I am trying to lose weight, and I do everything my dietitian tells me: eat the right things, don’t eat what I’m not supposed to eat. Still, this is supposed to help me lose weight, but I don’t feel hungry. So I don’t know if it’s really working. That got me to do a little research – are you supposed to feel hungry if you want to lose weight?
I found that the answer to that question is no. It’s okay if you don’t feel hungry, you might still lose weight. Some foods make you feel like you are full, but they’re actually low on calories. When trying to lose weight without suffering through starving diets, you should eat food like this. And avoid foods like white bread and all complex sugars like ice cream, pastries, wheat products and so on. These give you a sugar crash and also make you feel tired after you’re done eating them. Then you fall asleep, which is horrible for your health and for controlling your weight.
I have also read foods that are rich in protein make you feel more full, because the body releases the PYY hormone. I don’t know how much of this is true, but in my personal experience, eating foods rich in protein does help with losing weight. Protein-rich food also does not make you feel tired like some carbohydrates do. So if you’re trying to lose weight, I would definitely recommend eating foods that are rich in protein.
Protein also helps you if you’re trying to not lose muscle weight. As you may know, protein is the main building material for muscles. In addition to cardio exercises, you should also do a little bit of strength workout to hit those specific muscles. That keeps them in shape, and also eating protein provides necessary nutrients for muscles to stay intact.
Also, not all carbohydrates are bad. It may be a cliché at this point, but vegetables, nut, and certain types of peas and beans provide necessary energy. These are also slow and simple carbohydrates, so they provide energy source for all day. Throughout the day, you will have energy and you’re less likely to feel hungry, even if you have calorie deficit. As you may know, you need calorie deficit to lose weight.
I eat the most right before I exercise. I feel like it’s the most important time of the day, and I should have energy to go through with the exercise and achieve my goals. If you must eat carbs, try to do it before the workout. So you can sweat out all the bad traits of carbs from your body by working out. For example, if you love pizza and can’t go without it for extended amounts of time, you are free to eat it right before the workout. It’s much better than eating it before sleep or early in the morning.
