why am I hungry?

[lyat]

Hello,
I've been doing Atkins for about two months and in spite of a few slips it's been going pretty well. One of the things I really liked (at first) was that I wasn't hungry all the time. I have a long history of Yo Yo dieting, and I often fail at low calorie and Weight Watchers because I get so hungry!
For years now I've started my work day with a step aerobics class three days a week. I usually get to the gym one or two other days and use the machines. I've always eaten breakfast first. When I was doing WW earlier this year, I'd get to work and start obsessing about food by 10 a.m. This was after a fairly substanial breakfast. I would try to force myself not to eat lunch until noon, because if I ate my lunch early, I would be starving by dinner time. My meals were always fairly large (big salads with a portion of low fat soup), but that didn't help.
The first few weeks of Atkins it was such a relief to be not hungry. Sometimes I would (almost) forget a meal. I could go do errands on my way home instead of rushing home to eat at 5 p.m. Now, I seem to be backsliding. I just finished my lunch and it's not noon!! I have a meeting after work tonight and I'm already worrying about how I can get food fast enough at 6:30 or 7.
I try to stay pretty low on carbs although I'm no longer on induction. I don't seem to lose any weight unless I'm very low. So this week I've been eating sausage for breakfast. (I checked the label and it's pretty low carb. Unfortunately, I can't eat eggs because of a food allergy). Then chicken and broccoli for lunch with a tablespoon of sour cream and some parm. cheese. Dinner varies more, but I try to keep it to one serving of green veggie or salad and meat.
I eat cheese for snacks and sometimes cold cuts-but again, I've been checking the label. I do drink coffee with half and half in the mornings. I think I keep my total carbs pretty low and it seems like i get enough fat, but all of a sudden, I'm getting hungry! anyone have any advice for me?

[NixCarbos]

Maybe your not eating enough.

How much fat are you eating? What about water intake?

Is it close to that time of the month? The two days before and two days during TOM I get so incredibly hungry nothing seems to satisfy.

[KvonM]

you can try increasing your fat intake... does your allergy to eggs extend to mayo, or is it just eggs in their naked form? you could also switch the half & half for heavy cream. fat will help keep you satiated for hours if need be.

otherwise, if you're hungry then go ahead and eat. that's one of the things i love about atkins... you're only limited by the kinds of foods you can eat, not necessarily amounts. dr. A said to eat till you're satisfied... that's one thing i found so refreshing after starving and obsessing about food on WW.

your increased appetite could also be from your increased workouts... it's normal. personally, some days my appetite is through the roof, some days i could skip completely and wouldn't care. just listen to your body.

[katwoman]

I'm curious--you said you had been eating the sausage this week for breakfast. Did the hunger start this week? I wonder if there is something in the sausage that is a trigger for you?

Maybe you could search the kitchen part of the forum and find some breakfast ideas. I may be totally off track with this if you've been eating the sausage all along--but that just struck me in your post.

Also, are you really eating enough at your meals? Of is there something going on that could be causing "emotional" hunger?

[Moonrise]

'pretty low carb' sausage? I'd check the ingredients again, because I'd bet a brick of cheese there's sugar or grain filler in it somewhere.

M

[lyat]

I've been eating the sausage for a while and I can eat mayo. The egg thing is probably not a true allergy. It's more of a sensitivity thing. My stomach just doesn't like eggs! I know about emotional hunger too, but this feels more like real hunger.
I guess, even after two months, it's hard to accept that eating fat is O.K. I've been advised to use heavy cream in my coffee, but I just can't make myself. After all those years of Fat Free Coffeemate and 1 percent milk....
I have lost weight, but not as fast as I would like. I've lost about 15 pounds in two months (with a few slips along the way). I'm mostly over the cravings, but last night my daughter was cooking something that smelled sweet and I had an intense craving for oatmeal cookies which are not one of my favorites. But I didn't cave. The fact that there were no oatmeal cookies in the vicinity helped, of course.

[lisabinil]

I find I am fuller and don't crave sweets anymore because of the higher fat. I use heavy cream and a tbl of coconut oil in my morning coffee-its tastes heavenly. Try upping your fat.

[KvonM]

I've been advised to use heavy cream in my coffee, but I just can't make myself. After all those years of Fat Free Coffeemate and 1 percent milk....
i know the feeling... but once you taste it, you'll wonder why you bothered with the fake stuff for so long.

[Kisal]

Have you tried adding coconut oil to your coffee? It will increase your fat intake and help stop you from feeling hungry. You might also use 1/2 half-and-half and 1/2 heavy cream in your coffee, until you get used to it.

If you absolutely cannot bring yourself to eat more fat, then you should try to take fish oil capsules. Your body may be needing more fatty acids than you're giving it, which might be the reason for your cravings.