Can't stop wanting food even though I eat my tdee

[iwantsunshine1]

I'm only 5'0 and not overweight so the amount of calories I need daily are already very low. I'm just constantly thinking/wanting and eating food and just always seem to be hungry! I never used to be like this and could eat very little but that just isn't the case now. Anyone else felt this and what helped?

Intermittent fasting, I'm also very short and in the healthy bracket. I find once I start eating I want to continue eating so delaying eating has helped.

Anything low fat high carb does that to me. Once I start eating I can't seem to think about anything else.

The way out of this unhealthy spiral for me has been to eat low carb high fat. Essentially as many leafy green veg as I can cram down my throat with enough fatty meat / butter/ oil to make them palatable. Lots of water.

The first few days were not fun, all I could think of were sugary and refined carb great food but then one day I woke up and the craving had just evaporated.

Now I can eat sensible meals, usually skip breakfast and do not need to adjust the portion size of other meals to make up. Has seriously transformed my life.

What kind of food are you eating? Are you eating plenty of food high in fibre? Do you eat a lot of ultra processed food? (Note it's not always "junk" food, can appear healthy!)

@FinallyHere thank you. Based on low carb high fat what would you eat for breakfast and lunch? I struggle getting veg down me but much easier at dinner time

@olivecapes my diet isn't the best being honest. Normally cereal or toast for breakfast (when I have it) and then lunch is mainly carbs. I'm an extremely fussy eater and don't tend to like much what is good for you. Pasta for dinner is my go to

@Ihavenotaskedyou I try this all the time and I agree once I start it opens the floodgates but now when I start I'm normally so hungry that I just go crazy and binge

Carbs are my downfall. They spike your insulin and make you hungrier. Focus on eating protein, vegetables and fat

You are probably 'addicted' to refined carbs and sugar. They do not satiate and instead fuel endless cravings for more of the same.

You need to get off this viscious cycle - either by weaning slowly or brutal cutting. Many find the latter easier. Read The Blood Sugar Solution, which explains this really well. (It also serves as a wake up about the effects of these foods on our health.)

Learn to love vegetables by preparing them as part of delicious Mediterranean dishes. I particularly like Lebanese cuisine.

In short I'd suggest:
Intermittent fasting
Lots of vegetables, moderate amounts of lean protein, plus small quantities of healthy fats/nuts and dairy/yoghurt.

Plus regular exercise.

Hi! I think the other posters do make really good points about carbs making you hungry; that’s so true and maybe you are addicted.

However, from what you say, I wonder if maybe you eat mostly carbs because you have texture aversions? I’m like that and it does make weight loss harder. It’s like if I’m stressed about anything then eating complex textures and tastes like a salad with vinaigrette or a piece of fruit adds to my overwhelm.

I would say to try and find a small range of simple foods which are also healthy. It doesn’t matter if you eat the same thing every day as long as you can bear it. I find plain chicken and fish, rice, wholemeal pasta, broccoli and peas work for me even if I’m stressed.

Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree and that’s not what the issue is. I just wanted to add that perspective in case it helped.

@iwantsunshine1

Everything I know about eating well I learned from the l"low arb boot camp' threads here on Mumsnet. I'm using the app so can't link

Jab a look there, so much help and support.

Getting your blood sugar levels under control is really life changing for me. Hope it works for you too.

@iwantsunshine1 yes. It’s the carbs this happens to some people.

Dont eat toast or cereal for breakfast. Cut down carbs the rest of the time as well. Increase fat protein and lots of fibre.

Since your body’s built this way you might feel horrible or very”addicted” first few days but within a week you should have stopped obsessing about food so much

@iwantsunshine1 I'm not in the no carbs camp personally, I'm a healthy weight and lose weight when I want to still eating a lot of carbs. For me it has been cutting out UPF that has transformed my diet, whole food is just much more filling, I don't even snack anymore and I rarely eat things like chocolate which I used to "have" to eat every day. It's cut down my cravings for sugar (so my carbs likely have reduced, but I still eat lots of pasta and potatoes).