How to curb the hunger? Need Help!

[Shannshaff]

How do you curb the "I'M HUNGRY" feeling, so that you do not wreck your diet and eat everything in site??? I am having a horrible time with this.
I am not sure if it is just because I am still nursing or what, but man is it out of control! If I am not careful, I can easily eat 3000 calories in a day. :worry: and still feel hungry at night. I am getting my thyroid checked and a few other things on Monday, but I am just wondering what others go to help.

And drinking a full glass of water when I get that way does NOT help. :)

[XXforhubby]

I too am a swaying, BFing mom. My DS3 will be 6mo tomorrow [emoji4][emoji170].

I found that using MFP (myfitnesspal) really helped to keep things in check for me. When I began the diet (12 weeks before our first month TTCing), I started out with 2000 calories, 60g fat and 60g protein. I found this to help immensely! I also had to have a fourth tiny meal to get me through when BFing a lot at night. While this isn't ideal, it's much better than gorging yourself and going way over in everything. Once he dropped all but one overnight BFing session, I found I could drop down to 1700-1900 cals and 40-50g for fat and protein. Some days, I would go up to 2000-2100 calories, but mainly in the lower ranges.

For foods, I switched to vegetarian sources for protein. I'm loving the veggie burgers and veggie crumbles by MorningStar ATM. I also eat refried beans and do eat nuts (2 T of either almond slices or walnut pieces that I put in salads). One strategy that has helped me immensely, is to have sliced sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, and orange only do not cause grassiness in BF babies), cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots on hand for when I'm still hungry after eating a meal. I will eat my fill of these so as not to go over in calories as these are free!! This way, I'm still eating nutritious carbs to keep up my milk supply and not blow my diet. Sometimes I would dip these in a fat free ranch or humus.

I also found chewing gum helped to tide me over and having a cup of decaf coffee (I personally avoid regular coffee while BFing) with a splash of creamer at times.

I'm currently 4 days late and had a BFP and waiting to test again next Wednesday to be sure.

Let me know if I can help further!

FX and GL to you!!



[emoji170]DS1[emoji1379], DS2[emoji577], & DS3[emoji602][emoji170]
[emoji166]One last pink sway 2016[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

[Shannshaff]

OMG! XX I am so happy for you that you got a BFP!!!
And thank you for the help. I will have to look into veggie burgers for sure. While the rest of the fam is eating the regular stuff, I can have mine ;) I am not fully TTCing since PPAF has not returned, but I am trying to be good about a sway just in case we catch the first O unintentionally. ;)

[XXforhubby]

Thank you! It's a tentative BFP. I'm waiting to see what my temp does and then I'll retest this Sunday. I just feel like it's too good to be true so I'm be cautious about it, haha!



[emoji170]DS1[emoji1379], DS2[emoji577], & DS3[emoji602][emoji170]
[emoji166]One last pink sway 2016[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

[weeziewoozles]

I found zero calorie fizzy drinks (I normally avoid sweeteners) filled me up when the hungry struck

[atomic sagebrush]

How much are you eating and in what pattern??

If you're really miserable, add a meal. Even if you're eating 4 times a day that is still way different than the "Hobbitesque" pattern - first breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, lunch, afternoon snack, tea, dinner, supper, bedtime snack, midnight snack kind of pattern.

Since you're breastfeeding and PPAF has not returned you should be eating 1800-2000 cals a day or even more if you need to. Breastfeeding makes you hungrier even when you aren't doing it that much.

[atomic sagebrush]

OMG! XX I am so happy for you that you got a BFP!!!
And thank you for the help. I will have to look into veggie burgers for sure. While the rest of the fam is eating the regular stuff, I can have mine ;) I am not fully TTCing since PPAF has not returned, but I am trying to be good about a sway just in case we catch the first O unintentionally. ;)

This is hte type of strategy that works well for ANYONE trying to lose weight - just find replacements that are nearly as good as your regular thing so you aren't feeling totally deprived all the time. Feeling miserable and deprived doesn't work. Anything you can come up with to replace the stuff you normally like and eat with lower cal versions will help. :)

Oh and just to be sure you are eating 50-60 g protein and fat too, right?? You need more while nursing and it can really help make you stay fuller loner.

[Shannshaff]

Thank you Atomic. Yes, I usually go over on my fat and protein everyday :( It seems to be a real struggle right now.

I just went to the Dr to see if my hormones and thyroid are working properly because I was just feeling way off. Apparently, my progesterone is at a 0.2 ng/mL. She started me on a supplement. I will let you all know if my boy starts to even out more with fixing that deficiency. Thank you for all the help.

[Shannshaff]

How much are you eating and in what pattern??

If you're really miserable, add a meal. Even if you're eating 4 times a day that is still way different than the "Hobbitesque" pattern - first breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, lunch, afternoon snack, tea, dinner, supper, bedtime snack, midnight snack kind of pattern.

Since you're breastfeeding and PPAF has not returned you should be eating 1800-2000 cals a day or even more if you need to. Breastfeeding makes you hungrier even when you aren't doing it that much.


I have been holding off on breakfast till about 10 or 11 am. I eat a granola bar because it is what helps with my milk supply while pumping. Then lunch is usually at 12:30ish. This is when I seem to be the hungriest. I don't usually get full. :( Dinner is at 6:30 and again I am super hungry and I tend to over eat or I eat what the kids don't because I HATE throwing out food. (even if I have a snack at 4) Then at about 10pm I am hungry again. I usually just go to bed instead of eating. But it is tough not to graze at that time.
I am usually a grazer and I eat a TON of carbs. We tend to eat lots of beef and potatoes too. I love to bake and desserts are so so good. So this is quite the change from my usual eating habits.

[Beau82]

I have found that eating carbs is awful for me. I'm starving again within 2 hours. So I try to stay away from them. Raw veggies with dip really fill me up for longer though. And they are free diet-wise (the low-carb ones anyway). So I usually have a plate of sliced, peeled cucumber, mushrooms and celery with some ranch dipping sauce. Delicious and I can fill up on loads of them which seems to keep me from running to the cupboard for another snack after an hour. I can have a pretty big bagel loaded with peanut butter but after about 2 hours, I'm craving more food. Hard-boiled eggs usually keep me feeling fuller for longer.

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes i have that same problem not wanting to throw away food and so eating everything the kids leave behind. I have found it works best to just not eat till they're done LOL.

I just want to be sure again that we are doing 1800-2000 cals a day, 50-60 g protein, 50-60 g fat. And this is NOT COUNTING low carb vegetables (those are free and unlimited) and fruit and higher carb veg like potatoes are free for pro and fat, you only count cals. And let's go ahead and go up to 4 meals 10, 12:30 or somewhere in there, then dinner, and then I want you to eat before bed. I've had many successful swayers on the 4 meals schedule. I always ate before bed when I was swaying and breastfeeding, I literally cannot go to sleep hungry and when I try I wake up ravenous. Many times when people are having trouble on the diet they aren't eating enough. It's an adjustment but it's doable to eat that way. The important thing is that instead of throwing it all in, we gradually ahve you eat a bit more and a bit more till you're at a point of stasis where you aren't dying all day long and eating everything in sight, while at the same time giving yourself time to get used to eating less than your body thinks it wants. :)

[atomic sagebrush]

I have found that eating carbs is awful for me. I'm starving again within 2 hours. So I try to stay away from them. Raw veggies with dip really fill me up for longer though. And they are free diet-wise (the low-carb ones anyway). So I usually have a plate of sliced, peeled cucumber, mushrooms and celery with some ranch dipping sauce. Delicious and I can fill up on loads of them which seems to keep me from running to the cupboard for another snack after an hour. I can have a pretty big bagel loaded with peanut butter but after about 2 hours, I'm craving more food. Hard-boiled eggs usually keep me feeling fuller for longer.

Great tips Beau!! I'm not on LE right now but just dieting using some of the principles because I'm chubby LOL. I make marinated mushrooms and cucumber salad and eat them with my meals, it feels like this huge treat but it really does help me fill up so I'm satisfied with less real food. :) I hate celery though God bless anyone who can eat it raw. :)

[Shannshaff]

I am going to have to restart my efforts again. I went off the wagon head first. ;) Thank you for all of the tips to help.

I think this is just so different than my normal diet, I am having a difficult time. Not sure how I was able to do it so much easier last time I swayed. I think I am just going to have to set mini goals and meal plan a bit more.

[XXforhubby]

Well don't beat yourself up too badly! I think it's bound to happen, yk? I mean I've had the wackiest cycle this time and have had a small snack for about the past two weeks. While it's been empty carbs, still. So I too have fallen off the wagon head first right there with you! I have a small comfort knowing I haven't gone over in fat or protein but let's face it- a snack is a snack!

Just pick back up and try again. My girl mom friends are all like, "just eat whenever you want. I don't watch a clock. If I want a snack I snack. Just don't eat the whole damn bag of whatever and you'll be fine". Drives me bonkers! But they all have girls. They do eat empty calories a lot though and never indulge in high fat or high protein foods, unless it's a part of a meal. Then they have a small portion. I think that's the key here is small portions.





[emoji170]DS1[emoji1379], DS2[emoji577], & DS3[emoji602][emoji170]
[emoji166]One last pink sway 2016[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

[atomic sagebrush]

I am going to have to restart my efforts again. I went off the wagon head first. ;) Thank you for all of the tips to help.

I think this is just so different than my normal diet, I am having a difficult time. Not sure how I was able to do it so much easier last time I swayed. I think I am just going to have to set mini goals and meal plan a bit more.

:agree: Start off by doing the stuff you have no problem doing. Remember, ANY changes you make will only help. You don't have to do everything.

[atomic sagebrush]

Well don't beat yourself up too badly! I think it's bound to happen, yk? I mean I've had the wackiest cycle this time and have had a small snack for about the past two weeks. While it's been empty carbs, still. So I too have fallen off the wagon head first right there with you! I have a small comfort knowing I haven't gone over in fat or protein but let's face it- a snack is a snack!

Just pick back up and try again. My girl mom friends are all like, "just eat whenever you want. I don't watch a clock. If I want a snack I snack. Just don't eat the whole damn bag of whatever and you'll be fine". Drives me bonkers! But they all have girls. They do eat empty calories a lot though and never indulge in high fat or high protein foods, unless it's a part of a meal. Then they have a small portion. I think that's the key here is small portions.





[emoji170]DS1[emoji1379], DS2[emoji577], & DS3[emoji602][emoji170]
[emoji166]One last pink sway 2016[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

That's what they all say but often when you watch them more closely, they actually DON'T snack that much. Like my friend who would eat just ONE hot pocket haha or my other friend who would SPLIT a Happy Meal with her daugher because neither of them could finish a whole one (!)

[Shannshaff]

That's what they all say but often when you watch them more closely, they actually DON'T snack that much. Like my friend who would eat just ONE hot pocket haha or my other friend who would SPLIT a Happy Meal with her daugher because neither of them could finish a whole one (!)

SPLIT a Happy Meal! OMG. There is no way. Even when I was a kid :) I know, I am just made to make boys with my eating, so any changes will help. :) Thanks Atomic.

[XXforhubby]

Hahaha, splitting a Happy Meal! Seriously, who just eats one Hot Pocket? I mean they come together in packages of 2!

Aye! It will be nothing short of a small miracle if I can give my DH a DD!



[emoji170]DS1[emoji1379], DS2[emoji577], & DS3[emoji602][emoji170]
[emoji166]One last pink sway 2016[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

[carmella_marie]

This is an older thread, but I have found that I have to ease into the LE diet and eating pattern. As a boy mom, I often just snack ALL DAY LONG, just grazing here and there all the time. I had to rain myself to eat a LARGER lunch and dinner than I was previously eating so that I wasn't starving an hour later. I was still eating way less overall, but larger meals at more set times (lunch and dinner and a bedtime snack). I also had to slowly shift breakfast back, I couldn't just start skipping it cold turkey. It took about 5 days to not feel hungry all the time, but I got used to it pretty quickly.