Wondering why you’re always hungry?
I consult with hundreds of women every month who want to lose weight, finally free themselves of fad dieting and have a healthier relationship with food. In my conversations with these women, many of the same themes come up time and again. Among the more popular is the question, “why am I always hungry?”
There’s no magic answer, but these are a few of the most common reasons why you’re always hungry:
You’re not eating the right combination of nutrients –
Every meal and snack should contain fiber, fat and protein. If you’re not getting enough of any of these – especially protein, you’re not getting a balanced meal which is both satiating and hormone-balancing, and you’ll probably find yourself looking for something to eat right after you ate. I see this a lot with women who eat carb and sugar-heavy diets.
A piece of fruit alone won’t hold you over until dinner. Likewise, a plain bowl of oatmeal often won’t cut it for breakfast. For the sake of example, a piece of fruit with a handful of nuts or some nut butter is a better snack, especially if you ate a nutritionally-balanced breakfast and lunch. You get fiber in the fruit and fat and protein in the nuts/nut butter.
You’re not eating enough in general –
If you graze all day or skip meals, your body is never registering the food you eat as nourishment, so it’s constantly looking for the next meal. Commit to sitting down to three balanced meals following the fiber, fat and protein guidelines above to help control your appetite and cravings.
You’re thirsty –
Thirst and dehydration are often disguised as hunger. Would you believe 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated? Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces as a baseline. When you’re hydrated, you’ll notice more energy, fewer cravings and a more regulated appetite.
You’re feeling unfulfilled in some other part of your life –
Where I went to nutrition school, we learned about primary foods – the non-food aspects of your life that fulfill you like your career, hobbies, relationships and spiritual life. If you’re feeling out of balance or unhappy in some other area of your life, it may be manifesting in your body as hunger. Take a personal inventory to get clear on where you may need to focus more attention to feel more fulfilled. I feel my fullest when I’m traveling and speaking about or teaching health and nutrition workshops.
You have a medical condition
If you’ve explored all of the above and it doesn’t apply to you, it’s possible you have a medical condition like diabetes or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroid). It’s always a good idea to see your doctor to rule out these common causes, or something else.
If you’re ready to finally feel freedom from food and fad diets, check out my book, Your Holistically Hot Transformation: Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle Free of Dieting, Confusion and Self-Judgment and/or schedule a complimentary Freedom From Fad Diets Breakthrough Session with me.
Leave a Reply