Always hungry...Help. « Back to Group Discussions

[OceanSolitude]

How does one eat only 300 calories extra when feeling constantly hungry? I'm overweight, the BMI says obese, but the BMI was not created for individual assessment so I think its a bunch of BS, especially because my mom and I wear the same size clothes (16) and I weigh 35lbs more than her. I fear judgment by my doctor and Kaiser, and I want to be the healthiest for the baby, so I don't want to gain too much weight. I'm currently healthy and have never had weight related issues.

I went to the store today and bought fruit, veggies, cereal, and some other healthy snacks. I try to combine protein and fiber such as celery with peanut butter and raisons, but 20 minutes after eating I'm hungry again.

What are you other moms doing? If you had babies before, what helped?

Thanks,
Rebecca

[dejagerw]

Drinking water sometimes helps. Sometimes we think we're hungry when we're actually thirsty. Try drinking a big glass of water. If after 15 minutes you are still hungry, then eat of course (hopefully something healthy).
 

[EloiseMM]

How about trying something different?

• Buy a bag of frozen blackberries or strawberries, a can of whole coconut milk (not lite), and a small carton of heavy cream.
• Shake the can of coconut milk. Pour half of it into a blender or food processor.
• Rinse the frozen fruit in warm water to get rid of the "frosty" taste (1/2 cup). Process with the coconut milk.
• Whip 1/2 cup of heavy cream, cold from the fridge. It should take about one minute. Do not add sugar.
• Place your whipped cream in a cereal bowl, and pour the fruit "smoothie" over the whipped cream.

Now, you might think this has a lot of calories for just one snack (478), but think about it. If it keeps you full and happy for 6 hours, wouldn't you say it was worth it? Please give it a try and let us know how it works out for you!

How about mashed butternut squash? Cut some butternut squash into small cubes, boil in water or chicken broth, then mash with a couple tablespoons of butter or milk.

Cook apple slices in one or two tablespoons of butter until they loose their "bite", then sprinkle with cinnamon.

Take your leftover coconut milk from the recipe above. Chop some onions, carrots, and celery, and fry them in a little butter. Then add the leftover coconut milk, leftover shredded chicken. Stir, and simmer for 5 minutes. Take off the stove and stir in two or three tablespoons of your peanut butter. This is actually what I had for a snack Friday afternoon at work, I kept it in the fridge then microwaved.

I'm shocked that you were asked to limit calories. Limiting calories could mean you don't get as good nutrition. Shouldn't the priority be to get lots of nutrients in you? You can actually gain weight from limiting calories too much.

[OceanSolitude]

I'm drinking so much water, well I pee all the freaking time. I'm pretty hydrated.

[OceanSolitude]

Ooo Eloise, that sounds good. I think we have coconut milk, no berries though. Next trip to the store...

The doctor/NP hasn't said anything about calories, don't see her until the end of the month, but everything I've read says that a pregnant women usually only needs 300 extra calories a day. I'm pretty much just focused on eating a healthy variety of foods, but it seems that as hungry as I am I will definitely exceed that 300 extra calories and I don't want to increase my risk of gestational diabetes or high blood pressure by gaining too much. I am eating when I am hungry, just trying to make the most of my eating, less empty calories and more vitamins/nutrients.

[EloiseMM]

300 wouldn't be enough for me, specially in the second and third trimester and when nursing. I need atleast 500, but more often 600. If I were to limit food so much, guess where the nutrients for my baby would come from? They would need to be stolen from my own bones and my own body.

300 should be adequate for the first trimester, but your body is telling you it needs more calories. Or maybe... different kinds of calories.

The general advice is to increase the fiber to stay full longer, but that never worked for me. After 30 minutes, I was shaking and my vision would go blurry and black, and I was too weak to walk or push open a door.

The only thing that helped me was eating fat. I've been eating like that for more than 3 years and eating this way I only get hungry every 6 to 8 hours, and don't have symptoms of diabetes anymore. Even though I eat a lot more calories and fat than before, I lost a lot of weight (body fat).

Our bodies can't digest fiber, it's just a filler taking room in our stomach. You mentioned empty calories. The way I look at it, fiber is empty nutrition. So I chose to replace it with foods that keep me full and provide nutrients.

It's not weight gain that gives you diabetes, weight gain is a side effect of diabetes. You get fat because you keep burdening your body with high-glycemic foods to the point insulin can't do its job of reducing your blood sugar anymore.

Can you eat a big breakfast in the morning to start the day well, in terms of preventing hunger? I saw that you have chickens, so maybe two (or three) whole eggs cooked with one or two generous pats of butter, and vegetables on the side? Like, chopped cauliflower cooked with chicken broth, or sliced onions and red peppers cooked in butter.

See how long it keeps you full. How about a egg quiche with heavy cream and lots of spinach or swiss chard?

[deborahbgkelly]

Oatmeal with flax is quite filling and will keep you full for a while. Flax is a good protein source.

[deborahbgkelly]

Oatmeal with flax is quite filling and will keep you full for a while. Flax is a good protein source.

[vegrunr]

I am also hungry as a horse this pregnancy.  I do not remember this from last time!

[OceanSolitude]

I feel like I'm eating like a teenage boy...

[katalopolis]

Glad I'm not the only one. I've already joked about naming this kid "Audrey 2" because I feel like they're going "feed me! feed me!" all the time.