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Menopause

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Hungry!

7 replies

Thingsthatgo · 22/05/2026 06:09

I am at a healthy weight, but have always had to be careful as I eat when I am bored/stressed/tired etc.
I’m nearly 50, and I don’t seem to be suffering many menopause-related symptoms, but I have have only had 2 periods so far this year, so things are changing.
I am really struggling, however, with extreme hunger. I am so distracted by thoughts of food all the time, and I have no willpower at all. Any tips to help deal with this? My sleep isn’t great, which doesn’t help.
Thanks for your help.

OP posts:
SoScarletItWas · 22/05/2026 06:38

Magnesium may help your sleep (I take magnesium glycinate and it’s stopped my 3am wakings).

Unfortunately calorie needs do decrease as we get older. I fight the same battle every day but I’ve had to accept that I can’t eat how I used to without gaining weight at the drop of a hat.

You’re already clued in that it’s not always hunger; it’s boredom, stress etc. What can you use as a boredom-buster that isn’t crisps?!

Noom is helpful to work out why you eat when / what you eat, and what your goals are for being a healthy weight. Just the free version is enough, though I have used the paid one for a few months when I put on weight during lockdown.

I still use Noom to track calories. That helps me as I can say ‘you’ve had enough calories so your body isn’t hungry, you’re just bored or stressed or indeed happy and you want a wine because it matches your happy mood.’ But when I can see I don’t have calories left today, it takes the option away in my mind.

I cannot have snacky stuff in the house as I can’t resist it. If it’s not here, I can’t eat it.

What you eat can help - prioritise protein to stay fuller for longer. I tell myself ‘eat more water’ so go for volume with lower calories like leafy greens, soups, grapes. And the reverse of that is ‘don’t drink your calories!’.

And fuck me, it’s BORING. It sucks. But for me, staying slim requires choices. I wish I could feel happy at a stone heavier as that lets me eat what I want without really thinking. My mind doesn’t work like that.

OrangeJellySnakes · 22/05/2026 16:46

I had exactly the same issue. I’ve never really had a massive problem with food noise till I hit peri menopause and for the first time, I suddenly understood what people meant!

SquirrelStateOfMind · 22/05/2026 19:26

Yes - don't know if it's peri related, but yes, Hungry too. Some days I remember that it's quarter to three and I haven't had anything since a bowl of cereal at seven, and that's why I'm hungry, other days there's a gnawing monster in my stomach yelling FEED ME for no apparent reason. Once upon a time I could distract myself and stick it out long enough for the feeling to go away, but now I can keep this up for a couple of days and then day three, the yelling is too loud and I am insatiable, eating everything in sight.

I have a few strategies for avoiding snack distraction, generally based on the theory that a little of what you fancy does you good. For example, if I want crisps or cheese, I am not focussing on anything else - it just goes round my head until I've had some. So eating one crisp (no more than five anyway ;-) ) or an inch cube of cheese satisfies the craving for that flavour/texture. Yes I know it's still calories, but it's better than a whole bag/block. And I've heard the theories about really being thirsty in these situations, not hungry - not so, a glass of squash does not the salty crunchy need.

Sometimes this micro snack also works to trick my body into thinking it's eaten something more substantial - just enough to get through to actual mealtime. A handful of raisins, nuts or other dried fruit works here too. I find fresh fruit less successful - love it as a sweet treat, but it does nothing to assuage the Hunger.

Lastly, I have in my office Emergency Biscuits - plain, not particularly tasty biscuits, but acceptable if I really need some food, and I'm not tempted to have more than one!

So in short, I don't have much willpower either, but am managing to limit the impact.

SoScarletItWas · 22/05/2026 19:32

@SquirrelStateOfMind I read about ‘mouth hunger’ and that so makes sense with what you wrote - needing a salty crunchy thing is mouth hunger personified!

Thingsthatgo · 24/05/2026 07:01

Thank you all for your advice. It helps to know that it’s not just me. I can’t get over how distracting it is. I am going to get some high protein snacks to see if that takes the edge off.

OP posts:
OrangeJellySnakes · 24/05/2026 08:47

The other thing I found useful @Thingsthatgois to try and focus on food I never used to eat. I hated beetroot till I was in peri - now with food noise I thought I might as well try eating it (as the hunger was so overwhelming) and now I love it. So maybe think of some healthy foods you don’t like and see if you can distract yourself with that! I know it sounds a bit odd!

SoScarletItWas · 24/05/2026 08:49

Thingsthatgo · 24/05/2026 07:01

Thank you all for your advice. It helps to know that it’s not just me. I can’t get over how distracting it is. I am going to get some high protein snacks to see if that takes the edge off.

Watch out for ‘the protein bandwagon effect’ - I’ve seen crisps labelled as HIGH PROTEIN and ok they are lentil chips but they’re still the same calories as delicious, irresistible crisps.

I eat so much Skyr yoghurt for protein. And tofu. If you eat meat then maybe things in the fridge that you can raid when feeling snacky like turkey slices?

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