Minor vent: tired of being hungry!!

[Sarah8914]

help me! please! :)

So of course it started when I was pregnant and it was bad. I was literally sick because I was always SO hungry, could NEVER get full. A miserable feeling. After the first trimester, it was much better and wasn't too bad throughout the pregnancy.

Well, now my baby is 4 months old and I'm nursing so I know I need more calories and that's why I'm so hungry, but I'm going crazy! I'm not a huge snacker either. I'll usually eat an apple sometime during the day which does nothing for me. NOTHING! I can eat 4 frozen waffles for breakfast and a glass of juice and be starving like an hour later. Lunch never fills me up. Dinner will usually feel me up for 2-3 hours but I don't like to eat anything past 8 or so and I always go to bed hungry. I feel like a garbage disposal!

I don't know much about food and what makes you feel full... but I need something. I'm starting to feel week when I'm so hungry but I feel like I need a whole meal, not a snack.

Thanks for letting me vent... can you help me??? :p

[schock77]

I'm always eating- not preggo, just a pig-o... :) But I'd say get some carbs in you. And maybe some protein? I remember a peanut butter sandwich would carry me over when I was nursing and starved.

Not much help- but hang in there girlie!

[glumirk]

haha no but I can sympathize. 27 days until due date and this little boy is NEVER full. Or if he is, he's hungry about 30 minutes later! I've tried more protein, more whole grains, and nothing helps. I am getting so tired of eating, and even more tired of being hungry!

Lately I've been able to have one of those trail mix bars (with all of the nuts in it) with some grapes to stave the hunger before bed. I literally get so hungry that my stomach is grumbling like crazy and I can't sleep!

[robinforman]

It sounds like you need to be eating more protein- that is what helps to make you feel fuller longer. It is probably why you are the least hungry after dinner- because you are eating meat or another protein source. Good luck- that doesn't sound fun!

[AllieP]

I don't have any great suggestions, but when I eat high-fiber foods, I know I feel fuller longer. Krusteaz has a wheat pancake mix that's totally easy (just add water) and I eat that for breakfast a lot and I'm full till lunch.

[MamaK]

yep, I used to keep eggo waffles around for my bedtime (and anytime) snack when I was preggers. But I do think you need to eat more and don't be afraid to eat after 8pm. You need constant fuel for you and that baby, going until you're feeling weak or queasy is dangerous. If anything, call up your doc and ask for suggestions of what could sustain you a little longer.

[sczos911]

I would say more protein and higher fiber and more whole/natural foods. Switch the waffles to high fiber (eggo makes one and I think there is an off brand, too) and add in some protein for breakfast (like milk or PB on the waffles). Oatmeal (not instant), milk and brown sugar or bran cereal and milk. Pair carbs with protein - so the apple with a piece of light string cheese or PB...a handful of raw almonds.... Lunch - sandwich on high fiber bread & a salad does wonders. Yogurt is a great snack. Steer clear from processed snacks & foods & use them as treats only.

You MAY not be eating enough for what your body is doing & that is why you are always hungry. Or the calories you do consum are "empty" meaning not high fiber, high protein good for you.

[Kat Stokes]

Yep, what Stephanie said. And eat at least 6 times a day. You will eat smaller portions too if you do this and it helps your body metabolize the food properly.

This is what I *try* to eat when I'm eating properly.

Peanut butter and banana with a glass of milk or oj for breakfast.
Yogurt with granola and maybe a piece of cheese in the morning.
Half of a turkey sandwich and salad with avocado for lunch.
Protein bar and a piece of fruit for snack.
Grilled chicken or steak for dinner with lots of veggies and maybe a small potato or small serving of rice for the carbs
Half a PB and banana sandwich around 8:00 or so.

This usually keeps me full all day. Of course since you are nursing you may still need more than this but it's a start.... :)

[Sarah8914]

thanks guys. I appreciate all these comments. I guess I just need to eat more (in between meals) and good things at those times!

And kathi, thanks for your sample menu there, very helpful!

[rachaelsscraps]

I'm so the opposite! Since having my baby I have to pretty much force myself to eat! I ate a little more during pregnancy, but not too much more than usual...

I'm nursing my daughter, too, and instead of being hungry- I'm pretty much always thirsty though I'm always drinking water or lemonade, or milk or juice... (but mostly just water).

I won't complain about not being that hungry- I wanna lose this stinking pregnancy weight and I think since I'm not hungry & since I'm nursing, the pregnancy weight is coming off already! Yay!

[KirstieGai]

I eat every 3 hours normally.

In between meal snacks
yogurt with handful berries or a banana
handful nuts and seeds (there's always almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds on my kitchen bench)
1 poached egg and 1/2 cup baked beans
homemade vegetable soup
1 slice fruit bread toast with a spoon of ricotta cheese
protein shake with milk and banana

[rochelle789]

I haven't read the whole thread, so I'm sorry if this is redundant. Your waffles and juice are pretty much simple carbohydrates that spike your blood sugar quickly and make you hungry very soon afterward. If you added protein (eggs, turkey bacon) along with some fiber (veggies), you'd stay feeling full much longer. Something with some fat would also help too.

Hope that helps! :)

[jessica31876]

instead of eating three regular meals try eating like five smaller meals with small snacks in between and really high fiber/protein foods.

[stayawake]

Hummus has a very very low glycemic index value (I think something rediculously low like 6!) which means our body uses the available sugars very very very slowly. So eating that with a whole wheat pita (one of my FAVOURITE snacks!) or veggies is great. I feel full for hours after that. And I'm always hungry too. :)
Check out foods that are low GI, you won't get a spike in your insulin and you'll feel more full longer...