How Can I Reduce Hunger Pangs?

I am doing fairly well at changing my eating habits so that I eat more healthy foods and smaller portions. I am using the Weight Watchers point system to guide me (22 points daily) and I am really struggling with hunger pangs. I am starving when I get up in the morning, and late at night I want snacks because I am really hungry. I am trying to find some snacks that are healthy, no added sugar, and filling.

How do you guys deal with hunger pangs?

Thu. Jun 30, 8:16am

1. drink lots of water

2. sugar free jello

3. sugar free popsicles

4. pretzels are really low points

Thursday, June 30, 2005, 8:17 AM

Tomato juice or tomato soup does a fairly good job of quelling hunger pangs. Just be mindful of the salt content -- it can be pretty high.

Also: swap fruit juice for whole fruit -- more fiber=staying full longer.

Drinking water does help, too.

Thursday, June 30, 2005, 8:28 AM

My boyfriend makes fun of me because I talk about protein a lot, but he's hungry all the time, and I'm not, and I eat WAY more protein than he does.

Some suggestions:
cottage cheese
string cheese
sliced ham
yogurt (especially plain - you can add your own sweetener - honey, maple syrup, fresh fruit - to control the amount of sugar)
soy milk or low fat milk
protein bars (balance and zone are my favorite brands - careful, though, they have 200+ cals each)

Also, eating some complex carbs and fiber with your protein can stave off hunger pangs even longer.

Thursday, June 30, 2005, 9:13 AM

Weight Watchers experience

I tried weight watchers about three months ago and I just couldn't do it because I was starving all the time! I was eating protein, my snacks were usually cottage cheese, I almost always had some turkey or fish for dinner. But I stil felt weak and starved most of the time.

So I dropped the weight watchers and just started counting my calories and watching my protein to carb intake. Not to my surprise, I was able to eat more and still stay under 1800-2000 calories. I don't know how many calories I was eating on weight watches, but whatever it was it was way to little for me!

It's really not good for your body to feel hungry all the time. As most of you probably know, your body hangs very tightly to the little food it receives when you are hungry all the time, it goes into starvation mode so it's very counter productive. You might even end up gaining weight!

Thursday, June 30, 2005, 10:43 AM

WW word of caution

Especially if you are exercising a lot - you may not be getting enough calories on weight watchers. 22 points is not enough calories for an active person. Have you looked through some of the threads on the ww web site? You can post and will get such GREAT advice.

You could also switch to Core if that helps. It's normal to be hungry once in a while and ignore it, but if you're starving all the time, then your body is telling you something.

You may also want to make sure that you're getting enough healthy fats in your diet - fat gives us the best satiety. Maybe add some olive oil to your salad, or have 4% cottage cheese instead of non-fat, eat an avocado or a handful of nuts a couple of times per week.

Good luck.

Thursday, June 30, 2005, 12:19 PM

WW is not for everyone but it works for me. if you are active, just remember that for every 20 minutes of exercise you do over half an hour you should eat 1 more point! and it is a rance 18-25 points, not the 22 (at least for my weight range), so some days eat more and some less...

Thursday, June 30, 2005, 1:11 PM

Gosh, I'm doing WW and I have 22 points but I was stuffed this afternoon after a 5 point lunch! Eat things with fiber--they fill you up! I had a Wendy's chili, a side salad and some popcorn. you can practically the whole bag of 94% FF popcorn for 2 points!

Friday, July 1, 2005, 6:34 PM

Well along with others drink lots of water that helps. But I also agree the more protein the fuller you will feel. I found some great low card protein shakes at walmart and they actually taste really good.

Also you have to be able to seperate real hunger from emotional hunger. Learning to tell myself no was hard, but it got easier. I also just eat more often. I eat about 5-6 small meals a day. I know if I am still hungry I will be eating again soo, so it makes it easier. Plus it has kicked my metabolism i super high gear.

Saturday, July 2, 2005, 12:37 AM

protein, hunger pangs

beans are a great source of protein and they don't make you sleepy.

Monday, September 10, 2007, 1:09 PM

I have discovered that thinking about being hungry makes it worse, being around food makes it worse, and smelling food makes it worse - so, if I'm between meals and feel those pangs I try and escape the sight and smell of food. Sometimes that's not possible, so at the very least I stop thinking about it and remind myself I'm going to be eating soon. It works for me and the hunger pangs actually subside.

Monday, September 10, 2007, 4:15 PM

Try chewing gum or a mint when you get really hungry. It helps me a lot.

Monday, September 10, 2007, 4:43 PM

to poster: Monday, September 10, 2007, 4:43 PM

I agree I always keep gum with me. It DEFINATLY helps!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007, 11:10 AM

Lately I noticed that I was slacking in the vegetable department and I was hungrier and eating more and my calorie intake was rising. This week I made a concious effort to up the veges and my hunger has abated, I'm satisfied with 1200-1300 calories a day again. Low density, high volume foods (ie, vegetables) are key.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007, 3:14 PM

Working out sometimes takes away mental hunger pangs that aren't real.

Monday, September 17, 2007, 12:19 AM

I am a lifetime member of WW. I love the meetings, website, magazines, etc. however, I count calories, not points. I eat 1,200 - 1,500 calories per day, I'm losing about a pound a week right now and I'm not uncomfortably hungry. I don't think 22 points is enough food!

Monday, September 17, 2007, 12:39 AM

Make sure you're not cutting carbs too much..I've never tried WW, but I know a lot of diets tell people to cut carbs.

Well, it doesn't work for me, I feel STARVED all the time, and very VERY weak. Plus, I end up getting more calories from fats and a little more from protein. I'd rather be getting more carbs, more protein, less fat.

I'm also very active (hs trackie) so cutting carbs is never a good idea for me..I really can't run and get very dizzy.

So try using something like fitday.com to see how many carbs you're eating!

Monday, September 17, 2007, 5:36 PM

NEW SUPER FOOD

Add Salba to your breakfast, this will make you less hungry. Try it yourself, ask for a free sample at www.sourcesalba.com

Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 3:12 PM

jell-o has to be one of the nastiest "foods" ever!!!!!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 3:20 PM

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