number. Its too late for me but I wish I did when I was younger, at the top of the healthy BMI range. Maybe that's where OP's natural weight is.

OK. Good suggestions. I'll try to drink more, I'll wee more but that's OK.

Will try eating more fat and continue the strength training.

I hear you about the lizard brain. I used to get quite panicky at the thought of being hungry. I've done 16:8 and it is good training in learning to sit comfortably with hunger. It's fine. It's not something to panic about and just means I will appreciate my meal when it comes. But that panicky feeling is hard to ignore.

My mum was always slim and always on a diet throughout my childhood. She said she was always hungry, but that's what it took to stay slim.

Having said that, it's not working now that I am in peri-menopause. I haven't changed the way I eat, I'm probably drinking less and I'm exercising more - yet I am slowly and surely gaining a spare tyre / weight round my middle. I never used to put weight on round my tummy, it always went on my back and boobs before. Thanks, biology of the 49 year old woman.

I also do intermittent fasting, skipping breakfast. I naturally don't feel hungry in the morning anyway so it wasn't much of a change.

I also stop eating when I feel satisfied. I find my portion sizes now are really quite small.

I'm not skinny, but not fat. Fatter than I'd like, and I have made peace with never being slim because I love food too much.

Exercise has never helped me lose weight. I walk the dog every day and my work has me on my feet.

Chasing dreams of being model skinny just isn't realistic and sets you up for failure. I don't ban any particular foods. I eat what I like but follow the general principle of not over eating.

Well past menopause and can pretty much eat what I want and stay a size 10/12. BUT, I have never fucked up my metabolism through dieting and I try to minimise carbs and eat reasonably healthily and zero processed food. I eat lots of fat as well as fruit and veg.

If I go over about 1,200 calories a day for more than 2 or 3 days in a row, I put weight on. If I eat breakfast, I put weight on. So, I chose to eat one meal a day, plus a smaller snack sized meal. If I eat a normal sized lunch, I just have a bowl of yoghurt and some fruit for dinner and visa-versa. If the hunger pangs get too bad, I have a cup of tea.

I once fell for that old thing of 'throw away the scales'. I went up 2 dress sizes in a two months!

I know it's an unfashionable view but I think you need more carbs, especially if you're running.

I'm always hungry unless I've had potatoes/rice/pasta with my meal.

I'm in my 50s and maintain my weight within healthy guidelines. I don't snack but I'm not hungry. I eat a proper meal until I'm satisfied, then wait until the next meal.

Obviously you are supposed to be hungry as the next mealtime approaches!